VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF SUTHERLAND AND CAITHNESS 157 



Eagles still hold their ground fairly well, but other birds 

 of prey show a decrease ; this, however, might be expected, 

 though it is sad to see how the Hen Harrier is rapidly 

 approaching utter extermination. 



Plantations are growing up and doing their silent work 

 in increasing the numbers and breeding areas of certain 

 species. When staying at Badenloch, we have been repeatedly 

 struck, any autumn we have been there, with the attraction 

 which a few (say three or four hundred) small firs, a garden, 

 and an acre or two of cultivated ground, has on migrating 

 birds. Constantly in the early October mornings we have 

 seen flocks of small birds, such as Greenfinches, Chaffinches, 

 etc., descend into these trees, rest for a short time, then 

 with an unanimous twitter rise up and pursue their onward 

 course. As a rule everything was quiet for the clay by nine 

 o'clock. 



In the late \Y. Dunbar's possession at Brawl, was a large 

 case, containing amongst other specimens, a Sutherland 

 Osprey, shot in the breeding season, the two Red-necked 

 Phalaropes mentioned in St. John's " Tour in Sutherland," 

 and some other rarities. All in the case are supposed to be 

 from Sutherland or Caithness, but as there seems t v have 

 been no record kept of date and locality, and seeing that one 

 of the hawks (a species of Harrier) is undoubtedly foreign, 

 their genuineness must be accepted with extreme caution. 



In a paragraph taken from the " Scotsman ' of 24th 

 December 1887, the following is said : "Gordon of Straloch, 

 on the authority of Mr. Timothy Pont, who was minister 

 of Dunnet about the year 16 14, and likely to be well in- 

 formed, when writing of the district of Parf or Cape Wrath 

 remarks, ' Veric great plcntie of wolfes doo hant in thir 

 desert places.' 



MAMMALIA. 



Erinaeeus europseus, /.. — Hedgehog. — Mr. Houstoun brought 

 four Hedgehogs, two of each sex, from Ross-shire in August 

 [888, and turned them into his garden at Kintradwell, from 

 which they made their escape. 



Crossopus fodiens. Pall.- -Water Shrew. I nder date of 8th Sep 

 tember 1888, Mr. (1. R, Lawson of Golspie writes us ; " I L, r ot a 

 pretty specimen of the Water Shrew here yesterday, and have 



