NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF BALLINLUIG DISTRICT 13 



TAWNY OWL, Syrniuin ahico. Although scarce, this is the com- 

 monest species of Owl in the district. 



BUZZARD, Butto vulgaris. Scarce. A single bird was seen, in 

 1895, a t>out Killiehangie. 



SPARROW-HAWK, Accipiter nisi/s. Somewhat scarce. In June 



1893 I discovered a nest containing six eggs in a fir tree on a 



small island on the Tummel at Ballinluig ; and the following 



year, in the wood near the school, I found a nest with four eggs 



the female sat on the nest till a keeper actually touched her. 



MERLIN, Falco czsalon. I have only two records for this species, 

 namely, August 1896 and May 1897. 



COMMON HERON, Ardea tinerea. Fairly common, though there is 

 no heronry in the district. 



COMMON SHELD-DUCK, Tadorna corinita. One pair only observed, 

 in June 1893, flying up the Tummel. Not in Mr. Horn's list. 



GOOSANDER, Mergits merganser. One pair observed in May 1897. 



STOCK DOVE, Columba a>,nas. Not uncommon, and appears to be 

 on the increase. 



CAPERCAILLIE, Tetrao urogallus. Common in this district. Most 

 plentiful in the wood between the junction of the Tay and 

 Tummel. 



BLACK GROUSE, Tetrao tetrix. Not a very plentiful species in the 

 district. 



COMMON COOT, Fulica atra. Only one pair seen, and they were 

 accompanied by a brood of young. 



OYSTER-CATCHER, Hcematopus ostrakgus. Very plentiful. Breeds in 

 numbers among the stones on the islands and by the river side 

 (Tummel). Observed by Fleming ("British Animals," 1828), 

 breeding at Moulinarn. 



WOODCOCK, Scolopax rusticnla. Plentiful. May be seen on summer 

 evenings flying over the tree tops. 



COMMON TERN, Sterna fluviatilis. A few pairs about the Tummel. 

 Earliest seen, 3rd May 1897. (This species is not recorded by 

 Mr. Horn, who, however, includes the Arctic Tern surely a 

 mistake.) 



PUFFIN, Fratercitla arctica. One seen on the Tummel at Ballinluig, 

 in August 1891, by my friend William Smith, M.A. 



LITTLE GREBE, Podiceps fluvia tills. Fairly common. Usually nests 

 at the curling pond, Logierait. 



