100 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



SISKIN. 



FRINGILLA SPIN US, Linnaeus. 



This interesting bird breeds in the east of the county, where, 

 though not plentiful, it is not an uncommon species. 



GEEENFINCH. 



COCCOTHRA USTES CHLORIS {Linnaeus). 



The Greenfinch is common in the east of the county, and in 

 wooded districts, but is absent or rare in the west. 



COMMON LINNET. 



LINOTA CANNABINA {Linnaeus). 



Mr Selby says, " Seemingly a rare species in Sutherland : a 

 single pair was seen at Keoldale." I have met with them on 

 several occasions in the west, and have shot about half-a-dozen speci- 

 mens. It is not by any means a common species. 



TWITE. 



LINOTA FLA VIROSTRIS {Linnaeus). 



This is a common species in many parts of the county. It 

 avoids, as a rule, the wooded or cultivated parts, though exceptions 

 may be found. For instance, it breeds in small numbers close to 

 Inchnadamph Inn, on Loch Assynt, within a stone-cast of the 

 house. Nor is it partial to the level inland moors, but prefers the 

 neighbourhood of the sea-shore, or sheltered localities near the long 

 arms of the sea so numerous on the west coast. This species is 

 said by the natives to remove its eggs if the nest be disturbed. 

 One nest containing eggs, which I examined, was certainly empty 

 the following morning, but I cannot feel positive that the eggs 

 were removed by the parent birds. In the Long Island, Capt. 

 Feilden and myself examined several nests of this bird, but in no 

 case did removal of the eggs by the birds take place.* 



* These nests were placed in red-ciirrant tushes, three or four feet from the 

 ground, a somewhat unusual position (see " Gray's Birds of the West of 

 Scotland," p. 151). 



