NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 55 



kinds, while the marshy ground along the banks of the Dochart 

 and the moor of Rannoch are much frequented by many of the 

 waders. The Kingfisher, Bald Coot, and Water Hen inhabit the 

 banks of the rivers, while the Oyster Catcher breeds in considerable 

 numbers on many of the channel banks and islands on the Tay and 

 Tummel. The Common and Black-headed Gulls breed on an 

 island in Loch Tay. 



For an inland county the lochs are peculiarly rich in sea birds, 

 Ducks, Geese, &c. On Loch Tay have been killed the Osprey, 

 Wild Swan, Pochard, Widgeon, Tufted Duck, Golden-eye, Scaup 

 Duck, Goosander, Little Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Cormorant, 

 Razor-bill, Puffin, Leach's Petrel, aud many other commoner 

 species ; and in the immediate neighbourhood of the loch, the 

 Snowy Owl, Woodpecker, Bohemian Waxwing, Snow Bunting, 

 Bramb]ing, Crossbill, Quail, Pigmy Curlew, &c. 



Many species are slowly but surely gaining ground annually, 

 and amongst them I would note specially the Missel Thrush, 

 Rook, Jackdaw, Jay, Starling, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Crossbill, and 

 some of the warblers; and no doubt this is owing to the increased 

 acreage under wood. Other species, on the other hand, are 

 getting gradually more scarce, and some of them, I have no doubt, 

 will soon be extinct in the district. All the rarer species of 

 raptorial birds, the Landrail, the Common Swallow, and House 

 Martin, are less common than they used to be, even within the 

 last six years. Hawks of all kinds are shot down indiscriminately 

 by gamekeepers, and consequently are but seldom seen. For 

 several years I have not heard a Landrail in Strath Tay, and for 

 two years past there has been a marked falling off in the numbers 

 of Swallows and House Martins. 



The following list I have endeavoured to make as complete as 

 possible. The names, however, of some birds which have occurred 

 may be omitted, for there are only included in my list such species as 

 I have either met with myself or heard of from undoubted sources. 



I feel that I ought not to conclude these remarks without 

 acknowledging the valuable assistance I have received from 

 Colonel H. M. Drummond Hay of Seggieden, Mr. J. A. Harvie- 

 Brown of Dunipace, Larbert, and Mr. Duncan Dewar, game- 

 keeper, Remony, Kenmore. 



The nomenclature is according to Sundevall's method, revised 

 by H. Thornton Wharton. 



