1896-97-] Birds of Kintail, Ross-shire. 231 



of it for the Society, I need not trespass further on your 

 patience. 



Running rapidly over the others still to notify, we find the 

 Turdidoe or Thrushes consist of the missel, blackbird, mavis, 

 and ring ousel ; and in this connection may be included the 

 lively water ousel or dipper ; the Sylviidae or Warblers, consist- 

 ing of the sedge, whitethroat, wood, and willow kinds. Gold- 

 crests, wrens, and tree-creepers may also be included. The 

 Paridse or Titmice embrace the great, blue, cole, and long-tailed 

 species ; the three Hirundinidse or Swallows, also the swift, are 

 of course in fair evidence during the summer months ; and 

 game, as may be inferred, is an important item, the whole 

 country, more or less, being let to shooting tenants. The chief 

 species embraced under this category are grouse, ptarmigan, 

 pheasants, woodcock, and more rarely snipe. To complete the 

 list, there only now remain the following odd species : the 

 cuckoo, wood-pigeon, and corncrake. 



It cannot be asserted that Kintail, as a district, is rich in 

 bird life, as many familiar in other parts of Scotland do not 

 seem ever to put in an appearance. But this may be accounted 

 for by the fact that the nature of the country is unsuitable to 

 their habits ; and, moreover, the comparative scarcity of wood 

 diminishes the number of the sylvan-loving species. 



I must apologise for the inadequate nature of this com- 

 munication, but was in hopes of making the subject more 

 interesting to the Society by narrating some of the curious 

 and absurd superstitions about birds that prevail in this and 

 other parts of the Highlands. Unfortunately, however, the 

 want of Gaelic speech has been a great hindrance in their col- 

 lection ; but should I manage to gather sufficient to fill a 

 paper, with your kind permission I may bring the matter 

 under the notice of the Society at some future date. 



