BIRDS OF THE COUNTY. 81 



81. The Sand Martin is numerous wherever the ground 

 suits its habits ; and the Common House Martin is also every- 

 where : it breeds, too, in many of the rocky cliffs and caves 

 of the coast. I particularly observed it in the cave of Srnoo, 

 near Durness. 



82. The Woodpigeon is numerous wherever woods and 

 cultivation united afford it food and shelter. In my opinion 

 the good it does the farmer, in feeding for many months of 

 the year on the seeds of the wild mustard, ragweed, &c., &c., 

 is a fair equivalent for all the grain it consumes. As far 

 north as Tongue I heard and saw this bird. 



83. The Rock Dove, a beautiful and interesting little bird, 

 frequents most of the rocky shores of the north coast. In- 

 habiting the crevices and caverns formed by the constant 

 beating of the waves, and fearless of the surf and swell dash- 

 ing constantly into its dwelling-places, this bird lives and 

 multiplies ; seldom killed by man, but probably affording a 

 great source of food to the peregrine falcons who build in its 

 neighbourhood. 



I never saw any woodpecker in Sutherlandshire, though it 

 is most probable that the spotted woodpecker does exist in 

 the old woods near Dunrobin and elsewhere. Indeed I have 

 heard that it has been seen there ; but I would rather run 

 the chance of leaving out birds that do occur than insert the 

 name of any bird as being indigenous, unless I had seen it 

 myself, or had heard of it being seen by persons whose 

 authority I could not doubt, either as to their truthfulness 

 or their skill. 



I write these pages wholly for the amusement and informa- 

 tion of my reader, and take down the names of birds out of 

 my note-book, in which I have inserted them in almost 

 every instance after having seen them myself ; and the very 

 few which I have not seen living in Sutherlandshire, Mr. 

 D unbar has procured in that county, and has them now pre- 

 served in his collection. 



I must apologise to the scientific ornithologist for any mis- 

 takes I may have made in naming the several birds, as I am 

 more of an out-door than an in-door naturalist ; and if my 

 notes are of any value, it will be for their truth, and because 

 they are the result of personal observation and acquaintance 

 with the birds. I will only request, in the words of Horace 



Si quid novisti rectius istis, 

 Candidus imperti : si non, his utere mecuni. 



