WILD LIFE IN A WEST HIGHLAND DEER FOREST 3 



where, however, it has not been observed above 1400 feet. A 

 few frequent the Lodge garden (1300 feet) and the wooded margins 

 of the river and burn sides about Loch Treighead at 800 feet or 

 more. 



Swallow, Hirundo rustica. 



This familiar bird is only to be regarded as a casual visitor 

 to any part of the Forest, and as such is chiefly observed in small 

 parties in June. It has mostly come under notice about the 

 Lodge and at Loch Treig. 



House-Martin, Delichon vrbica. 



A few visit the subalpine and valley zones as casual visitors 

 during the month of June. An account of the several known 

 attempts of this bird to establish itself as a nesting species, along 

 with a supposed cause of its failure, have already been alluded to 

 (Scottish Naturalist, 191 7, p- 261). 



Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus. 



A common summer visitor to the subalpine and valley zones. It is 

 chiefly found in the birch wood where it occurs up to 1600 feet 

 (its highest altitude in the Forest as at present ascertained), and is 

 also frequent on Loch Treig side. 



Swift, Micropus apus. 



Several appeared at the foot of Loch Ossian on the Sth of June, 

 and again on the 12th, in 191 7. In both instances their appearance 

 was associated with the advent of unsettled weather an event 

 which I have many times noted, even at such a remote observing 

 station as Fair Isle. 



LONG-EARED OWL, Asio OtllS. 



A pair or two are resident in the birch wood where they rear 

 their broods in old Crows' nests, sometimes at an altitude of 1700 

 feet. In December 19 15 I disturbed a family party of five 

 birds roosting in some small close-set pines on the side of 

 Loch Ossian. 



Tawny Owl, Strix aluco. 



Is a not uncommon resident. It nests in various situations 

 at altitudes ranging from 1250 to 1750 feet. The highest nest 

 is on a ledge of rock on the face of a crag, and the lowest is in 

 a similar situation. In the birch wood its nursery is in a hole in 

 the trunk of an old tree at 1300 feet. 



