BIRDS. 
165 
Caithness names ot this bird are " Flapper" " Blue- Hawk." 
With the exception of the kestrel, and perhaps the merlin, 
Mr. Osborne considers the hen-harrier the commonest of 
the Caithness birds of prey — the male in full adult plumage 
being much seldomer obtained than the female. Of the 
local names, " Blue-Hawk " is applied only to the adult male. 
The hen-harrier breeds in the remote moors of the southern 
division of the county, sometimes in the open wastes, and 
at others in thick furze coverts. Amongst other varieties 
of food Mr. Osborne mentions dead fish (6. MSS., 1868). 
Many specimens have been sent to Mr. L. Dunbar for 
preservation. At Barrogill Castle we saw a very fine albino 
of this species stuffed, and in a separate case. Along with 
all other species of raptors indigenous to the county, this 
is marked by Mr. Dunbar as decreasing in numbers. There 
are three specimens at Welbeck Abbey — an old male in full 
plumage, a female and a young male ; and Mr. Doeg has 
one, a female, dated "Wick, 3d November 1880, received 
in the flesh." We note dates, as such may at some future 
time become useful. 
Six specimens of the hen-harrier from Caithness were 
sold in the collection of F. Eaine, Esq., of Durham, dating 
between 1875 and 1878. 
i66. Buteo vulgaris, Leach. Common Buzzard. 
By no means a common species in the east, though a season 
rarely passes without a few being seen. The only nest that 
came under our observation in this district was taken from 
a rock below which the Black water, the principal feeder of 
the Brora river, runs, in May 1874: although, we understand, 
neither bird was killed, the site does not appear to have 
been occupied again. There used to be a breeding-place 
near Loch Naver, but the birds were always trapped or shot 
before they brought out their young ; this was previous to 
1869. Much scarcer in the west by 1877 than previously, 
many old sites being deserted or tenantless. One season 
