132 
BIRDS. 
still very sparingly, until 1882, when their numbers began 
to increase, and in the early part of May 1884 a flock of at 
least forty individuals was seen by Mr. J. Young. Since 
then they have rapidly increased, and are now spread, in 
the breeding season, all along the edges of the limestone 
cliffs between Inchnadamph and the Skiag Burn. Com- 
paratively common also at Drumbeg, on the north coast of 
Stoir, where we first met with them in 188.3. Observed 
also at Tarbat, opposite Handa, on June 15th, 1885. Eare 
on the north coast between Cape "Wrath and Whiten Head ; 
but Lord Clifton, in a letter to Harvie-Brown, records it as 
occurring at Durness. 
The " Hill Lintie " or " Yellow-neb Lintie " of Caithness is 
abundant and resident, spreading out in summer to breed 
wherever there is a sufficiency of long rank heather to place 
its nest in. " Great numbers of this and the preceding species 
are caught during snowstorms ; and, although there is no 
marked line of demarcation between them — twites being 
obtained in the least cultivated districts, and common 
linnets on the borders of moorlands — the latter in a storm 
assemble most abundantly about the corn-stacks of large 
farms, whilst the twites monopolise the scanty ricks of the 
cottars situated in hilly districts — not more than two or 
three brown linnets occurring among flocks of hundreds 
of mountain linnets " (H. Osborne in MS.). 
In 1885 a few pairs were observed along the coast and 
cliff-edge, principally on the broken seapink-covered tops 
of the Dunnet peninsula. All observed were still in pairs 
in the end of June. 
97. Carpodacus erythrinus {Pall). Scarlet Grosbeak. 
98. Pyrrhula europea, Vieill. Bullfinch. 
Resident, not very common, most frequently seen in the 
winter ; more abundant probably in the east than the west 
