Red Grouse (Lagopus scoticus).—There are a very fair number of Grouse in the east mainland, and owing to efficient protection they are on the increase. Bags of fifteen to twenty-five brace are made over dogs in the early part of the season. Later on they become wilder, and after rough weather such as prevailed during the second week in October they pack, and are then practically unapproachable; the old cocks, which generally remain solitary, are very difficult to get near at any time, running in front of the dogs for hundreds of yards. At this time of the year, when the crops are being got in, the birds are mostly to be found on the fringe of the moor, not more than a hundred yards from the cultivated land, on to which they move at night to feed.
Moor-hen (Gallinula chloropus).—Only one was seen, viz. on the Grœmeshall loch on Oct. 3rd.
Coot (Fulica atra).—A flock of twenty to twenty-five Coots live on the loch at Grœmeshall, nesting in the reeds, and apparently staying there all the year round. One pair was seen on the loch at St. Mary's Holm.
Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis).—Several flocks of from twenty to more than a hundred and fifty individuals were always to be found at particular places. At high water they were generally to be seen in the "parks" (meadows enclosed by stone walls), for certain of which they had a special predilection. At low water two or three special places on the ebb were sure finds for them, where they were almost invisible when standing still, so well did their golden plumage harmonise with the yellow seaweed and rocks. Several times I have crawled up to a particular piece of ebb, and carefully examined every part of it with glasses, without seeing anything, till presently a bird would stretch up a wing, and then suddenly some fifty or sixty birds would become visible. In calm weather they were remarkably tame, allowing a near approach in the open, if one did not walk directly at them; but in a gale of wind they were much wilder and very uneasy, continually flying up and settling again at some other spot for apparently no reason at all. At night the flocks appeared to split up, the birds going off in twos and threes to the "parks." Round the margin of the loch they associated with the Green Plover, and to a smaller degree with the Gulls.
