NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 141 



67. Snow Bunting. Pledroplianes nivalis (Lin.). — A common 

 winter visitant, arriving in large flocks. 



68. Sky Lark. Alauda arvensis, Lin. — Much commoner, 

 apparently, from spring to autumn than during the winter, and I 

 fancy most of them migrate. They certainly leave the straths, 

 and I do not now remember seeing many when shooting in the 

 fields near the coast, in winter ; I have often observed them on the 

 hill during the autumn, but not in the breeding season. 



69. Hoopoe. Upupa epops, Lin. — Obtained on two occasions at 

 Kintradwell. 



70. Greater Spotted Woodpecker. Picus major, Lin. — An 

 irregular winter visitant. 



71. Cuckoo. Cuculus canorus, Lin. — Very common summer 

 visitant ; often seen chasing one another from tree to tree. One or 

 two individuals used regularly to haunt the garden at Ealnacoil, 

 sitting under the bushes, and no doubt picking up the gooseberry 

 caterpillars which swarmed there ; they were very tame. The only 

 egg of this bird I ever obtained in Sutherland was taken from a 

 Titlark's nest on the 27th of June, 1879. 



72. Ring Dove. Columba palumbiis, Lin. — A very common 

 resident species, and increasing very much. 



73. Turtle Dove. Turtur auritus, Gray. — A specimen in the 

 Dunrobin Museum is labelled Kirkton, July, 1852. 



74. Pallas' Sand-Grouse. Syrrhaptes paradoxus (Pall.). — One in 

 the Dunrobin Museum, taken at Dornoch, on June '6th, 1863. 



75. Ptarmigan. Lagopus mutus, Leach. — I am afraid from all 

 accounts that the Ptarmigan is decreasing in the East of Sutherland. 

 Some years previous to 1870 a few used to be found on Ben Yarie, 

 in Glen Loth, but I doubt if there are any left now, and they were 

 also found on the Ben Griam hills, but are now extinct. A few 

 still exist on Ben Armine, but 1 hear they are much scarcer than 

 they used to be, even a comparatively short time ago. The same 

 may be said of Ben Clibrick, but this* is certainly their greatest 

 stronghold anywhere near the East. On the 1st of June, 1869, 1 

 saw several on Ben Clibrick, principally cocks, but could not obtain 

 a nest, and the only one I ever took was in Assynt, on the 4th of 

 June, 1870; it contained eight eggs, and was made of moss and 

 feathers placed among the stones. 



76. Red Grouse. Lagopus scoticus (Lath.). — In spite of the almost 

 periodical attacks of disease, by a few years' rest the Grouse soon gets 



