504 The Birds of Pressmenan Lake, By A. Hepburn, Esq. 



was a decided increase in their numbers for 2 or 3 weeks about 

 tbe autumnal equinox. The Short-Eared Owl was a winter vis- 

 itor. The Long-Eared, Tawny, and Barn Owls, were perma- 

 nently resident; the Grey Flycatcher a rare summer resident. 

 Of the Thrush family, the Dipper or Watercrow frequented all 

 the streams. The Missel Thrush and Blackbird were common 

 and permanent residents, also the Song Thrush for nine months in 

 the year, mid- winter being spent on the sandhills by the sea shore. 

 The Eedwing and Fieldfare were abundant in winter and spring. 

 The Eing Ouzel frequented the mountain ash when its berries 

 were ripe. Of the Sylviidse or slender billed warblers, the 

 Eedbreast and Hedgechanter were plentiful ; of the summer vis- 

 itors of this family, the Eedstart or Firetail was very rare. The 

 Blackcap and Garden Warblers not uncommon. The White- 

 throat, very common. The Wood Wren, not uncommon where 

 Beech trees were numerous. Strange to say, I never heard or 

 saw the Sedge Warbler by the lake, or in its immediate 

 neighbourhood. The Willow Wren very common. The Gold- 

 crested Wren common. Of the Wagtail family, the Pied Wag- 

 tail, and the Grey and Yellow Wagtail, visited the Lake, but 

 chiefly haunted the neighbouring streams. The latter was per- 

 manently resident ; the former departed in September, and 

 returned again in March. The Meadow Pipit was common, 

 except during the breeding season. The Tree Pipit was not 

 rare, so also was the Wheatear, or Stonechat as it was called ; 

 the Whinchat very rare, all three being only summer residents. 

 The 4 common species of the Tit family were common (I never 

 met with the Marsh Tit). Of the hard-billed birds which feed 

 their young on insects, and chiefly subsist on seeds and grass, 

 the Skylark was abundant, except during mid-winter, when it 

 migrated to the sea coast. The Common or Corn Bunting was a 

 rare straggler from other localities in the county. The Eeed 

 Bunting, rare and local, departed in the autumn or early winter. 

 The Brambling, or Cock of the North, was rather a rare winter 

 visitor. The Yellow Bunting, Chaffinch, Sparrow, Green Linnet, 

 and Grey Linnet, were abundant. The Bullfinch not rare. Of 

 the Crow family, the Starling, a recent colonist was rapidly be- 

 coming common ; the Common Crow and Grey Crow were not 

 common ; the Eook abundant ; the Jackdaw not rare ; the Mag- 

 pie rare. The Tree Creeper not uncommon. The Wren common. 

 The Cuckoo not uncommon. Of the Swallow family, the Swift 



