236 



BIRDS. 



of Spey, and in the districts bordering the Firth to the westward, 

 the lower reaches holding the greater numbers in autumn. 



On the scrub-covered islands of the Spey delta and banks of 

 Speyside old and young were congregating along with Willow and 

 Sedge Warblers in August, and the bushes were literally alive 

 with these species. It would be interesting to know by positive 

 observation the line of flight they chose when at last they left 

 upon their grand migration. Until our 1893 Lighthouse returns 

 come to hand, we must as to this remain in the dark. 



[Sylvia curruca (Z.). Lesser Whitethroat 



In some articles that appeared in one of the Inverness papers, en- 

 titled ' The Scenery and Bird-Life of Glen Urquhart,' ^ the Lesser 

 Whitethroat is mentioned as not uncommon in that district. So 

 far we have no other record of it north of the Ness. 



Edward includes it, but we are doubtful of the correctness of 

 the record. We have ascertained that he obtained a specimen 

 from England, given to him by Professor Newton, he himself 

 acknowledging receipt of it in a letter dated 18th July 1853. Mr. 

 Foljambe speaks of it as frequenting whins in the neighbourhood 

 of Elgin, but we can obtain no other evidence of either earlier or 

 later dates.] 



Sylvia atricapilla {L.). Blackcap Warbler. 



An uncommon late autumn, or even winter, visitant to the northern 

 parts of our area, and irregular in its appearance. Two in the 

 Dunrobin Museum were procured by Sheriff Mackenzie : the 

 first, a male, at Dornoch on November 1st, 1871, and the second, 

 a female, in November 1891. Another was found by the same 

 gentleman drowned in a tub in his garden at Dornoch in February 

 1874. We have a specimen of one — a female — that was shot at 

 Kin trad well by Mr. Houstoun in November 1889, which had been 

 seen for several days feeding on the berries of a cotoneaster. 



In some notes kindly lent us by Mr. G. Muirhead,^ that gentle- 

 man mentions that on June 17th, 1867, he got a nest of five eggs 

 and the pair of Blackcaps belonging to it near the mouth of the 

 Coilty river, at Balmacaan in Glen Urquhart. 



1 By Mr. A. Craig. 



2 Author of Birds of Berwickshire, and at one time factor at Glen Urquhart ; now 

 factor to Lord Aberdeen at Haddo Mains, Aberdeenshire. 



