242 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



remarking on the purity of their breed, the landlord informed me 

 that they arrived there and took up their quarters this year, 

 associating with the Dove-cote Pigeons. On their first arrival 

 they were shy and easily alarmed, but since then they have become 

 much tamer. 



PHEASANT. 

 PHASIANUS COLCHICUS, L. 104. 



The numbers at Loch Inver have again dwindled down, and the 

 lessee of the shootings, I am informed, has not considered it worth 

 while to persevere in rearing them. An old batchelor cock for a 

 long time has wandered about ; the last- of his race at present in 



Assynt. 



PARTPJDGE. 



PERDIX CINEREA, Lath. 105. 



Not increasing at Inchnadamph; but still every year there is a 

 nest, and sometimes two. The arable land has not been increased 

 since 1869. A gentleman who had the shooting over the Glebe 

 in 1876 (the Glebe extends to over 2000 acres, and is the second 

 largest in Scotland), shot about 16 brace. The cultivated land 

 does not exceed some 20 acres altogether. 



RED GROUSE. 



LAGOPUS SQOTICUS, Lath. 106. 



Since I was last in Sutherland (1869) Red Grouse have become 

 very scarce in the west. On Inchnadamj^h shootings, during two 

 seasons since 1869, they were very numerous, more so than 

 formerly. 700 brace were shot one year, and I think 600 the 

 next; but the ground was shot too hard. Tape-worm set in in 1875, 

 and late cold springs and wet weather at hatching time, in 1876 

 and 1877, have brought them almost to the verge of extinction. 

 I did not see a single bird on the 23d May, all the way between 

 Lairg and Inchnadamph — a 32-mile drive ; and during my whole 

 stay in the west, I did not see more than 3 or 4 covies of young 

 birds. On some shootings in the interior and east, however, good 

 bags have been made this year. 



