one-eyed one I had seen in the nest in the rock. I at once remembered then seeing the old cock coming in that very direction with the white thing in his claws, and had no doubt but what he was then carrying his young ones carefully away, from their former dangerous home to this ready-made place of safety. The keeper had never come across such a case before, called the Kestrel an "artful dogder," or, perhaps, even something stronger, and was more determined than ever to slay him, so next day we returned very quitely expecting to get a shot at him on the nest, but, to our amazement, found the nest again empty. Judging from the former experience, and knowing of an old sparrow-hawk's nest a few hundred yards to the north, I made for it, and snug enough in it found my oneeyed young friend and his three downy brethren, while high overhead circled the gallant cock, beyond reach of the gun of the vengeful keeper. Next day an underkeeper was sent to the nest with orders to conceal himself at the foot of the tree, and await the cock's coming and shoot him on the nest. However, he might have waited there yet, for after losing all patience he ascended the tree, and found the nest once more empty. Where that much persecuted and devoted bird carried his young the third times I never knew, but I suspect he took them a long distance, for though I searched diligently, far and wide, I could get no further trace of them, only I hope he got them reared in safety as he so richely deserved. This is the only instance I ever knew or heard of, of a bird carrying its young to another nest out of the way of danger, and, as I am positively certain, that there is no mistake about it, I think it worth recording. Latin-Astur palumbarius. GOSHAWK. Gaelic-Gos-sheobhag (Alex. Macdonald), Glas-sheobhag, Seobhag-mor, Seobhag-riabhach. Welsh -Hebog Marthin. The Goshawk is very rare now, though once common enough in all the wooded districts of the Highlands. Lightfoot mentions it as breeding in the forests of Invercauld in his time, and Pennant also tells of its nesting in the woods of Rothiemurchus and Glenmore in 1772. Grey mentions several places in the Highlands where it bred within the last few years. He also mentions a charter of the Avenel family, dated 1235, granting the estates of Eskdale to the monks of Melrose, but reserving the breeding places of the falcons and the very trees on which the Goshawks built, and which were not to be cut down, till it would be seen whether they came back to them next year or not. The Goshawk was the most highly prized of all the short-winged class of hawks for hunting. I am very much inclined to think that the name Gossheobhag and its English equivalent are simply corruptions of its other name "Glas-sheobhag," which certainly is very descriptive of the bird's colour. SPARROW-HAWK. Latin-Accipiter Nisus. Gaelic-Speireag, Speir-sheobhag. Welsh-Gwepia. The Gaelic name of this hawk is very descriptive, meaning literally, "the hawk with long or sharp claws," and certainly to any one seeing this bird for the first time, its long legs and very sharp curved claws are the most striking feature about it. The English name is simply a corruption of "speireag," and has no connection at all with "sparrow," as most people think. This hawk may take an odd sparrow occasionally, but so rarely that it never could have given it its name, as a plump partridge or fat pigeon is far more to its taste, and it is impudent and bold enough to attack and kill a bird three times its own weight and size. A singular instance of daring in a sparrow-hawk occured at Dingwall in November 1870. The hawk seeing a caged canary suspended near a window in the house of Mrs Grigor, from whom I learned the details, dashed through a pane of glass, broke the cage with the impetus of the same blow, and killed its pray as if the deed had been accomplished without any such obstruction as glass or wires. When apprehended, it was found that the hawk had, some time before, been trapped by one of its legs, which was wholly gone from the thigh downwards. I saw both birds about three weeks after the incident happened. I also know a gentleman's house in the North, where a few years ago, a wild pigeon closely followed by a sparrowhawk dashed through the dining-room window, and so much at home did the hawk feel in its strange quarters, that when discovered he was coolly plucking the feathers off the pigeon and scattering them all over the carpet. KITE OR SALMON-TAILED GLED. Latin-Milvus vulgaris. Gaelic-Clamhan-yobhlach, Cromanluchaidh, Croman-lochaidh, Croman-lachdunn. WelshBarcud. This distinct and very beautiful bird from being one of our commonest hawks has within the last 20 years become one of the rarest, and in a few years I am afraid it will be amongst things that have been " in the Highlands. It is oftener mentioned "the in the poetry and proverbs of the Gael than any other hawk, caused doubtless by its being distinguished from all others by its beautiful forked tail, which seems to have drawn attention at a very early age, as Pliny mentions that the invention of the rudder arose from the observation men made of the various motions of that part when the kite was steering through the air. The kite used to be a great torment to the thrifty Highland housewives, as he was very fond of making a swoop on the barnyard and carrying off a fat fowl as often as he got the chance, to which bad habit the following old Gaelic proverbs