276 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



A wounded Heron will sometimes swim out of reach to evade 

 capture. I recollect shooting one, which fell with a broken wing 

 into a deep weal in the water of Girvan, from which it did not 

 appear very anxious to make its escape. It swam from one end 

 of the pool to the other and back again with surprising vigour a 

 somewhat unusual and astonishing feat, considering the structure 

 of its paddles. Being on the embankment above the wounded 

 bird, I noticed that it struck out behind with well-timed strokes 

 of its feet, and could readily have escaped had the water been that 

 of a deep loch instead of a river. On landing the bird, and turning 

 it adrift on the banks, it attempted to regain the water, but was 

 immediately assailed by a Scotch terrier I had with me, who ran 

 open-mouthed at the Heron. The attack was instantly met with a 

 defiant look, such as a Heron's eye can assume. The panting 

 terrier stood a second or two irresolute; then, fearing mischief, it 

 suddenly turned round, the wounded bird meanwhile darting its 

 long neck and wedge-shaped bill, and pinning the unfortunate dog 

 with a force both awkward and severe. 



I have been nowhere more struck with the figure of this " grey 

 watcher of the waters " than on the time-stained rocks bordering 

 the lakes of the Outer Hebrides. Having been storm -bound in 

 the island of North Uist for nearly a fortnight in the autumn of 

 1867, I had many opportunities of seeing these watchful creatures 

 " brooding gloomily " on the margins of the salt water creeks near 

 Loch Maddy. On the banks of a nameless lake, which forms the 

 subject of the frontispiece to this volume, I saw one every morning 

 occupying the same stone for twelve successive days. There was 

 no great depth of water at the place, but it was doubtless a lucky 

 perch to the bird and a dangerous rock to many a poor fish. 



THE PUKPLE HERON. 

 ARDEA PURPUREA. 



A SPECIMEN of the Purple Heron, killed in Caithness, is mentioned 

 by the late Mr Wilson as being in the collection of Mr E. S. 

 Sinclair, surgeon, Wick. This occurrence had previously been 

 published by the Eev. Charles Thomson in his statistical account 

 of that parish, dated March, 1841. 



Another example of this rare bird was shot in the parish of 



