APPENDIX. | Birds. 857 
arriving here to breed. Now and then it may be seen during 
winter. Large flocks visit us some seasons, generally in Septem- 
ber, and, after remaining for a day, proceed farther south. ‘“Sea- 
piet” is the name the bird is known by here. 
ARDEA CINEREA [ Heron]. 
We have some small spots where these birds breed, but which hard- 
ly deserve the name of heronries. At one time, however, they 
were in greater numbers. I remember taking from the stomach 
of one a large water-rat, three middle-sized trout, and fifteen min- 
nows. Some time ago, a person belonging to this town, while 
passing through one of the streets, was startled at being hit on 
the head by something which had fallen from above, and which 
proved to be a small fish—the five-bearded rockling—apparently 
quite fresh. On looking up, he saw nothing but a “craigie”’ pass- 
ing over the houses, pursued by a number of crows. Of course 
the fish had dropped from the heron; but the man could not be 
persuaded that it had not dropped from the clouds. 
ARDEA PuRPUREA [ Purple Heron]. 
One of these birds is said to have been shot about thirteen miles 
from hence. My late friend, the Rev. Mr. Smith, saw fragments of 
the bird some time afterward, and believed it to be of this species. 
Arpea EcRETTA [Great White Heron]. 
Two of these birds were observed to frequent various parts of our 
coast about twenty-six years ago; but a specimen has not since 
been procured. 
Arpra sTELLaris [Bittern]. 
Three or four of these birds are known to have paid us a visit. 
One in the Banff Museum, a very pretty one, was killed near 
Banff about twenty-four years since; another in the moss of 
Park, and one or two at Balveny. 
PiataLEa LEvcoropra [Spoonbill]. 
One of these rarities was found in a ditch in a wood near here, by 
a young naturalist; he says it could easily have been shot, for he 
approached quite close to it, and it did not appear at all shy. It 
has since been found in this neighborhood. 
Isis FALCINELLUS [ Glossy Ibis]. 
On one occasion I perceived three of these birds hovering about 
the coast for a whole day, but I could not get a shot at them; it 
was in winter, and during a very severe storm. 
Nomenrus arquata [ Curlew]. 
Plentiful in certain localities along the shore in winter; they retire 
