APPENDIX. BIRDS. 400 



thev were in greater numbers. I remember taking from the 

 stomach of one a large water-rat, three middle-sized trout, and 

 fifteen minnows. Some time ago, a person belonging to this 

 town, whilst passing through one of the streets, was startled at 

 being hit on the head by something which had fallen from 

 above, and which proved to be a small fish, the five-bearded 

 rockling, apparently quite fresh. On looking up he saw 

 nothing but a " craigie" passing over the houses, pursued by a 

 number of crows. Of course the fish had dropped from the 

 heron ; but the man could not be persuaded that it had not 

 dropped from the clouds. 



ARDEA PURPTJREA [Purple Heron]. 



One of these birds is said to have been shot about thirteen miles 

 from hence. My late friend, the Rev. Mr. Smith, saw fragments 

 of the bird some time afterwards, and believed it to be of this 

 species. 



ARDEA EGRETTA [Great White Heron], 



Two of these birds were observed to frequent various parts of our 

 coast about twenty-six years ago ; but a specimen has not since 

 been procured. 



ARDEA STELLARIS [Bittern]. 



Three or four of these birds are known to have paid us a visit. 

 One in the Banff Museum, a very pretty one, was killed near 

 Banff about twenty-four years since ; another in the Moss of 

 Park, and one or two at Balveny. 



PLATALEA LEUCORODTA [Spoonbill], 



One of these rarities was found in a ditch in a wood near here, by 

 a young naturalist ; he says it could easily have been shot, for 

 he approached quite close to it, and it did not appear at all shy. 

 It has since been found in this neighbourhood. 



IBIS FALCINELLUS [Glossy Ibis]. 



On one occasion I perceived three of these birds hovering about 

 the coast for a whole day, but I could not get a shot at them ; 

 it was in winter and during a very severe storm. 



NTJMENITJS ARQTJATA [Curlew]. 



Plentiful in certain localities along the shore in winter ; they retire 

 in spring to the alpine and sub-alpine districts Their note 

 in winter is simply " Whaup," with sometimes a loud scream when 

 come upon suddenly. In summer, however, and whilst among 

 the moors and hills, it is more varied, being then "Poo-l-ie, 

 poo-l-ie," then " Coor-lie, coor-lie," with a long "Wha-a-up" 

 at the end. They are not then so shy as when seen by the 

 sea-shore. 



NUMENIUS PH-EOPUS [ Whimbrel]. 



Seldom a summer passes but a whimbrel or two may be met 

 with along the shore, and sometimes in some of our mosses. I 

 think they breed with us. They are generally very shy, and not 



