CONTRIBUTION TO ORNITHOLOGY OF KINCARDINESHIRE 151 



MARTIN. Plentiful along coast, and about towns and villages, etc. 



SAND MARTIN. Usually arrives and departs earlier than the two 

 last named. It is common where there are sand-pits. 



GOLDFINCH. Formerly this bird was scattered all over the county, 

 but for many years it has been a rara avis. There are 

 numerous stories of its having been found nesting within the 

 county of recent years, but these reports seem to me to be 

 without any strong foundation in fact. 



SISKIN. The same may be said of this bird as of the last ; only the 

 Siskin is caught occasionally in severe winters. I know of no 

 nest. 



GREENFINCH. Broadly speaking, this is a common bird, and yet 

 one never sees it in abundance during summer. In winter its 

 numbers are no doubt added to, when its presence is forced 

 more upon one's notice. 



HOUSE SPARROW. Somewhat too common, if one may judge by 

 reports circulated by farmers and land-tillers generally. 



TREE SPARROW. H. informed me he had found it breeding in this 

 shire, but so far I have been unable to confirm this. 



CHAFFINCH. The most plentiful of all our finches. In my young 

 days the bird was a cage pet, but this seems a thing of the 

 past. 



BRAMBLING. Often caught in winter. Some years it is more abun- 

 dant than in others. 



LINNET. A home bird in every sense, but its numbers have 

 diminished since I was a youth. 



LESSER REDPOLE. Not plentiful, but nests, and is often caught in 

 winter along with Linnets and the like. 



TWITE. Reported from Strathfindla Hill (M.\ but personally I 

 have only seen it near the coast side. 



BULLFINCH. Breeds regularly in all the woods of any importance 

 on the northern side of the shire. Large numbers are trapped 

 annually about the villages. Have seen the birds repeatedly 

 about Auchinblae and beside my house at times. 



COMMON CROSSBILL. Not rare, and not common. The species 

 nests in Drumtochty Glen, and doubtless in other places. 



REED BUNTING. Breeds annually in certain districts, but not very 

 common. Specimens are sometimes secured in autumn by 

 bird-catchers. 



CORN BUNTING. A regular breeder, but I think it more abundant 

 towards the sea-shore than in rural parts. 



YELLOW BUNTING. This is a very common bird in almost every 

 locality. 



