182 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY $ 



Nov. 1835, "On the Quadrupeds and Birds inhabiting the 

 County of Sutherland, observed there during an Excursion in the 

 Summer of 1834" (pp. 159-161 and 286-295). The list there 

 given is exactly similar, but the following information is added : 

 The Crows killed were "all of the species Corvus Comix, Hooded 

 Crows " ; and as regards the " 548 King-Fishers," Selby notes, " The 

 Dipper is so called throughout Sutherland and other parts of the 

 Highlands. The Alcedo Ispida is rarely seen." From another part 

 of the paper we learn that Mr. Baigrie was "the intelligent Factor 

 of the Scourie and Assynt districts." The list which I transcribed 

 for you is undoubtedly the original list sent by Mr. Baigrie to Sir 

 William Jardine, and presumably lent by him to P. J. Selby for use 

 in the compilation of his paper above referred to. HUGH S. 

 GLADSTONE, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire. 



[To those of our readers who may not be aware of the existence 

 of an even earlier certified List of Vermin killed upon the same 

 estates, and paid for by the " Sutherland Association for the Pro- 

 tection of Property," between the years from July 1819 to August 

 1826, it may be of interest to compare that list with the one 

 given by Mr. Gladstone in the April No. of "The Annals," 

 above referred to, dating, as shown, between March 1831 and 

 March 1834. 



It would almost appear on such a comparison as is above suggested, 

 that "Kingfishers" (i.e. Dippers) were not considered vermin by 

 the members of "The Association'' in 1819 to 1826, but that they 

 were killed down to a frightful extent in 1831 and to 1834. 



Personally, I can vouch that even as late as 1867 or thereby, 

 Dippers were mercilessly slain and a premium put upon their heads, 

 and I may perhaps yet again be permitted to take credit to myself 

 that I was instrumental in having a stop put to the barbarous 

 practice my influence with my old friend, Mr. Evander M'lver of 

 Scourie, who was then Factor for the Assynt and Edderachyllis 

 parish estates of the late Duke of Sutherland, getting the head- 

 money shifted from the innocent "Water-crow" to the Prince of 

 Ruffians, the "Hooded Crow." Those who are sufficiently interested 

 will find the earlier list I refer to in vol. i. of our "Vertebrate Fauna 

 of Scotland," Appendix, p. 301. J. A. HARVIE-BROWN.] 



Mealy Redpolls in Aberdeenshire. Several small flocks of 

 Mealy Redpolls up to a score in number appeared in this 

 neighbourhood (Old Aberdeen) on 2ist, 23rd, and 3oth October 

 last. Mr. Eagle Clarke kindly identified a specimen which I sent 

 him, as Acanthis Unarm linaria, Aberdeen. L. N. G. RAMSAY. | 



Nesting of Pied Flycatcher in East Lothian. As I had 

 previously seen a male Pied Flycatcher (Muscicapa atricapilld] 

 frequenting a patch of wood z\ miles from Haddington, I made a 

 thorough search on 26th May and after a little came upon both 



