144 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



jDarties of fishermen from Durness and the Lews, who kill great 

 numbers ; there is a small pool or loch among the rocks which 

 the Seals frequent, and by cutting off their retreat to the sea the 

 fishermen are able to despatch them with heavy clubs. 



Obs. A very large Seal, which has been reported to us as 

 sometimes occurring on the west coast of Sutherlandshire, is in 

 all probability the Grey Seal {Halicherus gryplms), which is very 

 abundant in some j^arts of the Hebrides. Other species probably 

 visit the Scotch coasts, but the subject has not hitherto received 

 the attention it deserves. 



CETACEANS. 



We regret that we have not materials for a list of this order. 

 The Porpoise (Phocoena communis) and the Pilot Whale (Glohi- 

 cephalus melas) certainly visit the coast, but many other species 

 must have been overlooked. From the adjoining counties of 

 Ross and Caithness several rare Cetaceans have been recorded, 

 as the Sperm Whale {Physeter macrocejyJiahis), the White Whale 

 {Delphinapterus leucas), etc., etc. (Cf., Bell, British Quadrupeds, 

 2d ed., pp. 381-474). 



SQUIRREL. 



SCIURUS VULGARIS, Limmeus. 



As already noted, " Skuyrells " are included in Sir R. Gordon's 

 list of Sutherlandshire animals in the seventeenth century. 

 Subsequently they appear to have become extinct, owing 

 doubtless to the destruction of the remains of the ancient pine 

 woods. Of late years, however, Squirrels have been spreading 

 fast throughout the North Highlands, and we are informed by 

 Thomas Mackenzie, Esq., Dornoch Castle, that they re-established 

 themselves in the south-east of the country about the year 18G9, 

 and are rapidly becoming numerous. They are still quite unknown 

 in the north and west. 



WOOD MOUSE. 



MUS SYLVATICUS, Linnaeus. 



We have not noticed this species ourselves, but it is mentioned 

 by Mr Selby as being common. 



