2 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH. I. 



osprey, the wild goose, and many other bh^ds, 

 whose habits are little known, but who in this 

 region breed and rear their young in comparative 

 security. 



The wild cat, marten cat, fox, &c., though 

 seldom seen by daylight, are still tolerably numerous 

 where the ground is not kept for grouse-shooting. 

 In the latter case, however, traps and poison have 

 pretty well destroyed these and all other carnivo- 

 rous animals. 



In the spring of 1848 I made an excursion 

 through some part of the county of Sutherland, 

 which I shall endeavour to describe, in the hope of 

 inducing others to follow my example, being con- 

 fident that whoever does so will find himself amply 

 repaid for his trouble. 



My object in making the journey was to enjoy 

 the magnificent scenery of the north coast, to see 

 and observe the breeding habits and localities of 

 many of the rarer birds of Britain, and to ascer- 

 tain the fact of some of these birds rearing their 

 young in Scotland, which, from the contradictory 

 and uncertain statements of many naturalists, seemed 

 to be a matter of great doubt. Not being a col- 

 lector of eggs or birds myself, I had no wish to 

 destroy more of my feathered friends than suflSced 

 to prove their identity, and to procure a few speci- 



