160 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



the nests are built on the roof of the cave, which is about fifty 

 feet high. 



Passer domestieus, Z. — House Sparrow. — House Sparrows were 

 seen at Glencassly in August 1891, though this does not by 

 any means prove that they are permanent residents there. 



Ligurinus ehloris, Z. — Greenfinch. — Common about Badenloch 

 during the autumn migration. 



Fringilla ecelebs, Z. — Chaffinch. — The first Chaffinch seen at 

 Badenloch was a female, on the 21st July 1889; since then 

 they have been noticed frequently on the autumn migration. 



Fringilla montifring'illa, Z. — Brambling. — Several Bramblings 

 were seen at Badenloch on migration in October 1889. 



Loxia eurvirostra, Z. — Crossbill. — Mr. L. Dunbar informs us that 

 three Crossbills were killed near Thurso in July 1888, and 

 sent to him for preservation. There seems to have been quite 

 an irruption of these birds in the north about that time. 



Sturnus vulgaris, Z. — Starling. — Mr. G. R. Lawson informs us 

 that a flock of about thirty Starlings perched on the chimney 

 and roof of the house at Griam-a-corry, Badenloch, on the 18th 

 October 1888. The forester had never seen such a thing 

 before. 



Pica rustiea, Scop. — Magpie. — Very rare about the east coast of 

 Sutherland. One pair seen about the Uppat Woods for some 

 three years back (W. Baillie) ; more common about Dornoch. 



Corvus monedula, Z. — Jackdaw. — A Jackdaw was seen at Baden- 

 loch on 21st July 1889. 



Corvus eorax, Z. — Raven. — Numbers of Ravens appear above a 

 certain hill near Kinbrace station, in the month of May, and we 

 have often seen eight or ten together there. Where do they 

 come from ? as the Raven is a rare bird during the breeding 

 season anywhere near there, indeed at any time, except that 

 particular month. In a letter to Harvie-Brown from Mr. 

 Candler, dated 22nd July 1891, the latter says: — "There is 

 one pair of Ravens still surviving at Scourie. For eleven years 

 they have never reared a single young bird. This year they 

 nested in the cliffs of the Duke's Mount. The nest could 

 not by any means be reached, but the tenant of the shooting 

 blew nest and young birds to pieces with rifle bullets." 



Cypselus apus, Z. — Swift. — Mr. James Hill of Helmsdale informs 

 us that a good many Swifts build under the tiled roofs of the 

 curing yards in that town. They are very scarce about Clyne 

 and Brora (\V. Baillie), but used to breed in the old prison at 

 Dornoch. 



