The Scottish Naturalist. 251 



gigantic body, wheeling about over the great reed-brakes on Mug- 

 drum Island, and other tidal parts of the Tay (their great roosting- 

 places), into which, after performing a series of most eccentric 

 evolutions, they suddenly, as it were, at a given signal, precipitate 

 themselves, in one vast mass — buried out of sight, but joining in 

 one universal chatter and confusion of voices, which, after a 

 while, subsiding, they settle down for the night ; and at early 

 dawn, separating into small parties, they wing their way to their 

 several haunts. And it is most amusing to hear them, on their 

 return, perched on some high tree-top, giving out to each other 

 the lessons they have evidently learned during their sojourn in 

 the abode of the Curlew and the Sandpiper, — representing the 

 several cries of these birds, and a host of others, such as Golden- 

 Plover, Peewits, Redshanks, &c. — imitated so perfectly that it 

 would take a nice ear to detect the deception ; and many a time 

 have I been quite startled on hearing the loud, trilling notes of 

 the Curlew proceeding from the tree straight above me. 



Pastor roseus, Temm. (Rose-coloured Pastor.) 



Though there are several instances, but not of late years, of 

 the Rose-coloured Pastor being noticed in the district, it can 

 only be considered as an accidental visitant. Mr Horn makes 

 mention of one obtained at Dunkeld on the 29th of September 

 1 831; and a very fine specimen, in the full rose-coloured plumage, 

 was shot, in August of 1832, sitting on some pea-stakes in the 

 garden at Megginch ; and another specimen, also in full plumage, 

 was obtained, just ten years afterwards, in 1842, at the same 

 time, and at the same spot, and exactly under similar circum- 

 stances. Another was obtained at the same place a year or two 

 afterwards ; and early ui September, seven or eight years ago, I 

 observed a strange bird, which flev/ close past me, from out of the 

 reeds on Mugdrum Island, which I feel confident to have been a 

 Pastor, in the young plumage, — in which state it was well known 

 to me in the Mediterranean. Besides these authenticated speci- 

 mens, there may have been possibly other instances in the dis- 

 trict not recorded. 



74. CoRvus COR AX, Linn. (Raven.) 



Common in many of the deer-forests and higher grounds in 

 the upper part of the district, where they are still to be found in 

 considerable numbers. 



