Birds. 9171 
massive trunks, but crowned with a profusion of lateral branches, on 
which the nests are placed. My arrival was no sooner announced 
than there was a general rising of the whole colony, with a deafening 
clamour; but ere long they were dropping singly or in pairs among 
the branches, in their usual awkward manner, but none did I observe 
on the nests, though one was seen carrying sticks. All seemed bustle 
and confusion, without any perceptible result, though they may have 
been choosing a new site or asserting their claim to an old one: 
I saw but one fight, and that not @ V'outrance. On the 10th of March 
I had another look at the rookery; some of the nests were well nigh 
completed, but I saw no rooks on them during the half-hour that 
I remained on the spot, though they continued flying round and about 
the trees. One with building materials, on seeing me, alighted in a 
ploughed field. 
- Yellow Bunting.—F¥ebruary 27. A bird of this species was observed 
to have commenced building. 
Wigeon.—March 4. Some were observed on Loch Spynie. 
Teal.—March 4. A few teal were observed on the Loch. 
Egyptian Goose-—March 4. Some very large water-fowl were seen ; 
their black and white plumage led me to believe they belong to this 
species. 
Curlew.—March. Several were seen about the Loch. 
Heron.—March. A large heron was observed standing knee-deep in 
the water of the Loch, perfectly motionless, with rigidly outstretched 
neck and head, intently watching its finny prey; but its patience 
must have been sorely tried, for during the half-hour or so that I 
watched it through a glass it neither struck at fish or frog, and moved 
its head but once as if about to dart, but the motion was so slight and 
sudden as to be hardly perceptible. But for the glass the heron 
might have been mistaken for a stranded log, so inanimate did it 
appear. The fish doubtless are deceived too. 
Gray Plover.—March 8. A few were observed, also lapwings; but 
the latter have been seen, though in no great numbers, throughout the 
winter. 
Wood Pigeon.—March 10. Observed a flock, numbering some 
hundreds, rise from a turnip-field. 
-Blackthroated Diver —March 17. An immature bird of this species, 
shot at Speymouth, was brought to me for sale, but being much 
injured it was not purchased. 
Bernacle Goose-—March 28. A handsome old bird, but slightly 
wounded, was shown me. 
