6596 



Birds. 



Could we boast of similar suitable places, doubtless we should have 

 them too, but this we cannot ; hence the fact, as I suspect and have 

 stated, that they are only visitors. 



The Tree Pipit (An thus arboreus). I have seen this bird on several 

 occasions in various parts of our county, but have never yet met 

 with its nest. That they all breed, however, there is no doubt, having 

 been known to do so at a place called Dunlugas, and again near Inver- 

 ness, Keithay, Rathiemay and Inveraven. 



The Meadow Pipit {A. pratemis). Plentiful throughout the whole 

 county. 



The Rock Pipit (A. obscurus). Along all our coast. Both these 

 birds are known here only by the name of " peep," the former being 

 known more inland by the term of" heather peeper" or " cheeper." 



Richard's Pipit (A. Ricardi). I have only seen this bird once 

 within our limits, whilst resting on one occasion at the foot of the 

 Knock Hill. 



The Sky Lark or, as we have it here, the Liverock (Alauda arvensis), 

 is universally distributed throughout the whole length and breadth of 

 our county. In my opinion it is the most numerous bird we have, 

 for go wherever you will in spring and summer and you cannot fail 

 either to hear its heaven-inspiring strains, as it mounts the skies, or see 

 the bird itself, or perhaps both. 



Next to the mavis the lark is the bird for me, and has been since 

 first I learned to love the little warblers of the woods and fields. How 

 oft, Oh ! how oft has the lark's dewy couch been my bed, and its canopy 

 the high azure vault been my only covering whilst overtaken by night 

 during my many ramblings after Nature; and Oh ! how sweet such nights 

 are, and how short they seem. Soothed to repose by their evening 

 hymns, and again to be aroused at the first blink of morn by their 

 early lays. Towards the months of October and November a great 

 diminution of their numbers annually takes place. You might then 

 travel a whole day and neither see nor hear one, or at most you would 

 meet with very few. But about, or a little after, new year's day, they 

 begin again to re-appear ; and should snow come at or about that time 

 then they may be seen in hundreds. Where they sojourn during their 

 absence I have never as yet been able satisfactorily to learn. One 

 thing is certain, however, that 1 have seen them frequently returning, 

 though never departing, both from the east and the north in immense 

 numbers. 



The Wood Lark (A. arborea). I have seen but one of these birds 

 within our district. This happened on May 27, 1850 in the delightful 



