346 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



are usually as high above the surface as the surrounding 

 ground. On these mounds the birds, for the most part, rear 

 their young with safety. Great numbers of eggs are de- 

 stroyed, however, as, in consequence of there not being space 

 enough on the detached portions for the multitude of birds 

 that resort hither in the season, numbers of nests are built 

 on the margins of the pools, which are robbed by herd- 

 boys and occasional visitors. I have seen some excellent 

 specimens of the Arctic skua shot in the neighbourhood of 

 these lochs in spring last by a collector. The lesser black- 

 backed gull does not restrict itself apparently in the choice 

 of a situation for breeding, as its nest may be found in- 

 land on these moors, as well as on the " stacks " frequented 

 by the great black-backed and herring gulls. In the inland 

 district above-mentioned, the curlew breeds regularly, and 

 I have good reason to believe that it also forms a breeding- 

 station of the whimbrel (Numenius phwopus). The nest of 

 the kestrel may frequently be met with along the east coast. 

 A few pairs of peregrines still manage to rear a brood here 

 and there amidst the precipitous rocks, but this bird exists 

 in greatly diminished numbers. The sparrow-hawk is much 

 rarer with us than the two species above-mentioned, or than 

 the hen-harrier or merlin. The hen-harrier is known to 

 breed in a retired hilly district about twenty miles from Wick. 

 The merlin, the smallest and most beautiful of our falcons, 

 builds its nest among the heather, usually selecting a situa- 

 tion where the growth is luxuriant and abundant. On one 

 occasion, some years ago, I accompanied a gamekeeper and 

 his two sons on an expedition to the hills of Yarrows, dis- 

 tant about seven miles from Wick. The object of the expe- 

 dition was the destruction of a couple of merlins, which had 

 built their nest amidst the heather on a gentle slope, which 

 ran backward from a narrow valley or ravine. It was anti- 

 cipated that, by keeping this hollow until opposite the nest, 

 both birds might perchance be secured in its neighbourhood. 

 The desired point was reached, the guns (three) were pre- 

 pared, and the trio were just on the point of leaving their 

 hiding-place, when the shriek of the male bird, giving the 

 alarm, was heard, and on looking up the little fellow was 

 descried far overhead, sailing in circles, and anxiously watch- 



