Notes on the Ornithology of Caithness. 



339 



Alauda arborea (Wood Lark), rare. (?) 

 Pyrrhula vulgaris (Common Bullfinch), rare. 

 Loxia curvirostra (Common Crossbill), occasional. 

 * Loxia pityopsittacus (Parrot Crossbill), rare. 



*?icus minor (Lesser Spotted Woodpecker), very rare ; once observed. 

 *Yunx torquilla (Wryneck) ; one shot at Stirkoke, and another at Rose- 

 bank, near Wick. 

 Certhia farniliaris (Common Creeper), occasional. 

 Troglodytes Europasus (Common Wren), common. 

 Cuculus canorus (Common Cuckoo), common. 

 *Coracias garrula (European or Garrulous Roller) ; seen at Ulbster, 

 and watched for two or three days. It was always followed by a 

 small bird, in the same way as the cuckoo. 

 Capriinulgus Europaeus (Night-jar or Goat-sucker), common. 

 Hirundo rustica (Chimney Sivalloiv), common. 

 Hirundo urbica (Martin), common. 

 Hirundo riparia (Sand Martin), common. 

 Cypselus apus (Common Swiff), common. 



Rasores. — (Third Order.) 



Columba palumbus (Wood Pigeon or Ring Dove), common. 



Columba senas (Stock Dove), very rare. 



Columba livia (White-rumped or Rock Dove), common. 



Turtur migratorius (Turtle Dove), occasional. 



Tetrao tetrix (Black Grouse or Black Cock), common. 



Lagopus Scoticus (Red Grouse or Muirfoivl), very plentiful. These 

 birds have frequently been reared and kept alive in an enclosure by 

 Mr Osborne. They were very tame and familiar, and one pair bred 

 on one occasion, hatching five healthy poults. 



Lagopus mutus (Common or White Ptarmigan), common, 



Perdix cinerea (Common Partridge), common. 



Coturnix dactylisonans (Common Quail), bred in 1860. A pair bred at 

 Ulbster ; twelve eggs were laid and hatched ; I shot two of the young 

 and the old cock in autumn. Such was their desire to skulk when 

 danger was near, that several were caught by the hand. 



Phasianus Colchicus (Common Pheasant), common. 

 *Otis minor (Little Bustard), very rare ; once observed. 



Grallatop.es. — (Fourth Order.) 



Ardea cinerea (Common Heron), common. 

 Ardea purpurea (Purple Heron), rare. 

 Scolopax rusticola (Woodcock), common. 

 Scolopax major (Great Snipe), rare. 

 Scolopax gallinago (Common Snipe), common. 

 Scolopax gallinula (Jack Snipe), common. 

 *Limosa rufa (Common or Red Godivit). Only one specimen, shot at 

 Ulbster Loch ; two more were seen this year in the end of July. 

 Totanus fuscus (Dusky Sandpiper), rare. 

 Totanus calidris (Redshank Sandpiper), common. 

 Totanus glottis (Greenshank), rare. 

 Totanus ochropus (Greenshank Sandpiper), rare. 

 Totanus glareola (Wood Sandpiper), rare. 

 Totanus hypoleucos (Common Sandpiper), common. 

 Totanus macularius (Spotted Sandpiper), rare. 

 Tringa variabilis (Purre or Dunlin), common. 

 Tringa canutus (Knot), rare. 

 Tringa rufescens (Buff-breasted Tringa), rare. 



