198 
BIRDS. 
but did not tarry longer. In 1877 we find the note, " Not 
uncommon in the young plantations around Loch Inver." 
In 1883 they were seen commonly. Previous to 1869 they 
appear to have been unknown in the west. As early as 
1834 Selby observed it at the base of Ben Loyal, near 
Tongue; but he adds — "A few pairs only were seen 
during our excursion." Seen at Altnaharrow in June 
1881. 
Eesident, and common in suitable localities, breeding in most 
of the plantations along the east coast (0. MSS., 1868), 
Mr. L. Dunbar observes that it is not common in the 
county, probably referring to the Thurso district, where 
want of trees would account for that. 
247. Columba livia, Bonncit. Rock-Dove. 
"At this time (1884) the rock-dove is nearly, if not quite, 
extinct in the east of Sutherland ; eight or nine years ago 
they could be seen from morning until evening going to 
and fro from their breeding-places in the rocks on the 
Caithness side of the Ord, in flocks of thirty and forty, all 
the year through ; now it is a rare thing to see one. The 
last I remember seeing was a small flock of about half a 
dozen flying over Helmsdale about three months ago. They 
are by no means a hardy bird, and I attribute their scarcity 
entirely to the several severe winters we have had since 
1876. They have been seen to fall dead in the air when 
flying during protracted severe weather. I have often 
caught them in the Navidale stackyards unable to walk or 
fly, nothing but bones " (J. Hill, Esq., in lit.). But it is 
reasonable to suppose that an increase has again taken 
place, as they were extremely abundant along the better 
cultivated belt of the sister county to the north in 1885. 
Generally distributed on the north coast, more local in the 
west, preferring the mainland caves, as a rule, to those 
