Mr Buchanan on the Birds Observed in Callander. 53 



observed in summer many common sandpipers, and occa- 

 sionally a few pairs of oyster-catcliers. The lesser black- 

 backed gull also frequents the loch at the same season, but I 

 have never been fortunate enouoh to discover its nest. In 

 winter, when the water is not frozen, certain species of wild 

 fowl are also found there. 



The mountains are mostly in the northern and western 

 parts of the district, the chief of which are Ben Ledi and 

 Ben Yoirlich, the former 2875 feet above sea-level, and the 

 latter 3224 feet. These were formerly the retreats of some 

 of our nobler birds of prey, but owing to the short-sighted 

 policy of gamekeepers and vermin-killers, few, if any, are 

 now found there. 



Probably two-thirds of the area of the parish are moun- 

 tainous, and one-third wooded or in tillage. The woods are 

 chiefly natural copse, but there is also a considerable extent 

 of pine plantation, which varies in age from three to sixty 

 years. In these woods are found several interesting birds, 

 such as the woodcock, jay, ringdove, and capercailzie. On 

 the lower grounds the partridge and several of our smaller 

 birds are to be found ; and on the moorland are innumerable 

 grouse, blackgame, plover, and curlew. 



From the chain of lakes comprising Loch Katrine, Loch 

 Achray, and Loch Vennachar, flows one branch of the Teith ; 

 and from Loch Lubnaig there falls another branch down 

 through the Pass of Leny. These unite immediately above 

 Callander, and being joined by the Kelty at the eastern 

 border of the parish, fall eventually into the Forth a few 

 miles above Stirling. The natural flow of all the water of 

 the parish is into the basin of the Forth, but of late years an 

 artificial flow for a large portion has been constructed to 

 supply the basins and punch-bowls of Glasgow in the valley 

 of the Clyde. 



With reference to geology, the rocks of the district con- 

 sist chiefly of slate of the Silurian period, with occasional 

 sections of conglomerate and grey sandstone of the Lower 

 Devonian strata. There is also a vein of fine mountain lime- 

 stone or marble, running from south-west to north-east in 

 the hills to the north of Callander. This contains 96 per 



