NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 349 



would extend to a considerable length, and would take some 

 time for its preparation. His object at present was more 

 to solicit than to impart information; and he invited the co- 

 operation of all who took an interest in the subject, and would 

 be obliged by their sending him the results of their observations 

 on any examples of this bird that might come under their notice 

 during the summer and autumn months. 



He treated the subject under several heads. 



(First). Whether the Capercaillie does damage to trees, by 

 picking out the leading buds, thus dwarfing the tree and render- 

 ing it unfit for timber 1 « 

 . (Second). Whether the importation of impure seed may not 

 cause an inferior growth of less healthy wood, not so able 

 to stand the rigour of late frosts as the native and undegenerate 

 Scotch fir which is still to be found in some parts of the 

 country ? 



(Third). Whether the damage to pines may not be attributed 

 to the ravages of insects, especially beetles, which attack the 

 cores of the buds and young shoots, piping the latter, and 

 causing the former to drop off, with the result of stunting the 

 growth of the trees and making them bushy and twisted, while 

 some species bore into the wood and bark, many of them besides 

 feeding upon the leaves? 



(Fourth). Whether it is not a fact that the Capercaillie feeds 

 largely upon insects, and that young birds especially destroy 

 large numbers of the larvae of Tenthredinidae and other insects 

 which live upon or are destructive to pines ? 



Mr Harvie-Brown dwelt upon these points at some length, 

 and concluded with directions to gentlemen willing to co-operate 

 with him in endeavouring to solve these and other minor ques- 

 tions. He gave the names of several naturalists who are taking 

 an interest in the subject, and who would be willing to impart 

 further information to any inquiries. 



VI. — On the occurrence of the Blackcap JVarhler (Sylvia atricapilla) 

 in Scotland during winter. By Mr Egbert Gray, F.RS.E., 

 Honorary Member. 



In 1862 Mr Osborne recorded in the Proceedings of the Eoyal 



Physical Society of Edinburgh, that he had shot two specimens of 



this warbler in Caithness ; one in the beginning of October, the 

 VOL. III. Y 



