CONTRIBUTION TO THE AVIFAUNA OF WEST ROSS-SHIRE 73 



55. CHARADRIUS PLUVIALIS, Linn., Golden Plover. Thinly dis- 



tributed over the moorlands. 



56. VANELLUS VULGARIS, Bechst., Lapwing. Very abundant. 



57. H^MATOPUS OSTRALEGUS, Linn., Oyster - Catcher. -- Very 



abundant. Breeds in large numbers, especially on the 

 islands. 



58. GALLINAGO COELESTIS (Frenzel), Common Snipe. Several 



pairs nest in the damp meadows at Auchnahaird. One even- 

 ing our ghillie promised to show us the nest of the solitary 

 pair of Corncrakes which nest in Coigach. On accom- 

 panying him to the spot, we found the nest to be that of a 

 Snipe ! 



59. TOTANUS HYPOLEUCUS (Linn.), Common Sandpiper Abundant, 



nesting on the margins of nearly every freshwater loch in 

 the district visited by us. Occurs also in the Summer 

 Islands. 



60. TOTANUS CALIDRIS (Linn.}, Common Redshank. We found 



the head of a Redshank in the Peregrine's eyrie in Priest 

 Island, and it may therefore be assumed that this bird nests 

 in Coigach. Neither Mr. Bonar nor I, however, saw or 

 heard it during our visit. 



6 1. NUMENIUS ARQUATA (Linn.}, Common Curlew. Fairly com- 



mon. Nests on one or more of the Summer Islands. 



62. STERNA MACRURA, Naumann, Arctic Tern. Very common. It 



is, here at least, a very late breeder, and though we visited 

 several breeding sites we saw very few eggs even up to the 

 25th June ! I am decidedly of opinion, however, that these 

 birds are, during the nesting season, subjected to ruthless 

 persecution. We found a large colony inhabiting a rock off 

 Rhu-dh'a Choin, which we visited on gth June. On our 

 approach the birds showed great alarm, although there were 

 only four eggs on the islet. 



63. LARUS RIDIBUNDUS, Linn., Black-headed Gull. Pair seen in 



Baden Bay, and Mr. Bonar observed several following the 

 plough at Auchnahaird. 



64. LARUS CANUS, Linn., Common Gull. Very abundant. Nests on 



precipitous cliffs near Camas Coille, and, like the next species, 

 on large stones in one of the bigger freshwater lochs. 



65. LARUS ARGENT ATUS, / F. GmeL, Herring Gull. Tolerably 



common. 



66. LARUS FUSCUS, Lesser Black-backed Gull. The most abundant 



Gull of the district. 



