128 
BIRDS, 
montanus, and in Faroe the tree-sparrow is really more 
deserving of the name domesticus, or " house." 
89. Passer montanus (L.). Tree-Sparrow. 
Local; probably resident. First described as a Sutherland 
bird from Dornoch, by Sheriff Mackenzie, where he him- 
self observed the birds in 1872. On March 28, 1872, a 
flock of a dozen were observed in the neighbourhood of 
Dornoch, and between then and August several nests of 
eggs were obtained, one of which sets of eggs, thanks to 
Mr. Mackenzie, is now in our collection at Dunipace. 
First observed near Helmsdale in August 1880, again in 
September of the same year, and many subsec[uent times, 
such as in June 1881, January 1883, and December of the 
same year ; again in March 1884. Their nest has not been 
found as yet at Helmsdale, but there is little doubt that 
they breed there. "We observed it at Clachtoll in 1883. 
In 1882 about six pairs were found breeding at Ehiconich, 
one breeding under the eaves of the inn, the rest under the 
bridge, by Mr. J. C. M. Wallis, and no house-sparrows, but 
both species were found at Scourie. Mr. Wallis was on 
the west coast in May, and it is curious to find that in 
1883 Harvie-Brown spent a restful hour reading under the 
said bridge on June 23d, 1883, but saw not one sparrow 
anywhere about Ehiconich. 
In 1885 Harvie-Brown found two pairs breeding under 
the gable ends of a slated house at a locality on Loch 
Laxford, and at least another pair within a mile's distance. 
One cock bird was shot with a little collecting gun on June 
15th, and the nest was found. The first locality consisted 
of only one slated house, and several huts. The nest was 
a large collection of dried grasses and bits of heather, and 
quantities of domestic fowls' feathers. There were no other 
sparrows there. 
Sheriff Mackenzie also adds two more localities — one on 
the west of Edderachyllis, and one on Loch Shin, as observed 
