APPENDIX. 333 



in Mr. Macleay's shop in Inverness, where it had been sent for pre- 

 servation. Specimens have also been obtained from Berriedale in 

 Caithness, close to Sutherland. Another Sutherland specimen passed 

 through Mr. Macleay's hands ; it was killed many years ago at Achany. 



Honey-Buzzard Pernis apivprus (Linn.) 



A rare autumn visitant ; several have, however, been procured, two of 

 which are now in our possession. The first, a female, was killed in 

 the large Uppat woods, near Dunrobin, in July 1879, and in September 

 of the same year a young one, with the down still adhering to the tips 

 of its feathers, was killed at Balnacoil, not far from the same place. 

 Other specimens are in the Dunrobin Museum, one of which was shot 

 at Kildonan up the Helmsdale Strath. 



Hen-Harrier Circus cyaneus (Linn.) 



Kesident, and still fairly common in the east, though killed down on 

 every occasion that offers. Like others of the Raptores the Hen- 

 Harrier resorts to the same place for nidification year after year, thus 

 leading to its destruction. A pair of birds were shot at the nest in 

 the Dunrobin Forest on May 14, 1881, the male of which had not then 

 attained the adult plumage. Previous to 1877 common in the west, 

 since then has almost disappeared. Three breeding sites previously 

 known to us have been untenanted for several years. In 1878 not one 

 was seen ; and still very rare in 1879. 



Family STRIGID^l. 



Tawny Owl Syrnium aluco (Gmel. ) 



Resident, but not very common ; of most frequent occurrence in the 

 wooded districts of the south-east. Breeds near Balnacoil, Dunrobin, 

 and Eosehall, in which latter place it was unknown forty years ago, 

 when Mr. Macleay of Inverness was a boy there. Mr. Crawford in- 

 cludes it as breeding at Tongue in the north. 



Long-eared Owl Otus vulgaris (Flem. ) 



Rare, but breeds in the Dunrobin district ; will probably extend its 

 range with the increasing number of plantations. Used to be very 

 common at Rosehall before the large woods were cut down. Also 

 occurs in the woods around Loch Migdale, near Bonar. It is reported 

 as breeding also at Tongue ; indeed Mr. Thomas Mackenzie received the 

 young from there. 



Short-eared Owl Otus brachyotus L. 



A decidedly rare species, but is recorded by Sheriff Mackenzie as having 

 bred near Dornoch in 1873. On only one occasion have we seen this 

 species in the east of the county. In the west we have only once ob- 

 tained an egg from the Cromarty side of the march. Mr. A. G. More 

 includes it as breeding regularly in the county. They were said to 

 have bred on an island of Loch Awe, in Assynt, in 1876. We ourselves 

 saw a bird which we felt sure was this species, pass our camping 

 ground by the side of a loch in Stoir, on the night of 13-14th June 1877. 



Snowy Owl Nyctea nivea (L.) 



A very rare visitant. An example, killed at Achintoul in the parish of 

 Kildonan, passed through Mr. Macleay's hands, and another was in 

 the collection of the late Mr. Dunbar of Brawl. 



Barn Owl Strix flammea, L. 



Very rare in the east ;.one was shot at Kildonan on the 12th of September 

 1883, and there are other specimens in the Dunrobin Museum. Rare 



