176 
BIJRDS. 
In 1885 merlins bred in an old hawk's (?) (Hooded 
Crow's ?) nest in a tree at Loch Gruagach, Assynt, and were 
taken by Mr. Tennent and the keeper. This is an unusual 
site in Scotland. 
Eesident, and breeds in Caithness. Mr. Osborne observed one 
of these birds dash into a company of swallows, select a 
victim, and catch it at the third turn (O. MSS., 1868). 
Many specimens reach Mr. L. Dunbar, and in 1885 I 
saw some beautifully stuffed old males, and birds of various 
ages in his house. They seem still abundant. The follow- 
ing localities where they have been shot show this — between 
the years 1878 and 1885 — Spittal, Brawl, Brawl Castle, 
Westfield, Barrogill Castle, Braemore, Hill of Forss, Thurso, 
Sandside, Dorrery, Achaversdale : and all these were sent 
to Mr. Dunbar alone. 
183. Faico vespertinus, L. Red-legged Falcon. 
184. FaIco tinnunculus, L. Kestrel. 
Breeding visitant ; rarely resident ; very common in the east 
throughout the breeding-season, laying its eggs in any con- 
venient hole in the rocky burnsides so numerous in the 
Highlands. The birds generally leave the higher ground 
about September, and migrate to the coast, where they remain 
a short time before going further south. The earliest date 
on which we have seen this bird is February 17, 1884, but 
in this case it may have remained through the winter, 
which was extremely mild. 
Eesident at Tongue, but scarcer in winter than in 
summer ; indeed, probably the exceptions are residents. 
Common also throughoixt the central districts of the 
county, in the same way and in similar localities. Very 
abundant in the west, where it is much less persecuted than 
formerly, its general harmlessness being now acknowledged 
by most Highland keepers. 