refer: B'e sin faire 'chlamhain air na cearcan; One of Duncan Ban Macintyre's most humerous songs refers to a practical joke by a certain Patrick on a farm in Glenorchy, who one night about dark saw a very fine favourite cock go to roost on the top of the house, and then went in and told some young fellows that it was a large kite that was roosting on the housetop. One of them at once got out an old rusty gun and shot the poor cock. This untoward incident inspired Duncan Ban's muse to write the "Marbhrann Coilich." COMMON BUZZARD. Latin--Buteo Vulgaris. Gaelic-Gearr-chlamhan, Clamhan, Bleideir. Welsh-Bod teircaill. Any one who studies the Gaelic names of birds, as well as of plants, &c., must be struck with the very appropriate and descriptive names given them by our early ancestors, and with the knowledge of the nature and habits of the birds they must have had at the early date when those names would be given, as will be seen, not only in the names themselves, but in our ancient poetry and proverbs as well. The Gaelic name for the Buzzard-" Am Bleideir❞—is very appropriate, as it is a very lazy, cowardly bird: all writers on birds blame him for that. One says-" The Buzzard just as frequently seems to wait until its prey comes to it, as trouble itself to go far in search of it." An old Gaelic proverb says "Cha'n ann gun fhios c'arson a nian clamhan fead,” alluding to the buzzard's habit of whistling when hunting for his prey, which, of course, is as seldom as possible. And as he is a carrion-eating hawk, and will devour all sorts of rubbish, he did not get credit for bringing up his family in a cleanly way, for does not another old proverb say—“Cha d'thainig ian glan riamh a nead a' chlamhain ”—ap plied to people from whom very much good is not to be expected, owing to the stock from which they are sprung. ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD. Latin-Buteo lagopus. Gaelic-Bleideir-tonach, Bleideir-molach. The name of Bleideir-tonach, by which this bird is always known in Athole, is very descriptive, as his very rough feathered legs, which give him his English name, make him look rather heavy and clumsy behind. To any bulky, clumsy, bungling fellow the old forcible Athole phrase is applied-" Nach e am Bleideir-tonach e." In the New Statistical Account of Dunkeld mention is made of the great number of Rough-legged Buzzards that appeared in that parish during the winter of 1840. HONEY BUZZARD. Latin-Peruis apivorus. Gaelic-- Bleideir-riabhach, Clamhanriabhach, Para-riabhach. Welsh-Bod-y-mel. The last Gaelic name, "Grey Peter," is that by which this bird is known in Glenlyon. MARSH HARRIER. Latin-Circus rufus. Gaelic-Clamhan-loin, Puthaig. Welsh Latin-Circus cyaneus. Bod y gwerni. HEN HARRIER. Gaelic-Breid-air-toin, Eun fionn (male) Clamhan-fionn, Clamhan-luch. Welsh-Barcud glas. The last Gaelic name, signifying mouse-hawk, is the name given to this bird in the Hebrides, as those mischievous little animals form a great part of its food there. MONTAGU'S HARRIER. Latin-Circus Montagui. Gaelic-Clamhan-luch. This is known as the mouse-hawk on the mainland of Scotland. EAGLE OWL. Latin- Bubo maximus. Gaelic-Cumhachag-mhor, CailleachWelsh-Y Ddyliuan fawr. oidhche-mhor. The Eagle Owl is very rare now. One was shot near the Pass of Killicrankie a few years ago. LONG-EARED OWL. Latin--Otus vulgaris. Gaelic-Comhachag, Cumhachag-adhar aiche. Welsh-Dylluan gorniog. SHORT-EARED OWL. Latin-Otus Brachyotus. Gaelic-Cumhachag-chluasach. Welsh -Dylluan glustiog. BARN OWL. Latin-Strix flammea. Gaelic-Cumhachag, Cailleach-oidhche, Cailleach-oidhche-bhan, Cumhachag-Bhan. wen. Welsh—Dylluan The hooting of this owl is supposed in the Highlands to foretell rain, hence the old saying "Tha 'chomhachag ri bron, thig tuiltean oirnn”—the owl is mourning; rain is coming. 25TH MARCH 1885. On this date G. H. Campbell, grocer, Church Street, Inverness, and Duncan Macmillan, assistant grocer, High Street, do., were elected ordinary members. The Secretary read a paper by Mrs Mary Mackellar, Bard of the Society, on the Educational Power of Gaelic Poetry. Mrs Mackellar's paper was as follows : THE EDUCATIONAL POWER OF GAELIC POETRY. When a stranger visits the Highlands for the first time, he must be to some extent forgiven for concluding that the shaggy and rudely-clad natives are ignorant and miserable. He sees a people dwelling too often in smoky huts that are dingy and comfortless, and living on a diet so plain as to seem to the educated palate near akin to starvation. Then he considers their language a jargon that keeps him from any spirit contact with the speaker thereof; and, worse than all, he has probably read the remarks of some travelled Cockney who took a run through some district of the Highlands, and considered himself so well informed as to air his knowledge, or rather his ignorance, of the people and their habits in the pages of some periodical, or in the columns of a newspaper. All who read these come, as as matter of course, in contact with our people with preconceived ideas; and we all know that preconceived ideas set a traveller at a very serious disadvan tage. I, at least, found it so on my first visit to London. I was very much disappointed to find that, though the Royal Augusta wore an imperial crown, and was clothed in purple, she had naked -feet that were anything but clean, and the hems of her robes were torn and muddy. I had expected a glorious vision of glittering |