72 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



42. ARDEA CINEREA, Linn., Common Heron. There is a small 



heronry in an islet on Loch Bhadaghaill. 



43. ANSER CINEREUS, Meyer, Graylag Goose. This fine bird is 



very common, and breeds freely in islets in one or two of 

 the lochs. We observed a pair of adults with their brood 

 swimming on one of the lochs, which, for obvious reasons, 

 I think it better not to name. This Goose frequents many 

 of the Summer Islands, but I am decidedly of opinion that 

 it breeds in none of them. 



44. TADORNA CORNUTA (S. G. Gmelin}, Sheld Duck. Very rare. 



45. ANAS BOSCAS, Linn., Mallard. Not very common. Mr. Bonar 



observed a duck with eleven young swimming in Loch Raa. 



46. QUERQUEDULA CRECCA (Linn.}, Teal. We only observed this 



bird on Loch Bhattachan ; but it no doubt nests freely in 

 suitable localities throughout the district. 



47. MERGUS MERGANSER, Linn., Goosander. This handsome bird 



is common in Coigach. We found fragments of eggs both 

 on the mainland and on the Summer Islands ; and I have 

 no doubt that these eggs, which were quite fresh, had been 

 sucked by Crows. 



48. MERGUS SERRATOR, Linn., Red-breasted Merganser. Tolerably 



common, though not so often met with in Coigach proper 

 as the preceding species. Mr. Bonar was fortunate enough 

 to observe a most amusing encounter which one of these 

 birds had with a flounder which it had caught in Reiff Loch. 

 It was only after repeated efforts that the bird was able to 

 swallow its victim. 



49. COLUMBA PALUMBUS, Linn., Ring Dove. Two seen. 



50. COLUMBA LIVIA, J. F. GmeL, Rock Dove. One seen feeding 



in barley field at Auchnahaird. Nests in Isle Ristol and 



Eilean Mullagrach as well as in many of the Summer 

 Islands. 



51. LAGOPUS SCOTICUS (Lath.} Fairly numerous, but the bird is 



nothing like so common as I had expected to find it. 

 Under existing conditions, the bird never can be abundant 

 in Coigach. 



52. LAGOPUS MUTUS (Montin), Ptarmigan. Found only near the 



summit of Ben More Coigach, and even there in very 

 limited numbers. 



53. CREX PRATENSIS, Bechst., Land Rail. Pair nest at Auchna- 



haird, also at Ullapool. 



54. yEciALiTis HIATICULA (Linn.}, Ringed Plover. Seven or 



eight pairs nest on the shingle in Auchnahaird Bay. Several 

 nests were found. We found this Plover also breeds on the 

 west side of the peninsula, but only in very small numbers. 



