Birds, 6973 



ready to master the next billow. It had but descended in search of 

 food. 



Cormorant {Carbo cormoraiius). Frequent, except a short time 

 during summer. A pair or two may breed with us, but that is all. 

 Like tlie divers they destroy great numbers of fish. 



Shag (C. cristatus). Only, I believe, an occasional visitor. 



Gannet {Sula bassana). A spring and autumn visitor, and occa- 

 sionally during summer and winter. When overtaken, as they some- 

 times are, by strong north winds from the sea-shore, I have known 

 them driven to great distances inland, where they are frequently seen 

 lying dead. Immature specimens are now and then procured during 

 their autumnal passage, and from their different plumage are looked 

 upon as distinct from the " solan goose," as the gannet is here called. 



Sandwich Tern [Slerna cantiaca). An occasional visitor, gene- 

 rally in summer. 



Roseate Tern [S, Douyallii). Two specimens have been obtained 

 between Banff and Cullen. 



Common Tern [S. Hirundo) and Arctic Tern {S. arctica). Annual 

 visitors, generally in the autumn, some seasons in immense numbers. 

 Although they do not breed with us, they do so on part of the sandy 

 shores, &c., of the adjoining counties of Aberdeen and Moray. 



Lesser Tern {S. minuta). This pretty little lady-like bird does not 

 breed with us, but does so in the places mentioned for the two pre- 

 ceding. It is only an occasional visitor. About fifty years ago a 

 specimen was shot on our links by an old gunner of this town. 

 The bird being a stranger to him he carefully brought it to town 

 to make inquiries. Ornithology, or in fact Natural History, was at 

 that time, at least here, scarcely heard of ; ministers, medical men 

 and schoolmasters being the only persons at all acquainted with the 

 subject. The bird was seen and admired by a great number of 

 people, but no one had seen anything like it before. The minister 

 was appealed to, but he could not say what it was. A medical man 

 said to be learned in these things was then visited. Having put 

 on his spectacles, after looking again and again at the bird he turned 

 to its captor and exclaimed, " What do you say, sir, — this bird killed 

 on our links ? " " Yes, sir." " Killed in this country, on our links ? 

 Why, man, I can hardly believe you. It's not a bird of this country 

 at all ; it's a foreigner. I tell you it's a foreigner, and could not 

 have been shot here." " Foreigner or no foreigner," said the captor, 

 somewhat displeased, and taking up his bird, " it was killed at the 

 sea-side here, say what you like." 



