138 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH. IX. 



109. The Water-rail is not uncommon in the 

 winter, but from its retired habits is seldom seen : 

 it may perhaps breed in the larger tracts of reeds 

 and rushes, though I have never heard of its nest 

 being found. 



110. The Whimbrel breeds in the northern and 

 most retired parts of the country ; I saw several 

 on the island of Handa in the month of June. 1 



111. The Heron is common everywhere, though 

 the only breeding-place that I know of is near 

 Louberoy, on the Oykel river, where these birds 

 breed on an island in a loch situated some two 

 miles from the roadside. 



112. The Bittern is rare: but I have heard its 

 cry near Shinness, on Loch Shin. 



113. That very pretty and elegant little bird 

 the Bed-necked Bhalarope is found in the breeding 

 season, but only rarely. I saw a pair close to 

 Loch Naver in the month of June : they evidently 

 had a nest not far from the spot. 



The varieties of water-fowl are very numer- 

 ous, and no doubt the county is visited by 

 nearly every known European species at different 

 seasons. 



114. The Common Wild Swan, and 



115. Bewick's Swan, are not uncommon during 

 the winter. Their appearance in any of the sea- 



1 See Appendix, page 354. 



