30 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CII. III. 



loch. On coming nearer, we could distinguish the 

 white head of the female osprey on the nest. The 

 male bird was not in view. It was determined that I 

 should remain concealed near the loch, while ray two 

 companions went for the boat. This plan was 

 adopted for the double reason that I might be at 

 hand to shoot any hooded crow who might attempt 

 to take the eggs while the osprey was off, she having 

 left the nest on our approach, and also that I might 

 have a chance of shooting the old osprey herself in 

 case she came within shot. I must say that I would 

 rather she had escaped this fate ; but as her skin 

 was wanted, I agreed to try to kill her. 



For some time after the departure of my com- 

 panions she flew round and round at a great height, 

 occasionally drifting away with the high wind, and 

 then returning to the loch. She passed two or three 

 times, not very far from me, before I shot at her. 

 But at last I fired, and the poor bird, after wheeling 

 blindly about for a few moments, fell far to leeward 

 of me, and down amongst the most precipitous 

 and rocky part of the mountain, quite dead. She 

 was scarcely down behind the cliffs when I heard 

 the cry of an osprey in quite a different direction, 

 and on looking that way I saw the male bird 

 flying up from a great distance. As he came 

 nearer, I could distinguish plainly with my glass 



