APPENDIX. | Birds. 355 
however, to get a pure specimen; as domestic pigeons from the 
farms near sometimes breed with them. I have seen white spec- 
imens, as well as those of a sand color. 
CotumBa furtuR [ Turtle-dove]. 
Three or four specimens of this species are said to have been seen, 
and some of them obtained, within the county; but whether wild 
ones, or individuals that had escaped, has not been ascertained. 
PHASIANUS CoLcHICUS [Pheasant]. 
Introduced, but seems to thrive very well; it is a beautiful ornament 
to parks and woods. Partially pied varieties sometimes occur, 
and another, called the “silver pheasant.” 
Terrao TETRIX [Black Grouse]. 
Exists chiefly in the higher districts. 
Terrao Exoricus [Red Grouse]. 
Exists on all our moors and hills, but not in great numbers. 
Terrao Lacorus [Ptarmigan]. 
Less frequent than either of the two last. Ptarmigans inhabit the 
summits of our highest mountains; they are seldomer seen than 
those which frequent the lower ground. Like all others of the 
grouse tribe, they are yearly decreasing in number. 
Perprix cinerea [ Partridge). 
Pretty common. A very cunning and faithful mother is the female; 
for when she has eggs she never goes out, if time permits, without 
hiding them so carefully that it is almost impossible to detect 
their whereabouts; and if you take her by surprise, away she 
hobbles on one leg, and a wing trailing on the ground, as if wound- 
ed. See p. 281. 
Perprix rura [ The Red-legged Partridge]. 
Commonly called the French partridge: it has been recently found 
in Banff. 
Prrprix corurnix [ Quail]. 
That this species is a regular visitor I am not prepared to say; but 
that it is an occasional visitor and breeds here is beyond all doubt. 
Nests and eggs of this species are sometimes met with in cutting 
grass; they are generally passed over as those of the land-rail. 
Cuaraprius pLuvia.is [ Golden Plover]. 
Where moor-fowl occur, the golden plover is generally to be met 
with. When the hills, heaths, and fields are covered with snow, 
the plover comes down from his alpine abode, and stays at the 
sea-side, where great numbers fall an easy prey to the gun of the 
sea-side fowler. . 
