354 APPENDIX. 



Curlew — Numenius arquata (Linn.) 



Resident in the east ; most abundant in the breeding season. These 

 birds breed all through the moorland districts, coming to the green 

 places in the straths about the third y/eek in March ; shortly after 

 this they pair and go to their nesting-grounds. 



Common in the west, but local in the extreme west. Increased 

 around Loch Awe by 1877. 



Whimbrel — Numenius phocopus (Linn. ) 



Spring and autumn visitant, not rare on the east coast. 



We can obtain no definite or trustworthy account of their breeding 

 in the county, notwithstanding Mr. Dunbar's statement (Ibis, 1SB5, p. 

 435). Occur during spring migration on the north coast, and were 

 supposed to retire to the interior, but there is every reason to doubt 

 this, and to believe they left on a more northerly track. We have 

 before criticised all previous records (Proc. N. H. Soc. Glasgow, 1S75, 

 p. 111). An egg handed to us as having been taken on an island in 

 Glen Coul, Assynt, as belonging to this species is — however like 

 a Whimbrel's — not authenticated, and may quite well be a deformed 

 common gull. 



HERODII. 



Family ARDEIDiF. 



Heron — Ardea cinerea, Linn. 



Resident, apparently more numerous in winter. Only one heronry is 

 known to us in the east of the county, which, up to 1873, was situated 

 on the south side of Loch Brora, but afterwards the birds removed to 

 the Gordonbush woods on the north side. Herons frequent the in- 

 land burns as long as the weather is open, but when severe they come 

 down to the coast. 



Some of the principal heronries in the west are those at Loch Shin, 

 on the island off the Fiag Burn, Loch Alsh (in the peninsular part of 

 Ross-shire), Loch Cama (now extinct, rooks being in possession), Loch 

 Beannoch, Stoir, Loch-na-Clash-fearn in Edderaehyllis, etc. Scarcer ■ 

 at Loch Beannoch in 1877 than formerly. 



ANSERES. 



Family ANATIDiE. 

 Gray-lag Goose — Anser cinereus (Meyer). 



A summer visitant, not rare, but has become much scarcer in the last 

 fifteen years, though not now so much shot at in the ''flapper" stage 

 as formerly. Less common in the south-east than in the central dis- 

 tricts, the large lochs near Badenloch being a sort of collecting ground 

 for the geese of that district. Arrives about the beginning of April, 

 and leaves the middle of September. 



Still not rare in the west, especially on a loch in West Cromarty. 

 It is high time, however, that something were -done to restrict the 

 senseless slaughter of this interesting species. Many, apparently 

 barren, or otherwise immature birds, flock together in summer in the 

 west, while others are engaged in incubation. 



