130 
BIRDS. 
were in company with a lot of chaffinches (?), M'Intyre said. 
He had never seen the same kind of bird before, nor has he 
since " (Gr. E. Lawson, in lit.). There is a brambling in the 
Dunrobin Museum labelled " Tawny Bunting, Clyne, March 
1846," along with two tawny buntings (vera), and probably 
shot along with the latter. These came originally from the 
old collection at the Dunrobin Kennels. " Tawny Bunting " 
is another name for Snow-Bunting in the winter plumage. 
Some winters the brambling is numerous — notably in the 
early winter of 1860, when immense flocks visited the 
county, but it has not as yet been noted as a regular winter 
visitant (0. MSS., 1868).i The year 1860-61 was famous 
as a brambling year all over Scotland. Thousands were 
seen daily for weeks around Edinburgh. Shearer had not 
observed it at all previous to 1860. 
92. Linota cannabina (L.). Linnet. 
Eesident, and common on the east coast, especially from Port 
Gower to the Mound, where there are great quantities of 
whin bushes suitable for breeding sites. Their place in the 
straths is taken by the lesser redpoll. Not common in the 
west : during ovxr experience we have shot some half-dozen 
specimens. Occurs, perhaps regularly, at Inchnadamph. 
Seen there, certainly, previous to 1877, and again in that 
year, but not observed since then. Eeported common at 
Tongue ; breeds also at Balnacoil. 
In Caithness it receives the names of " Base or Whin Lintie" 
" Sparroiv-neb Lintie" and is abundant and resident, breed- 
1 It is curious to find how completely " out of the track of migration" of a 
large number of birds this county appears to be. "We are glad to observe that 
Mr. Osborne notes the abundance of this species in 1860, as we have active 
recollections, specimens, and notes, regarding that unusual visitation in other 
parts of Scotland {e.g. district of " Forth," etc.). The early advent of the snow- 
bunting in the same season probably points to similar climatic causes. 
