ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 47 



course of my walk two others. I expected to find 

 plenty of the common sandpiper (Totanus hypoleucos), 

 as I believe they frequent this place at times in great 

 numbers ; but on this occasion I did not see one. 

 After a brisk walk of about three-quarters of a mile, I 

 sprang a few dunlin (Trlnga variabilis), who usually 

 flew rapidly across an arm of the loch, and generally lit 

 upon some muddy flat projecting into very shallow 

 water. I followed up some of these birds, and on firing 

 winged two of them at a shot ; rushing into the water, 

 I secured them both in very nice condition and good 

 plumage. I afterwards killed two more one, in par- 

 ticular being a fine adult bird. This I have of course 

 added to my collection. 



I now reached some very curious perpendicular 

 stones, standing up at various distances apart, upon 

 the bare turf, in a striking manner, and visible from a 

 great distance. They are something similar to those 

 at Stonehenge, with the exception that they have no 

 top or cross stone from one to another. The most 

 celebrated of them all, I am sorry to say, is not now 

 standing. It was used from time out of mind as a 

 " plighting-stone," being perforated with a curious hole 

 through which lovers were accustomed to exchange 

 their vows and pledges of attachment. They were 

 doubtless the places of worship of the anqient Scandi- 

 navians. 



