Birds. (3847 



dropped from the heron, but he could not be persuaded that it had 

 not dropped from the clouds. 



Purple Heron (A. purpurea). One of these birds is said to 

 have been shot about thirteen miles from hence. My late friend, the 

 Rev. Mr. Smith, saw fragments of the bird some time afterwards, and 

 believed it to be of this species. 



Great White Heron {A. egretta). Two of these birds were ob- 

 served to frequent various parts of our coast about twenty-six years 

 ago. I am not aware of a specimen having been procured. 



Bittern {A. stellaris). Three or four of these birds are known 

 to have paid us a visit. One in the Banff Museum, a very pretty one, 

 was killed near Banff about twenty-four years since ; another in the 

 moss at Park Linteen, and one or two at Balveny, twelve years ago. 



Spoonbill {Platalea leucorodia). One of these rarities in this 

 part of the world was raised from a ditch in a wood near here, in 

 April, 1848, by a young naturalist of this town : he says it could 

 easily have been shot, for he approached quite close to it, and it did 

 not appear at all shy. 



Glossy Ibis {Ibis falcinellus). On one occasion I perceived 

 three of these birds about the coast here for a whole day, but could 

 not get a shot at them; it was in the winter and during a very severe 

 storm. I never saw any before nor since. 



Curlew [Numenius arquata). Plentiful in certain localities 

 along the shore in winter, retiring in spring to the alpine and sub- 

 alpine districts beyond. Their note in winter is simply " Whaup," with 

 sometimes a loud scream when suddenly come upon. In summer, 

 however, and whilst among the moors and hills, it is more varied, 

 being then " Poo-l-ie, poo-l-ie," then " Coor-lie, coor-lie," with a long 

 "Wha-a-up" at the end. Though ever watchful and always on the 

 alert for intruders, they are then not so shy as when by the sea- 

 shore. 



Whimbrel {N. phcBopus). Seldom a summer passes but a whim- 

 brel or two may be met with along the shore, and sometimes in 

 some of our mosses. I think they breed with us. The people here 

 consider them young curlews. They are generally very shy when 

 here, and not easily approached. I have seen them in winter, but not 

 often. Their call-note at once distinguishes them from the curlew, 

 even when not seen. 



Redshank [Totanus calidris). We have this red and long-legged 

 gentleman rather sparingly with us, but we have him all the year. 

 There are certain spots coastwise not much frequented, where, for 



