82 The Scottish Naturalist. 



Thus will the interests of all true naturalists, and lovers of British birds, who 

 '* take an interest in Scottish Natural History," be seriously damaged instead of 

 forwarded. The knowledge which naturalists possess concerning the distribu- 

 tion of our rarer British birds in Scotland, is already all-sufficient for scientific 

 purposes. Why then expose localities, and directly or indirectly lead to their 

 extermination ? Why add even one link to the chain of destruction ? — J. A. 

 Harvie Brown, Dunipace House, Falkirk, 2d April. 



Arrival of the Squirrel in Sutherland.— I may state that the Squirrel 

 has within the last two years made its appearance in the east of Sutherland, as 

 I am informed by Mr. MacKenzie of Dornoch. — Id. 



Note on the Capercaillie.— The following extract from the first volume of 

 Grave's "British Ornithology" would put the extinction of the Capercaillie at a 

 much later date than 1758. I cannot give the exact date of the publication of 

 Grave's work, but his plate bears date 1813. 



"This species is nearly extinct in Great Britain; two instances of its being 

 killed in Scotland within these few years are the only satisfactory accounts we 

 have received of its being recently killed in the kingdoms. One was killed by a 

 gentleman (of the name of Henderson) near Fort-William, about six years ago, 

 and sent to Dundee ; but the vessel that conveyed it to London was detained so 

 long on the passage that the bird became so putrid that only the head and legs 

 could be preserved. The other specimen was shot by Captain Stanton, near 

 Burrowstone-Ness, two winters ago ; they were both males. Some few are said 

 to be yet remaining in the pine forests of Scotland, and also in the mountainous 

 parts of Ireland.'— J. H. GuRNEYjunr., 2 Beta Place, Alpha Road, London, 

 April 5th 1871. 



Birds of Aberdeenshire.— I observe in the "Scottish Naturalist" of 

 April, 1871, a list of the breeding birds of the N. W. of Aberdeenshire, by Mr. 

 Forbes. To prevent repetition I shall here only name what I have got in this lo- 

 cality (Inverurie) in addition to his. 



Long-eared Owl (Otus vulgaris) ; Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa grisola) ; 

 Sedge Warbler (Salicaria Phragmitis) ; Great Titmouse (Parus major) ; Tree 

 Pipit {Anthus ardor eus) ; Siskin (Carduelis spin us) ; Lesser Redpole (Linota 

 linaria) ; Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) ; Night Jar (Caprimulgus 

 Europaeus) ; Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) ; Oyster Catcher {Haematopus 

 ostralegus) ; Coot (Fulica atra) ; Little Grebe (Podiceps minor) ; Black-headed 

 Gull (Larus ridibundus). The eggs of the Common Heron (Ardea cinerea) I 

 got at Hatton Castle near Turriff. The egg of the Cuckoo {Cuculus canorus) 

 has been found here, in the nests of the Sky Lark, Meadow Pipit, and Hedge 

 Sparrow. I shall likewise mention a few visitors that I have observed in this 

 locality, but I am not aware of any of them breeding here. Hooper (Cvgnus 

 ferus) ; Cormorant (PhalacrocoraxCarbo) ; Little Bittern (Botaurus minutus) ; 

 Scaup Duck (Fuligula marila) ; Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) ; Green Shank 

 (Totanus glottis) ; Osprey (Pandion Halia'ctus) ; Wigeon (Anas Penelope) ; 

 Pochard (Fuligula ferina) ; Tufted Duck (Fuligula cristata) ; Golden Eye 

 (Fuligula clavgula) ; Goosander (Mergus merganser) ; King Fisher (Alcedo 

 ispida) ; Kittiwake (Larus tridactylus) ; Herring Gull {Larus argentatus) ; 

 Dunlin ( Triuga variabilis) ; Snow Bunting (Plectrophanes nivalis). The 



