CHAP. XIII. | The Rev. Mr. Boyd. 233 
of the number of wild fowl that frequent it, or that breed 
among the islands and marshes at its western extremity. 
The Rev. Mr. Boyd was the parish minister of Crimond. 
His hospitable manse was always open to Edward when he 
visited the neighborhood. In one of Mr. Boyd’s letters to 
Edward, he said: “We have exactly the sort of room that 
will suit you, and you will be left at liberty to pursue your 
researches at your convenience; the room being so situated 
that you can go out or come in at any hour of the day or 
night, without any one being the wiser. There will always 
be something in the cupboard to refresh you before start- 
ing at day-break, or when you come home at night, though 
every one in the house may be asleep. And you may con- 
tinue with us the whole week, if you be so disposed. My 
coble will always be at your service, and I hope to be able 
to accompany you on some of your rambles, though I am 
not nearly so agile now as I have been..... Mrs. Boyd is 
now quite well, though she had a long illness after you were 
here; and we have a young specimen of zoology to show 
you which is worth all the rare birds of Strathbeg put to- 
gether !” 
The number of water-fow] that Edward found about the 
loch was very great. During winter-time it was the haunt 
of birds from far and near, in prodigious numbers. In 
sumnmer-time it was the breeding-place of numerous birds 
of a different kind. The people of the neighborhood say 
that “all the birds of the world come here in winter.” In 
angry weather, when the ocean is tempest-tossed, the sea- 
birds fly in, and, mingling with the natives, constitute a very 
motley group. The number of birds is so great that when 
a gun is fired they rise en masse, and literally darken the air, 
while their noise is perfectly deafening. 
The swans are among the largest birds that frequent the 
loch. Edward found the beautiful white hooper (Cygnus 
ferus), and the no less fair and elegant Polish swan (Cyg- 
nus immutabilis). The geese were innumerable: the bean 
