APPENDIX. BIRDS. 405 



CUCULUS CANORUS [Cuckoo]. 



This is another sweet and darling gem. Well do I remember, 

 when only a little fellow, rummaging about the Den of Rubislaw, 

 near Aberdeen, how surprised I was on hearing the sound of 

 " Cuckoo, cuckoo," from a small plantation close by, and how 

 overjoyed I was when 1 obtained a sight of the bird ; and now 

 that I am old, the sweet voice of the harbinger of sunny days 

 still cheers me. They are not very numerous with us along 

 the sea-coast, but are very frequent in the higher districts. 

 They generally appear about the end of April. It is said that 

 they can retain their eggs for a number of days after they are 

 ready for extrusion. I will relate, without comment, a circum- 

 stance of this sort which came under my own observation : A 

 female specimen, shot in a garden here, was brought to me to 

 be preserved. On dissecting it, I was agreeably surprised at 

 finding in the oviduct an egg as perfect as if it had been obtained 

 from a nest. 



CORACIAS GARRULA [Roller}. 



I am only aware of one specimen of this pretty and rare bird being 

 obtained in our county ; it was a splendid specimen killed on the 

 hills of Boyndie. 



MEROPS APIASTER [See-Eater]. 



I give this species a place here from having heard that a greenish 

 bird, somewhat less than a thrush, with a longish bent bill, and 

 with two feathers of the tail longer than the rest, was killed in 

 a garden between Huntly and Dufftown, about seven years ago. 

 It has since been found at the hills of Boyndie, about two miles 

 from Banff. 



ALCEDO ISPIDA [Kingfisher]. 



Several of these sparkling gems have been taken here at different 

 times. (See p. 52.) 



HIRUNDO RUSTICA [Swallow], and 



HIRUNDO RIPARIA [Martin], 



These birds are in about equal numbers. The latter generally 

 nestles in the corners of windows, the former in barns, etc. ; 

 they also breed along the sea-shore wherever there is a cave or 

 projecting rock suitable. White and cream-coloured varieties 

 are sometimes met with. 



HIRUNDO TTRBICA [Sand Martin]. 



Wherever there is a bank of any height and not too liard, whether 

 along the sea-shore or river-side, or a quarry or sand-hole, a 

 colony of these active little creatures are almost sure to be met 

 with during summer. It is surprising to see how they perforate 

 these places, and the depth to which they will sometimes go, 

 especially when we consider the remarkably feeble instruments 

 with which they do it namely, a very small and slender bill, 

 and feet equally small and tender. 



