APPENDIX. 347 



Family CORACIIDiE. 



Holler — Coracias garrulus, Linn. 

 Rare visitant. An example was shot by a nephew of Mr. Fraser, the 

 fiscal of the county, near Dornoch, and was set up by Mr. Macleay of 

 Inverness. There is a specimen in the Dunrobin Museum labelled 

 Morvich, June 9, 1854. The Dornoch one was shot much later. 

 (And. Dr. J. M. Joass.) 



Family ALCEDINIDiE. 



Kingfisher — Alccdo ispida, Linn. 



Rare visitant. There is a specimen in the Dunrobin Museum. Another 

 was killed at the Little Ferry by Eric Ross, one of the Duke of 

 Sutherland's keepers, on February 1, 1S7S, and was seen in the flesh 

 by Mr. Thomas Mackenzie. 



Family PICID.E. 



Greater Spotted Woodpecker — Picus major, Linn. 



Accidental winter visitant ; in 1862 (?) very abundant, being shot in 

 almost eveiy part of the east of the county, even on Ben Clibrick, but 

 several years may pass without one being seen. 



Obs. Green Woodpecker — Gecinus viridis (Linn.) 



One in the Dunrobin Museum is marked " Bonar, 1S48," but this requires 

 confirmation. 



COLUMB/E. 



Family COLUMBIA. 



Ring-Dove — Columba jmlumbus, Linn. 



Resident in the eastern district ; very common in the wooded and culti- 

 vated parts of the south-east. A number of these birds spread up the 

 straths and into any isolated x>atches of wood during the breeding 

 season, retiring coastwards on the approach of winter. In Assynt, in 

 1S69, one pair were observed at Inchnadamph, which remained for a 

 few days, but did not tarry longer. In 1877 we find the note, "Not 

 uncommon in the young plantations around Loch Inver." In 18S3 

 they were seen commonly. Previous to 1869 they appear to have been 

 unknown in the west. As early as 1S34 Selby observed it at the base 

 of Ben Loyal, near Tongue'; but he adds — "a few pairs only were seen 

 during our excursion." Seen at Altnaharrow in June 1881. 



Rock-Dove — Columba livia, Bonnat. 



"At this time (1884) the Rock -Dove is nearly, if not quite, extinct in 

 the east of Sutherland ; eight or nine years ago they could be seen 

 from morning until evening going to and fro from their breeding- 

 places in the rocks on the Caithness side of the Ord, in flocks of thirty 

 and forty, all the year through ; now it is a rare thing to see one. The 

 last I remember seeing was a small flock of about half-a-dozen flying 

 over Helmsdale about three months ago. They are by no means a 

 hardy bird, and I attribute their scarcity entirely to the several severe 

 winters we have had since 1876. They have been seen to fall dead in 



