248 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



Ruff. — Machetes pugnax (Lin.). As above mentioned, a rave 

 visitor to Strathbeg. There is a female specimen of this species in 

 the collection at Brucklay Castle, which was killed at Aberdour. 

 Rev. Jas. Smith, of Monquhitter, mentions one having been shot 

 on a moss in that parish.* 



Common Sandpiper. — Actitis hypoleucus (Lin.). Common along 

 the banks of the Ythan, Ugie, and Deveron in summer. 



Sanderling. — Galidris arenaria (Lin.). A regular winter visitor, 

 and is occasionally seen during the summer months. 



Little Stint. — Tringa minuta, Leisler. A regular winter visi- 

 tant. Twice obtained by Mr. Thomas Edward at Strathbeg. t 



Dunlin. — Tringa alpina, Lin. Common. Breeds, or, at all 

 events, used to breed on the islands on the Loch of Strathbeg. J 

 Formerly no one could land on the islands without the permission 

 of the proprietor, but now anyone who can obtain a boat may go 

 there, provided he does not take a gun. The eggs are, conse- 

 quently, taken away and sold in Peterhead. Mr. W. C. Angus, 

 in writing to Mr. Gray, says that a correspondent sent him eigh- 

 teen specimens, the result of a right-and-left into a flock at 

 Charlie's Pot near the mouth of the Ythan.§ Mr. J. A. Harvie- 

 Brown tells me that this is no uncommon number to kill at one 

 time, for he once killed sixty-four with a right-and-left at Grange- 

 mouth. 



Curlew Sandpiper. — Tringa subarquata (Giildenstadt). Once 

 obtained at Strathbeg by Mr. Edward. || 



Knot. — Tringa canutus, Lin. An annual winter visitant. 

 About as common as the Sanderling. 



Woodcock. — Scolopax ruslicola, Lin. Very common in autumn 

 along the sandy hillocks covered with bent grass at St. Fergus, on 

 the Pitfour estates, and between the Loch of Strathbeg and the 

 shore. In some seasons very large bags of Woodcock are to be 

 got here, just after they have arrived in the country and before 

 they have moved inland. They breed now in some of the dens 

 above Aberdour and at Auchmedden. 



Great Snipe. — Gallinago major (Gin.). Several specimens of this 

 bird have been killed in the district of Buchan. One by Mr. 

 Duncan at Aberdour, on the estate of Brucklay, and one at Strath- 



* ZooL, vol. vi., p. 2302. f Nat., vol. iv., pp. 263-271. 



X Nat., vol. iv., pp. 263-271. § "Gray's Birds of West of Scotland," p. 320. 



\\Nat., vol. iv., p. 239-247. 



