142 
CERTHIAD.E. 
the other was picked up dead upon a sea-beach in Unst, in the 
summer of 1871, by my brother-in-law. No other instance 
seems to have occurred. 
II. CEETHIADM. 
THE TEEE-CEEEPEK 
Certliia familia ris. 
In September 1859, during a gale from the south-east, I 
had the pleasure of observing a single example of this favourite 
little bird in the garden at Halligarth, to aU appearance 
perfectly happy and at ease among the sycamores. Very soon 
afterwards it was brought into the house by a hateful cat, to 
which it of course fell an easy victim in such an unfavourable 
situation, the trees being at that time so much smaller than 
they are at present. The Creeper very rarely occurs in 
Orkney. 
THE WEEN. 
Troglodytes vulgaris. 
ROBIN REDBREAST (!) 
This cheerful little bird is everywhere numerous, breeding 
abundantly, and if not disturbed returning to the same nest every 
year. Crevices of rocks upon the shore are often selected, and 
another favourite situation is beneath the turf overhanging a 
steep bank. I once found a nest, containing six young, half- 
way down a cliff about six hundred feet in height. I have 
examined many specimens from various parts of Shetland, 
thinking it possible that the northern species, Troglodytes 
horealis, might occur, but without succeeding in detecting it. 
Althougli the Wren itself is so common, very few of the 
inlia])itants liave the least idea of what the nest is like, or even 
