131 



as it does round the spire of a village church in 

 England. 



81. The Sand Martiri is numerous wherever the 

 ground suits its habits ; and the Common House 

 Martin is also everywhere : it breeds, too, in many 

 of the rocky cliffs and caves of the coast. I 

 particularly observed it in the cave of Sraoo, near 

 Durness. 



82. The Woodpigeon is numerous wherever woods 

 and cultivation united afford it food and shelter. 

 In my opinion the good it does the farmer, in feed- 

 ing for many months of the year on the seeds of the 

 wild mustard, ragweed, &c. &c., is a fair equivalent 

 for all the grain it consumes. As far north as 

 Tongue I heard and saw this bird. 



83. The Rock Dove, a beautiful and interest- 

 ing little bird, frequents most of the rocky shores 

 of the north coast. Inhabiting the crevices and 

 caverns formed by the constant beating of the waves, 

 and fearless of the surf and swell dashing constantly 

 into its dwelling-places, this bird lives and multiplies ; 

 seldom killed by man, but probably affording a great 

 source of food to the peregrine falcons who build in 

 its neighbourhood. 



I never saw any kind of woodpecker in Suther- 

 landshire, though it is most probable that the 

 spotted woodpecker does exist in the old woods near 



