BIRDS. 
l'J7 
observation would prove its claim to rank as a regulai- 
winter visitant, if not permanent resident" (H. Osborne, in 
MSS.). 
Mr. Dunbar records its occurrence at Preswick on 
September 11th, when one — an adult male — was shot by 
Mr. J. Wormald, and Mr. L. Dunbar marks it as both a 
winter and summer visitant. There are two specimens in 
■ Welbeck Abbey. The nest has been taken at a small loch 
near Keiss, in the parish of Wick, by Sergeant Sandison, 
and Mr. Eeid has had young flappers sent him caught in 
the neighbourhood. It is interesting, with regard to this 
species, to compare the distribution in east and west, and 
in Orkney and Shetland. 
44. Mergus cucullatus, L. Hooded Merganser. 
[A specimen in Dr. Sinclair's List, marked " very rare."] 
45. Mergus albellus, L. Smew. 
[An extremely rare visitant to the county (0. MSS., 1868). 
Mentioned in Dr. Sinclair's List, but not as being in the 
collection.] 
Series SCHIZOGNATH^. 
Order 1. COLUMB-ffi. 
Family COLUMBIDiE. 
46. Columba palumbus, L. Ring-Dove. 
Eesident in the eastern district, and very common in the wooded 
and cultivated parts of the south-east. A number of these 
birds spread up the straths, and into any isolated patches 
of wood during the breeding season, retiring coastwavds on 
the approach of winter. In Assynt, in 1869, one pair were 
observed at Inchnadamph, which remained for a few days. 
