ELGIN. 



1851-2. 



December 23rd, 1851. The thrushes and missel-thrushes 

 have been singing ever since the beginning of the month. 



Badgers do not remain so much in their holes during cold 

 weather as people suppose. I frequently find their tracks in the 

 snow. Not a wounded duck appears to escape them (and the foxes) 

 about Spynie. 



I see several peregrines about, both old and young birds. 



January 7th, 1852. The woods at Loch-na-bo full of tom- 

 tits of three kinds, golden-crested wrens, crossbills, etc. Saw a 

 peregrine, a hen-harrier, a sparrow-hawk, and a merlin pass the 

 road near us within a few hundred yards of each other. 



February 3rd. Went to the Loch of Spynie in the afternoon. 

 A great many ducks of all kinds, and also large flocks of peewits. 

 The first time that I have seen them this spring I shot a gull (im- 



