A I'isit to a Bird Sanctuary. 
191 
Cole beiiiL;- all seen, but it was disappointint? to miss the long- 
tailed Tit on this occasion. Also listed were one or two speci- 
mens of that specialist in bird-life, the Tree Creeper, well named 
from its unicpie mouse-like habits of mounting the rough bark 
of the tree trunks. Those tender migrants the Warblers were 
in evidence everywhere, a Wood Wren, Willow Wren, or White- 
throat seeming to be in every tree. There is also a doubtful 
record of the Chiffchaff, which depends for its place upon a 
shghtly injured specimen picked up in the dusk of a late evening. 
The tiny bird was very like a willow-wren, but seemed to have 
the darker legs which form one of the points of distinction. 
From a dark firwood " the voice of the turtle "—in this case a 
Woodpigeon or Cushat — was heard, but the bird was not 
actually seen. It was disappointing not to hear the note of the 
Grasshopper Warbler where we had recorded it a year ago, but 
from information received it appears that this rare visitant is in 
the district again, winding its tiny reel among the low bushes. 
The mysterious Nightjar was heard uttering his nightly 
'■ churr-r-r " in the distance, but did not come into view. On 
the rapid courses of the rocky mountain burns an occasional 
Water Ousel was to be seen, and was found to be capable of 
giving voice to cjuite a respectable burst of song. In a cleft in 
a rocky face in a dark wood a nest of the Tawny Owl was 
pointed out, and the one youngster it contained was inspected. 
I'ossibly this was the last of a number. As is well known, the 
owl has the rather unusual habit of commencing incubation with 
the laying of ttie first egg, so that young of different sizes arc 
found in the nest, and doubtless leave it in rotation. We learned 
that its diet consisted of rats, young rabbits, and a good many 
small birds. As regards the Hawk-tribe the record is blank, 
save by the inclusion of the remains of two fine Buzzards from 
the beforementioned gibbet. It is unusual not to see a Sparrow- 
hawk or Kestrel, and even the lordly Golden Eagle is an 
occasional visitor to the district. On the hills Grouse were 
noted, and lower down, where heather meets woodland, the 
Black Grouse or Blackcock. Woodcock were numerous, 
especially in the evenings, flying over with snoring, croaking 
notes, alternating with a shriller " chissick." The Pewit, Red- 
shank, Sandpiper, and Curlew were common, less plentiful being 
the Oyster Catcher and Snipe. Thanks to the experience 
