6 
The Scottish Naturalist. 
Kingussie and Aviemore, but flying visits were made as far as the 
head of Glen Feshie on the one hand, and Grantown on the 
other. The distance between these two places is fully twenty- 
five miles, and the intervening country includes some of the finest 
scenery in Scotland. The Spey is here already a noble river, 
flowing through a narrow belt of meadow and common with 
patches of cultivation at intervals, and receiving the waters of 
several important tributaries — the Tromie and the Feshie, for in- 
stance, on the right, and the Dulncin on the left. At Insch the 
river widens into a loch, about a mile long by half-a-mile broad. 
Finer still are Loch-an-Eilan and Loch Morlich, in whose waters 
pine-tree and mountain-top are reflected with exquisite efi'ect. 
Birch-woods abound, especially on the north-west side of the 
valley, stretching in some parts from the river's bank to the lower 
slopes of the Monadhliath Mountains, which rise to a height of 
from 2500 to 3000 feet. On the opposite side the pine-woods 
predominate, reaching their greatest extent in the forests of 
Rothiemurchus and Abernethy, though the finest trees are pro- 
bably to be seen at Castle Grant. Behind these pine-woods rise 
the Cairngorms, whose remoter summits — Cairn Toul (4,241 ft.) 
and Braeriach (4,248 ft.) — excite the enthusiasm of the mountain- 
eer. The country abounds in interest to the student of l>ritish 
Ornithology, for its woods, lochs, and mountains are the liaunts 
of such rare species as the Crested Tit, the Osprey, and the 
Dotterel. 
1. Tardus viscivoms (Missel Thrush). 
Abundant throughout the valley, and often seen well up the 
hill-sides : mostly in flocks, feeding on the berries of the 
various species of Vacciiiium, Arctostaphytos, and Eniprtnim^ 
which grow in great profusion on the moors and commons : 
also observed feeding on juniper-berries and bird-cherries. 
In Glen Feshie, on 2nd September, I counted over <So all 
in the air at one time. 
2. Turdus musicus (Song Tlirush). 
Generally distributed, but not nearly so numerous as the above. 
3. Turdus merula (Blackbird). 
Much the same as the Song Thrush in numbers and distri- 
bution. 
4. Turdus torquatus (Ring Ouzel). 
Seen singly, or in small parties, in suitable spots in several 
