80 INVERERNE. 



frequently look scarcely larger than rabbits, whereas the female 

 hares appear to be fatter than at any time of the year. 



Great numbers of black-headed gulls both in the fields and 

 on the bay. In the fields they follow every plough that is at 

 work, picking up the worms and grubs that are turned up. 

 Einged dotterels also are come in flocks. 



March 9th. Went to Lochlee. Saw no swans or geese, 

 but great numbers of mallard, wigeon, and teal, a few golden- 

 eyes and morillons, but was unlucky in getting few shots. I 

 saw tracks of several roe in the moss coming home, but no ducks 

 anywhere, except about the lochs. Saw also two or three jack- 

 snipe. The ground covered with snow by eight o'clock this 

 evening. The hills were white in the middle of the day. (Wind 

 KE.) 



A very fine drake wigeon which I killed to-day was not 

 nearly in full plumage, though a remarkably heavy and large 

 bird. 



March 1 Oth. The ground covered with snow, and in the 

 evening a hard frost. Thousands of larks and golden plovers in 

 the fields, and a great many mallards in the open pools about 

 the island. 



All the wigeon which I killed this winter have been in very 

 good condition. The black-backed gulls very noisy in the bay. 



March 12th. From Snowie I went beyond Milton Brodie to 

 the Moss of Erneside to look for geese, but saw none. Indeed, 

 there is scarcely an acre of ground in the whole country un- 

 disturbed, what with sheep, cattle, men, women, and herd boys, and 

 in all the low country there is not a safe place for a partridge or 

 other bird to build her nest in. Eennie complains loudly of the 

 country being " quite spoilt by drainage and improvements." 



March 1 3th. Walked to Forres and to the Moy Burn, 

 where there were several otter tracks. As usual all the tracks 

 on the banks were going up the stream, showing that the animal 

 does not leave the water when going down to fish. 



March 16th. I walked to-day across the sandhills as far as 

 the shore. In a kind of loch made by the sea, I saw a great 



