40 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



up. Except when a machine was encountered at fairly close 

 quarters they appeared to regard it with indifference, and 

 when they did find themselves in the way of one, a quickening 

 of their pace with some slight and temporary deviation in 

 the direction of their flight was, as a rule, all the visible effect 

 it produced on them. Once a small flock of Black-headed 

 Gulls proceeding leisurely along the course appeared suddenly 

 to become aware that they were right in front of an 

 approaching monoplane. Realising their danger they 

 flurriedly scattered to right and left, forming up again, 

 however, immediately the aeroplane had passed, and con- 

 tinuing their flight as if nothing had happened. At another 

 time, a group of Starlings and a party of Meadow Pipits flying 

 along the outskirts of the course, were in turn overtaken by 

 a monoplane; both sought shelter, the former in a young 

 fir plantation, the latter on the ground among long grass. 



In July 1911 Edinburgh was in the circuit of a long- 

 distance air race, but the uncertainty as to the times of 

 arrival and departure of the air-men, and the exact lines they 

 might follow, gave little promise of ornithological observa- 

 tions. Half-a-dozen rooks unconcernedly crossing the Braid 

 valley as a monoplane was rapidly approaching from the 

 east was the only incident of the kind that came under my 

 eye. This or another monoplane caused, I was told, consider- 

 able commotion, including some cackling, among the poultry 

 in an enclosure over which it passed. 



A better opportunity occurred in 1912, when I had the 

 luck to be on the coast at Dalmeny Park while several 

 hydroplanes were engaged in flight practice over the Firth 

 of Forth. It was a beautiful September day, and large flocks 

 of Black-headed, Herring, and other Gulls were floating lazily 

 on the placid water. So long as the hydroplanes were at a 

 distance, the Gulls appeared to take no notice of them, and 

 even when they passed high overhead they were, as far 

 as I could see, regarded with little or no anxiety. But when, 

 as several times happened, one approached a flock at a low 

 altitude or made a sudden descent in their direction, the 

 birds very soon showed signs of alarm, and, rising in a body, 

 flew off at a tangent, either all to the same side or some to 



