and Carrion Crow, in Scotland. 1 19 



Although both the black and grey hooded crows make their 

 nests on trees*, I am inclined to suppose that the emigra- 

 tion of the grey sort from the south of Scotland took place 

 along with the destruction of the woods, during the early part 

 of the seventeenth century, which was caused by the demand 

 for charcoal for the smelting of iron. 



The changes that birds sometimes evince in their pre- 

 ference for certain districts is often curious enough, and by 

 no means easy to be accounted for : the subject, in general, 

 would be well worth the attention of such a person as your 

 correspondent Mr. E. Blyth. 



Not many years ago, the eagle was often seen taking a view 

 of the lower mountains of Selkirkshire, and was a native of 

 the neighbouring county of Dumfries, or, rather, of the alpine 

 boundary between the two districts ; and had its nest annually 

 in two places. One of these was on a precipice in a wild glen 

 in Eskdale, called the Garwald Grains ; the other situation 

 was chosen with much of that touch of reflection that we some- 

 times observe among birds, as well as others of the lower 

 animals. There is a small rocky islet, almost even with the 

 water, in Loch Skene, which is surrounded with the highest 

 mountains south of the Forth ; and, although the side of one of 

 these mountains, that overhangs the lake, is rocky and seem- 

 ingly inaccessible, the eagles chose to have their nest on the 

 islet in the loch, because, forsooth, the loch craig could be 

 approached by ropes from above, while it is almost impossible 

 to convey a boat to the loch, and there never was one 

 there. 



About forty years ago, people spoke of the starling as being 

 in former times a constant companion of the ruined towers, 

 but which had so completely forsaken the southern counties, 

 that the first I ever saw were flying about the tower of the 

 old monastery of Roudell, in the Island of Harris, in 1804. -j- 

 The old people likewise spoke of having in their youth seen 

 the black cock and grey hen, as the old Highlanders now do 

 of the capercailzie. Now, the black grouse (Tetrao Tetrix) 

 are nearly as plentiful in Selkirkshire as the common grouse. 

 The starlings returned by a pair in a season, and built, some 

 in hollow trees, and some in the few old towers that still 

 remain, and are become even less nice of a breeding-place. 



* I have once known the carrion crow make her nest on steep ground 

 amongst heath; and another time on the point of a rock in a ravine. 



f Some years afterwards, a hird-fancier in Edinburgh told me that the 

 only starlings he knew of made their nest down the shaft of an old draw-well 

 at Priestfield, whence he procured the young ones, by getting boys to go 

 down for them. 



k 4 



