Contrilution to Vertebrate Fauna of West Ross-shire, 389 
is over large areas unfavourable to an effective surface 
drainage. The effect of these conditions is most prejudicial 
to the chances of the chick-life of the species named. Many 
broods must be completely drowned out, while in others only 
a very small proportion of the normal number would survive 
the many dangers of such a morass-like nursery. The result 
is that no increase accrues to the breeding stock; indeed, in 
some species, as the Red and Black Grouse, the numbers are 
said to be on the decline. 
With the woodland species, on the other hand, the con- 
ditions of life would seem to be the reverse of unfavourable. 
The wooded portions are not very considerable, and are often 
widely separate, yet they are veritable oases of bird-life. 
There are, however, some notable absentees among common 
arboreal species, birds which do not, as yet, seem to have 
sought a home in the woodlands, and among others the 
Magpie and the Great Titmouse may be mentioned here. 
Indeed, West Ross affords an opening for colonists; and it 
may be remarked in this connection that the Rabbit, the 
Starling, the Rook, and even the Sparrow, are among recent 
immigrants whose advent has been duly chronicled, and 
which are, as yet, far from numerous or general. Hence it 
is not unlikely that other species, now unknown to the 
area, will in course of time become established within its 
limits. 
MAMMALIA. 
The unfortunate status of some of the more interesting 
and rarer mammals has already been alluded to; and all 
the necessary particulars relating to the 27 species of 
this class which are known to us as inhabiting or visiting 
the districts under consideration will be found in detail in 
the annotated list which forms the concluding section of 
this contribution. It may, however, be remarked that 
within the last few days we have examined a specimen of 
the Bank Vole, which is not only an addition to the fauna of 
Ross-shire, but the most northerly record for the species in 
Britain. . 
