NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 147 



100. Oyster-catcher. Haematopus ostralegus, Lin. — Breeds in 

 considerable numbers along the shore. On one or two occasions I 

 have seen or heard these birds up the Brora river, some seven or 

 eight miles from the sea, but they only stayed for a day or two at 

 most. The Oyster-catchers assemble by thousands, in winter, on 

 the mussel scalps at the Little Ferry, near Golspie. 



101. Water Kail. Ball us aquaticus, Lin. — An autumn visitant. 



102. Corn Crake. Crex pratensis, Bechst. — A very common 

 summer species. 



103. Water Hen. Gallinula cMoropus (Lin.). — A resident 

 species, spreading out to certain localities to breed, and drawing 

 down to the coast in hard weather. One favourite winter locality 

 is the burn running by the Clynelish Distillery, near Brora, where 

 I have seen eight or ten at a time, by the side of the stream. 



104. Coot. Fulica atra, Lin. — I have seen the Coot on the hill 

 lochs on one or two occasions, in the breeding season, but I never 

 saw a nest, nor have I seen it in the winter. 



105. Arctic Tern. Sterna macrura, Xaum. — There are several 

 colonies of these, or the Common Tern, breeding along the coast, 

 but I have not been able to identify the species for certain. 



106. Lesser Tern. Sterna minuta, Lin. — I have never seen but 

 one pair of these Terns on the coast, and they were evidently nesting 

 at the time, though I could not find the nest. The eggs in the 

 Dunrobin Museum, said to be those of this bird, were merely those 

 of either the Arctic or Common Tern. 



107. Ivory Gull. Pagophila eburnea (Phipps). — A fine adult 

 specimen was shot at Scourie, and sent for presentation to Mr. 

 Macleay, bird-stuffer, in Inverness, where I saw it. I believe it is 

 now in the possession of Mr. Crawford, of Tongue. 



108. Kittiwake. Rissa tridactyla (Lin.). — Seen about the Little 

 Ferry in spring. 



109. Black-headed Gull. Chro'icocephalus ridibundus (Lin.) — 

 A common species the year over, breeding in several colonies 

 throughout the hills. These birds nearly always choose a muddy, 

 reedy island to nest on, very difficult of access without a boat, on 

 account of the depth of mud, but sometimes an inexperienced bird 

 or two will place their nest on the edge of the loch on the main- 

 land, though this appears to be rare. I once saw a single pair on a 

 loch, where the only other species was Larus canus. The nests are 

 made of reeds, a few heather stalks, and dead brackens. 



