SEA-FOWL SHOOTING IN THE FIETH OF FORTH. 145 



The oyster-catchers (" sea-pyats ") also held a meeting on the 

 rocks of the Lamb. I was anxious to hear of the great nor- 

 thern diver, and one of our crew told me that he had some- 

 times seen it, and once fired a great many shots at a splendid 

 " loon " without effect. The red-throated diver now and then 

 rose near our boat, which he pointed out as a " gurl." The 

 raven had shifted its quarters from the Bass to Fiddery, and, 

 when nearing the islet, we noticed the pair flying across to 

 the opposite shore. The nest was under a screen of rock im- 

 mediately overhanging a perpendicular cliff. It was quite 

 snug from the weather. Although we could not see into the 

 nest, there were most likely eggs, as the raven lays so early. 

 All winter, the great cormorant roosts at night upon the Bass. 

 They were now in their superb breeding plumage, and, from 

 the white patch of feathers on each thigh, they have obtained 

 the flash name of the " Letter o' marque." The boatmen 

 fancied the birds under three years, which had not this 

 mark, a distinct species. We saw numbers flying backwards 

 and forwards, or sitting patient upon a rock, imparting to it 

 their own silent mournful character. Their credentials were 

 quite apparent to the naked eye. The wind was in the wrong 

 direction for landing, or I could easily have procured a 

 " Letter-o'-marque " flying to its perch in the evening, as they 

 had not yet abandoned their winter dormitory. 



