CONTRIBUTION TO THE AVIFAUNA OF WEST ROSS-SHIRE 71 



32. ALAUDA ARVENSIS, Linn., Skylark. Very'abundant everywhere, 



even on the bleakest and most desolate parts of the moor. 

 To those who are accustomed to associate the Skylark with 

 the highly cultivated fields and rich meadows of England 

 and Southern Scotland, Hogg's apostrophe must seem 

 singularly inappropriate ; but in Coigach this is a veritable 

 "bird of the wilderness." Heard in such a place, its ex- 

 quisite song has an indescribable charm. Mr. Bonar informs 

 me that he heard several Skylarks near Auchnahaird the 

 haunt of the Ringed Plover repeatedly introduce a perfect 

 imitation of the call note of that bird into their song. 



33. CYPSELUS APUS (Linn.}, Swift. A pair of these birds were 



observed on three different occasions at Rhu-dh'a Choin. The 

 birds no doubt nested in some crevice in the cliffs. 



34. CUCULUS CANORUS, Linn., Cuckoo. Several seen and heard, 



but the bird is far from common. 



35. AQUILA CHRYS^ETUS (Linn.}, Golden Eagle. The gamekeeper 



at Drumrunie informed us that there are two eyries of this 

 bird under his protection. The Golden Eagle seldom visits 

 the coast region, but confines itself to the mountain fast- 

 nesses. None of our ghillies had ever seen one ; and, 

 grossly ignorant of ornithology as they mostly are, it is 

 hardly credible that they could have overlooked so con- 

 spicuous a bird. 



36. ACCIPITER NISUS (Linn}, Sparrow Hawk. One seen. 



37. FALCO PEREGRINUS, Tunstall, Peregrine Falcon. A pair nest 



on cliff at Camas Coille. Mr. Bonar repeatedly observed a 

 Peregrine hawking for food over a field of rye grass at 

 Auchnahaird. Its visits are always made at the same time, 

 viz. about i P.M. and 6.30 P.M. 



38. FALCO ^SALON, Tunstall, Merlin. Mr. Bonar observed one 



flying close to Auchnahaird House. 



39. FALCO TINNUNCULUS, Kestrel. Tolerably common. 



40. PHALACROCORAX CARBO (Linn.}, Cormorant. Very common. 



The bird nests in large numbers in several of the Summer 

 Islands, but not, so far as I am aware, in Coigach. We 

 found this bird to be a much earlier breeder than its con- 

 gener, the Shag. While the former had, in the beginning of 

 June, in several instances young almost ready to fly, the 

 latter had just commenced to nest, and breeding was not at 

 all general until the end of the month. 



41. PHALACROCORAX GRACULUS (Linn}, Shag. Very common. 



Nests in considerable numbers in caves at Camas Coille. 

 It also breeds abundantly in the Summer Islands. Its nest 

 is far more difficult of access than is that of the Cormorant. 



