1911-1912.] The Birds of Nairn, 407 



Whilst the littoral fringe offers specially favourable oppor- 

 tunities for observing the habits of water-birds, it is to the 

 middle zone that we must look for the greatest diversity of 

 field, forest, and hedgerow species — the numerous families of 

 perching birds — Thrushes, Warblers, Finches, Crows, and so 

 on. This zone in our county presents a varied and undulat- 

 ing surface, which rises to elevations varying in height from 

 200 to 700 feet above sea-level. The most conspicuous, 

 though not the highest, of these elevations is the Hill of 

 the Ord, which, being thickly planted with well-grown pine, 

 is now a county habitat of the Capercaillie. The reintroduc- 

 tion of this game-bird into Scotland has been completely 

 successful — too successful, indeed, as owners of pine-woods 

 have discovered, the Capercaillie being very destructive to the 

 young growth of pines. The Nairn middle area offers to a 

 greater degree even than the " Laigh of Moray " that alter- 

 nation of hill, woodland, and valley, field and farmyard, heath, 

 pool, stream, and bog, which appeals to birds of the most 

 varied tastes and habits. The Thrushes are represented by six 

 species, of which the Blackbird, the Song Thrush, and the 

 Missel Thrush are the permanent residents. The first two are 

 numerous, the Missel Thrush less numerous. In the breeding 

 season this last-named thrush is one of the boldest of birds, 

 but at other times one of the shiest. Even more shy is the 

 Fieldfare, which visits us in considerable numbers in winter 

 and spring. The more diminutive Eedwing is also a winter 

 visitor, and is much more approachable than the Fieldfare. 

 The third migratory species, the Kingousel, passes quickly on 

 its arrival to the hilly recesses of the county, and is therefore 

 less in evidence than any of the other species. The Dipper or 

 Waterousel is the only genus and species of its family known 

 in Great Britain. This delightful bird, so far as my experi- 

 ence goes, is extremely local in its distribution throughout 

 Britain. I have looked for it in vain in river-courses where 

 everything seemed to indicate a congenial environment. The 

 course of the Nairn river is a specially favoured haunt. In 

 the darkest weeks of winter the Dipper enlivens the pools 

 with its presence and voice, its continuous warble vying in its 

 sustained melody with the ripple of the water. Its notes are 

 not loud or strong, but for continuity of strain I know only 



