38 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



a nest on Loch Laighal (Jardine, Nat. Lib., vol. xiv., p. 132), while 

 next year Wigeon were found breeding on Loch Naver and Loch 

 Hope (v4 Vertebrate Fauna of Tay and Strathmore, p. 238). By 1848 

 it was breeding numerously at Loch Naver {Tour in Sutherland, 

 p. 61), and in 1849 ^^'^'^ abundant as a breeding species in east and 

 central Sutherland, it increased rapidly and is now an abundant 

 breeder throughout the county {Fauna of Sutherland, p. 190). This 

 was the beginning of the great invasion of Scotland by this species, 

 and thereafter from north and central Sutherland the tide flowed 

 strongly and rapidly into the Moray area by way of S.E. Sutherland 

 and Ross-shire. 



Caithness. Before 1865 the Wigeon was found breeding in 

 Caithness {Ibis 1865, p. 444), this being probably an offshoot from 

 the original nesting place in Sutherland. 



Moray. 



Abundant both as a breeding bird and in winter. 



S.E. Sutherland. As early as 1835 the Wigeon was breeding 

 on Loch Shin {A Vertebrate Fauna of Tay and Strathmore, p. 238), 

 and by 1849 was abundant as a nesting Duck in this division of the 

 county {Fau?ia of Sutherla?id, p. 190). 



E. Ross-shire. The Wigeon was breeding regularly in Ross- 

 shire before 1865 {Ibis 1865, p. 444), and has increased and multi- 

 plied until it is now (19 19) the commonest species of nesting Duck 

 in central Ross-shire (^'iTc^A Nat., 1919, p. 171). It also breeds close 

 down to the salt water; for example, in 1908, a brood of ten was 

 found near the Dornoch Firth {A.S.N.H., 1909, p. 209). 



E. Inverness. By 1844 this species was breeding in Glen Garry 

 {Trans. Norf. and Norm. Nat. Soc, vol. vii., p. 3), whence it spread 

 to lochs in Glen Cannich and Glen Affaric and other suitable 

 sites in that district. In 1914 a young Wigeon was found on Loch 

 Insh {Scot. Nat., 19 15, p. 162), a considerable extension from the 

 nearest recorded nesting place. 



Morayshire. In Dr Harvie-Brown's Fauna of the Moray 

 Basin, vol. ii., p. no, published in 1895, '^^"'^ Wigeon is stated to 

 breed on Loch Spynie, but no indication is given as to when this 

 important loch was first colonised. This is an offshoot of the main 

 line of advance. 



North-west Highlands and Skye. 



Breeds locally and sparingly and is a winter visitor, but in 

 comparatively small numbers. 



