BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE LOCH ARKAIG DISTRICT 151 



A large Scotch fir wood extends up the side of Loch 

 Arkaig and Glen Mallie for eight or nine miles. This wood 

 is like the old fir forests on Speyside, and is just the place 

 where one would expect to find the Crested Tit ; but I never 

 saw any, or obtained satisfactory information of its having 

 been seen. The other woods of the district are chiefly birch 

 and oak. There are some young plantations of Scotch fir 

 and larch along the side of Loch Lochy and above Gairlochy, 

 where the Caledonian Canal joins the loch. The only 

 cultivated ground of any extent is at Achnacarry and along 

 the side of the Lochy river, and in consequence birds like 

 the Starling and Yellow Bunting are not numerous. A few 

 of the larger birds of prey still breed in the district, but they 

 are decreasing. Ptarmigan are fairly common on the higher 

 tops, and there are a good many Black Grouse in Glen Loy ; 

 but Red Grouse are not numerous, and seem to be decreasing. 

 Very few ducks remain to breed except the Merganser, 

 which has increased of late, I am told. Waders are scarce, 

 and the only Gull nesting in the district is L. canns. 



In the Vertebrate " Fauna of Argyll and the Inner 

 Hebrides " the number of birds, given as occurring in the area 

 up to the date of May 1892 is 208 ; of these I have seen 94 

 in this district. In the following list, however, only those 

 species about which there is something fresh to add, either 

 in the way of distribution or migration, are mentioned. 



PRATINCOLA RUBETRA (Linnczus), WHINCHAT. Very local and never 

 plentiful. Occurs near Gairlochy, Glen Dessary, and one or 

 two other places. 



P. RUBICOLA (Linnaus), STONECHAT. In distribution and numbers 

 much the same as the preceding species. Have also seen it 

 in Glen Dessary. 



SYLVIA ATKICAPILLA (Linnaus], BLACKCAP. During June I saw three 

 male blackcaps among some rhododendrons near Achnacarry. 

 Although I looked for, I never saw any females or found their 

 nests. 



LOCUSTELLA N/EviA (Boddaerf], GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. Occurs 

 among the heather above the road which runs along the side of 

 Loch Lochy, between Gairlochy and Achnacarry. As the 

 heather is very rank the birds are difficult to detect, but heard 

 several singing at different places, so there must be a few pairs 

 about. 



