APPENDIX. 299 



known to have occurred on this part of the coast was 

 shot near Kintradwell, amongst some rocks, and was quite 

 alone ; these patches of rock, too, are a favourite resort 

 of the purple sandpiper, mixed with redshanks and a few 

 turnstones, though the latter often keep in small flocks 

 by themselves. 



Leaving the coast-line, we next come to the cultivated 

 district which lies between the sandhills and the rising 

 ground ; this presents but little interest, excepting that 

 the quail has been found nesting on one or two occa- 

 sions near Brora and also near Dornoch, as recorded by 

 Sheriff Mackenzie. The wooded district which occupies 

 a portion of the same area, and extends also higher up 

 the rising ground, is of considerable importance. 



It may be as well to mention that there are no pine- 

 trees in Sutherland of any great antiquity, probably none 

 one hundred years old. The oldest now standing are situ- 

 ated between the Cassley and Oykel rivers, the next in age 

 being those at Kilcalmkill or Gordonbush, and Kintrad- 

 well, which were probably planted about the same time. 

 The great extent of country now under trees has all been 

 planted within the last sixty or seventy years. Such 

 an extent of newly planted ground, for so long a time 

 barren, must, and indeed now does, exercise a decided 

 influence on the fauna of the county. On the densely 

 wooded side of Ben Bhraggie the badger exists : one of 

 the few remaining places in the county still frequented 

 by it, though formerly they were apparently common. 

 The siskin nests here, too, and doubtless the crossbill also, 

 though the only place where the latter is known to do so 

 with certainty is in the Balblair wood at the Little Ferry. 

 In the Uppat woods a female honey buzzard was shot in 

 July, which might well have been breeding, though no 

 nest has, so far, actually been discovered. 



The greatest extent of wooded country lies in the 

 parishes of Dornoch, Creich, and Golspie, though almost 

 every parish possesses some newly planted ground, and 

 should this prove, a success, no doubt still more land will 

 be thus treated : every strath, too, possesses some natural 



