The Scottish Naturalist. 1 1 1 



lands, where it abounds, in the autumn months, previous to their 

 departure, they descend in large numbers to the gardens, attack- 

 ing the cherry and geane trees with such pertinacity that the 

 gun has frequently to be brought into play, and even after being 

 repeatedly fired at they will return to the same spot the moment 

 a person's back is turned. These I have found to be all young 

 birds, the parents probably having taken their departure. 



37. CiNCLUS AQUATicus, Bcchst. (WaterOuzel or Dipper.) 



Frequent on most of our streams and rivers, and would pos- 

 sibly be more so were it not for the bad name he has obtained. 

 Being constantly noticed on the salmon spawning-beds, where 

 he may be seen plunging into the rapid stream, he has got the 

 credit of destroying the spawn, and consequently most unjustly 

 becomes a prey to the gun, for on examination it has been 

 proved that, instead of devouring the spawn, it is the very 

 creatures which feed upon it (the larvae of numerous water 

 beetles and other insects, with which the gizard will invariably 

 be found to be crammed) that he has been in search of, showing 

 that the Water- Crow, as he is more familiarly called, should be 

 treated rather as a friend than as a foe. 



-^Z. Saxicola cenanthe, Bechst. (Wheatear.) 



About our earliest bird to arrive, the Wheatear has a wide 

 range, — from the mouth of the Tay, where in the months of May 

 and June it is to be found breeding abundantly in the old rabbit 

 burrows about the sand-hills, to the very furthest end of the dis- 

 trict, becoming however more scattered, and confining itself to 

 the hills and rocky places, from whence it descends in the 

 autumn, and is then occasionally to be seen in the lower grounds, 

 on the dykes about road-sides, &c., on its way to the coast. 

 The old birds have then assumed a more dingy dress, similar to 

 that of the young, in exchange for the bright costume in which 

 they came. It is singular how little the general public know of 

 the Wheatear, for many a time I not only have heard it de- 

 scribed, but had it brought to me in one of its different stages of 

 plumage, as some wonderful and curious bird. 



39. Pratincola rubetra, Koch. (Whin- Chat.) 



40. Pratincola rubicola, Koch. (Stone-Chat.) 



Both of the above species are not uncommon, and about 

 equally spread throughout the district, frequenting for the most 





