120 Proceedings of the Boyal Physical Society. 



ingenuity tliey exercise in opening the door, untwisting the 

 binding wires, etc., is wonderful. The plumage varies a 

 good deal, but hardly so much, I think, as many well known 

 ornithological writers describe. The only nest I ever found 

 was composed of lichen-covered twigs of the larch, fibrous 

 roots, and moss, and was placed in a spruce tree at the 

 junction of a branch with the main stem. It had a partial 

 roof of twigs covering half of the nest, but this may have 

 been exceptional, as other nests procured in Scotland do not 

 seem to possess this semi-arched structure. 



Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). 



Builds about the chimneys of Balmacaan House and 

 Clunebeg. Not very numerous, but, as elsewhere, rapidly 



Water Ouzel (Cinches aquaticits). 



Frequents the beds of the Enerick and Divach burns, and 

 builds sometimes in the retaining wall close to the Bridge 

 of Drumnadrochit, but is not nearly so plentiful as in the 

 Lowlands. At all times a welcome and interesting resident, 

 it is all the more so there, owing to its comparative scarcity. 



Missel Thrush {Turdns viscivorus). 



Used to be a well-known species, and no doubt will con- 

 tinue so, when the disastrous effects of the cold winters 

 have been overcome by time. 



FiELDFAEE [Turdus pilaris). 



Arrives in flocks about the end of October, at which time 

 they may be seen greedily devouring the few rowans that 

 have not been stripped off by the non-migratory birds, such 

 as blackbirds, bullfinches, greenfinches, etc. At that time 

 they can be easily approached, but later on in the year it is 

 a matter of some difficulty to get within gun-shot. 



Eedwing {Turdus iliacus). 



Comes about the same time as the former, and in habits is 

 similar. 



