APPENDIX. 335 



but this having been happily disproved, these cheerful birds are left 

 to breed in security and peace ; and, partly by our own exertions, the 

 premium has been withdrawn. Fluctuations in numbers occurred in 

 the west of the county owing to these persecutions, but since the 

 premium was withdrawn they have again increased. In one return of 

 "vermin" killed, which we have received, the following were the 

 numbers of water- ouzels killed :— In 1874, 64; in 1875, 86; in 1876, 

 33 ; in 1877, 41 ; in 1878, 75 ; in 1879, Jan. to June, 54 : old and young. 

 Happily nous avons change tout cela, and if the premiums were placed 

 on the hooded crows and bag-nets it would be more practical. 



Family TURDIDiE. 



Missel-Thrush — Tardus viscivorus (Linn.) 

 Common, and resident in the south-east, and has much increased in the 

 last twenty years ; much reduced, however, by the two severe winters 

 of 1878-79 and 1SS0-81; now again regaining its numbers. Said to 

 have bred at Loch Naver by Selby in 1S34. 



In the west and north rare, up to 1865, but at that time breeding and 

 increasing as far north as Caithness. Increasing after date of 1865 ; 

 now breeding commonly about Rosehall, and reaching as far as Tongue. 

 Said to have bred at Cape Wrath, but this is doubtful. In 1877 we 

 saw a bird at Rosehall, the first we had seen in the district, and in 

 1S78 the remains of an old nest near Loch Inver. Seen commonly 

 since that time, especially about Rosehall, but still not seen in the west. 

 Reported as "quite disappeared" at Tongue in 1SS1, though before 

 that date "abundant," the severe winters having rapidly influenced 

 them. Can now be only looked upon as occasional at Tongue. 



Song-Thrush — Turdus musicus (Linn.) 

 Resident and common, though one of the species that suffered most in 

 the two before -mentioned severe winters; very common about the 

 older whin bushes that border the south-east coast-line. Common in 

 the west at Scourie, and especially at Badcall and Loch Inver ; common 

 at Tongue until the winter of 1878-79. Reported by Mr. Selby, on 

 information received, to remain all winter at Tongue, on the shore and 

 other low situations, and to resort, as we have been assured, to the 

 higher tops of the mountains, even in mid -winter, to feed on the 

 numerous berries. First observed at Inchnadamph in 1877. In 1881 

 reported to have been utterly exterminated at Tongue, as indeed was 

 the case throughout a large part of Scotland, the west coast and the 

 Hebrides, however, still holding the usual numbers, owing to the 

 influence of the Gulf Stream upon the climate. 



Redwing— Turd us iliacus (Linn.) 



Perhaps best described as a common autumn visitant to the east, more 

 rarely remaining the winter through ; the flocks that arrive are not 

 nearly so large as those of the fieldfare. On one occasion we were 

 witnesses of a migration of this and the next species at Glenrossal in 

 the autumn of 1875, large numbers of each arriving all one afternoon, 

 settling for a short time in the trees that fringe the river Cassley, and 

 then passing on ; next day few or none were to be seen. 



Fieldfare — Turdus pilaris (Linn. ) 

 Like the last, more common in autumn than in winter in the south-east, 

 especially of late years, the birds seeming to dread remaining so far 

 north after suffering so terribly from the two late severe winters. We 

 have at times seen very large flocks of Fieldfares after their arrival 

 sitting on the hillsides, but these soon after either broke up or went 



