198 “Accurate Observers wanted. [CHAP. XI. 
Of the latter bird, Edward says, “ This is a splendid bird, 
as rare as the last, if not more so. If we except the breast, 
which is of a bright yellow, encircled by a black ring, and 
some other orange and brown scattered here and there, it 
- may be said to be of a beautiful verdigris green. The two 
middle tail feathers are about an inch longer than the oth- 
ers. The bill is longish and pointed. Though termed 
bee-eaters, they also feed on beetles, gnats, grasshoppers, 
flies, etc. The most of these they capture on the wing, 
somewhat after the fashion of the goat-sucker and swallow. 
Although a scarce bird with us, they are common in their 
native countries. In Asia Minor and the adjacent lands to 
the north, and in Northern Africa, they are said to be so 
abundant as to be seen flying about in thousands.” 
Among the rarer birds found in the district were thé Bo- 
hemian wax-wing, or chatterer (Bombycilla garrula), whose 
native home is Bohemia—the black redstart (Phenicu- 
rus tithys), a bird that had never before been met with in 
Scotland. Edward, in describing this bird, says, “ It is quite 
possible that it may have visited the country before; but, 
from the neglect, or rather contempt, with which natural 
science is regarded in this part of the country, it may have 
visited us, and even bred among us, unknown and unrecord- 
ed. There is plenty of work among us for naturalists. A 
great deal has yet to be learned regarding the various 
branches of natural science. There is nothing better calcu- 
lated for the purpose than attentive and accurate local ob- 
servers.” 
On one occasion, when out shooting on the sands west 
of Banff, Edward brought down a very rare bird. It was 
a brown snipe (Macrorumphus griseus), a bird well known 
in North America, but not in Britain. Here is Edward’s 
story : 
“Taking a stroll the other day to the west of the town, 
with my gun in hand, to get the air, I crossed the sands 
at the links, and, looking along them, I observed a pretty 
