100 
BIRDS. 
some seasons even later. It is somewhat uncertain in its 
comings and goings, individuals having been known to pro- 
long their stay until May or the beginning of June, and 
reappearing again in August. Great numbers of these birds 
perish in snowy weather ; and in the protracted frost of 
January 1867 in particular, a very large proportion of the 
flocks succumbed to the extreme cold and starvation. In 
February and March following, they had almost entirely 
disappeared from this neighbourhood, the survivors betaking 
themselves to more congenial climes further south ; but in 
April, being then on their way to their summer quarters in 
the Far ISTorth, they reappeared in immense bodies, and at 
Stirkoke, and one or two other places on the east coast, the 
flocks appeared to be fully as large as in former years. It 
roosts either in trees or on the ground (0. MSS., 1868). 
5. Turdus varius, Pall. White's Thrush. 
Ohs. — It is somewhat curious to note that among the very 
few birds which bear any writing or label, in the col- 
lections of Dr. Sinclair, and which are now in the Town 
Hall at Thurso, there is a White's thrush which bears the 
legend " Eedwing ; rare variety ; Caithness," as examined 
by Mr. E. Bidwell, during a visit paid to Caithness in 
September 1886. There is no White's thrush mentioned 
in either Dr. Sinclair's list, nor in that given by Dr. Wilson, 
as having been seen by him in Dr. Sinclair's possession. 
6. Turdus atrigularis, Temm. Black-throated Thrush. 
7. Turdus merula, L. Blackbird. 
Eesident ; partially migratory, many more appearing during 
autumn and early spring than during the breeding season. 
We know of one blackbird — a cock — whose wing, though 
now quite strong, had been at one time injured at the 
pinion, and this bird has haunted one particular spot for 
about five years. Common about Loch Inver, and in 
sheltered and wooded western situations, but almost u"n- 
