X. 



THE RECENT INCREASE AND DIS- 

 PERSAL OF SOME BIRDS IN 

 SCOTLAND. 



SOME birds that we know to have been at one 

 time inhabitants of Scotland have entirely dis- 

 appeared, as, for instance, the great bustard, not 

 so long ago to be found on some of our great 

 plains and commons, but now ousted by advanc- 

 ing population and cultivation. The sea eagle 

 and the osprey are now practically extinct as 

 nesting species ; the first is a victim, in large 

 measure, to the advent of Highland sheep farm- 

 ing ; and both, in part at least, to the greed of 

 the egg-collector and his tools. 



On the other hand, we find some species 

 increasing and advancing, at times in waves 

 that one feels justified in terming phenomenal. 

 It is some of these increasing species that are 

 here considered. 



These birds appear, on consideration, to fall 



