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Transactions of the 



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again, sometimes, by way of variation, taking a clear flight of half 

 a mile to a mile before settling. I myself stalked one for three 

 (lays over a wide trackless muir, and for all I know he may be 

 there yet, unless he has in the interim fallen a victim to some 

 more fortunate enthusiast. When the young have flown, a great 

 deal of this shyness of disposition disappears, and the bird does 

 not seem to place such value on its personal safety, as at that 

 period you can approach comparatively close without exciting 

 alarm. It may be as well to state at this juncture, to prevent mis- 

 apprehension, that even at the nesting-time, so long as you make 

 no attempt to hunt it, the bird will sometimes alight quite close 

 to where you are sitting ; but on the slightest signs of hostile in- 

 tentions it is on the qui vive at once, self-preservation being its 

 predominating tendency on these occasions. To enumerate all the 

 localities in Scotland which this bird frequents would be a rather 

 serious task ; sufSce to say that it is distributed pretty evenly all 

 over the Highlands and the mountainous districts of the Lowlands, 

 including our own Pentlands and Lammermuirs. There is one 

 particular glen in the first-named range of hills where considerable 

 numbers may be noticed, and perhaps I may be permitted to refer 

 shortly to that habitat. One of the old tracks, now marked out by 

 posts erected at the instance of the Scottish Eights of Way Asso- 

 ciation, extends from Bavelaw Castle, above Balerno, to Logan Lea 

 Reservoir, where the regular Water Company's road commences. 

 This is as pretty and romantic a spot as any in the Pentlands, and 

 well worthy the attention of members of the Naturalists' Field Club. 

 From Balerno, four hours' smart walking will bring the pedestrian 

 to Glencorse Station at Greenlaw Barracks, so that it forms an 

 easy and pleasant afternoon's excursion. The path, barely dis- 

 tinguishable at several points, runs for a few miles through a deep 

 valley, from which the hills rise abruptly, the sides being in many 

 parts composed of masses of loose stone and jagged rock, attaining 

 almost to the precipitous — a veritable Highland glen in miniature. 

 Its solitary wild nature offers great attractions to the Ring-Ousels, 

 and during summer it is taken advantage of by sundry pairs, who 

 are here permitted to bring forth their broods in peace. In ad- 

 dition to this species, the following are certain to be seen or 

 heard : — 



Grouse, Lagopus scoticus. 

 Curlew, Numenius arquata. 

 Peewit, Vanellus cristatus. 

 Cuckoo, Cuculus cano7-us. 

 Wheatear, Saxicola anunthe. 



Common Sandpiper, Totanus hypo- 



leucos. 

 Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra. 

 Titlark, Anthus pratensis. 

 Water-Ousel, Cinclus aquaticiis. 



Occasionally, too, we get a glimpse of that most persecuted of 

 the persecuted, the Magpie [Pica rustica) ; and when we include 



