BIRDS. 
141 
feathers. It measured six inches in greatest diameter, being oval 
in form, shallow, and somewhat loosely put together. 
The young birds, five in number, were apparently rather mor' 
than a week old, with the wing-feathers just bursting from the 
quills. 
On July 8th the nest was again visited for the purpose of 
securing some of the young. It was found to be empty, but after 
a little search three of the brood were discovered lying dead 
amongst the stones, having probably climbed out of the nest and 
been drowned by the heavy rain of tlie previous few days, while 
the two survivors could be heard chirping under a large stone 
near the nest. 
Both on this and on the former occasion the fearlessness of the 
female bird was very remarkable. While the nest was being 
examined she came repeatedly within a yard of the observers, 
perching on the stones so close at hand that the crane-flies which 
she was carrying to her young could be easily distinguished. The 
nest also contained the elytra of small beetles, so that the young 
birds would appear to be to a large degree insectivorous. The 
male bird was also flying near, but never came within less than 
ten yards. 
On the occasion of the lirst visit several other pairs of buntings 
were observed about the same corrie, and there is little doubt that 
a small colony breeds yearly on these wild hill-tops. 
Whetlier they have, how'ever, from time immemorial nested in 
Sutherland, or whether this may be a recent extension from 
ancestral breeding-sites further to the north or east, or elsewhere 
in Scotland, caused by climatic or other changes, is an interesting 
question, but one which must remain for the present unsolved 
imtil further data can be obtained. 
From tlie nature of the country negative evidence is of little 
value. The birds may have frequented their present nesting-place 
for a great length of time, and yet have escaped observation. 
Keepers and shepherds who know the snow-bunting in its winter 
plumage, and even skilled observers, might pass repeatedly through 
the corrie without catching a glimpse of the birds, wlio haunt tlie 
