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 plmopus). 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- 
