62 A VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE MORAY BASIN. 



beautified by art. All kinds of hardwood and coniferse flourish, 

 and, for cover for game, rhododendrons abound. It was on the 

 rocks above, where the river issues from the loch, that the fir-trees 

 stood in which, years ago, a pair or two of Kites used to build ; it 

 is almost needless to add that they exist there no longer. Beyond 

 the pretty and most comfortable inn at Invergarry, the oak is the 

 most common of the hardwood, and these trees extend along 

 the banks of the river Oich almost to Tort Augustus, and no- 

 where have we such a display of primroses as when driving from 

 the inn to meet the steamer at Cullochy locks. On the right hand 

 of the mouth of the river are the spacious grounds and large 

 modern mansion of Invergarry, and a little to the south stands 

 the keep of Glengarry Castle, the old residence of the Macdonells, 

 the former owners of the Glengarry property ; this old ruin even 

 yet belongs to them, all that still remains of their vast territory. 

 Loch Oich is a shallow loch, some three miles in length, and 

 barely half a mile broad in its widest part, and yields good 

 salmon-fishing in the early months. 



The only other loch of any importance in this district is Loch 

 Lundie, whose waters join the river just above the inn. This loch 

 has a good many pairs of Common Gulls breeding along its edges, 

 and at one end, which is marshy, a small colony of Black-headed 

 Gulls has lately established itself ; a pair of Black-throated Divers 

 also had a nest on one of the points. Greenshanks, too, were seen 

 in the vicinity ; and in a small wood the Tree Pipit was observed. 



The principal newly made plantations in this district are 

 situated mostly at the west end of Loch Oich extending as far as 

 the river Garry, the rest of the property being abundantly supplied 

 with natural woods ; the old pine forests have mostly disappeared, 

 except a little at the south-west end of Loch Garry. 



Loch Oich, into which the Garry flows from the west side, and 

 about half-way down its length, is nearly four miles long, and for 

 the most part very shallow. Its shores on the west side are 

 clothed with wood, the larger plantations of fir lying on the south- 

 west side of the Garry. Close to the river, and on the same side, is 

 the house of Invergarry, a fine view of which, and of the keep of the 

 old castle of Glengarry, is had from the steamer on her way up or 



