16G 
BIRDS. 
we took no less than eight sets of eggs within a radius of 
ten miles. In 1877 there was only one nest in the district, 
but in 1878 a previously occupied site was again used, 
and young brought out. Eeported to us as exceedingly 
rare in Assynt in 1884. 
According to Mr. Osborne this bird appears to be better 
known in Caithness than the following species, though the 
only specimen he ever saw in the flesh was shot by Charles 
Wilkinson at Stirkoke. He observes, however, that if 
keepers would only bestow a little more attention on the 
subject, or were able to distinguish the few species shot or 
trapped by them all the year round, it is likely that this 
bird, as well as one or two others, would not prove so rare 
as is generally supposed (0. MSS., 1868). 
The only Caithness locality whence Mr. L. Dunbar has 
received the common buzzard is near the north-west county 
march, and thence only one specimen in 1883. Mr. Doeg 
obtained two in the flesh in November 1883, but there are 
" several " very handsome specimens in the "Welbeck Abbey 
collection. 
In Mr. Wolley's time it seemed to have been commoner. 
They bred at Dunnet Head, in the north of the county, in 
1849, where Mr. Wolley took eggs {Egg-Boohs, iii. p. 260). 
167. Archibuteo lagopus (Gmel). Rough-legged Buzzard. 
Very rare autumn visitant. We have seen a specimen from 
Helmsdale in Mr. Macleay's shop in Inverness, where it 
had been sent for preservation. Another Sutherland speci- 
men passed through Mr. Macleay's hands ; it was killed 
many years ago at Achany (W. Macleay, in lit., 3/11/68). 
Mr. M'Leay received at the same time four birds in all. 
In a letter from Mr. Dunbar to Mr. Osborne, he says : " I 
have also to communicate to you that M'Ewan killed a pair 
of fine rough-legged buzzards on the Langwell property 
