BIRDS. 



225 



with us than any other summer migrant. The species seems equally 

 at home on the wildest hills as on the lower grounds, and is perhaps 

 most numerous where the loose stone dykes divide some 'park' (as 

 fields are called in the Highlands) from the road. They breed from 

 the middle of April to as late as the middle of July, and, even 

 in the north, have been observed as early as March 27 on the 

 Dornoch Firth. 



South of Inverness the Wheatear is somewhat local, yet well 

 distributed both at various elevations in the valleys and on the 

 hills. Edward says it arrives first on the coast : possibly it may, 

 but we are inclined to doubt it. Again the O.S.A. is almost silent 

 about this very common species, and only one parish, Kirkhill near 

 Inverness, is credited with it positively. Dr. Gordon, in 1844, 

 speaks of it as a regular and common summer visitor, appearing 

 generally about the first week in April ; and Dr. Wilson of Huntly 

 testifies to the punctuality of its advent. Brown of Forres says : — 

 ' On arrival, betakes itself to sandy downs, pastures, and stony 

 slopes, both on the coast and in the interior.' We ourselves have 

 observed its appearance in many seasons and in certain localities 

 to date a good deal later, even so late as into May. 



On the lower levels near the sea, the Wheatear nests deep 

 under ground in the rabbit-holes of the sand-dunes. Their 

 numbers vary in diflferent years, and their distribution in the 

 nesting season extends from the rabbit-warrens of the coast up to 

 nearly the summits of the highest mountains. In 1893, Hinxman 

 found a few ' nearly to the tops of the mountains,' around the head 

 waters of Avon. 



Pratincola rubetra {L). Whinchat. 

 Local Names. — Fem-chackart, Whin-chackart. 



The Whinchat is a widely distributed and common summer visitor, 

 and we have observed them, or had them reported to us as occur- 

 ring, up every strath in the north of our area, from Badenloch 

 southwards as far as Guisachan and Invergarry. Hepburn in 1846 

 found them in Glen Affric, than which there can be no wilder spot. 



Though really a summer visitant, St. John says that he has 

 occasionally seen the Whinchat in the winter in the neighbourhood 

 of Forres. 



South of Inverness the WTiinchat is common, but not universally 



