NOTES FROM S.W. SUTHERLAND. 507 
The Red-breasted Merganser breeds on all the lochs and 
rivers in the neighbourhood, and comes down to the sea as soon 
as the young can fly. Broods of from five to nine were constantly 
seen. In stormy weather they come close in shore among the 
islands, and are then easily shot. They are most destructive to 
salmon and trout fry. 
At South Morar a pair of Red-throated Divers frequented an 
isolated rock a short distance from the shore; they would come 
regularly about the same hour. The Common Guillemot was 
plentiful everywhere; the old females and young ones up to the 
14th September had not collected in flocks. The Black Guillemot 
was also common, and the same remarks apply to this as to the 
last-mentioned species. In August only a few Cormorants were 
seen, but later on this bird became more plentiful, and a con- 
siderable number frequented the rocks and small islands. In 
September Gannets became more numerous about South Morar. 
In Loch-na-Nuagh, Arasaig, large numbers follow the shoals of 
herrings. These are generally birds in adult plumage, young 
birds being not at all common. The fishermen always look to 
the arrival of the Gannets as indicative of a plentiful haul of 
herrings. 
The Common Tern is very plentiful, both at Arasaig and 
South Morar. Young ones hardly able to fly were seen on the 
27th August, the parents very solicitous and feigning being 
wounded when the boat came near the rocks where the young 
birds had hidden themselves along the crevices. The Arctic 
Tern was also common: this bird fishes somewhat like the 
Gannet, and darts down with great rapidity on the small fish, 
even to immerging itself. A few of the Lesser Tern were observed 
about Loch-na-Nuagh and coast of South Morar. I saw a pair 
also on Loch Morar. 
The Black-headed Gull was common. Very few Gulls of any 
species were observed on the coast in August, but they became 
more numerous in September; until then they had not left the 
inland lochs, which they frequent in the summer months in large 
numbers for the purpose of breeding, &c. A few Kittiwakes were 
observed on the coast, and numbers on Loch Morar. They were 
very solicitous of their offspring. A pair attacked a Heron which 
flew near their young, and so mobbed him that he was obliged to 
alight and defend himself with his beak; they never ceased their 
