Birds. 6969 



them visit us in passing to and from their breeding grounds ; but I am 

 not aware of any ever having been obtained. 



Common Shieldrake {Anas tador?ia). This pretty bird is only a 

 winter visitor with us, and then not in large numbers. 



Shoveller (A. clypeala). This pretty bird is quite a rarity here. 

 In the latter part of the winter of 1837 — 8, which was of great 

 severity here, a mutilated specimen of the shoveller was found dead 

 amongst the rocks at Blackpots. This, a male in splendid plumage, 

 is the only one I have seen or heard of here. 



Gadwall {A. strepera). Another great rarity, so far as L am aware ; 

 one, a female, procured in the Diveron, by Dr. Leslie, about the time 

 the shoveller above alluded to was picked up, is the only one 1 

 know of. 



Pintail Duck [A. acuta). I remember being aroused rather early 

 one morning, many years ago, by a loud knocking at the street door, 

 and a person calling out at the top of his voice, " Rise, man ! rise ! 

 IVe brought a rare bird t' ye — a duke ! " Being awake I immediately 

 jumped up; but had I been sound asleep I believe the words "rare 

 bird " would have awoke me. On seeing the bird I was delighted at 

 beholding a beautiful male pintail. It had been shot the night 

 before, on the Diveron. They have, I believe, been seen on the 

 Spey also. 



Wild Duck [A. hoschas). Plentiful, especially in winter. Among 

 the sandy bents almost close to the ocean's verge, and on the tops of 

 our heath-clad hills and moors, I have found this species breeding ; 

 also on a tree about thirteen feet from the ground, and on a rock in 

 the craigs ofAlvah. This latter nest was placed on a ledge fully thirty 

 feet above the water, and had eight or nine feet of perpendicular rock 

 above it. There is a hill near here which I believe they used fre- 

 quently to nestle on, but which they have now quite deserted, — a hill 

 to which I have already alluded, — viz.. Fern or Whin Hill, better 

 known as Gallow Hill. It was on this hill, or rather piece of ground, 

 for it hardly deserves the name of hill, that the celebrated freebooter 

 M'Pherson finished his earthly career. It is a rough and stony place 

 where he lies, covered with heath and whin. The pheasant and 

 wild duck used not unfrequently to breed on his very grave. On a 

 small island on the Diveron stood a tall old poplar. About five feet 

 from the ground it divided into two arms, one stretching upwards, 

 whilst the other bent over the river, and it is with this one that we 

 are most concerned. In 1839 the Diveron, like the other rivers in 

 Scotland, rose far above its usual height, so high indeed that it 

 XVIII. 2 A 



