BIRDS. 
241 
tions having seen a specimen in the collection of Mr. G. 8. 
Sinclair of Wick ; it had been shot in Caithness, and was 
preserved by Mr. Sinclair, who was unable to name the 
species (although its peculiarities were observed) until Mr. 
Wilson identified it." There seems in this case, as perhaps 
in several others seen by Mr. Wilson, to be no reasonable 
doubt of his identification of the specimen. It is also 
stated to have occurred in Sutherlandshire by Mr. A. G. 
More {Ihis, 1865), on the authority of Sir W. E. Milner, 
and so we prefer to err on the safe side, and retain the 
record, but still in parentheses.'] 
370. Uria grylle (L.). Black Guillemot. 
A spring visitant to the east coast. 
Breeds not uncommonly on the west coast, and in a 
colony on the Badcall Islands. Once plentiful on Handa ; 
now rare, if indeed present at all, and the cause assigned for 
their extinction by the cragsmen — the brothers Mathieson 
— is that rats have managed to dislodge them. We have 
found that the males assist in incubation, as they have 
been taken off the eggs, having one or two hatching spots 
on the breast. These birds are abundant also along the 
north coast, west of Loch Eriboll. 
" Tystie," " Tystay," in winter plumage "Jenny Grey." Also 
known as the " Greenland Dove," " Sea Turtle," " Puffinet." 
Common on the Caithness coast (0. MSS., 1868). 
A common species in 1885 in the " goes " of the east coast 
south of Duncansbay Head ; often breeding at a consider- 
able altitude in the old red sandstone cliffs — indeed higher 
than Harvie-Brown ever remembers observing them before. 
371. Mergulus alle (i.). Little Auk. 
Winter visitant, but not occurring every year. 
Q 
