164 
BIRDS. 
Sub-order ACCIPTRES. 
Family VULTURID^. 
161. Gyps fulvus (Gmel). Griffon Vulture. 
162. Neophron percnopterus (L.). Egyptian Vulture. 
Familjr FALCONID^. 
163. Circus aeruginosus (L.). Marsh Harrier. 
[In a letter to the Eev. Dr. Gordon of Birnie, from tlie late 
Mr. Wm. Dunbar, there is a doubtful record of one of 
these birds said to be in his collection, and to have been 
shot in the neighbourhood of Bonar Bridge. 
[The only mention of this bird as a Caithness species is in 
the List of Dr. Sinclair (O. MSS., 1868).] 
164. Circus cineraceus (Mont.). Montagu's Harrier. 
165. Circus cyaneus (L.). Hen-Harrier. 
Kesident, and still fairly common in the east, though killed 
down on every occasion that offers. Like others of the 
Eaptores, the hen-harrier resorts to the same place for nidifi- 
cation year after year, thus leading to its destruction. A 
pair of birds was shot at the nest in the Dunrobin Forest 
on May 14, 1881, the male of Avhich had not then attained 
the adult plumage. Previous to 1877, common in the west, 
but since then has almost disappeared. Three breeding sites 
previously known to us have been untenanted for several 
years. In 1878 not one was seen, and must still be 
recorded as very rare in 1879. 
In Wolley's time hen-harrier's eggs were takeii on 
Babbit Island, near Tongue, by one Donald Mackay, and 
sent to him. 
