3080 Birds. 



to have done and to be satisfied, I arose from my place of conceal- 

 ment. On examining the fish, I found it to be a specimen of the 

 common cod (Morrhua vulgaris) : it was nearly three feet and a half 

 long, and it had been embedded in the sand to about the depth of 

 two inches." 



The second communication from the same individual is marked, if 

 I mistake not, by a similar character to the first. It evinces great 

 closeness, patience and minuteness of observation ; and it brings in- 

 teresting, and so far as I am aware, unrecorded facts to light in the 

 character and economy of the bird to which it refers. 



" Being on the sands of Boyndie one afternoon in the end of Au- 

 gust, I observed several parties of pickietars* busily employed in 

 fishing in the Firth.f As I was in want of a specimen of this bird I 

 loitered about upon the beach, narrowly watching their motions, and 

 hoping that some of them would come within the range of my gun. 

 The scene around was of no common beauty. In the azure heaven not 

 a cloud was to be seen as far as the eye could reach ; and not a breath 

 of wind was stirring the placid bosom of the Firth. The atmosphere 

 seemed a sea, as it were, of living things ; so numerous were the 

 insects that hummed and fluttered to and fro in all directions. The 

 sun, approaching the verge of the horizon, shot long and glimmering 

 bands of green and gold across the broad mirror of the deep. Here 

 and there were several vessels lying becalmed, their whitened sails 

 showing strongly in the vivid light. An additional interest was im- 

 parted by the herring-boats which were congregating in the bay : their 

 loose and flagging sails, the noise of the oars, and the efforts of the 

 rowers, told plainly enough that a hard pull would have to be under- 

 gone before those particular localities were reached where operations 

 were to be commenced against the finny tribes. While I stood sur- 

 veying with delight the extended and gorgeous prospect, and wit- 

 nessing with admiration the indefatigable evolutions of the terns in 

 their search for food, I observed one of them break off from a party 

 of five, and direct his course towards the shore, fishing all the w r ay as 

 he came. It was an interesting sight to behold him as he approached 

 in his flight, at one moment rising and at another descending, now 



* This is the trivial name given along the coast of the Moray Firth to the most 

 common species of tern which is there to be seen. I am unable, however, positively 

 to say whether this is the so-called common tern (Sterna Hirtmdo), or the Arctic tern 

 (Sterna Arctiea). 



f It is the Moray Firth that is here spoken of. 



