BIRDS. 
217 
Commou in the birch-woods of Assynt in summer, and 
flights occur in winter. Breeds regularly also around 
Tongue. 
A common winter migrant ; not known as breeding in the 
north and east of the county, probably from the scarcity of 
suitable localities (0. MSS., 1868). Breeds at Berriedale 
(188.5). 
292. Gallinago major (GmeL). Great Snipe. 
Mr. L. Dunbar records one, an adult female, killed by Mr, 
J. Wormald at Freswick, preserved by him, and now in 
Brawl Castle. He has the note, " Very rarely met with." 
293. Gallinago coelestis (Frenzel). Common Snipe. 
Eesident, common, and generally distributed ; more abundant 
in the lowlands in the winter, as the snipes then leave the 
higher grounds. Much scarcer since the two late severe 
winters, and even before then these birds were getting 
much rarer in the central districts during the summer and 
autumn. 
Common ; but less so of late years in the west. 
Eesident, and still abundant, though, from all accounts, not 
so plentiful as forty or fifty years ago (0. MSS.). 
Mr. L. Dunbar records an albino of this species shot at 
Freswick in 1878, and now in his possession. We met 
with the snipe only sparingly on the north coast. 
294. Gallinago gallinula (i.). Jack Snipe. 
Autumn visitant, scarcer in winter. Much as has been said 
of the breeding of this species in Scotland, there is no 
