358 APPENDIX. 



east, however, the proportions appear to be reversed. Prefers large 

 lochs with green islands for breeding purposes. 



Red-throated Diver — Colymbus septentrionalis, Lath. 



Summer visitant, but not nearly so abundant in the eastern districts as 

 the last-named ; getting more numerous towards the north-east and 

 north, where their numbers are about three to one of the last-named 

 species. We have received a good many eggs from the north-east, 

 about Strathy and Parr. Prefers mossy tarns with green edges for 

 nesting purposes ; rarely found breeding on islands of the larger lochs. 

 Is seen at times on the Dornoch Firth. Not very abundant in the 

 west. 



Family PODICIPITID^. 



Sclavonian Grebe — Podiceps auritus (Linn.) 

 A casual winter visitant. A bird of this species was taken in a garden 

 at Golspie in December 18S2. The person who caught it kept it alive 

 for a week on fish, but it at last died, and is uow in the Dunrobin 

 Museum. It occurs also in the Dornoch Firth. 



Great-crested Grebe — Podiceps cristatus (Linn.) 

 This species has been killed by Mr. Jennins on the Dornoch Firth. 



Little Grebe — Podiceps minor (Gmel.) 



Resident, but not abundant on the east coast, being seen most frequently 

 in the winter ; they breed on Loch Brora. A favourite place in the 

 winter is the stream that issues from the sluices at the Mound. 

 Common about Dornoch, where three or four sittings of eggs can be ob- 

 tained annually. Breeds near Balnakeil, Durness, and at Tongue, but 

 rare or absent in the west. One was shot on Loch Mulach Corry, at 

 the base of Ben More, Assynt, a year or two previous to 1S77, the first 

 seen in the district by any of the native keepers or shepherds. 



Obs. Red-necked Grebe — Podiceps griseigena (Bodd). 

 No actual record of the occurrence of this species has reached us. 



LARID/E. 



Family STERNIN.E. 



Arctic Tern — Sterna macrura, Naumann. 



Summer visitant ; common along all the eastern seaboard, breeding in 

 scattered colonies. Common at various points on the west and north 

 coasts, usually in colonies, and preferring insular positions. 



Common Tern — Sterna fluviatilis, Naumann. 



Summer visitant ; more usually breeding near fresh water than the 

 Arctic Tern. Breeds at Loch Migdale, near Bonar. 



We consider the Arctic Tern the more abundant of the two species 

 throughout the county, but we have ourselves taken eggs of the 

 Common Tern on Loch Migdale. The statement that the Common 

 Tern is found on a small island near Handa (Proc. Glasg. Nat. Hist. Soc, 

 1875. J. A. II. B.) may or may not be correct ; the note made many 

 years ago still stands in our note-book, but we again repeat it here, as 

 perhaps deserving of further inquiry. We believe the Common Tern 

 to be much rarer on the west coast of Scotland than on the east. 



