The Scottish Naturalist. 



37* 



these birds, in countless thousands, made their appearance there last season, 

 November 29th — (Migration Report, 1885.) 



181. Rock Dove is confined to the rocky coasts. 



182. Stock Dove. — In Aberdeen Mr. Horn alludes to its being 

 enumerated in Mr. Arbuthnot's list of birds of Peterhead — (Proc. N.H.S., 

 Glasgow, 18S0, p. 243.) Reported by Mr. Simpson as breeding near Arbroath. 

 It has been got at Alyth and at Callander, from both of which places there are 

 specimens in the P.S.N.S. Museum ; and it breeds at Dunkeld, and it also has 

 been shot at Coupar-Angus, specimens of which I have seen. 



183. Turtle Dove. — There are many instances of the occurrence of the 

 turtle dove from time to time, in most, if not all, the eastern counties, but 

 never of regular migration. Mr. A. Nicol Simpson informs me that he ob- 

 tained a specimen this summer, 1886, which was caught by a fisherman on 

 board his boat at Arbroath, and which he tells me, he has still alive and doing 

 well. 



184. Passenger Pigeon. — Yarrell mentions a bird of this species shot 

 at Monimail, in Fife, 31st Dec, 1835. 



185 Pallas' Sand Grouse. — A most extraordinary irruption of this bird 

 from the plains of Tartary into Great Britain occurred in 1863. Many hundreds 

 reached our coasts, from the English Channel to North Unst in Shetland, and 

 dispersed along our eastern coasts, where numbers were destroyed. Aberdeen, 

 Kincardine, Forfar, Perth, and Fife were all visited that summer. A flock of 

 about thirty appeared in July near Montrose (where eleven were shot), re- 

 maining for several days on the Links, and then passed northwards along the 

 Kincardine coast — (fide Mr. Barclay.) 



187. Quail. — Formerly not uncommon in the Carse of Gowrie, where it 

 used to breed ; the last nest known to me was found in 1832, containing six- 

 teen eggs. 



188. Ptarmigan is confined to the higher hills. 



189. Red Grouse was introduced on Tents Muir in Fife by Admiral 

 Maitland Dougal a few years ago, and have greatly increased. 



191. Capercaillie has only of late years appeared in Aberdeen and 

 Kincardine. 



