894 The Zoologist— September, 1867. 



frequent the low ground near the coast in autumn, but gradually 

 disappear in winter. 



Raven. — The raven is still common on the rocky hills, and frequently 

 visits the low ground in the vicinity, though seldom travelling any 

 great distance from them. When they do so, they fly at a great 

 height, and circle round and round like a small buzzard. I have 

 occasionally seen them doing this as they passed high overhead. 



Carrion Crow. — Local name, " corvie craw." Now a scarce bird in 

 cultivated districts, but still plentiful in the wilder parts of the county. 



Hooded Crow. — Local name, " hoodie." Now, like the last, some- 

 what rare, except in the hilly portions of the county. Two pairs have 

 haunted our ground and Tonvood winter and summer for the last two 

 years, and I think must bring forth their young in the latter place, as 

 I have never yet stumbled on their nest. In winter I have frequently 

 seen hooded crows in small flocks along the sea-shore, picking up 

 garbage left by the tide. 



Rook. — The " craw," as the country people call it, is as plentiful 

 here as in other wooded districts. There are large rookeries at Dun- 

 more, Lord Abercrombie's near Bridge of Allan, our own at 

 Dunipace, Herbertshire Castle, Campsil, and in fact all 6ver the 

 county. I have frequently seen the rook distinctly feeding on a dead 

 sheep or other carrion, putting its feet on the carcase and tugging with 

 its beak. 



Jackdaw. — As plentiful and impudent as elsewhere. There is one 

 very large colony on the borders of the county, on an island on the 

 Lake of Menteith. I found seven nests in one hollow tree, all contain- 

 ing eggs. 



Magpie. — I have several times taken eight eggs from the nest of 

 the magpie. These birds frequent the wooded banks of the Carron, 

 immediately above Carron Ironworks, in large numbers, and supply 

 all the ground for miles around. No sooner does a keeper kill a 

 couple of magpies on his ground, than another pair takes their place. 

 They are certainly, in my opinion, a destructive bird to game. I have 

 a note in the 'Zoologist' (S. S. 706) concerning a magpie with a 

 yellow bill. 



Jay. — There are now very few of this beautiful bird in this part of 

 the county, though it is still, I believe, not uncommon around Loch 

 Lomond, and is still present in the Dunraore woods. The last nest I 

 knew here was some four years ago, when both old birds and young 

 were shot or trapped by a neighbouring gamekeeper. 



