Birds. 9169 
ploughman, and settling down in the -furrows to pick up the worms 
and grubs: on reaching the eud they momentarily disperse before 
resuming their search. ‘The lapwings, though more numerous, are 
constantly chased by the gulls, but their irregular, jerking, tumbling 
flight secures them from prolonged pursuit. 
Redbreasted Merganser.—December. Shot one on the Frith. 
Garganey Teal——December 14. Found a small flock of garganeys 
a mile or so from the harbour: they allowed us to row within fifty or 
sixty yards of them without taking wing, so I felt confident of securing 
some. ‘Taking deliberate aim at a splendid old male I fired, but ere 
the shot reached him they all dived, rising again at a considerable 
distance, and flying out to sea. Though I endeavoured to get a second 
shot I did not succeed. On an isolated rock, some distance out at sea, 
I saw an innumerable flock of sandpipers reposing about mid-day. 
Black Seoter.—December. Small flocks were frequently seen feeding 
near the surf, but generally out of gun-shot. 
Longlailed Duck.—January 5, 1859. On rowing a mile up the Frith, 
I fell in with a few of these elegant ducks, but their fight is peculiar, 
the tail being so depressed. I found them shy and difficult of ap- 
proach, though feeding just outside the breakers. On being fired at 
they took a long flight, and I was struck with their peculiar but 
meledions note, so like to what one imagines the Holian harp to be: 
I could hardly divest myself of the idea of its being the sound of 
music borne on the breeze. 
Cormorants.—January. Many birds of this common species are to 
be seen. When disturbed or shot at, they retreat to the Beacon Rock, 
where they are unapproachable. A numerous colony has been esta 
blished—probably for ages, the rocks being greatly stained and 
blanched—on the ledges of the lofty and precipitous cliffs to the west- 
ward of the caves. The cormorants may here be seen by scores 
standing in rows, in their usual stiff sedate manner, but when alarmed 
stretching out their necks in an awkward way to peer at the intruder 
beneath, before dropping off and flying out to sea. If a specimen be 
required, the surest way of obtaining it is by making a détowr, and 
appearing suddenly on the edge of the cliff. However, on their 
return of an evening, full fed, they are not so vigilant, or they cannot 
discern an object directly opposed to them. This is observable in 
some animals—the hare, for instance: one that I started ran towards 
a man ploughing a field, nor did it deviate from the direct course till 
it must have heard the trampling of the horses; it then bounded ats at 
a right angle. 
VOL. XXII. 2R 
