BIRDS. 



287 



Sparrow has penetrated up many of the straths, even as far as 

 Guisachan, which is on one of the branches of the Beauly. At the 

 same time, the Sparrow is not found everywhere, even in places 

 one would think most suitable for it. Before the year 1880 we 

 had never seen a Sparrow at Gordonbush in Strath Brora, although 

 they were abundant at the village of Brora, only six miles lower 

 down. At Balnacoil one pair bred in 1879. Hepburn remarks 

 that he found this species about towns and villages, but not so 

 common about the homesteads as in the better cultivated districts 

 (1847). At Invergarry there were none until 'a good many 

 years ago,' when the late Mr. Ellice brought a few pairs from 

 London ; now they are abundant (J. Malcolm, Esq., in lit. 

 1893). 



Captain Ellice informs us that a white Sparrow was killed at 

 Invergarry some years ago. 



This species is recorded as 'numerous' in all lists from the 

 Lower Deveron, though it is nowhere very abundant on the upper 

 reaches of that river, nor of Fiddich, nor in Strathavon, except in 

 the towns of Dufftown and Tomintoul and other villages ; but a 

 few are to be found at most of the hill ' fairm-toons ' (Anglici'j 

 * farm-steadings '). 



The O.S.A. has the statement that the Common Sparrow had 

 been abundant about Ballindalloch up to the date of the great 

 floods of 1829, but that *by 1845 not a single individual of the 

 species had yet made its appearance, and ChaflBnches were scarce 

 for a year afterwards.' We give the quotation for what it is 

 worth. As early as 1835 it was found as far up as Tomintoul. 

 It is common at Tomatin ; very abundant at Carr Bridge, Boat of 

 Garten, Abernethy, Aviemore, Kincraig, Kingussie, Glen Tromie, 

 and wherever shrubs and ivy have been planted or are numerous. 



Passer montanus (L.). Tree Sparrow. 



The Tree Sparrow is found at several places along the east coast of 

 Sutherland, as Helmsdale and Dornoch, where it was found breed- 

 ing by Sheriff Mackenzie, and quite lately (1894) it has been obtained 

 by Mr. Houstoun at Kintradwell. We have no record of it from 

 Ross-shire, but it is found at Moniack Castle, near Beauly, as we 

 are informed by Mr. F. Cameron. 



St. John found it • not uncommon ' about Elgin, breeding in 



