140 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



57. Greenfinch. Ligurinus chloris (Lin.). — Not a very numer- 

 ous species. 



58. Goldfinch. Carduelis elegans, Steph. — I have never seen 

 one of these birds on the East coast, though I am informed that 

 they still breed at Dunrobin. They are, however, very much 

 scarcer than formerly. 



59. Siskin. Carduelis spinus (Lin.). — I heard of the young 

 ones being taken near Dunrobin to be brought up as cage birds.* 



59b. Crossbill. Loxia curvirostra t lAn. — This interesting species 

 also breeds at certain localities in the East of Sutherland.! 



60. Lesser Eedpoll. Linota rufescens (Vieill.).— Breeds rather 

 commonly in some of the birch and alder woods on the East coast. 

 One nest I took on the 13th June, 1877, contained four fresh eggs, 

 and was made of twigs of birch and heather, then fine grass, and 

 lined with hair, moss, feathers, hare and rabbit fur, and thistle- 

 down ; it was placed on the very top of a birch tree. Another 

 taken out of an alder contained two hard-set and two addled eggs ; 

 this was on the 25th of May, 1878. 



61. Linnet. Linota cannabina (Lin.). — An abundant species, 

 breeding in the whinbushes that are so common along the coast. 



62. Chaffinch. Fringilla coelebs, Lin. — The very commonest 

 small bird on the East of Sutherland, and seems to be everywhere ; 

 those breeding inland draw down to the coast and the stackyards 

 in the winter. 



63. House Sparrow. Passer domesticus (Lin.). — Common and 

 spreading. 



63b. Tree Sparrow. Passer montanus (Lin.). — 



64. Common Bunting. Ember iza miliaria, Lin. — A common 

 species, some remaining through the winter, but apparently receiv- 

 ing additions in the breeding season. 



65. Yellow Hammer. Emberiza citrinella. Lin. — Like the 

 preceding, very abundant. Those that breed any distance from 

 cultivation, as they do at Balnacoil, go to the coast or to the 

 neighbouring stackyards in the winter. 



66. Black-headed Bunting. Emberiza melanocephala, Scop. — 

 Common in suitable localities. 



* The Siskin also breeds, or used to breed, nearer the shores of the Dornoch 

 Firth.— J. A. H.-B. 



t Vide Proceedings, vol. ii., part i., page 102. 



