74 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH. V. 



food to birds of prey. In the winter the eagles and 

 hawks feed greatly upon them. The eider-ducks 

 also breed on these islands, and are so tame when 

 nesting that they allow themselves to be lifted off 

 their nest, and the down of which it is formed to be 

 taken away without deserting it. I saw a few eider- 

 ducks swimming about in the bay, amongst num- 

 erous cormorants and other birds. The rocks along 

 the coast are inhabited by a great number of wild- 

 cats, otters, etc., who live here in tolerable peace, 

 as the game is not much looked after excepting in 

 particular localities. Indeed, the ground near the 

 coast here is not well adapted for grouse. The 

 keeper showed me at his house an immense cat, 

 which he said was bred between a tame and a wild 

 cat ; and though such an occurrence is very rare, 

 I am sure that he was correct in this instance. 

 The animal showed certain peculiarities of his wild 

 father's race, in the size and shape of his head, the 

 shortness and roughness of his tail ; and in other 

 points had a likeness to the wild-cat, which, though 

 difficult to explain, was unmistakable. I have 

 seen this resemblance to both parents in mules of 

 different kinds, such as a mule between blackcock 

 and pheasant, or pheasant and common fowl, in all 

 winch birds something catches an accustomed eye 

 which immediately points out what the parents 



