198 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



HOBBY. One or two stuffed specimens exist, but no date or locality 

 can be learned. The conjecture is that such specimens belong 

 to the county, but at best it is only surmise. 



MERLIN. Not common. Observed one at St. Cyrus in summer of 

 1899. Occasionally to be met with about the quieter portions 

 of the uplands. 



KESTREL. Of all the lesser birds of prey this is the one I see most 

 frequently. 



OSPREY. On 1 5th May 1897 I watched one of these birds fishing 

 in Glensaugh Loch. It was evidently a wanderer, and was 

 closely watched by the Geese on the water, where their young 

 were floating. When the Osprey dived to the water, the male 

 Goose would rise from the loch, fly direct at the stranger, and 

 drive it off for a time. 



CORMORANT. Resident (H.}. No doubt the bird breeds about the 

 rocky coast, but personally I have not a note on it. 



SHAG. H. says " probably occurs in Kincardineshire " ; and, as I 

 have seen it on other parts of the east coast, I do not question 

 this. 



GANNET. A visitor only to the coast. 



HERON. Resident. There are three or four heronries within the 

 county. Stray birds may be seen almost any day fishing in the 

 burns. One day I noticed one catch a big gray rat, and make 

 off to a neighbouring field with it. 



PURPLE HERON. One is said to be in Drumtochty Castle collection. 

 This was shot in January 1895 (M.}. Although I have seen 

 this collection, my memory does not confirm the identification 

 of this special bird. 



BITTERN. "Occurring at long intervals" (H.}. I saw a stuffed 

 specimen in a gamekeeper's house, some years ago, near Mary- 

 kirk. This may be the bird mentioned by H. as having been 

 shot in 1867 at Bogmuir, near Laurencekirk. 



GLOSSY IBIS. H. marks this " abnormal or irregular visitant." In 

 his East of Scotland Report he also mentions one having been 

 shot at Banchory in 1844. 



PINK-FOOTED GOOSE. Some confusion exists here. Many of the 

 so-called " Bean " and other species observed seem to me to be 

 neither more nor less than the pink-footed species as mentioned 

 by If. in his report printed at Perth some years ago. 



CANADIAN GOOSE. These can only be inserted as birds introduced 

 to the ornamental waters. 



WHOOPER. Several said to have been shot in the county. One in 

 the Drumtochty collection was secured in the neighbourhood, 

 it is said. 



