200 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



Berwickshire, in March, 1856. For a notice of the latter I 

 am indebted to Dr J. A. Smith, to whom the bird was sent 

 to exhibit at a meeting of the Royal Physical Society of 

 Edinburgh. 



In Don's Fauna of Forfarshire it is stated that the author 

 obtained a specimen of this bird from Tannadice Woods in 1807; 

 and it may also be worth noting that the Rev. Patrick Grant has 

 enumerated the species among the rare birds of the parish of 

 Killin, in Perthshire. 



To these records I may add another instance of its occurrence in 

 Scotland, namely, a specimen shot at Bressay in Shetland two 

 years ago (1867), as I have been informed by Mr R. Scot- 

 Skirving, who saw the bird. It will doubtless be found to be a 

 more frequent visitor to Scotland than has been hitherto supposed, 

 especially in the Border Counties, where the extending woods may 

 prove an additional attraction to a bird of its habits. 



INSESSORES. CUCULIDJE. 



SCANS ORES. 



THE COMMON CUCKOO. 



CUCULUS CANORUS. 

 Cuthag. Cuach. 



THIS universal favourite is distributed over the whole of Scotland. 

 From its sylvan aspect and the temptation of its extensive and 

 romantic glens, the west coast is peculiarly attractive to this bird. 

 Shortly after its arrival, especially if the weather be auspicious, 

 every glen and cultivated hollow are filled with its well-known call. 

 In some of the glens near the banks of Loch Lomond as many as 

 ten or fifteen of these lively summer birds may be seen within a 

 short compass uttering their note incessantly. It is also a well- 

 known visitor to the Outer Hebrides. In the summer of 1867 it 

 was unusually plentiful, especially in Benbecula and the west side 

 of North Uist. Even in the northernmost portion of the Long 

 Island it is usually very common. Sir James Matheson remarks 

 that in the month of May cuckoos are more numerous in Lewis 

 than he has seen anywhere else, "flying about in clusters or groups, 

 and making the air resound with their beautiful note." This 

 notice accords exactly with what I have myself observed in other 



