898 The Zoologist— September, 1867. 



property of the late Mr. Caddell, of Carron Park. I believe the caper- 

 caillie will soon spread to the wooded parts of our county, as they arc 

 now tolerably abundant in the woods of Tully Allan, which is only 

 separated from Dunmore by the River Forth. 



Black Grouse.— Gradually becoming scarce in some places, whilst 

 in others it is increasing in numbers. I have shot these far from 

 haunts congenial to their habits. 



Red Grouse.— Good sport can yet be had, though the red grouse has 

 decreased in numbers, owing to the increase of wood in what was 

 formerly their favourite haunts. 



Ptarmigan.— Constantly frequents the tops of Ben Lomond and 

 the other higher hills, but not I believe in such numbers as formerly. 



Partridge. — This bird is abundant, last season especially. I have 

 seen this bird to perch on a tree, having been put up out of standing 

 corn by a terrier. The following is still more remarkable, as related 

 by my mother : one of my family remembers in a severe storm, many 

 years ago (more than forty), that there was a covey of partridges very 

 near the house (Dunipace House), which were fed with corn under 

 some plane-trees : one of these trees had a low branch, which stood 

 out horizontally from the stem, and then suddenly bending upwards 

 grew parallel with it, and on that branch the partridges were seen to 

 roost. The branch was some six feet from the ground. 



Pallas's Sand Grouse. — On the 4th of February, 1867, I went into 

 the house of Mr. Johnston, a bird-preserver in Stirling, and there saw 

 a specimen of Pallas's sand grouse : this bird I bought; it was shot on 

 the 13th of May, 1863, about a mile and a half east of Stirling, and in 

 Stirlingshire, along with two others : this is a male bird. One of the 

 others is now in the possession of Dr. Brotherston, of Alloa, and i» 

 also a male, and the third Mr. Johnston hopes to be able to procure 

 for me. The one I now have would have been a good specimen, had 

 the head and back of the neck not been somewhat severely damaged. 

 Mr. Johnston, though not a scientific man, is perfectly trustworthy and 

 honest, and has a good idea of stuffing birds in life-like positions. I 

 do not think that these specimens have before been taken notice of in 

 the 'Zoologist' or any other journal of Natural History. 



Quail. — The only two specimens that I have authentic record of I 

 was informed of by Mr. Thompson, of Dunmore : he himself shot one 

 about sixteen years ago on Gallowmuir, and the keeper on Carnock 

 estate killed one the same season. I have no doubt, however, that 

 other specimens have at times been procured. 



