NATUKAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 135 



24. Willow Wren. Phylloscopus trochilus (Lin.). — The very 

 commonest of all the warblers, and I have seen many nests about 

 Balnacoil and the neighbourhood. On one occasion I found a nest 

 in the fork of a large tree, at least four feet from the ground. During 

 the breeding season the males seem to be answering one another in 

 every direction. 



25. Wood Wren. Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Bechst.). — I just ob- 

 served this species at Glenrossal near Rosehall, in 1875. I had 

 only within the last year or two made its acquaintance in the South 

 of England, so recognized it the more readily. Again when going 

 through the grounds about Dunrobin, in 1877 or 1878, with a friend, 

 we heard it pretty commonly, so it is evidently far from rare on the 

 East coast. I have had no opportunities of looking for its nest, but 

 it must have been breeding, as it was towards the end of May, or 

 the beginning of June, when we observed it.* 



26. Wheatear. Saxicola oenanthe (Lin.). — A very common 

 species, breeding in the old dykes which are so often seen about the 

 green patches of grass throughout Sutherland. I once got a nest in 

 a hole in the ground from which a stone had been removed. On 

 another occasion I observed one of these birds hovering persistently 

 over a spot at the roadside, and on going up found an adder lying, 

 which I killed. 



27. Whinchat. Pratincola rubetra (Lin.). — A common summer 

 visitant all along the coast. 



28. Stonechat. Pratincola rubicola (Lin.). — As common as the 

 last, a certain number remaining in favourite localities the winter 

 through, f 



29. Redstart. Ruticilla phoenicurus (Lin.). — Apparently in- 

 creasing. There were one or two pairs breeding about Glenrossal, 

 and also at Balnacoil, while, I believe, they are much commoner than 

 they used to be about Dunrobin. I got a nest of seven eggs out of 

 the garden wall at Balnacoil, and on another occasion found a nest 

 of young ones near there. I 



* As I have elsewhere remarked already, it seems desirable to collect localities 

 in Scotland where the Wood Warbler is found, as its distribution, as yet, is 

 but imperfectly worked out. — J. A. H.-B. 



T The comparative distribution of these two species throughout Scotland 

 would form a good subject for a paper. — J. A. H.-B. 



% Redstarts bred and reared a brood at Inchnadamph in the West for the first 

 time in 1880. [The late E. R. Alston in lit. to J. A. H.-B., 27th August, 

 1880].— J. A. H.-B. 



