148 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



acres of permanent pasture, and the rest is rough hill or 

 heather, with a considereble portion of the latter given over 

 to grouse and deer. The mean summer temperature is 58, 

 and the mean winter temperature 37. Rain or snow falls 

 on an average on 190 days, and the mean depth is 36^- 

 inches annually. The Grampian range crosses the shire 

 from the west, until the village of Muchals is reached. The 

 valley (or Howe of the Mearns) is simply a continuation of 

 the vale of Strathmore. 



Many of the birds recorded for Forfarshire on the 

 western boundary may be justly claimed for Kincardineshire, 

 as in the older records these finds are simply put down as 

 being made " at the Montrose Basin." This may indicate 

 either county, as the Basin at Montrose embraces the western 

 limit of Kincardineshire as well as the eastern boundary of 

 Angus. Scattered throughout the county there are a great 

 number of private collections ; but, generally speaking, these 

 are composed of birds which have been " set up " more for 

 ornament than as an indication of the richness of the county 

 in this special direction. Although the majority of these 

 might be included, I have refrained in some measure from 

 acknowledging the same, as neither date nor locality can 

 now be ascertained. 



Where the letters H. and M. are used, the reader will 

 understand H. stands for the late Colonel H. M. Drummond 

 Hay of Seggieden, and M. for Mr. John Milne, Auchinblae, 

 to whose researches I am indebted where these letters are 

 inserted, and which I hereby acknowledge. 



MISSEL THRUSH. Resident and fairly distributed in inland parts. 

 The nest may be found in many of the well-wooded portions 

 of the county. 



SONG THRUSH. Breeds in every quarter of the shire. In winter the 

 lowlands become the feeding-grounds, and if the weather con- 

 tinues severe, large numbers die. The bird appears to suffer 

 where a Sparrow would thrive. 



REDWING. Seems to arrive singly towards the end of autumn, but 

 is seldom seen unless the weather farther north is severe. 

 Stray examples, however, are met now and again even in mild 

 seasons. I have found more Redwings killed by the medium 

 of the telegraph wires than any other species. 



