64 A VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE MORAY BASIN. 



latterly this has been occupied by Herons. It abounds with 

 pike; and trout, consequently, are scarce. The scenery is wild 

 and gloomy in the extreme ; the heather, where it exists, is poor 

 and stunted, and Grouse are in a decided minority ; the ground is 

 wet and sour, and covered for the most part with deer-hair grass. 

 A Greenshank was observed here, also Black-throated Divers and 

 Goosanders ; and while on the island frequented by the Herons a 

 Merlin appeared chasing a Meadow Pipit, which latter, however, 

 effected its escape. The surrounding hills, being round and covered 

 with vegetation, do not look their height, and have little of the 

 picturesque about them. 



The day on v/hich we visited this loch (Loyne) was wet and 

 dreary, and this may have imparted a similar feeling to our ideas : 

 sunlight makes all the difference to one's impressions of a place. 

 Still, the view of the half loch, half river-like Loch Loyne and 

 Tomdown Inn, with the extent of deer-grass-covered flow in front, 

 is not in accordance with the wilder and grander Glen Garry, its 

 near neighbour. 



Glen Clunie, in its upper parts, is as wild a spot as one could 

 well wish to see. The hills rise on each side to a height of 

 over 3000 feet, more especially on the north side, where the 

 Chaoruinn-mhoir burn conies in. One of these hills, Garbh Leac, 

 indeed, is no less than 3673 feet. After passing Loch Clunie, 

 which we were informed is an excellent fishing loch, the hills are 

 of a less elevation, and the ground of a much less interesting 

 character. 



The Doe — which must not be confounded with the burn on the 

 south side of Loch Ness, and which gives the name Glen Doe to 

 Lord Lovat's forest in that direction — is the last and smallest of 

 the Moriston tributaries, and is, for a mountain burn, of consider- 

 able volume. At its head is some excellent deer ground, especially 

 when a little late in the season and the stags begin to run. 



From the top of Cam a Choire-buidhe, on a fine day, a very 

 good view of the whole course and surroundings of the Doe can 

 be obtained, as well as of part of the lower Clunie. The hills at 

 the head of the water are high, but not by any means rugged or 

 grand; some are covered with coarse black heather, others, 



