BIRDS OF THE COUNTY. 77 



harmless, but in fact they are of infinite service to mankind. 

 Hunting chiefly by night, when almost all young birds are 

 safe in their roosting-places, the owls prey principally, if not 

 entirely, on mice and rats, which are then abroad in all 

 directions plundering the farmers' produce. Where the owls 

 have been much destroyed by pole-traps and other means, 

 mice and rats increase to the most mischievous extent, not 

 only destroying grain, but also doing immense mischief in 

 young plantations, by barking and nibbling the shoots of the. 

 young trees sometimes to an almost inconceivable extent. 



21. The Spotted Flycatcher is common enough. Tame and 

 familiar, it builds its well-concealed nest in the creepers and 

 ivy that grow round a window or against the garden- wall. 

 It arrives in May and departs early in autumn. Being 

 dependent on flies for its subsistence, the first approach of 

 cold drives this bird from the north to seek a warmer 

 climate. 



22. The Water-Ousel enlivens most of the mountain 

 streams with its lively motions and merry note. In winter 

 it comes nearer to the sea for unfrozen water, while in sum- 

 mer it is seen everywhere from Cape Wrath to Dunrobin. 



23. The Common Ring-Ousel cheers the wanderer through 

 all the wilder parts of the county, suddenly breaking out 

 unexpectedly into loud song in places where the eagle or 

 grouse would be more looked for than a singing bird. 



24. The Missel Thrush is common, breeding very early. I 

 saw it as far northward as Tongue. 



25. The Common Song Thrush is to be seen wherever there 

 is wood. 



26. The Blackbird, though not quite so common, is plenti- 

 ful also. 



27. The Fieldfare and Redwing arrive in great numbers, 

 and do not depart till some time in April. 



28. The Hedge Sparrow breeds in every hedge in all the 

 cultivated parts of the country. 



29. The Robin, with its usual sociability, frequents the 

 habitations of man, as in other countries. 



30. The Redstart breeds commonly about the woody glens 

 and gardens near Dunrobin ; but, like most other insecti- 

 vorous birds, departs for the south on the first approach of 

 winter. 



31. The Sedge Warbler, singing like the nightingale during 

 all the hours of darkness, is common. I heard its sweet 



6 



