CONTRIBUTION TO THE AVIFAUNA OF WEST ROSS-SHIRE 69 



12. PARUS ATER, Linn., Coal Titmouse. Several seen in the small 



plantations which skirt lochs Owskeich, Bad-a-Ghaill, and 

 Lurgan. 



13. PARUS CCERULEUS, Linn., Blue Titmouse. One seen at Drum- 



runie, where there is a plantation of considerable size. 



14. TROGLODYTES PARVULUS, K. L. Koch, Wren. Heard, and 



disused nest found, in the wood which skirts Loch Bad-a- 

 Ghaill. 



15. MOTACILLA LUGUBRIS, Temm., Pied Wagtail. A pair seen at 



Achiltibuie. 



1 6. ANTHUS PRATENSIS, Linn., Meadow Pipit. Very abundant on 



the moor and hillsides. We found many nests with eggs. 



17. ANTHUS OBSCURUS (Latham}, Rock Pipit. Abundant in suit- 



able localities. 



1 8. CHELIDON URBICA (Linn.}, Martin. A few pairs nest at 



Auchnahaird, and one pair at least at Rudh'a Choin. This 

 bird is not included in Messrs. Hinxman and Eagle Clarke's 

 list of the birds of West Ross-shire, while Mr. Dixon asserts 

 that it is undoubtedly decreasing in numbers. It is never- 

 theless still common at Ullapool, while several pairs nest 

 under the eaves of the quaint inn at Altguish. 



19. COTILE RIPARIA (Linn}, Sand Martin. Four or five pairs nest 



in the sandhills at Auchnahaird. On the 26th June, Mr. 

 Bonar found that, with the exception of one pair, whose 

 brood had just been hatched, the birds had all departed. 



20. PASSER DOMESTICUS (Linn.), House Sparrow. This familiar 



bird has only of recent years found its way into West 

 Ross-shire. We found it quite common at Achiltibuie, while 

 several pairs nested in the ivy which was trained against the 

 wall of Auchnahaird House. Elsewhere in Coigach I found 

 this bird extremely rare, though I have no doubt that it is 

 resident in more or less abundance in every crofter hamlet 

 in the peninsula. 



21. FRINGILLA CCELEBS, Linn., Chaffinch. -- Far from common, 



though, as a rule, found wherever there are clumps of trees. 

 We observed several while driving past Drumrunie shoot- 

 ing lodge, where there is a considerable plantation of 

 conifers. 



22. PYRRHULA EUROP^EA, Vieillot, Bullfinch. Not observed in 



Coigach proper. Near Loch Droma we saw a pair in a 

 clump of fir trees behind the hut where the mail-coach stops 

 to have the horses changed. 



