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Birds in Edinburgh. By James Smail, F.S.A. (Scot.), 

 Edinburgh, President. 



It. may interest members to know that Edinburgh harbours 

 a large number of birds ; indeed, I do not know of any city 

 of equal size in which birds are so numerous and varied, 

 and within the past twenty years they have largely increased 

 in number. This is so far accounted for by the widespread 

 extension in the buildings of the city within that period, 

 together with their accompaniment of surrounding shrub- 

 beries and cover — the abode of the birds. Blackbirds are 

 excessively numerous, the Song Thrush is plentiful, and the 

 Warbler tribe is well represented. Magpies are shy birds, 

 but their peculiar chatter is often heard, and the birds are 

 frequently seen within the precincts of the Burgh. For 

 several years I have, within these same precincts, known 

 the nests of Magpies — sometimes only one nest in a season — 

 but two years ago I knew three nests. At one place, where 

 they have regularly nested for some years, they are so well 

 protected that the birds show very little shyness, and fly 

 here and there in the neighbourhood of their nests without 

 any apparent fear. The Brown or Wood Owls also nest in 

 the same locality, and their hooting is a familiar sound to 

 those who inhabit the houses near their abode. I may 

 mention that the property where the Magpies and Owls 

 referred to nest, belongs to a friend of mine, and that, for 

 obvious reasons, I do not name the place. He is a liberal 

 feeder of many wild birds, and his finely sheltered grounds 

 are, in spring and summer, almost alive with song-birds, 

 which nest there in large numbers. 



In times of long-continued hard frost, GuUs of various 

 kinds have for the last three or four winters, and in vast 

 numbers, daily frequented the gardens of the higher-lying 

 parts of the city, in search of food. This is something new 



