150 
BIRDS. 
peculiar history in Caithness. They have made repeated 
attempts to establish rookeries at many places in the north, 
as at Barrogill Castle and other wooded areas, however 
small in dimensions. They attempted even to establish 
themselves on the house-tops of Wick and Pulteneytown, 
building on the summits of unused chimneys. They were 
so much persecuted at Brawl Castle that they left it at last 
and bred in the heather, on Skinnet Hill, near the old site, 
and a few build regularly in single trees in Thurso, and inside 
the chimney-cans of the Town Hall (Mr. W. Dunbar). They 
were also observed occupying chimney-tops in Thurso by 
Mr. S. G-. Eeid, but we did not observe them in 1885. 
The following list of the rookeries of Caithness, which 
we have every reason to believe is complete, is supplied to 
us by Mr. L. Dunbar : — 
1. At Brawl Castle, Sir T. Sinclair's property, there were 
about 100 pairs in 1875. This rookery is about a hundred 
years old, and is placed in ash, plane, beech, and elm trees, 
but the birds have decreased of late years. They roost at 
the rookery in winter. 
2. At Geise, also on the property of Sir Tollemache, 
there was another rookery of about 40 pairs in 1875. This 
rookery is about forty years old, and is placed in ash, plane, 
and beech trees, and has decreased of late years. The birds 
do not roost at the rookery in winter. 
3. At Mina Villa, Thurso (Mr. W. E. Tait), for fourteen 
years jjrevious to 1875, some 20 pairs bred, but have now 
decreased in numbers. They do not roost at the rookery 
in winter. 
4. At Stemster (Mr. A. Henderson) there is a rookery 
of 200 pairs or thereby, in Scotch fir, ash, beech, and plane, 
about fifteen years established. They do not roost at the 
rookery in winter. 
5. Forss — a rookery of about 150 pairs, in ash, beech, 
plane, and elm, about twenty years established. They do 
not roost in winter there. 
