Natural History in the Highlands and Islands

Natural History in the Highlands and Islands
F. Fraser Darling

The Highlands and Islands of Scotland are rugged moorland, alpine mountains and jagged coast with remarkable natural history. This edition is exclusive to newnaturalists.comThe Highlands and Islands of Scotland are rugged moorland, alpine mountains and jagged coast with remarkable natural history, including relict and specialised animals and plants. Here are animals in really large numbers: St. Kilda with its sea-birds, North Rona its seals, Islay its wintering geese, rivers and lochs with their spawning salmon and trout, the ubiquitous midges! This is big country with red deer, wildcat, pine marten, badger, otter, fox, ermine, golden eagle, osprey, raven, peregrine, grey lag, divers, phalaropes, capercaillie and ptarmigan. Off-shore are killer whales and basking sharks. Here too in large scale interaction is forestry, sheep farming, sport, tourism and wild life conservation.

Collins New Naturalist Library

6

Natural History in the Highlands and Islands

F. Fraser Darling

D.Sc. F.R.S.E.

With 46 Colour Photographs By F. Fraser Darling, John Markham and Others, 55 Black-and-White Photographs and 24 Maps and Diagrams

TO THE MEMORY OF

WILLIAM ORR, F.R.C.V.S.

† Singapore, December 1945

KENNETH McDOUGALL, M.Sc., M.R.C.V.S.

† Normandy, August 1944

WHO KNEW AND LOVED THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS

AND THE WILD LIFE THEREIN

Editors: (#ulink_be60a949-e570-5f21-b1f1-3d852372cf1b)

JAMES FISHER M.A.

JOHN GILMOUR M.A.

JULIAN S. HUXLEY M.A. D.Sc. F.R.S.

L. DUDLEY STAMP B.A. D.Sc.

PHOTOGRAPHIC EDITOR:

ERIC HOSKING F.R.P.S.

The aim of this series is to interest the general reader in the wild life of Britain by recapturing the inquiring spirit of the old naturalist. The Editors believe that the natural pride of the British public in the native fauna and flora, to which must be added concern for their conservation, is best fostered by maintaining a high standard of accuracy combined with clarity of exposition in presenting the results of modern scientific research. The plants and animals are described in relation to their homes and habitats and are portrayed in the full beauty of their natural colours, by the latest methods of colour photography and reproduction.

Table of Contents

Cover Page (#u90e0f87f-ba39-568d-90c4-a529768f2120)

Title Page (#u55370295-9160-55ee-b19d-c4f2590b223e)

Editors (#uedd55b95-7aba-5480-af7a-1872f52d56ec)

Editor’s preface (#u9bf8d416-5b99-56b8-bb42-2162e081227c)

Author’s preface (#u2bf7cb7a-3c9e-55a6-9e5c-7ebb0263fa47)

CHAPTER 1 (#uf2315bab-92eb-5f21-a10c-10456fae32fe)GEOLOGY AND CLIMATE

CHAPTER 2 (#u51dcb2d2-d1e5-5cca-985e-c6848eba4b42)RELIEF AND SCENERY

CHAPTER 3 (#udd4cbcfa-bb43-5eb1-a823-c7caccbe99b7)RELIEF AND SCENERY (continued)

CHAPTER 4 (#u6f1b640b-023e-5d85-8725-f63ae08fd94f)THE HUMAN FACTOR AND REMARKABLE CHANGES IN POPULATIONS OF ANIMALS

CHAPTER 5 (#litres_trial_promo)THE DEER FOREST GROUSE MOOR AND SHEEP FARM

CHAPTER 6 (#litres_trial_promo)THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE RED DEER

CHAPTER 7 (#litres_trial_promo)THE PINE FOREST, BIRCH WOOD AND OAK WOOD

CHAPTER 8 (#litres_trial_promo)THE SUMMITS OF THE HILLS

CHAPTER 9 (#litres_trial_promo)THE SHORE, THE SEA LOCH AND THE SHALLOW SEAS

CHAPTER 10 (#litres_trial_promo)THE SUB-OCEANIC ISLAND

CHAPTER 11 (#litres_trial_promo)THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE ATLANTIC GREY SEAL

CHAPTER 12 (#litres_trial_promo)FRESH WATERS: LOCHS AND RIVER SYSTEMS

Conclusion (#litres_trial_promo)

Bibliography (#litres_trial_promo)

Maps showing the distribution of certain animals in the highlands (#litres_trial_promo)

Index (#litres_trial_promo)

Black and White Plates (#litres_trial_promo)

Colour Plates (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

EDITORS’ PREFACE (#ulink_356e1e7a-94d5-5250-99cd-b5df249fafbf)