84 



INVERERNE. 



ringed dotterel, and large flights of different sandpipers, etc. I 

 observed a peculiarity in the flight of the oyster-catchers and 

 whimbrels. Large flocks of these birds were constantly alighting 

 on a small island near where I was concealed. The birds in- 

 variably flew down wind to sixty or eighty yards to the leeward 

 of the spot on which they intended to pitch, and then turning 

 round flew back against the wind and alighted with their heads 

 to windward. Of the hundreds that were on the island, not one 

 pitched in any other manner. The snow and rough weather seem 

 to have driven all the grey geese southwards again. All the 

 birds perfectly understand the alarm note of the carrion crow, 

 and I often lose a shot by these birds giving notice of the presence 

 of an enemy as they fly overhead. 



