CONTENTS. XV 



THE PEAT ISLE 



Page 



Its attractions for wild-fowl. Spring and summer visitors. Winter, 

 or the season. Crowded with company at that time. The Castle 

 of Galbraith. Eight days' duck-stalking during the gay season, 234 



HAWKING 



Varieties of British falcons and hawks. Their capabilities. Sparrow- 

 hawk and teal. Hawk and wild-duck. A pupil of John Ander- 

 son. Peregrines of Glen-Douglas. An October hawking-day. 

 Flying the hawk at snipe. At crows and magpies, . . 254 



THE BASS ROCK 



Its effect when first seen. Numerous varieties of sea-fowl. Raven 

 and peregrine. Martyrs' cells. The look down. A ponderous 

 son of Vulcan floored. A pithy smuggler. Cliffmen. Old Jack. 

 Canty Bay, 259 



ON EAGLES 



The golden-eagle. The sea-eagle. The osprey, . . . 268 



THE KITE . . . . . . . .282 



OWLS 



rt The hoolet " no favourite with the common people. Curious habits 

 of two tame ivy-owls. Tame white owls. They occasionally 

 hoot. Less nocturnal than the brown. Hospitality to guests. 

 The long-eared owl. Builds in the Castle Rock of Edinburgh. 

 The short-eared owl, . . . . . .286 



WILD PIGEONS 



The cushat or wood-pigeon. Spring habits. Winter flocks. A white 

 ring-dove. The stranger. Wild pigeon or stock-dove. Not the 

 stocker of the pigeon-house. Rock-doves the wild originals of 

 the dove-cot. The turtle-dove, ..... 295 



ROCK AND RIVER OUSELS 



Rock-ousels gregarious in autumn. Feed on fruit. Hatch in low 

 bushes on lonely waste ground. Young have no ring. The river- 

 ousel also a bird of solitude in spring. Frequents the mountain 



