242 
BIRDS. 
An occasional winter visitant ; most frequently found along 
the coast in a dead or dying condition, after heavy storms 
at sea. The latter end of January 1862 was remarkable 
for the numbers that were cast ashore after a heavy south- 
easterly gale (0. MSS., 1868). 
Mr. W. H. Doeg had one sent off alive to him, but which 
died m route, obtained on 13th l^ovember 1880, near Wick. 
It occurs also not unfrequently on the Pentland Skerries, 
where Harvie-Brown picked up a wing of the species in 
1885, and it is well known to the lighthouse keepers. 
372. Fratercula arctica (Z.). Puffin. 
A scarce winter visitant to the east coast. 
The principal colonies of these birds on the west and 
north are : at Handa, about three miles of cliff, and slopes 
east of Cearvig Bay, occupied in many places from base to 
summit, which are 380 feet in height — a marvellously fine 
colony ; at Clochbheag, near Durness, and scattered colonies 
at other points. They used to breed at Garbh Island 
numerously, but are now rare there; having been perse- 
cuted, they have taken to the higher cliffs of Clomore and 
Cearvig. Eats have also driven them off the tops at Handa 
into more secure crevices in the face and slopes. 
A common summer visitor to Caithness, being well known all 
round the coasts (0. MSS., 1868). 
In 1885 abundant at Dunnet Head, especially west of 
the Head, in turf ledges and debris slopes, but common 
also all along the north coast. If anything, rarer on the 
east coast cliffs.^ 
1 We have visited most of the great puiBn colonies, and we consider much 
the largest (St. Kilda not excepted) are on the coast of North Sutherlandshire, 
between Cearvig Bay and Garbh Island, and the colony on the Shiant Isles is 
equal to that of St. Kilda. The highest cliff on the mainland of Scotland cul- 
minates at Clomore, over 600 feet in height. 
