BIRDS. 
103 
which we liave received, the following were the nurabers of 
water-ouzels killed :— In 1874, 64; in 1875, 86; in 1876, 
33 ; in 1877, 41 ; in 1878, 75; in 1879, January to June, 
54 : old and young. Happily 7ious avons changS tout cela 
and if the premiums were placed on the hooded crows and 
bag-nets it would be more practical. 
It also occurs in suitable localities throughout the central 
portions of Sutherland, but less numerously than in the 
west and east. It is also often seen among the rocks of 
the sea-shore in the west. 
The " Water-Craw," as it is termed in Caithness, is to be 
found on most of the burns and streams of the county, only 
being driven therefrom during very severe weather, when 
it betakes itself to the mouths of the tidal rivers. (0. MSS., 
1868). Marked common in S. and O.'s List (1862). 
In 1 885 none of this species was met with by us, not even 
among the mountainous burns of Berriedale and Dunbeath, 
but we were assured of their being plentiful. It is not 
included in the Catalogiie of the Welbeck collection, 
Cinclus melanogaster, C.L. Brehn. Black-bellied Dipper. 
Sub-family SAXIGOLINJE. 
Saxicola oenanthe (i.). Wheatear. 
Summer visitant, and extremely abundant in the east. Before 
their departure for the winter the males change their plumage 
into the more sombre hues of the female. Even in very 
exposed situations far up in the county, these birds con- 
stantly remain as late as October. In Assynt extremely 
abundant, also especially in the limestone districts, but not 
so abundant in 1877 as previous to that date. Common 
also at Durness. We have found them in pairs on the 
summit of Ben Chaoran (2500 feet above the sea). Least 
