270 THE mUDS OF STRATHBEQ. 



they were left unmolested, and succeeded in rearing two broods that season; 

 next summer, several pairs came, and protection being given them, a still 

 larger number appeared the year following. Many now breed in several places 

 near there, a few pairs annually selecting my late friend's Dove- cote for that 

 purpose. The Rook, (Corvus frugilegus,) the Hooded Crow, (0. comix,) the 

 Magpie, {G. pica,) and the Jackdaw, {C monedula;) are anything but nu- 

 merous. The Great Tit, {Paras major,) the Blue Tit, (P. cceruUus,) the 

 Goldcrest, {Regulus cristatus,) and the Stone and Whin Chats, (Sylvia rtihi- 

 cola and ^S'. rubetra,) sparingly. The Robin, (S. ruhecula,) the Nun, or 

 Hedge Sparrow, (.S'. modularis,) and the Wren, (S. troglodytes,) are more 

 numerous. The Whitethroat, (S. cinerea,) the Willow Wren, (S. trochilus,) 

 and the Spotted Flycatcher, [Muscicapa grisola,) occur during summer, the 

 latter however, not annually: a single specimen of the Pied Flycatcher, (If. 

 luduosa,) was shot in a small plantation near the manse of Crimand, during 

 the summer of J 849. About a dozen years ago, a single specimen of the 

 Blackcap, {Sylvia atricapilla,) a female, was observed to frequent a garden at 

 Crimmonmogate for the greater pai't of a season. 



We now come to the birds of prey, of which great numbers have been 

 from time to time both shot and trapped. Of these the Peregrine Falcon, 

 (Falco peregrinus,) stands foremost, then the Goshawk, {F. palmnharius,) the 

 Merlin, {F. cesalon,) the Sparrow- Hawk, {Accipiter Fringillarius,) the Kestrel, 

 {A. Alaudarius,) the Buzzard, {Buteo vulgaris,) the Rough-legged Buzzard, 

 {B. lagopus,) the Kite, {Milvus regalis,) and the Hen Harrier, {Falco cyaneus.) 

 Of Owls, we have the Tawny, {Strix stridala,) the Long-eared, {S. otus,) the 

 Short-eared, {S. hracliyotus,) a winter visitant, and the Barn Owl, {S. flammea,) 

 rare: a pretty specimen of the Snowy Owl, {S. m/dea,) was found drowned 

 in the Loch, about thirty years ago. Others might be added, but as they 

 are of a dubious character, it is considered better that they should be omitted. 

 But as the last I would mention that a very large bird of prey was trapped 

 at Cairness about twenty-five years since; it was of a tawny colour, feathered 

 to the toes, and was supposed to be an immature specimen of the Golden 

 Eagle, {Aquila chri/saefos.) The bird, I believe, was preserved and placed in 

 the house of Cairness; as also were many of the rarer species mentioned here; 

 but on the death of the late Mr, Gordon, they were either removed or left 

 to decay. Numbers likewise finding their way to Banff", when after being 

 stuffed, they were placed in the Museum there, where a few still remain. 



But before I finally conclude, however, I would beg leave to state that 

 the foregoing list is not given as a complete one, for there can be little 

 doubt but that there are many which have occurred, but which, from the 

 want of being known to me, are not included here. But if anything like 

 encouragement were given to individuals residing there, as well as in other 

 localities, who may not themselves be lovers of nature, but who might be 

 induced by certain means to look after these things, I have little doubt 

 but that many of the rarer species would be added, not only here, but in 



