264 



BIRDS. 



South of Inverness the species is resident, or partially migra- 

 tory from its highest haunts to the low grounds in winter; 

 scarcer in winter all over the area, and it is probable the young 

 all migrate. It is stationary in the Laigh of Moray (Rev. George 

 Gordon): 'Frequents the margins of streams, ditches, pools, and 

 lakes, and in dry pastures and stony places ' (Brown). It is 

 usually abundant about Dalwhinnie in the end of July — i.e. the 

 beginning of the autumn migratory season (see Marsh Tit) — as 

 also in Upper Badenoch, where, however, it is known to breed 

 not uncommonly, though more numerous there in the early 

 migratory (autumn) season. 



In 1893 this species was apparently more numerous than 

 previously at many localities, especially in the Carn districts and 

 on the higher reaches of the Deveron and Spey tributaries — an 

 increase no doubt observable very generally over the area. Hinx- 

 man noted several pairs as high up as Inchrory on the Avon. 



Motacilla melanope, Fall. Grey Wagtail. 



North of the Great Glen this species is widely distributed, but not 

 very abundant, a few occurring during the winter months in 

 localities near the shore. They are common in summer about the 

 rocky parts of the rivers and burns of the East of Sutherland, as, 

 for instance, on the Brora and Helmsdale rivers and the Lothbeg 

 burn. After the severe winter of 1878-79 this species was not so 

 numerous as before on the Brora river. Mr. A. Craig remarks 

 that these birds were 'not so plentiful of late' (1882) in the 

 neighbourhood of Glen Urquhart, after the two severe winters of 

 1878-79 and 1880-81, and Hepburn never met with it at all when 

 he was exploring the north of Inverness-shire in 1847. 



In the districts to the southward of Inverness the Grey 

 Wagtail is even more abundant than the last-named species. 

 It is very abundant indeed on Spey, Fiddich, Avon, and minor 

 streams of Spey valley, reaching far up the streams, but becoming 

 less common beyond the growth of wood on the banks. We 

 observed it all through the reaches of Deveron and the Carn 

 districts where birch occurs along the streams, and a few pairs 

 even higher up. It is common along the sides of the forest 

 lochs, such as Morlich, Loch an-Eilein, Loch of Garten, Loch 

 Hoy, and even at the bleak Loch an-Dorb, where there is a 



