THE OKNITHOLOGY OF AKBKOATH. 

 By A. Nicol Simpson. 



THE following list has been compiled by me from personal 

 observation and research. Of late years I have been en- 

 couraged and guided in my studies by Col. H. M. Drummond 

 Hay of Seggieden, the eminent ornithologist, to whom I am under 

 many obligations. 



Taking Arbroath as a centre, the district covered by my present 

 investigations extends to a radius of about seven miles. 



o 



1. Missel Thrush. Resident, but not over-abundant. In 



winter its numbers are increased, apparently from the 

 Highlands. 



2. Song Thrush. A very common resident ; breeds in most 



of the gardens outside the town, and often within the 

 municipal boundary. 



3. Redwing. Comes to coast annually in autumn. The advent 



of winter drives it from the higher inland parts to the 

 sea-shore. Numbers are trapped every winter by the 

 bird-catchers. I have one in my collection which killed 

 itself by striking the Bellrock light. 



4. Fieldfare. Like the Redwing, this bird annually visits the 



locality in winter ; but it frequents fields and open 

 places much more than the former. 



5. Blackbird. One of our sweetest songsters, and the first to 



break the chill spring mornings with his carol. He 

 breeds in almost every garden where accommodation 

 can be found for his domicile. 



6. Ring Ouzel. Breeds on the extreme boundary of my limit. 



I have heard of it within my parish ; but no authentic 

 information can be gathered to prove that the bird 

 actually breeds within the seven-miles radius. A pair 



