156 AUTUMNS ON THE SPEY. 



occurrence at Malta, during the spring and 

 autumnal migration from Africa, scarce in France, 

 unknown in Holland, but occasionally a wanderer 

 to Sweden and Denmark. 



That still more uncommon British visitor the 

 nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes, was killed 

 about the same time at Invergarry. This species 

 is a native of the pine forests of Russia and Nor- 

 way, and is also found in Switzerland and among 

 the Austrian Alps. 



But the greatest ornithological curiosity that 

 has ever been met with in this part of Scotland is 

 the three-toed sand grouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxus, 

 a specimen of which was shot by the Duke of 

 Richmond, on the 23rd of October, 18G3, out of 

 a flock of seven or eight which he flushed while 

 partridge-shooting on the banks of the Spey, 

 between Gordon Castle and the mouth of the 

 river. They rose from the shingle and at once 

 attracted his attention by their rapid, swallow- 

 like flight and unusual cry, and flew directly 

 across the river.* This bird is a native of the 

 steppes of Tartary, and until lately was unknown 

 oven as an accidental visitor to any part of Europe. 

 The genus consists of a single species, and the 



Dr. Gordon informs me that a specimen was killed at Lossie- 

 moutb, and another at Dornocb about the same time. 



