Contribution to Vertebrate Fauna of West Ross-shire. 401 
Plectrophanes nivalis (Zinn.). SNOW BUNTING. 
Winter visitant, but a few pairs each year remain to breed 
on the higher mountain tops. 
The breeding range of the Snow Bunting in the Highlands 
is unquestionably of much greater extent than was suspected 
until within the last few years. In the year 1886, the first 
nest recorded for the mainland of Scotland was found by one 
of the authors in the Assynt district of West Sutherland. 
Since that time three or four nests at least have been 
obtained in the same locality, and in 1893 one was also 
recorded for the first time from the Banffshire Cairngorms 
(see Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1893, p. 181). 
In West Ross we have not as yet actually seen the nest, 
or heard of its being taken by others, but the birds have 
been repeatedly seen in summer on the highest peaks in the 
Fisherfield, Kinlochewe, Ben Damph, and Applecross forests ; 
while in July 1889 Snow Buntings were watched through 
binoculars feeding fully-fledged young on a mountain-top in 
the Torridon forest. 
From the inaccessibility and rugged nature of the ground 
which the birds frequent—usually the loose quartzite scree 
slopes on the highest and most difficult parts of the moun- 
tain,—they may very easily escape observation, and it is 
probable that few of the higher mountains in West Ross, 
where the ground is suitable, are without a pair or two of 
Snow Buntings during the breeding season. 
Alauda arvensis, Zinn. SKYLARK. 
Very local, and seems to be confined to the grass-lands at 
the heads of the sea-lochs, and even there not found in 
places apparently suitable. Entirely absent from the moor- 
lands. Said to be decreasing in Applecross. 
Sturnus vulgaris, Zinn. COMMON STARLING. 
Very local, but seems to be rapidly spreading. Has only 
appeared in some districts during the last few years. Not 
known at Shieldaig prior to 1890. Five or six pairs were 
observed nesting in the cliffs of Eilean Mhor, Outer Loch 
