BIRDS. 
175 
killing it. A good many pairs still succeed in bringing otf 
their young on the east coast between Duncansbay and the 
Ord. Its favourite food is rock-pigeons and water-fowl 
(0. MSS., 1868). 
We found several pairs in 1885 nesting in the high cliffs 
of the north coast, and one fine pair of very old birds at 
Dunnet Head. They are occasionally shot at many inland 
localities, judging from a list sent us by Mr. L. Dunbar, 
and another by Mr. Doeg. The absence of any record of 
the peregrine from the Welbeck Abbey collection seems 
remarkable. 
i8i. Foico subbuteo, jL. Hobby. 
Very rare visitant. One example was shot by a brother of 
Mr. Macleay of Inverness, at Achany, many years ago, and 
sent to the late Mr. Dunbar of Brawl Castle. 
The only specimen known to have been obtained in Caithness 
by Mr. Osborne was shot or trapped at Tlirumster by Charles 
Wilkinson, keeper to Mr, Akroyd ; but it is also mentioned 
in Dr. Sinclair's List (0. MSS., 1868). 
Mr. Reid has also obsei'ved it in the county. 
182. Faico aesalon, Tumtall. Merlin. 
Resident, partially migrant to coast-line, common, but not so 
abundant as formerly; still, certain haunts known in 1870 
were occupied in 1882 in Assynt. Considerably shot down 
in the game-preserving interests. Earer in the wooded dis- 
tricts of the south-east, but common in the more central ones. 
This species appears to have been less common in Mr. 
Wolley's time, as he " was not sure that he ever saw this 
bird in Sutherland " ; this was in 1852 (cf. Oothcca Wollcy- 
ana, Part i, p. 105). But in his Egg-Books occurs a passage 
which points to his having received the eggs, for the first 
time, from Sutherland, from the foot of Ben Hope in Strath- 
more {E.-B., 678). 
