348 APPENDIX. 



the air when flying during protracted severe weather. I have often 

 caught them in the Navidale stackyards unable to walk or fly, nothing 

 but bones." — (J. Hill, Esq., in lit.) Generally distributed on the 

 north coast, more local in the west, preferring the mainland caves, 

 as a rule, to those on islands. Fairly common at Stoir Head, but 

 nowhere to be called abundant. A pair of apparently perfectly pure 

 wild Rock-Pigeons frequented the inn at Inchnadamph in May and 

 June 1877, associating with the House Pigeons ; they have not returned 

 up to 1S83. 



Turtle-Dove — Turtur communis, Selby. 

 Very rare summer visitant. Two specimens in Dunrobin Museum are 

 labelled "Kirkton, Jul. 1S54 :" "Crakaig, Sep. 1879." (Auct. Rev. Br. 

 J. M. Joass.) Mr. J. Crawford, writing us in 1S79, says— "On inquiry 

 I find that several Turtle-Doves have been shot in the Melvich dis- 

 trict some three years ago. I do not remember having seen any 

 here (Tongue) previous to the one I sent you." This bird was shot, 

 but much lacerated, by a pea-rifle bullet, so much so that we could 

 not preserve it. 



PTEROCLETES. 



Family PTEROCLID^. 



Pallas Sand Grouse — Syrrlmptcs paradoxus (Pall.) 

 Extremely rare ; accidental visitant. A specimen in the County Museum 

 was taken at Dornoch on June 6, 1S63. 



GALLIN/E. 



Family TETRAONIDiE. 



Black Grouse — Tctrao tutrix, Linn. 

 Resident and numerous, being found scattered through the eastern 

 districts, irrespective of wood or cover, but is more restricted in the 

 west, and confined to birch coverts and the lake and river sides, being 

 seldom seen on open ground. 



Obs. Capercaillie — Tetrao urogallus, Linn. 

 Extinct in the county, though! it was present in Sir Robert Gordon's 

 time. Attempts at reintroduction have been made by Mr. Chirnside 

 in 1870, at Skibo (vide, The Capercaillie in Scotland. D. Douglas, Edin- 

 burgh, p. 99), and at Ospisdale. One bird survived at Skibo for two 

 years but finally disappeared. There being 1S00 acres or more of suit- 

 able wood on the property, we cannot but believe that an attempt on a 

 sufficiently larger scale would succeed, if it is considered a desirable 

 addition to the game of the district. 



Red Grouse — Lagopus scoticus (Lath.) 

 Resident ; some years more abundant than others ; most abundant in 

 the season of 1880, since which time the county has never entirely been 

 free from disease, though this scourge has not been equally destructive 

 in all places. Grouse migrate much in this county ; many birds were 

 seen at the beginning of 1883 on the east coast, yet few remained to 

 breed, and scarcely any were to be found in the shooting season, nor 



