108 
BIRDS. 
Common, yet not to be called abundant ; rarer in the 
north ; seen at Dunnet, Barrogill, etc., and more frequently- 
south of Wick, beginning at Hempriggs. 
21. Daulias luscinia (Z.). Nightingale. 
22. SyMa rufa (Bodd.). Wliitethroat. 
Summer visitant ; occurring in limited numbers through the 
whole of the east and south-east districts. Selby considered 
it rare in 1834, when it was observed once at Tongue and 
once at Bonar. In 1865 described by Mr. A. Gr. More as 
nesting " only occasionally in Eoss, Sutherland, and Caith- 
ness" (Ihis, 1865, p. 25). But since then found to breed 
regularly near Tain, and seen by ourselves near Dornoch. 
Undoubtedly extending its northward distribution in Scot- 
land. Eeported common at Tongue. 
We heard the whitethroat commonly close to Lairg in 
1885. ' 
We do not appear at present to have any record of the 
whitethroat in Caithness, except Mr. A. G-. More's, given 
above. 
23. Sylvia curruca (L.). Lesser Whitethroat. 
24. Sylvia orphea, Temm. Orphean Warbler. 
25. Sylvia atricapilla (L.). Blackcap Warbler. 
Very rare and casual visitant. A specimen obtained by 
Sheriff Mackenzie at Dornoch, on November 1, 1871, is in 
the Dunrobin Museum. 
First recorded as a Caithness visitant by Mr. Osborne, who 
observed a male in two successive seasons — 1858-59 — feed- 
ing on the berries of the rowan-tree. A long discussion in 
the Field as to whether the birds he described thus feeding 
were really blackcaps or not, was ended by Mr. Osborne 
shooting a pair, male and female, the following season, in 
the month of October 1860, which were stuffed by the 
