BIRDS. 
215 
Of one obtained at Thurso Castle, shot by Mr. Lewis 
Dunbar's brother^ on December 13th, 1878, and now at 
Springbank, Tlaurso, Mr. L. Dunbar has the note — " Last 
bird my brother shot," and the note, "Plentiful in 
winter." 
Specimens are in Welbeck Abbey collection, shot in 
the south-east of the county. 
From all we could learn the bird is far from being so 
rare as Mr. Osborne supposed, but we suspect they are 
commoner on the north coast than on the east. 
286. Hoematopus ostralegus, i. Oyster-catcher, 
Eesident, and common ; receiving large additions in the 
winter, at which season the mussel-scalps at the Little 
Ferry are at times covered with these birds. Occasionally 
seen inland on fresh-water lochs in the west. Common on 
all the shore-line and islands of the salt-water lochs. 
Appears, but not very regularly, on Loch Shin, though, in 
1885, it occurred at both ends of the loch. 
Common, and resident, breeding along the coast in all suitable 
localities (0. MSS., 1868). 
In 1885, the oyster-catcher was not observed at all 
abundantly on the north coast, where the whole cliff is too 
high and precipitous, but it was abundant on Pentland 
Skerries and Stroma, and also on the coast at Mey and 
Huna. A pair frequented a small shingly fresh-water loch 
on Dunnet peninsula. It is apparently not very abundant 
on the east coast. 
Family SCOLOPACID-ffi. 
287. Recurvi rostra avocetta, L. Avocet. 
1 Mr. William Dunbar, long lessee of Brawl Castle, and the river Tburso and 
sliootings in Caithness. 
