2 
BLACK-HEADED GUI.L. 
boats that liavo done so mucli in remote distriets was broiiglit to the spot. On the 15th of June, after exploring 
all the islands and the nearest portions of the swamps to which I could make my way, as well as obtaining a few 
young of this species in the down for specimens, I turned to paddle to the shore where the keepers were 
awaiting my return. Nearly the whole of the juveniles that were still unfledged had now joined into one large 
body of perhaps twelve or fifteen hundred, and were swimming in front of my boat, when I noticed four s ma ll 
sharp-winged birds fly up from the surface of the water in front of the swarm, and after skimming round two 
or three times, alight on the shore close to where the men were making preparations for my arrival and the 
repacking of my craft. I had but little doubt the tiny strangers were Ked-necked Phalaropes, and one of the 
keepers who came from my shootings at Innerwick in Glenlyon, in the west of Perthshire, called out that such 
was the fact before I landed. This man had been present one evening the year before in September, when I 
obtained a Grey Phalarope in a marshy field near the banks of the river Lyon, and was well aware, from having 
looked over a work on natural history, that there was another species. The birds took little notice of us after 
I came on shore, and showed not the slightest signs of alarm, running up occasionally while feeding within 
half a dozen yards, and picking about among the stones by the water-side. At this date I imagined the two 
pairs must have selected their breeding-quarters, and consequently no attempt was made to interfere with them 
before their nest had been detected. After remaining till our portable boat had been emptied of the air and 
stowed away in its case, and our refreshments were consumed, we moved to a low ridge at the distance of about a 
couple of hundred yards, so that a watch might be kept on the Phalaropes through the glasses, to ascertain if 
any of their number made off towards likely spots where their eggs might be concealed. As the birds all kept 
together and gave no signs of leaving the loch-side, I came to the conclusion that they could not yet have 
commenced nesting-operations, and determined to take advantage of the first opportunity to obtain a shot. On 
reaching the shore one pair was observed flying round at a low elevation over the water, and just before I came 
within range the others rose and joined them ; the whole party then sAvept upwards to a higher elevation 
than I had previously noticed and made straight off tOAvards the north-cast. Though a constant Avatcli Avas 
kept for a fortnight or three weeks with but feAV hours’ intermission, both night and day, these AA^anderers 
Avere never observed again in the same locality, and there is little doubt they Avere only on their way to more 
northern breeding-quarters. I have always regretted that these Red-necked Phalaropes AA^ere alloAved to escape, 
and should hav'C secured them at once, only the fact that a nest and pair of birds had been previously 
obtained at a loch but a few miles distant induced me to believe that these pairs might already have taken 
up their summer-quarters. 
Early one morning a Aveek or two later, just as the mist Avas clearing off at daybreak, I reached the shores 
of the loch, and taking up a position among some large dead stumps of trees proceeded to Avait and make 
observations in hopes that our old friends the Phalaropes might again put in an appearance. I had halted on the 
south side facing the bog on Avhich the Gulls had nested on the mainland, and Avas watching one or two that 
appeared excited and Avere SAVooping round uttering loud cries, when a Avild cat came in vieAv picking its way 
stealthily OAmr the swamp AAuth a young Gull in its mouth. I AA^as enabled to see through the glasses that the 
bird, which Avas partially feathered, was dead, and it Avas also obvious that the feline marauder had not discovered 
my presence, a fcAV patches of dead reeds affording ample concealment. UnAA'illing to disturb the birds on the 
loch by a shot, I allowed the animal to depart unmolested with its prey, and it Avas soon lost sight of, having 
turned towards the north, its quarters being probably among the hills near Ben Armine. 
At a rush-groAvn loch connected by a small stream, naA’igahle for my punt, Avith Loch Slyn near Tain in 
the east of Ross-shire, there was another breeding-place of this species, where immense numbers of nests Avere 
scattered about among the beds of rushes Avhere the birds could find situations sufficiently dry and raised above 
high-Avater mark Avlien floods occurred. On the 13th of May, 1869, 1 took an egg of a pale blue shade, 
resembling the tint of the egg of a IVheatear, Avithout any markings ; the other egg in the nest proA'ed to be of 
