The Scottish Naturalist. 253 



78. CoRvus MONEDULA, Linn. (Jackdaw.) 



Abounds throughout the whole district. The Jackdaw has a 

 bad name, both as a pilferer of fruit and a purloiner of eggs ; but 

 what is worse, it has a strong propensity for young chickens and 

 pheasants, which he will boldly carry off, in defiance of an en- 

 raged motlier, with drooping wings and ruffled plumage. 



79. Pica caudata, Linn. (Magpie.) 



The Magpie, once most common, is now so reduced in the 

 district, that, with the exception of a few outlying places, it is 

 scarcely ever seen. 



80. Garrulus glandarius, Linn. (Jay.) 



This beautiful bird, like the Magpie, is also greatly reduced in 

 numbers, both in the upper and lower parts, but especially in the 

 latter. I am glad to find, however, that Mr Horn reports its 

 rapid increase in Strathtay. 



81. CucuLUS CANORUS, Linn. (Cuckoo.) 



The Cuckoo is still common in Strathtay, and many other 

 localities in the upper part of the district. I regret to say, how- 

 ever, that the bird is not nearly so abundant as formerly in the 

 Carse of Gowrie and the lower part of Strathearn ; and this, I 

 fear, is greatly owing to that abominable invention the pole-trap, 

 already alluded to. I have been told that an admission has 

 been made of one Juindred Cuckoos having been taken in a 

 single season, in one neighbourhood alone, by this means, — not 

 to say that the traps were set intentionally for the destruction 

 of the Cuckoo, for I have no doubt the parties who did it were 

 sorry for it ; but of course, if any bird sufficiently heavy to fly 

 the spring perches on a pole set up on some tempting spot, it 

 must be caught — and not only birds, but other bipeds too. An 

 amusing story was once told me, happening not half a century 

 ago, and certainly not fifty miles from Perth, of how two Eng- 

 lish tourists, bent on seeing the country, made an early start 

 one morning, and the better to view the surrounding district, 

 ascended a wooded hill in the vicinity. On approaching the 

 summit, they beheld in an open space what they believed to 

 be a bear-pole, with cross steps leading up, suggestive of the 

 " Zoo." What else could it be ? " Oh/' says No. i, '' it must be 

 the better to view the country over the tree-tops ; I will go up 



