NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF WEST ROSS-SHIRE 95 



ORIOLUS GALBULA. Golden Oriole. Mr. Dixon states 

 that Mr. O. H. Mackenzie saw one at Coile Aigeascaig 

 on 25th May 1884, and that another was shot at 

 Gruinard about 1870. Messrs. Hinxman and Clarke 

 date Mr. Mackenzie's example 1883, and record a bird 

 as shot at Loch Broom some years previously. The 

 date in 1884 is no doubt correct, while the Gruinard 

 and Loch Broom records may perhaps refer to the same 

 specimen. 



CHELIDON URBICA. House Martin. --Formerly common 

 near Poolewe, and still breeding there, at least occa- 

 sionally. 



COTILE RIPARIA. Sand Martin. Very abundant. 



LlGURINUS CHLORIS. Greenfinch. Appears to be more 

 common at Loch Maree than Shieldaig, but not known 

 to nest there. 



PYRRHULA EUROP^A. Bullfinch. Has become plentiful of 



late years. 

 LOXIA CURVIROSTRA. Crossbill. Certainly breeds in the 



parish of Gairloch, though possibly not with absolute 



regularity. 

 PLECTROPHANES NIVALIS. Snow Bunting. As stated by 



Messrs. Hinxman and Clarke, this bird occurs in 



summer on the highest hilltops of the district ; but my 



statement probably rests on the same authority as 



theirs, and gives no fresh information. 



STURNUS VULGARIS. Starling. Plentiful. Nests at times in 

 heaps of stones and holes in the ground, as in Shetland. 



CORVUS CORONE. Carrion Crow. I saw a specimen shot 

 at Inveran, on Loch Maree, about 2Oth April 1891, 

 which was apparently breeding in the vicinity. 



CORVUS FRUGILEGUS. Rook. Rookeries exist at Kinloch- 

 ewe, Poolewe, and Kernsary, besides the localities 

 mentioned by Messrs. Hinxman and Clarke. 



SYRNIUM ALUCO. Tawny Owl. More common than the 

 Barn Owl, though both nest in Gairloch ; the eggs of 

 the former being not unfrequently found in old rabbit- 

 holes. 



