APPENDIX. 341 



nadamph in 18S2. In 1882 we also met with it sparingly at Durness. 

 It is fairly common at Rosehall, and on the districts bordering the 

 Oykel river below Langwell, and the Kyle of Sutherland. 



Yellow-hammer— Emberiza citrinclla, Linn. 



Resident, and common in the east. These birds extend far into the 

 interior of the county to breed, returning to the greater extent of 

 cultivated ground near the coast in the winter. Common in suitable 

 places in the western districts. Apparently increased in numbers at 

 Inchnadamph by 1877, and by 1880 more abundant around Lairg and 

 the improved lands near Loch Shin. Seen at Altnaharra in 1S81 not 

 uncommonly. 



Family FRINGILLIDJE. 



Chaffinch — Fringilla Calebs, Linn. 

 Resident, and abundant, breeding through the eastern district wherever 

 there is sufficient wood ; in the autumn and winter these birds draw 

 down to the more cultivated parts of the county, and their numbers 

 appear to be increased by the addition of migrants. Has spread rapidly 

 and increased in the west of the county. Formerly we only knew of 

 one pair at Inchnadamph, which bred there for the first time about 

 1S77. Now they are common, but a slight check was put on their in- 

 crease by the severe winters. Also observed at Altnaharra and 

 Tongue in 1SS1. 



Brambling — Fringilla montif ring ilia, Linn. 

 Winter visitant of rare occurrence. One sent to Inverness for preserva- 

 tion by Mr. Macleay ; of this bird I have received the following note :— 

 "M'Intyre (the Balnacoil keeper) killed the Brambling two years ago 

 in the autumn, at Aschoil (near Balnacoil). There were two of them, 

 cock and hen, but the latter was destroyed by the shot. They were 

 in company with a lot of chaffinches (?) M'Intyre said. He had never 

 seen the same kind of bird before, nor has he since." (G. R. Lawson, 

 in lit.) There is a Brambling in the Dunrobin Museum labelled 

 "Tawny Bunting, Clyne, Mar. 1846," along with two tawny buntings 

 {vera), and probably shot along with the latter ; came originally from 

 the old collection at the Dunrobin Kennels.l 



Tree-Sparrow — Passer montanus (Linn. ) 

 Local ; probably resident. First described as a Sutherland bird by 

 Sheriff Mackenzie from Dornoch, where he himself first observed the 

 birds in 1872. On March 28, 1872, a flock of a dozen were observed in 

 the neighbourhood of Dornoch, and between then and August several 

 nests of eggs were obtained, one of which sets of eggs, thanks to Mr. 

 Mackenzie, is now in our collection at Dunipace. The only place we 

 have ever seen or heard of it in the west is at Clachtoll in Stoir, where 

 we observed a single bird in 18S3. First observed near Helmsdale in 

 August 1SS0, again in September of the same year, and many sub- 

 sequent times, such as in June 18S1, January 1SS3, and December of 

 the same year ; again in March 1SS4. Their nest has not been found 

 as yet at Helmsdale, but there is little doubt that they breed there. 



House Sparrow — Passer domesticus (Linn.) 

 Resident, abundant along the east coast ; local farther inland. At 

 Gordonbush, Strath Brora, we never remember to have seen a 



1 It is curious to find how completely "out of the track of migration " 

 of a large number of birds this county appears to be. 



