Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/467

Rh Morar, in Inverness, at the time, and wrote me this account:—"One day I saw a mole swim across the loch. It must have swam a mile and a half. I came across it when it had come about three-parts of the way, and, having nothing to do, as it was too still and sunny to fish, we accompanied it to the land, rowing alongside of it, as if it were Captam Webb swimming across the Channel. I don't know that this little fact is at all curious, but it may be, so I wished you to know of it." I certamly was not aware that the Mole had such powers of endurance in the water, or that it possessed such perseverance and strong instinct to make good its point over such obstacles.- (Britford Vicarage, Salisbury)

[Mr Bell, in his 'History of British Quadrupeds' (2nd. ed. p. 130), says the Mole is "an expert swimmer," an action for which the structure both of the hands and of the hinder feet are well adapted. Other instances of its powers of progression in the water will be found narrated in the Natural History columns of 'The Field' of 24th August, 1872. and the 10th, 17th and 24th June, 1876.— ]

—On the 26th of August last while walking with a friend down the bank of the River Carron, our attention was suddenly attracted by a peculiar note, and almost immediately I saw two birds flying down the river about a hundred and fit y yards off. I at once said "Green Sandpipers." The conspicuous white rump being distinguishable at a great distance in a favourable light we followed them up, and had two opportunities of seeing them at close quarters, when the extremely dark mantles and upper surfaces of the wings showed in striking contrast to the large white patch upon the back. On one occasion they flew out of a willow tree (the branches of which overhung the river, and the roots of which were submerged), and were then joined by a third. We did not disturb them further that day, but at half-past five on Mondav morning we were again at the river-side. That morning we found no less than six birds, in all probability a brood, and four with their parents. They were extremely wild and quick on the wing, often on being Sushed rising at once to a great height, flying round, continually utering their low but clear notes, "Tsieu-it" or "Tsieu-it-tsui,"—notes which I do not remember having heard at their breeding-quarters in Norway, where Mr. Alston and I found them not uncommon in pairs near Skæien-i-Land in 1871. After circling round for some time they would descend almost perpendicularly, but on reaching to within a few feet of the surtace of the water would suddenly open their wings and skim away for quite a hundred vards before again lighting. Thus it was sometimes difficult to mark 'them down if willows or alders fringing the banks intervened. After nearly two hours' unsuccessful chase, I at last succeeded in driving a single bird which had separated from the others, high over my friend's head, and he secured it by a long shot. We noticed on several occasions how extremely