•84 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS chap. 



flocks, especially the latter, which birds remain here during the 

 whole winter, appearing in greater or lesser flocks according 

 to the temperature. In severe weather the fields near the sea- 

 shore, and the shore itself, are sometimes nearly covered by 

 themi When the snow^-buntings first arrive, in October and 

 November, they are of a much darker colour than they are 

 afterwards as the winter advances. * If -there is much snow, 

 they put on a white plumage immediately. I do not know 

 how this change of colour is effected, but it is very visible, and 

 appears to depend entirely on the severity of the season. They 

 feed a great deal on the shore.- When flying they keep in 

 close rank, but as soon as they alight the whole company in- 

 stantly disperse, and run (not jump, like nlany small birds) 

 quickly about in search of their food, which consists principally 

 of small insects and minute seeds. They often pitch to look 

 'for these on the barest parts of the sand-hills, the dry sands 

 alvijays producing a number of small flies and beetles. So fine 

 and dry is the sand which composes the hillocks and plains of 

 that curious district, that every beetle and fly that walks or 

 crawls over its surface in calm and dry weather' leaves its track 

 as distinctly marked on the finely-pulverised particles, as the 

 rabbit or hare does on snow. The footprints of the lizards, 

 which abound there, are very neatly and distinctly marked, till 

 the first breath of wind drifting the sand erases the impressions. 

 One of my children brought home a large lizard one day, and 

 put it into a box, intending to keep it as a pet ; boys having 

 strange tastes in the animals which they select as favourites. 

 I remember that when I was a boy at school, I was the owner 

 of. three living pets — a rat, a bat, and a snake, all of which 

 lived and flourished for some months under my tender care, 

 notwithstanding the occasional edicts sent forth from head- 

 quarters against any living animal whatever being kept in the 

 schoolroom. But to return to the lizard in the box. The 

 next morning, to the children's great delight, the lizard had 

 become much reduced in circumference, but had produced four 

 young ones, who were apparently in full and vigorous enjoyment 

 of life. They were voted, at a consultation of the children, to 

 be entitled to, and worthy of liberty, and were all (mother and 

 children) carefully put into the garden, in a sunny corner under 

 the wall. For my own part, I can see nothing more disgusting 



