inhabiting- the County of Sutherland 289 



here and there, and those in the most sequestered spots. The cause, 

 however, was soon explained, when we learnt that a decree of extermi- 

 nation had gone forth a few years ago, against this pretty little warbler, 

 and a price set upon its head as the supposed destroyer of the spawn of 

 the salmon ; I say the supposed destroyer, as I do not think a case suffi- 

 ciently strong has been made out against it to warrant so fatal a sentence. 

 That it may occasionally devour the spawn of the salmon and trout, I do 

 not deny ; but I hold, that from the depth at which the impregnated ova 

 are deposited in the gravel, the Dipper cannot possibly arrive at them or 

 commit any serious injury, and that it is only such ova as have escaped 

 impregnation, and therefore float loose, or such as have not been suffi- 

 ciently covered, and would therefore perish under any circumstances, 

 that find their way into the stomach of the bird. In Sutherland it goes 



under the name of the King's-fishcr. 19. Saxicola cenanthe. Wheat Ear. 



■ This clean-looking active bird is very plentiful, and generally distributed 

 over the country, but I think most abundant in the limestone districts, 

 where the superior nature of the soil, and the quality of the rocks, in all 



probability produce a greater abundance of food. 20. S. rubetra, 



Whin-Chat. A few pairs of this species were seen in various parts, as at 



Lairg, Tongue, &c., but generally where low copse was met with. 



21. S. rubicola, Stone-Chat. Was also occasionally met with. 22. Ery- 



thaca rubecula. Redbreast. Was seen at various stations. 23. Sali- 



caria phragmitis. Sedge Warbler. This was one of the few warblers we 

 traced to the northern extremity of the island ; it was pretty generally 

 distributed along the margins of the lochs, particularly where low birchen 

 copice and reedy grass abound. The well known babbling notes of this 

 wakeful little bird proclaimed its presence in many unexpected situa- 

 tions. 24. Curruca cinerea, Common Whitethroat. Is of rare occur- 

 rence in Sutherland. One was seen and repeatedly lieard near Tongue 

 House in a young plantation, and we again met with it upon the south- 

 ern confines of the county, near Bonar Bridge. 25. Sylvia trochilus. 



Willow Wren. The only species of the genus Sylvia we met with, was 

 the common willow-wren, which extended in considerable numbers to 

 the extremity of tlie island, wherever copse or birch-wood abounded. 

 About Tongue it was very plentiful, and the same at Lairg, the margins 



of Loch Naver, and the wooded banks of Loch Assynt. 26. Parus 



coenileus, Bluecap Titmouse. Was seen at Rosehall, in the fir planta- 

 tions. 27. P. ater. Cole Titmouse. Also seen at the same place. 



28. Accentor modularis. Hedge Accentor. Was met with at all our various 



stations, and twice seen at a considerable elevation. 29. Motacilla 



alba, Pied Wagtail. Generally dispersed. 30. Motacilla boarula. Grey 



Wagtail. Upon most of the rivers and margins of lochs. 31. Anthus 



pratensis. Meadow Pipit. Very common throughout the county, and 



met with on the summits of the highest hills. 32. Alauda arvensis, 



Sky-Lark. Very plentiful throughout the country, and was seen the 

 previous year within a few hundred yards of Cape ^V^ath 33. Em- 



