APPENDIX. 349 



was any sign of dead birds found ; in the west of the county, however, 

 good sport has been had for several years back, in places where 

 formerly scarcely a grouse was to be seen, and the conclusion is that 

 the birds migrate there from the east. 1 



The fluctuations in numbers from year to year to which Grouse 

 are now subject, opens up a large question for full treatment (which 

 we have not room for here), owing to many causes which, we believe, 

 are quite within the grasp of the naturalist to understand. Com- 

 mon in west Sutherland at certain localities, especially above the 

 limestone, where in Assynt 700 and 600 brace were killed in two 

 seasons respectively. Tape-worm in 1874, and late cold spring with 

 frost and much cold rain, almost brought them to the verge of extinc- 

 tion in 1S76 and 1877, and we did not see a single bird along all the 35 

 miles of road between Lairg and Inchnadamph, where they used to be 

 fairly abundant. They partly recovered in 1S7S. 



Bare in Stoir and Aardvaar, owing to the superabundance of old rank 

 heather and irrepressible hoodie crows. Grouse do not "pack" in the 

 west of Sutherland. 



Ptarmigan — Lagopus mutus, Leach. 

 Resident ; much scarcer than formerly in the east. Has disappeared from 

 all the hills it used to inhabit on the Caithness march ; also from the 

 Bens Griam and Ben Uarie, within the last forty or fifty years, from 

 the last-named place last of all ; getting much scarcer, too, on Ben 

 Armine, and even on Ben Clibrick. During the severe winter of 18S0-81 

 three Ptarmigan were seen not far from Ben Horn in the Dunrobin 

 Forest. 



Abundant in the west, and all the high mountains, but more so on 

 the continuous ranges than on the isolated hills. The range of Glas- 

 bhein, Ben Uidhe, Ben Harran (Chaoran), Ben More, and Braebag, is 

 perhaps the best Ptarmigan range in the county. 



Family PHASIANIDiE. 



Pheasant — Phasianus colchicus, Linn. 

 Resident ; only numerous where hand-reared and preserved. Pheasants 

 were introduced as long ago as 1S41 at Skibo {New Stat. Acct), where 

 they are numerous at present. Introductions have taken place also 

 at Kildonan in the Helmsdale Strath, and a few are seen occasionally 

 near Loch Brora. In Assynt Mr. Whitbread introduced them in 1869, 

 and they promised well for some time. Since then, however, they 

 have practically become extinct, an old bachelor cock living on till 

 1S82. Pheasants have also been introduced at Tongue quite lately. 

 It remains to be seen how they will succeed. 



Partridge — Perdix cinerea, Lath. 

 Resident ; fairly abundant in the cultivated districts of the south-east, 

 and occurs here and there farther inland, where the shepherds have a 

 little more reclaimed land than is usually the case. A covey is occasion- 

 ally seen at Badenloch, but they are not regular visitants there. The 

 outlying coveys draw down to the coast in severe weather. 



Common about Rosehall and Lairg. Seen at Tongue by Sir. W. 

 Milner, and fairly common to the north of Loch Inver. A pair were 

 seen in 1S34, at Inchnadamph, by Mr. Selby's party ; at this place, 

 where there are only some 10 or 15 acres under cultivation, two pairs 



i With reference to the above, it may be noted here that a pack of Grouse 

 was seen flying south over the Moray Firth, and making for the Banff 

 coast, in December 1S79. — (J. A. H.-B.) 



