346 APPENDIX. 



PICARI/E. 



Family CYPSELIDiE. 



Swift — Cypselus apus (Linn.) 

 Summer visitant ; breeding in suitable localities along the south-east 

 coast, but not plentiful. Seen at Badenloch, in the centre of the 

 county, but does not breed there. Never observed in the west, nor, 

 indeed, have we seen them anywhere in the north. Though reported 

 as common about the limestone cliffs of Durness, and breeding in the 

 Great Smoo Cave and elsewhere, we saw nothing of them there in 1SS1. 

 At Tongue Mr. Crawford lias twice seen Swifts, but they did not 

 remain to breed, but tarried only for two or three days. Mr. Booth 

 observed a few, however, near Durness, and again between Castletown 

 and Dunnet Head in Caithness. 



Family CAPPJMULGIDiE. 



Nightjar — Caprimulgus eurqpceus, Linn. 

 A summer visitant ; occurring pretty frequently in suitable localities in 

 the east, and no doubt will increase its range with the growth of the 

 young plantations. Up to 1S75 apparently perfectly unknown in 

 Assynt, their last outpost being Rosehall at that time. Was first 

 observed at Casheldhu, near the head of Loch Emboli in 1882, when 

 a pair were frequently observed, and one unfortunately shot by the 

 keeper — Mr. Murray — in whose hands it now is. The first we our- 

 selves ever saw in the west was in July 1S83 at Loch Inver, but they 

 were reported to us as having occurred for some few years before 

 that date. In July 1883 one constantly hawked for insects close 

 round the Loch Inver Hotel in the evenings. Once observed at 

 Tongue many years ago by Mr. Crawford. 



Family CUCULID^l. 



Cuckoo — Cuculus canorus, Linn. 



Summer visitant ; abundant in every part of the eastern district of the 

 county, even on the barest hillsides. Abundant also in the west, and, 

 indeed, all over the county — in the glens and hillsides, but not 

 ascending very high among the hills. Heard for the first time at 

 Inchnadamph on 23d May in 1877 ; season cold and backward, and 

 many migratory birds were that year later of arrival here than is 

 usually the case. 



Family UPUPID.E. 



Hoopoe — Upupci epops, Linn. 

 Casual and rare visitant. Mr. Houstoun writes from Kintradwell — "I 

 am sorry I can't give you the dates of when the Hoopoes were got 

 here, but I think it was in the month of September ; they were got in 

 the patch of big fir-wood." These examples occurred in different years. 

 Others, said to have been taken at Golspie in June 1S50, and again in 

 1858, are in the Dunrobin Museum. 



