The Zoologist — February, 1866. 71 



state, belonging to a man in the village, and which was shot about ten 

 years ago by a man who now occupies the position of gamekeeper on 

 our ground, and on whom I can rely for most information, as he knows 

 something about birds, which cannot be said of most gamekeepers. 



Curlew. — Local name, " whaup." 



Wliimbrel.—lu August, 1860, I killed two specimens of the whim- 

 brel, after a long and somewhat difficult stalk along the bed of a 

 stream. There was a flock or family party of five. A few days after- 

 wards a flock of seven passed over just out of range, and those are the 

 only whimbrels I have ever seen here. 



Redshank. — Local. Breeds in small numbers on the shores of 

 Loch Colter. 



Common Sa?idpiper.— Local names, " sand lark " or " sandy lave- 

 rock," and "the deacon." The origin of this last name I have tried 

 to discover, but no one seems to be able to assign any reason for it. 

 This bird arrives on our river with great regularity. The five years in 

 which I have taken note of its arrival gives the following dates :— In 

 1861 it arrived on the 29th of April; in 1862, on the 22nd of April; 

 in 1863, on the 23rd of April; in 1864, on the 12th of April; and in 

 1865, also on the 12th of April. I have on several occasions seen this 

 bird dive and remain a long time under water, whe/i. wounded. 



Woodcock.— Has bred here, to my own certain knowledge, every 

 year since 1861, included, in greater or less numbers. In 1861, on 

 the 25th of April, I took four eggs, which were in a far-advanced stage 

 of incubation, as the young birds were already covered with down. 



Commoti ^/M>e.— Considerable numbers come here in winter, as also 

 in the end of July or beginning of August. They breed also in several 

 localities.' 



Jack Snipe. — A few arrive on our marshes every winter. 



Dunlin.— Local name, " pickerell." Breeds in limited numbers 

 around Loch Colter. 



Land Rail.— Local name, "corn craig." These birds I have 

 frequently killed by imitating their harsh cry, which imitation often 

 allures them to within a few feet of where I stand. 



Moorlien. 



Water Rail.— Last winter, 1864-65, I procured in this neighbour- 

 hood three specimens of the water rail. I am told, on reliable 

 authority, that none had been seen for more than ten years. One of 

 these three specimens was caught on the public road in an exhausted 

 state (Zool. 9468). 



