68 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



country, and where crofters exist it is impossible for those 

 birds to multiply whose eggs might be welcomed as an 

 addition to a meal, and it goes for the saying that a crofter's 

 palate is not over-fastidious. 



1. TURDUS MUSICUS, Linn., Song Thrush. Far from common. 



A nest containing five eggs was found in a birch wood which 

 skirts Loch Owskeich. This nest, which, though in the 

 midst of a comparatively thick wood, was nevertheless placed 

 on the ground, and was very artfully concealed among the 

 roots of a birch tree, being covered exteriorly with birch 

 bark in such a way as closely to resemble its surroundings. 

 Indeed, had not the bird been disturbed the nest would, in 

 all probability, have been overlooked. Whilst making our 

 way through a rugged ravine, and at a considerable elevation, 

 we were somewhat astonished to flush a Song Thrush. We 

 were much amused by the utter indifference to our presence 

 which this bird displayed. 



2. TURDUS MERULA, Linn., Blackbird. A few seen in or near 



Ullapool. 



3. TURDUS TORQUATUS, Linn., Ring Ouzel. Fairly common. 



4. SAXICOLA CENANTHE (Linn.), Wheatear. Abundant. One of 



the commonest birds in Coigach. 



5. PRATINCOLA RUBETRA (Linn.}, Whinchat. Tolerably common. 



6. PRATINCOLA RUBICOLA (Linn.}, Stonechat. Fairly common. 



Frequently seen perching on the telegraph wires. 



7. RUTICILLA PHOENICURUS (Linn.}, Redstart. Not uncommon. 



8. ERITHACUS RUBECULA (Linn.}, Robin. Thinly distributed. 



9. REGULUS CRISTATUS, K. L. Koch, Golden-crested Wren. Heard 



at Braemore, but not observed in Coigach. 



10. PHYLLOSCOPUS TROCHILUS (Li/in.}, Willow Wren.- -Very 



common, being found wherever there is wood to afford 

 it shelter. During my stay in Coigach, nothing surprised 

 me more than the hardiness of this delicate little bird. No 

 matter how extensive or how dreary the moorland, if a 

 solitary stunted shrub struggled for existence beside a 

 mountain mere the Willow Wren was certain to be heard 

 singing. 



11. CINCLUS AQUATICUS, Bechstein, Dipper. Two pairs observed, 



one frequenting the Garvie Burn, and the other the Owskeich 

 Water. 



