124 
BIRDS. 
Man ' of Wick is also frequented by great numbers of this 
species " (H. Osborne in MS.). 
In 1 885 Harvie-Brown did not meet with a single example 
of this bird, either on the coast or inland, till he arrived at 
Dunbeath, where he found a few, and again more plenti- 
fully at Berriedale. 1885 is a year which seems to have 
been unusually favourable to martins in other parts of 
Scotland. 
81. Cotile riparia {L.). Sand-Martin. 
A summer visitant ; common, and generally distributed in the 
east, where suitable breeding localities can be found. Does 
not always breed in large colonies ; in some places there 
are not more than one or two pairs. These remarks apply 
also to the west, but they are probably still scarcer there, a 
few pairs only frequenting scattered localities. Observed 
in some numbers at Loch Slam and on the Borgie river, 
near Tongue. There is a small colony at Lairg. 
" It can hardly be described as a rare Caithness species, 
although, from its habit of frequenting only the neighbour- 
hood of steep sandy banks, generally near water, it is much 
seldomer seen than either of the two preceding species " 
(H. Osborne in MS.). 
N"ot observed in 1885 anywhere abundantly, yet must 
be considered as a common species, and perhaps most seen 
near Dunbeath. 
82. Progne purpurea (i.). Purple-Martin. 
Section 3. OSCINES CONIEOSTEES. 
Family FRINGILLID-S. 
Sub-family FEINGILLINJE. 
83. Carduelis elegans, Stephens. Goldfinch. 
Must be extremely rare ; we ourselves have never seen this 
bird. Mr. Mackenzie informs us that it is known to breed 
