Ml' A. Craig y Jim., on the Birds of Glenurriuhart. 115 



above the ground while the blast is blowing its keenest, all 

 the while chirping to each other in musical notes, and few 

 more interesting sights are to be seen than a flock enjoying 

 themselves at a time when every other living creature is 

 glad to seek the nearest shelter from the inhospitable " nor'- 

 easters" that blow over the moors. They are not much 

 afraid of human beings, and during a lull in the storm one 

 may approach within a few yards of the spot where they are 

 feeding quite unregarded by the birds themselves. Instances 

 are recorded by various authors of their breeding in Scotland, 

 and a pair were seen on Craig-na by a gentleman, many 

 weeks after the great flocks had migrated, but he was unable 

 to ascertain if they reared a brood. 



Chaffinch {FHngilla ccelehs). 



Probably the commonest bird save the house sparrow, and 

 to be found in every quarter of the Glen, even in the highest 

 pine woods, such as those on Craig-na, Craig-Mony, etc. It 

 has a habit of uttering a sharp note on the approach of any 

 one from whose presence it augurs danger, which has the 

 effect of putting all the birds in the immediate neighbour- 

 hood on the alert, and consequently it often happens that if 

 one is attempting to approach near enough in order to watch 

 the habits of another species, his purpose is defeated by the 

 wary chaffinch. Among its varied notes I have heard it 

 utter one resembling very closely the call of the redstart. 



Mountain Finch (Frmgilla montifringilla). 



Tkee Sparrow {Passer montanus). 



The existence of this species is rather dubious. I saw a 

 pair of birds one day at Pitkerrald, near Drumnadrochit, 

 which seemed to me to be the Passer montanus, but being 

 unable to procure at present sufficient confirmatory evidence 

 of its occurrence I should not care to say positively that it 

 inhabits the district, although I have little doubt that it Avill 

 be found to do so. 



