136 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH. IX. 



proportion to the size of the bird. I saw these 

 plovers on all the elevated moors : in winter they 

 collect and descend towards the shores. 



92. The Dotterel, a rare bird anywhere, breeds 

 on Cleebrick, but is by no means numerous. 



93. The Ring Dotterel is very numerous, breed- 

 ing near the lakes and streams, and also near 

 the sea-shore : they leave the inland parts of the 

 country entirely on the approach of winter. 



94. The Peewit or Lapwing is numerous every- 

 where from the end of February to the end of 

 October. 



95. The Turnstone is only a visitor, not breed- 

 ing here. 



96. The Godwit. 



97. The Sandcrling. 



9 8. The Knot, and a great variety of waders and 

 sandpipers which, not being thoroughly acquainted 

 with throughout all their changes of plumage, I can- 

 not enumerate, swarm on all the sandy and muddy 

 creeks and bays of the county. It would require 

 many years, and a most accomplished naturalist, 

 to describe accurately all the varieties that are to 

 be found on these coasts. I am confident that, 

 at different times, almost every known kind of 

 shore-bird could be procured. 



99. The Oyster -catcher breeds here and re- 



