1068 The Zoologist — February, 1868. 



forest three or four distinct colonies of this bird : they had chosen for 

 their .nesting-places islands in the centre of a loch, also some rushy 

 patches in the centre of a swamp. Very few of the young birds were 

 off yet, but most of the eggs were too strongly incubated for blowing. 

 These colonies reminded me of the one at Twigmoor, near Brigg. In 

 both places I noticed the gulls occasionally settle on the pine and 

 spruce firs. A nest was taken of what we supposed was the spotted 

 rail. In this forest, and also at Altyre, the common crossbill is 

 found throughout the year in great numbers, and the nests are, I 

 am told, not uncommon in the early spring. 1 have an egg given me 

 by a youth who took a nest last spring. The siskin also breeds here, 

 according to the testimony of the keeper. Among the heather 

 I noticed many Argynnis- Euphrosyne, and several three-spotted 

 dragon-flies. I never saw a more likely place for adders, and 

 although I searched diligently for them I never saw one. It 

 is strange that, although the country is so well adapted for these 

 reptiles,. they are very rarely seen, and then only "of small size. The 

 common ringed snake (Coluber natri.v) is unknown, and the only 

 other reptiles I have seen were the small lizard among the 

 heather, probably Zootoca vivipara, the blindworm, land efts and 

 frogs. 



Knock of Brne Moray. — On the 18th of June, in company with 

 Messrs Hislop and Terry, drove, by way of Duniphail, to the "Knock 

 of Brae Moray," a moory eminence 1300 feet high, and some twelve 

 miles from Forres. The whole way there was through the glorious 

 Altyre woods, quite studded with beautiful Fungi, now becoming 

 more plentiful. Noticed many species of Lactarius and several Boleti. 

 Caught several lizards on the lop of a stone wall. On the Knock I 

 found a grouse's nest with cgns, which is very late. Saw many young 

 grouse recently hatched. .The view from the top of the Knock was 

 magnificent: the picturesque Loci) Endorb just below us, while 

 towards the N.W. were Ben Wy vis and other high lands in Sutherland- 

 shire and Caithness, all more or less snow-Becked, while towards the 

 South were the Cairngorm group, with lien Muich Dhui, yet heavily 

 mantled with snow. Caught among the heather a specimen of the 

 ruby tiger moth [Arctia fuUgimw). Squirrels are excessively 

 numerous in the woods here, doing much damage by biting off the 

 tops from the larch and pine trees, thus destroying the lead. I 

 noticed the tails of some specimens were very pale, almost white 

 in colour. 



