BIRDS. 
129 
by himself in 1884. It has therefore a decidedly iucreas- 
ing range. 
The only record is that of one of this species in Caithness 
discovered by Mr. Osborne, who found one among a lot of 
house-sparrows that had been shot for the purpose of 
feeding a tame falcon (0. MSS.). The specimen is now in 
the University Museum, Edinburgh. 
90. Fringilla coelebs, L. Chaffinch. 
Eesident, and abundant, breeding through tlie eastern district 
wherever there is sufficient wood; in the autumn and winter 
these birds draw down to the more cultivated parts of the 
county, and their numbers appear to be increased by the 
addition of migrants. The species has spread rapidly and in- 
creased in the west of the county. Formerly we only knew 
of one pair at Inchnadamph, which bred there for the first 
time about 1877. Now they are common, but a slight check 
was put on their increase by the severe winters. Also 
observed at Altnaharrow and Tongue in 1881. Observed 
feeding greedily in company with bullfinches and green- 
finches on the seeds of elm-trees at Lairg, in June 1885. 
A very numerous species, and had increased much during 
Mr. Osborne's recollection, small parties only being found 
before, where now there are immense flocks (0. MSS., 
1868). 
91. Fringilla nnontifringilla, L. Brambling. 
Winter visitant of rare occurrence. One sent to Inverness 
for preservation to Mr. Macleay. Of this bird I have 
received the following note : " M'Intyre (the Balnacoil 
keeper) killed a brambling two years ago in the autumn, 
at Aschoil (near Balnacoil). There were two of them, cock 
and hen, but the latter was destroyed by the shot. They 
I 
