Notes on the Ornithology of Caithness. 343 



some woods near Lyth ; but this species, as may be seen by 

 the catalogue, has occurred once before, some fishermen 

 having caught a male which alighted in their boat at sea. 



In reference to the nesting of our birds, I am not aware 

 that we possess anything either novel or peculiar ; but a few 

 random observations may not be altogether without interest. 

 The most striking example of gregarious nidiflcation the 

 county can show, is exhibited on an island in the Loch of 

 Stemster, where some thousands of the black-headed or 

 laughing-gull (Larus ridibundus) congregate in spring. The 

 eggs deposited on one-half of the island only are taken in 

 the season, and these are lifted at short intervals, the numbers 

 taken on some occasions being almost fabulous. They are 

 valued as an edible of great delicacy. Bound the edge of 

 this island, among the rushes and other covert, several species 

 build and rear their young. The nest of the mallard (Anas 

 boschas), the eggs invariably concealed beneath the downy 

 mass which the female plucks from her breast, is frequently 

 met with, varied now and again by the massive and some- 

 times floating structure of the coot (Fidica atra). It is 

 almost certain, also, that the tufted pochard (Fidkjula 

 cristata) breeds in the vicinity, as specimens are observed 

 constantly throughout the summer months. In Mr Selby's 

 time, this pochard was not known to breed in Britain, but 

 the later work of Morris contains several instances. 



The Arctic tern (Sterna Arctica) breeds, among other 

 places, ina piece of moorland in the vicinity of a loch about 

 four miles from Wick. In the breeding season this tern 

 may be observed following the course of the river in its 

 flight to and from its feeding-grounds, which are at the 

 mouth of the river and round the bay. During its journey 

 I have observed it occasionally, but not often, stop suddenly 

 in its flight above the river, apparently attracted by some 

 small fish, remain suspended, like the kestrel, for an instant, 

 and then drop headlong upon the object that had attracted 

 its attention. It is in the bay, however, where this bird 

 chiefly finds subsistence ; and here the habits of this tern, 

 and of several species of gulls, may be observed under the 

 most favourable circumstances. The principal prey of the 



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