NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 99 



build in holes in the turf,* and also in niches of the rocks. A 

 colony of Starlings, and another of Black Guillemots, in one 

 locality live in perfect harmony, the former feeding their young, 

 whilst the latter are sitting on their eggs. On the Badcall 

 islands, on one occasion, Mr W. Jesse and myself started an 

 immense number of these birds from under a projecting rock. 

 On examining the spot, we found the loose stones sprinkled with 

 blood, but to this day I have been quite at a loss to understand 

 what could be the meaning of these fresh blood stains upon the 

 stones. Doubtless we would have concluded that the large 

 assemblage of Starlings had simply sought shelter there from the 

 scorching sun, but finding the blood scattered about, we were 

 led to believe that these birds were in some way or other 

 connected with it. 



Order il, PASSERES. 

 CONIROSTRES. Fam, Hi., FRINGILLIDAE. 



CHAFFINCH. 



FRINGILLA COELEBS, Linnaeus. 



The Chaffinch is abundant in wooded districts, and not rare in 

 suitable localities in the west. A pair of Chaffinches bred two 

 years consecutively in a stunted elder-tree, growing at the door of 

 the byre at Inchnadamph Inn. The nest was composed of the 

 usual materials, though not so neatly arranged as those which may 

 be seen in orchards further south. 



GOLDFINCH. 



FRINGILLA CARDUELIS, Linnaeus. 



The Goldfinch is rare. " A pair were seen in a birch-wood on 

 the banks of Loch Laoghal by Mr James Wilson " — one of Mr 

 Selby's party — in 1834, and Mr St. John likewise observed it in 

 the county. Mr J. Crawford has not seen it near Tongue. 



* I am under the impression that these nesting holes, occupied by the 

 Starlings in spring, are in July tenanted by Petrels ( Thalassidroma ). In one 

 of the islands, at least, where these holes in the turf are quite abundant, there 

 are certainly no rats. 



