AND ANGLING SONGS. 353 



ROSS-SHIRE AND ITS ZOOLOGY. 



THERE is perhaps no county in Great Britain so amply 

 stocked with subjects of interest to the zoologist as Ross-shire. 

 It harbours, either permanently or as visitors, almost all the 

 native animals, winged or four-footed, which are sought after by 

 the sportsman and naturalist. Possessed, as well as Sutherland, 

 of lofty mountains, numerous lakes and rivers, furnished also, in 

 its connexion with Cromarty and the Island of Lewis, with an 

 extensive coast-line having relations both with the North Sea 

 and the Atlantic, it has the advantage over the contiguous shire, 

 in respect to wood and vegetation, elements which contribute 

 largely to the maintenance and protection, as well as increase of 

 animal life. The variety in the feathered tribe embraced within 

 the compass of Contin <parish, and the three or four parochial 

 divisions stretching seaward which adjoin it, is quite astonishing. 

 Lists which I have seen make mention of more than 120 differ- 

 ent kinds of birds, inland and aquatic, resident and occasional, 

 shot or captured within the range spoken of. Along with the 

 white-tailed and golden eagles (Falco albicilla and F. chryscetos} 

 there were comprised in these records nine other species belong- 

 ing to the genus Falco, viz., the kite or gleadd (F. milvus], the 

 peregrine (Peregrinus), the hen harrier (F. cyaneus], the merlin 

 (F. cesalon), the kestril (Tinnunculus), the sparrow-hawk (Nisus). 

 These six are natives, and common to many parts of Scotland. 

 The occasional visitors are the goss-hawk (Astur palumbarius), 

 the ger-falcon or Iceland-hawk (F. Islandicus), and the honey- 

 buzzard (Pernis apivorus). Among the rarer birds in these 

 lists are the cross-bill or shield-apple (Loxia curvi-rostra), the 

 rose-coloured ousel (Turdus roseus), the ring ousel (Turdus tor- 

 quatus), the chatterer (arnpelis garrulus), the ash-coloured shrike 

 or great butcher-bird (Lanius excubitor), the snow-bunting 



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