DEC. END OF SOJOURN IN MORAY. 73 



December, in this part of the island, is seldom a 

 very cold or boisterous month ; our principal storms 

 of snow and wind come with the new year. Fre- 

 quently indeed there is no covering of snow on that 

 part of the county which hes within the influence of 

 the sea-air till February. 



During the first days of snow and storm a con- 

 stant immigration of larks takes place ; these birds 

 continuing to arrive from seaward during the whole 

 day, and frequently they may be heard flying in 

 after it is dark. They come flitting over in a con- 

 stant straggling stream, not in compact flocks ; and 

 pitching on the first piece of ground which they find 

 uncovered with snow, immediately begin searching 

 for food ; feeding indiscriminately on insects, small 

 seeds, and even on turnip leaves, when nothing else 

 can be found. 



The wagtails frequent the sheepfolds near the 

 shore, and keep up an active search for the insects 

 which are found about these animals. 



And now having brought my readers (if the 

 patience of any of them has enabled them to follow 

 me so far) to the end of the year, and of my so- 

 journ in Moray, I must say — Farewell. 



I have aimed neither at book-making, nor at 



VOL. II. E 



