152 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



MOTACILLA LUGUBRIS, TeiiDiiinck, PIED WAGTAIL. Very local, and 

 absent during the winter. In the beginning of February a 

 single bird was seen by Loch Lochy, but it did not stay, and 

 no more appeared till March 2nd, when another bird turned up, 

 and during the next week was joined by several more. 



M. MELANOPE, Pal/as, GRAY WAGTAIL. Commoner than M. 

 lugnbris over most of the district. Arrived on April 2nd. 



ANTHUS PRATENSIS (Linnceus), MEADOW PIPIT. Very common 

 during spring and summer all over the area. In November 

 most of the birds depart, but a few stay about Loch Lochy till 

 the middle of December. I saw a small flock near the loch 

 on December i ith, and a single bird, on the 23rd, was the last 

 I saw till several returned on February 26th. 



[LIGURINUS CHLORIS (Linn&us\ GREENFINCH. This species is 

 mentioned in the " Argyll " as occurring at Torcastle on the 

 River Lochy, just outside this district, but I have never seen 

 it, although the country around Achnacarry seems quite suitable 

 for it.] 



CHRYSOMITRIS SPINUS (Linn<zus\ SISKIN. Large flocks are to be 

 seen feeding on the alder trees throughout the district in autumn, 

 winter, and early spring. I never came across any breeding, 

 but saw a pair of old birds in the middle of July. 



FRINGILLA MONTIFRINGILLA, Linnaus, BRAMBLING. A single bird 

 on November ist, and another on February igth, were the only 

 examples I came across of this species. 



LINOTA RUFESCENS, Vieillot, LESSER REDPOLL. Common all the 

 year round near Loch Lochy, where it nests in considerable 

 numbers among the birch and young Scotch fir trees. A nest 

 which I found close to a cottage was built in some tall heather, 

 at the foot of a young birch tree, about 2 feet from the ground, 

 and was lined with black feathers and cotton wool. The 

 feathers came from some black fowls kept at the cottage, and 

 the cotton wool was some which I had thrown away about 

 a week before. 



STURNUS VULGARIS, Linnceus, STARLING. Common at Achnacarry 

 and Gairlochy during spring and summer, but absent in winter. 

 Three birds returned to Achnacarry on January 2ist, and by 

 February 3rd there were a good many about. 



ALAUDA ARVENSIS, Linnceus, SKYLARK. Very local, only occurs in 

 Glen Mallie and along the side of the River Lochy. Absent 

 during the winter. On March loth about 9.30 a.m. I saw 

 eleven skylarks, high up, flying almost due west. Some of these 

 I think must have been the birds I saw in Glen Mallie in May. 



