178 
BIRDS. 
Mr. Wolley). In 1850, ospreys were not disturbed (WolL 
E-B., p. 436). In the third week of June 1879, an osprey 
haunted Loch Brora for a week, and in May 1881, and again 
in the same month of 1883, we saw an osprey flying up the 
higher reaches of the Helmsdale. In 1881 a young bird was 
shot in Glencassley in November, and this is now in Glen- 
cassley House. Since then ospreys, singly or in pairs, have 
not unfrequently been seen — indeed almost annually. In 
1885, at Assynt {ex ore), and at Kyle of Sutherland (Journ., 
S. G. Eeid). 
In a letter from Mr. Dunbar, dated Brawl Castle, September 
19, 1867, to Mr. Osborne, he observes : " The osprey frequents 
the Thurso river almost every April on its migratory flight, 
no doubt on its way to some of its breeding-places in Suther- 
landshire, but I never succeeded, nor have any of the sports- 
men ever been able to capture one, although they have 
often seen them ; the only one who has ever succeeded in 
killing a specimen in Caithness is Mr. Donald Eoss, head 
gamekeeper to the Duke of Portland. He killed, some few 
years ago, a fine specimen on the river Langwell, while the 
bird was fishing" (0. MSS., 1868). This bird, no doubt, 
is the one at present in the Welbeck Abbey collection 
(J. Whitaker). 
Order 3. STEGANOPODES. 
Family PELEOANIDii;. 
187. Phalacrocorax carb.o {L.). Cormorant. 
Common, and resident, though not breeding on the south-east 
coast ; a few go far inland to feed. 
The principal colonies known to us are Badcall Islands, in 
the west — but are fast decreasing there from persecution — 
and a very fine colony indeed close to Whiten Head; on 
