852 The Zoologist — August, 1867. 



but got no eggs, it being too early, and the winter and spring being 

 severe. 



Saturday, May 11. — Fished Cama Loch, where we took a few rooks' 

 eggs (they have only come there during the last year or so), and saw 

 common gulls and one dipper, which must have had young near, and 

 one blackheaded bunting. 



Monday, May 13. — Got curlew's nest whh four eggs. I have found 

 many curlews' nests in Stirlingshire, but never found more than three 

 eggs in each nest before. We were informed, however, that four is the 

 usual number in each nest here ; and we afterwards found another 

 nest also with four. Saw one whirabrel ; they are scarce, but do breed 

 in the county. Saw blackthroatcd divers on ouc loch, but no traces of 

 the nest yet. 



Wednesday, May 15. — Saw one buzzard, which flew over our heads 

 when we were fishing Loch Bhallan (pronounced " Vallan "). A 

 curlew chased it for a long distance and then returned to the neigh- 

 bourhood of its nest. Took an egg or two from a grouse's nest, which 

 was found by Mr. Jesse's retriever " Sailor." 



Thursday, May 16. — After some trouble launched a raft, or double 



pontoon, and went out to an island on Loch to take blackthroated 



diver's eggs. After all our trouble found that it was too early, but we 

 shall get the eggs in a few days. Both birds were swimming on the 

 loch. 



Friday, May 17. — Even the lower hills were covered with snow this 

 morning, and rain fell in the lower ground. Started for Loch Ailsh, 

 in our boat on springs, called " Camaloch ; ".launched her there, and 

 paid a visit to the heronry on the island. The nests were placed in 

 alder and birch-trees, often not six feet from the ground, and were 

 composed of thick heather-roots and pieces of alder-wood outside, 

 lined with heather-tops and moss, and in several I saw green blades of 

 the wild leek (Luzula r), which did not improve the effluvia from the 

 nests. We took and blew several eggs, but most of them were far 

 gone in incubation. We had had a good many eggs taken for us 

 before by the keeper there and others. Also took kestrel's eggs from 

 a low clifl' on a burn near Loch Ailsh. Saw one blackthroated diver, 

 some redbacked mergansers (not yet breeding), ring ouzels, &c. 



Saturday, May 18. — Went to Loch Urigil. First shot a graylag 

 goose from her nest, containing three eggs, which proved perfectly 

 fresh ; they lay from three to five eggs. Took also redshank's, dunlin's, 

 sandpiper's and a lot of lesser blackbacktd gull's eggs from the islands, 



