288 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



the birches are tallest, and from their topmost branches they utter 

 those singular sibilous notes which so much interested Gilbert White 

 150 years ago. Here the species probably reaches its highest altitu- 

 dinal breeding range in the British Isles, namely 1350 to 1550 feet. 



Song Thrush, Turdus musicus. 



British Race, T. musicus clarkei. 



A summer visitor, in limited numbers, to the subalpine and 

 valley zones. In the former it nests in the plantations and gardens 

 on the margin of Loch Ossian at 1350 feet; and on the lower 

 ground in the wooded burn-sides and glens about the head of 

 Loch Treig, at from 800 to tooo feet. In the spring of 191 6 it 

 had returned to its summer haunts at Loch Ossian on the 18th of 

 March an early date for its appearance in such an elevated region. 



Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris. 



This British winter bird appears, sometimes in considerable 

 numbers, in October and in November, on its arrival in our islands 

 from Northern Europe. It frequents, for a time, heathery and 

 grassy ground at the foot of Loch Ossian (1300 feet), but departs 

 on the advent of severe weather. During December 1915 three 

 remaining birds were driven away by the snowstorm of the 4th. 

 Return movements northwards are recorded from the 24th of April 

 to the 1st of May. 



Blackbird, Turdus inerula. 



A recent colonist, but now a resident in small numbers in the 

 gardens and plantations at the foot of Loch Ossian at 1275 to 1350 

 feet. It first made its appearance in the Lodge gardens in the 

 spring about the year 1908. In these haunts it passes the winter, 

 and does not appear to be affected by severe cold, nor to be more 

 numerous in the winter than in the nesting season. It seems to 

 be entirely absent, however, from the more sparsely wooded country 

 of the valley zone. 



Ring Ouzel, Turdus torquatus. 



A summer visitor to the many suitable nesting quarters afforded 

 by the rocky ground, crags, rough heathery slopes, and by the steep 

 burn-sides. In such situations it is to be found at altitudes 

 ranging from 1000 to 3000 feet. In 19 16 the first bird of the 

 season was observed on the 24th of April. 



(To be continued.') 



