140 
BIRDS. 
JSToTE ON THE NESTING OF THE Snow-Bunting {Plectrophanes nivalis) 
IN Sutherland. By Lionel IST. Hinxman, of the Geological 
Survey of Scotland. 
In the summer of 1885 several parties of the snow-buuting 
were observed on the higher mountain-tops of the west of Suther- 
land by Mr. B. IST. Peach, who was then engaged in the geological 
survey of the district. The adult birds were in each instance 
accompanied by the young of that season, and there was thus 
every reason to suppose that they had bred in the neighbourhood. 
During the greater part of the present summer (1886) the hill- 
tops were generally inaccessible through continual cloud and mist, 
and though early in the month of June the birds were again 
observed in the same locality, it was not until the 3d of July 
that confirmatory proof of the interesting fact of their nesting 
in Sutherland was obtained. 
On that day the ascent of one of the highest ranges in West 
Sutherland was made by a party of the Geological Survey, and 
while crossing the rocky ridge forming the summit, the male snow- 
bunting was seen within a few yards, flitting among the stones. 
The white bars across the wings were very conspicuous, and the 
identity of the bird was beyond a doubt. 
During the descent of the western face of the mountain, which 
forms a steep slope covered with loose quartzite " screes," the hen 
bird passed close by, carrying food in her bill, and the chirp of 
the young brood was distinctly heard among the rocks near at 
hand. A few minutes' quiet watching soon revealed the position 
of the nest, and it was reached without much difficulty. 
The elevation given by the aneroid barometer was 2800 feet 
above sea-level, high up- on the eastern face of one of the wildest 
corries of this desolate range. 
The nest was placed some way in amongst the loose angular 
blocks strewing the slope, and was chiefly composed of dry bents, 
with a little moss on the outside near the base, and lined with 
finer bents, a little fur of the mountain hare, and a few ptarmigan 
