128 Antiquities, Grc, of Cramond District. [Sess. 



strictly preserved : although so numerous there, they do not interfere to 

 any extent with the game, which is very plentiful. 



Tengmalmh owl. — In December 1860 a specimen of this diminutive owl 

 was caught alive on Cramond Island by Mr James Lumley, Cramond. 

 Mr Lumley, along with his father and brother, had gone duck-shooting. 

 On entering one of the out-houses on the island a small owl flew out. 

 They succeeded in capturing it, and kept it alive for some time. After 

 its death it was stuffed, and remained for many years in the collection of 

 George Hutchison, Cramond House. Only three examples of this owl 

 have been got in Scotland. This little owl inhabits Scandinavia and 

 Russia. Measurement, 9 inches long. The tawny owl is 15 inches long. 



Stormy petrel. — One picked up at Cramond about six years ago. 



Wood-pigeon. — This bird has decreased greatly in recent years. Since 

 1895 the decrease has been very marked. Great numbers were killed 

 during that severe winter. About twenty-five years ago these birds 

 roosted, I may safely say in thousands, in Dalmeny Woods. Now it would 

 be very difficult to count three hundred. One, and perhaps the principal, 

 cause of the decrease appears to be the shooting of these birds in spring 

 time, when they come readily to a decoy, and, being nesting time, the 

 killing of the old birds very effectively prevents any increase. 



Stock-dove. — While the wood-pigeon has decreased the stock-dove has 

 increased during the last ten years or so, and its presence now does not 

 attract attention. 



Turtle-dove. — One example, October 1896, in Dalmeny. 



Capercaillie. — First recorded 1878, and seen two or three times since. 



Pintail dtick. — A small flock seen near Barnbougle in 1901 (winter). 



Watei--rail. — Only two examples, the last one being February 1904. 



Little aid: — Numbers were picked up dead in 1894-5. The last ones 

 picked up on the shore were in February 1901. 



G}-eat crested grehe. — One example, February 1897, Cramond. i 



Raven. — A dead raven was picked up on a field on the farm of East 

 Craigie on 29th March last. This bird was presented to the Museum of 

 Science and Art. 



Woodcock. — A woodcock's nest was discovered in Dalmeny Woods this 

 year on 5th April. It contained four eggs. This is the first record of 

 this bird nesting in the district : there were at least five nests in Dalmeny 

 Woods in 1904. I photographed the nest on 9th April under most un- 

 favourable conditions, — a gale of wind with heavy showers of snow and 

 sleet. (See Plate XIV.) 



Wa.vwing.—One shot at Cramond in November last, and exhibited at 

 our meeting in February 1904. 



Peregrine falcon. — Occasionally seen ; last record September 1903. Act 

 31, Henry VIII., c. 12, made it felony punishable with death for a person 

 wrongfully to take or cause to be taken any egg or eggs of any " falcon, 

 goshawk, or laner [the young female peregrine], or the birds [i.e., the 



^ Since this paper was read another example of the great crested grebe has 

 been met with in Dalmeny Park, June 1904. 



