BIRDS. 
199 
on islands. Fairly common at Stoir Head, but nowhere 
to be called abundant. A pair of apparently perfectly pure 
wild rock-pigeons frequented the inn at Inchnadaniph in 
May and June 1877, associating with the house-pigeons; 
they had not returned up to 1886. 
Fleming mentions, on the occasion of a visit paid by 
him to the Smoo Cave, near Durness, that, " upon entering 
the cave, numerous wild-pigeons, water-ouzels, and common 
sandpipers {Totanus liypolmcos) hastily escaped "(" Glean- 
ings of Natural History gathered on the Coast of Scotland 
in 1821," Werneria.7i Nat. Hist. Soc, 14th December 1822); 
but no such congregation was witnessed by us in June 
1882 when on a visit to the caves. 
Eesident, and very abundant along the cliffs and caves of the 
Caithness coast (0. MSS.). 
Eock-doves suffered greatly from the late severe winters, 
but are again extremely abundant all round the coast. 
Flocks of scores frequent the fissures through all the 
ramifications of the Devil's Bridge chasm near Holborn 
Head, the clap of their wings being often heard as they fly 
out without the birds themselves being visible. Perhaps 
nowhere in Scotland are they more plentiful than on the 
Caithness coasts. Excellent sport can be had, and we have 
heard of as many as thirty couple having been shot in a 
day, but it requires an experienced eye and practised hand 
to kill them. 
248. Columba oenas, L. Stock-Dove.^ 
[Has a place on the Caithness List, and Mr. Eeid also mentions 
it as occurring in the county, but no dates are given.] 
* The stock-dove has certainly extended its range marvellously rapidly of 
late years, and in 1885 had reached the south coast of the Moray Firth at 
Lossiemouth and Culbin Sands. It will be interesting to observe its further 
progression, should any such take place. 
