REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN I919 113 



vertically up, and presently emerged with a blue egg in its bill 

 and flevv^ away with its companion. On going to the place 

 a newly made but empty Thrushes' nest was found. On 3rd 

 July a pair of Magpies and young were seen at Corsemalzie 

 Wigtownshire, fiercely attacking a brood of very young 

 Partridges, and despite the efforts of the old birds to defend 

 them, carried off several. A Long-eared Owl was seen at 

 Mochrum Loch at 1 1 a.m. on 7th June, sitting upright on the 

 branch of a silver fir, about 20 feet up, pressed closely 

 against the trunk. A Golden Eagle, two Buzzards, and 

 a Peregrine were all seen in the air together at Swordale 

 on 5th October, the Peregrine flying and twisting round 

 the slower flying Eagle and Buzzards, and making several 

 swoops at the Eagle, which dodged them. At the same 

 place on nth May a male Merlin was seen "with a Starling 

 in its claws, shrieking wildly and pursued by another 

 Starling ; the Merlin settled in the grass, but on being 

 disturbed, rose again and let the Starling go, making an 

 unsuccessful dive at it as it flew away." The wing of a Merlin 

 was found in May on the ledge under a Peregrine's nest on 

 the south-west of Cowal, doubtless killed by the Peregrine 

 (i. 1920, 48). Mr Gordon reports having flushed Ring, 

 Stock, and three Rock Doves from a fir-wood at Alticig at 

 7 P.M. on 17th September, A Curlew on her nest at Bath- 

 gate was so tame that she would allow our correspondent 

 there to approach within a yard of her nest ; he adds, "She 

 sat and never moved, not seeming the least afraid. I showed 

 her to many friends." Guillemots far from their usual 

 habitat are recorded in September : one was killed by a 

 Hawk at Glenorchard on the 29th of that month, and another 

 is recorded at Loch Achray " in the closing days " of the 

 month. On 3rd April a Heron was found near Aberdeen 

 strangled on the telephone wires (/oum. Wild Bird Investiga- 

 tion Society^ p. 15), and a hen Capercaillie was killed on the 

 telephone wire near the post office in the centre of Montrose 

 on 13th April (i. 1919, 156). 



103 AND 104 



