170 
BIRDS. 
as appearing and spreading dismay among the sea-fowl on 
the east coast in the summer of 1861 (0. MSS., 1868). The 
rarity of this fine species for years back may be instanced 
by the fact that Mr. L. Dunbar has received none for pre- 
servation since 1878, the date at which he began to keep 
records of everything sent to him for stuffing. ITor since 
1880 has Mr. W. H. Doeg, of Manchester, received a single 
bird of this species from Caithness, amongst many other 
rarities he has obtained. We are not aware that a single 
pair now breeds in the county, but in the Welbeck Abbey 
collection there are two good specimens. 
Mr. Wolley obtained eggs in 1849 from Dunnet Head, 
and the following year the birds shifted their position about 
a quarter of a mile west. 
171. Astur palumbarius {L.). Goshawk. 
Mr. Eobert Gray, in his Birds of the West of Scotland, appears 
to have included this as a " rare species in the parish of 
Golspie," thirty years ago, i.e. previous to 1871; but we 
have failed to find his authority. 
Almost entirely unknown in Caithness. It has a place in 
Dr. Sinclair's List, and that is the only recorded instance 
of its occurrence in the county up to date that he is 
aware of (0. MSS., 1868). 
There is also a goshawk included in Mr. L. Dunbar's 
List sent to him for preservation prior to 1878, marked a 
male, and destination Brawl Castle.-^ 
Another Caithness specimen of the goshawk was in the 
collection of F. Eaine, Esq., of Durham. It was trapped by 
James MacEwan, Ousdale, Ord of Caithness, date 2/12/76. 
T72. Accipiter nisus {L.). Sparrow-hawk. 
Eesident ; a partially migratory species, numbers of young birds 
appearing about the cultivated grounds in the autumn. As 
1 The most of the Brawl Castle birds appear to have been dispersed from 
time to time, and consequently it is now very diflScult to trace the specimens. 
