inhabiting the County of Sutherland. 291 



base of Ben-Laighal afford it a retreat. A few pairs only were seen du- 

 ring our 'excursion. 48. C. livia. Rock Pigeon. This species, the stock 



of our common dovecote pigeon, is found in its wild state along the whole 

 of the northern coast of Sutherland, inhabiting the caves and rocky pre- 

 cipices, which rise in parts to several hundred feet in height. It is abun- 

 dant about Whiting Head and the eastern shore of Loch Eriboll, com- 

 posed of rocks abounding in caves and deep cleft fissures. The prevail- 

 ing colour is a dark blue, the wings with two black transverse bands, 



and the lower back white. 49. Tetrao tetrix. Black Grous. Plentiful 



in all the districts about Lairg and Loch Shin, the base of Ben Laighal, 



Ben Hope, &c. 60. Lagopus Scoticus, Red Grous or Red Ptarmigan. 



In the midland district of the county, between Lairg and Tongue, the 

 common red grous seems abundant. Upon the western coast it is not 

 so numerous, the face of the country being too rocky and sterile, and sel- 

 dom affording any extended tract of heath. 61. L. mutus. Common 



Ptarmigan. Plentiful upon all the mountains, their rocky summits being 

 favourable to its habits. A specimen was shot by Sir William Jardine, 

 which Dr Richardson, when shewn to him, thought to be the L. rupestria 

 of the Faun. Bor. Amer. It is smaller than the usual average size of the 

 common ptarmigan, and the plumage is more varied with reddish-brown. 

 It was killed upon the Ben-More ridge above Inch-na-Damff, and we 

 hope to obtain additional specimens from the same locality, so as to ena- 

 ble us to determine the species. 62. Perdix cinerea. Common Par- 

 tridge. A pair was seen at Inch-na-Damff, and about Lairg their call was 



repeatedly heard. 63. Ardea cinerea. Common Heron. Was seen upon 



the Oikel. 64. Numenius arquatus. Common Curlew. Very abundant 



in all the central parts of the county, where heath and extensive marshy 

 tracts prevail. Upon the rocky western coast it is comparatively rare. 



65. N. phseopus, Whimhrel. Was seen upon the margin of Loch Shin, 



but no eggs or young were obtained. 6Q. Totanus calidris, Redshank. 



Was found breeding on the marshy margin of Loch Doulich, near Lairg, 

 and at the head of Loch Naver. When disturbed from its nest, and as 

 long as the young are unable to fly, the old birds are very vociferous, 

 and wheel around the intruder in circles, making frequent stoops, as if to 



strike at the head, like the common lapwing. 67. T. hypoleucos. 



Common Sandpiper. Very abundant upon the margins of all the numerous 



lochs and rivers. 68. T. glottis, Greenshank. This species, whose nest 



had never before been found in Britain, we detected breeding in various 

 parts of the country, generally in some swampy marsh, or by the margin 

 of some of its numerous lochs. It is very wild and wary, except when 

 it has tender young, at which time, when first disturbed, it sometimes 

 approaches pretty near, making a rapid stoop like the redshank at the 

 head of the intruder. If fired at and missed, which is frequently the case 

 even by a good marksman, as the stoop is made with remarkable rapi- 

 dity, it seldom (at least for that day) ventures again within range. A 

 pair which had their nest in a marsh near Tongue, after having been once 



