APPENDIX. 337 



Stone-Chat — Pratincola rtibicola (Linn. ) 



Besident ; pairs are seen scattered throughout the country to the east 

 in every month in the year, though they retire nearer the coast-line as 

 winter approaches ; they are unsociable birds, more than two being 

 rarely seen together. In the west more abundant than the next species, 

 but locally distributed. Observed at Altnaharrow in June 1881. 

 Common, and breeding at Tongue. (Auct. J. C.) 



Whin-Chat — Pratincola rubetra (Linn.) 



A summer visitant ; very common in some localities in the east, and 

 going quite into the centre of the county to breed. Local in distri- 

 bution in the west ; plentiful between Lairg and Scourie (E. Rawson 

 in lit.), and seen by us commonly here and there between Rhiconich 

 and Durness. Reported common at Tongue. 



Wheatear— Saxicola cenanthe (Linn.) 

 Summer visitant, and extremely abundant in the east. Before his de- 

 parture for the winter the male changes his plumage into the more 

 sombre hues of the female. Even in very exposed situations far up 

 in the county, these birds constantly remain as late as October. In 

 Assynt extremely abundant, also especially in the limestone districts, 

 but not so abundant in 1877 as previous to that date. Common also 

 at Durness. We have found them in pairs on the summit of Ben 

 Chaoran (2500 feet above the sea). Least abundant in the broken 

 ground of the Stoir peninsula and interior parts of Edderachyllis. 



Sedge-Warbler — Acrocejphalus streperus (Vieill.) 



A summer visitant ; not rare, but very locally distributed both in the 

 east and west of the county. It has been traced to the very north of 

 Sutherland by Mr. Selby in the year 1834. 



Whitethroat — Sylvia rufa (Bodd. )' 

 Summer visitant ; occurring in limited numbers through the whole of 

 the east and south-east districts. Selby considered it rare in 1834, 

 when it was observed once at Tongue and once at Bonar. In 1865 

 described by Mr. A. G. More as nesting " only occasionally in Ross, 

 Sutherland, and Caithness " (Ibis, 1865, p. 25). But since then found 

 to breed regularly near Tain, and seen by ourselves near Dornoch. 

 Undoubtedly extending its northward distribution in Scotland. Re- 

 ported common at Tongue. 



Blackcap Warbler — Sylvia atricapilla (Linn. ) 



Very rare and casual visitant. A specimen obtained by Sheriff Mac- 

 kenzie at Dornoch, on November 1, 1871, is in the Dunrobin Museum. 

 The occurrence of this species during the period of autumn migration 

 upon the coast of Caithness, on several occasions, has been taken 

 notice of in the Field by the late Mr. Osborne, when it was observed 

 to feed greedily upon berries of the mountain-ash or rowan-tree. 



Wood- Wren — Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Bechstein). 



Summer visitant; fairly common in the south-east district. This 

 warbler was first observed by us in the summer of 1875 at Glenrossal, 

 near Rosehall. The following year one was reported as having been 

 heard at Kildonan in May 1876. (Auct. Lord Clifton, Zoologist, 1876, p. 

 5122). In 1877 we heard many in the Dunrobin grounds, and observed 

 one at Kintradwell also, but this seemingly sudden increase is more 

 likely due to the want of competent observers than to the absence of 

 the birds themselves. Not known farther west than Lairg and Altna- 

 harra. Of this we feel pretty certain up to date of going to press, but 

 we will be surprised if it be not finally a summer visitant to the suitable 



VOL. II. Z 



