96 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



BUTEO VULGARIS. Common Buzzard. This species is, I am 

 glad to believe, rather more plentiful than in former years; 

 owing, no doubt, to increased protection by the proprietors. 



AQUILA CHRYS^ETUS. Golden Eagle. The same may be 

 said of this bird as of the last-named ; but in the 

 present case there is no doubt that it holds its ground 

 well and is efficiently protected, while the district 

 may be considered one of its chief strongholds and 

 sanctuaries in Scotland. 



HALIAETUS ALBICILLA. Sea-Eagle, "j Excellent notes on 

 PANDION HALIAETUS. Osprey. ) local breeding-stations 



formerly used by these birds will be found in Mr. J. H. 

 Dixon's " Gairloch," p. 241. 



ACCIPITER NISUS. Sparrow-Hawk. | Not uncommon, 

 FALCO ^ESALON. Merlin. J nesting in the Loch 



Maree district. 



PHALACROCORAX CARBO. Cormorant. Has bred very near 

 Poolewe, and possibly still does so. 



ANSER CINEREUS. Graylag Goose. - - Messrs. Hinxman 

 and Clarke consider that geese nest in this neighbour- 

 hood only on Loch Maree, but there is no doubt that 

 they still breed in at least one other locality in the 

 immediate vicinity. 



FULIGULA CRISTATA. Tufted Duck. Not yet reported in 

 summer from Gairloch, though it will probably spread to 

 these parts, judging from its increase elsewhere. 



CLANGULA GLAUCION. Golden Eye. I have seen a spot 

 where this duck is said to have nested, and where 

 supposed young were observed ; but no further proof 

 is as yet forthcoming. 



MERGUS MERGANSER. Goosander. - - It is now so well 

 known that this species breeds in Ross-shire, as well as 

 in other parts of North Scotland, that it is only neces- 

 sary to call attention to the fact that it seems com- 

 monly if not invariably to nest in holes in the 

 ground, either among heather or moss. These holes 

 are often on stony banks or among roots of trees ; and 

 I suspect that the preference for cavities in trees shown 



