9172 Birds. 
Wren.—March 29. One was observed, with its beak crammed with 
dry grass. 
Wheatear.—April 6. Saw two wheatears. 
Greenfinch.—April 17. Sull gregarious. The weather has been 
cold of late, but to-day the thermometer has risen to 44°. 
Reed Bunting.—April. When walking from Elgin to visit the ruins 
of Pluscarden Abbey, numbers of these birds were observed among the 
alders on the banks of a rivulet flowing through this beautiful valley. 
They were constantly flitting on before me till by degrees a cousiderable 
flock had collected. 
Thrush.—April 21. Found a thrush’s nest placed against the garden- 
wall, resting on the trellis avd supported by a branch of a fruit-tree, 
but it being leafless the nest was quite exposed. My every motion 
was watched, but the bird did not leave its nest, probably fearing to 
expose the eggs, the weather being still :uuseasonably cold: ther- 
mometer yesterday at noon 38°. 
Chiffchaff—May 1. Observed first chiffchaff. 
Yellow Wood Wren.—May 5. First observed this species. By the 
middle of the month several nests were found on a warm bank in the 
garden. One, containing its full complement of eggs, was placed 
under a small furze-bush; the rest among the long withered grass 
beneath trees, where they might have been trodden under foot. I was 
surprised at finding so many of their nests, and that, too, so soon after 
their arrival. It would appear that both this and the preceding species 
build more freely here than in the south. I have observed but few in 
the Isle of Wight during the breeding season, nor do I remember 
finding their nests in the under-cliff. 
Swallow.—May 7. Saw two swallows. This species is not so 
common as in the south, and the martin is still less numerous. 
Swift—May 9. First observed the swift. A few days later found 
them constructing their nests in the fissures of the rock in a disused 
quarry. The swift abounds in this locality, more so than in any part 
of England with which I am acquainted. 
Heron.—May 21. Went over to Forres, and from thence walked up 
the left bank of the Findhorn, till an elevated ridge was reached, 
opposite to and commanding the far-famed heronry, in a clump of 
dwarfish oaks on the right margin, which is but slightly raised 
above the level of the river, that here takes a sudden bend. On 
approaching the edge of the cliff or precipice, which is some hundred 
feet high, we were observed, and the herons rising simultaneously 
dispersed, leaving their young, apparently full grown, standing erect 
