424 Eggs and Birds of the Orkneys, 



Crevices of the stone walls raised to partition the differ- 

 ent fields ; and, in a few instances, we found them breeding 

 among the loose rocks or stones that lay scattered upon the 

 sea shore. 



The Mountain Linnet (Fringilla montium Gmelin, Linhria 

 montdna Ray). — This was the only species of linnet that we 

 saw ; and, in two nests that came under our observation, one 

 was placed upon the ground, among the young corn, the 

 other amidst some whins [(7'lex]. They were both alike: 

 their outsides were composed of small roots, and dried grass ; 

 and their insides lined with a small quantity of hair and a 

 few feathers ; and each contained six eggs, similar in appear- 

 ance to those of the grey linnet (Fringilla Linota Gmelin, 

 Linaria Linota Cuvier\ but rather smaller. 



The Skylark ( AJauda arvensis L. ), Rocklark ( Afnthus rupestris 

 Nilsson), and Titlark {Afnthus pratensis Bechstein). — We 

 found all three of these equally numerous. The latter is 

 known by the name of the grey teeting. 



The Wheatear {Saxicola CEinanthe Bechstein). — This is very 

 numerous, and called by the name of the chack. Like the 

 starling, it builds its nests in the crevices of the stone walls, 

 and very often in the rabbit burrows ; and lays from five to 

 six light blue eggs, similar to those of the redstart (Sylvia 

 Phoenicurus Latham). 



The Sand Martin {Hirundo ripdria L.). — This was the only 

 species that we saw ; and a few pairs of them were skimming 

 over a small loch, in the Island of Sanda. 

 - The Wild Pigeon {Columba W^nas L.). — This we found 

 very numerous, breeding in the crevices of the rocks. The 

 nests are placed at such a depth that it is impossible to reach 

 them. 



The Red Grouse, or Moorfowl (Lagopus scoticus Latham). 

 — This is the only species of grouse to be found in any 

 of the islands, and it is tolerably plentiful. The birds of this 

 species make little or no nest (which is placed under the long 

 heather), and lay from ten to eleven eggs, beautifully spotted 

 with black or brown, the ground colour being of a light 

 reddish colour. The birds appear to sit very close, as we 

 took a female off her eggs. 



The Golden Plover {Charddrius pluvidlis L.). — This 

 bird we found abundantly distributed over the different islands, 

 preferring the high hills that are covered with heather. They 

 make little or no nest, selecting a tuft of heather, where they 

 deposit their four eggs, the ground colour of which is of a 

 light reddish colour, spotted with black. Both male and 

 female have a black patch upon the breast. It is much. 



