Birds, 5259 



such situations. Whilst rummaging about, a few summers ago, amongst 

 the rugged and narrow dens of Gamrie, in search of ferns, grasses, 

 &c\, 1 was not a little surprised and delighted at meeting with a pair 

 of these birds, and at finding their nest, which contained four young 

 ones, and which was placed on the ledge of a massive rock above a 

 small waterfall, and beneath but close to the root of a bramble-bush. 

 It is very strange to see how long these creatures will frequent the 

 self-same twig when once they find one to suit them. 1 have seen 

 them more than once hold to one for several hours together, never 

 leaving it but to seize any unlucky fly which dared to attempt to pass 

 that way, when they would again, without alighting on any other, 

 invariably return to their old stand, or watch-tower, to await a new 

 arrival ; then another dart, and then back again. I have known them 

 also to occupy the same tree and the same branch for many years 

 together. It would appear that after they have taken a house they 

 are by no means a wandering species, not going far from home. 

 Well, this is to be commended. They are not very numerous with 

 us, a few pairs only arriving annually, which breed in various parts 

 of the county. 



The Pied Flycatcher (Muscicapa alricapilla) . A pair of these 

 birds are said to have bred in a garden near this place about fifteen 

 years [since. Of the fact I am not aware myself, but give it as a 

 hearsay. I mention this because a person ought to be very cau- 

 tious how he acts with flying stories of this kind, and ought not 

 to be rash or hasty in making public anything for the truth of 

 which he cannot himself vouch ; the more especially when we see 

 and hear such things as the kestrel being recorded as the spar- 

 rowhawk, the merlin as the peregrine falcon, the common buzzard 

 as the honey buzzard, the missel thrush as the starling, the star- 

 ling itself set down as a foreigner which no one could name, the 

 green linnet as the crossbill, and, lastly, though not least, a species of 

 the Medusa, or a fragment of one, as the Astrophyton scutatum ! It 

 is best to take a little time with these things, so as in some measure 

 to know them before we say this or that about them, and not act like 

 one mad, or with the seeming determination of out-stripping or 

 knocking on the head everybody else, in order to be considered wise 

 and learned, and at whatever cost. O, no ! Let us have a little 

 patience ; that is the best thing. However, whether the circum- 

 stance of the breeding of the pair just referred to be correct or not, one 

 thing is certain, that 1 have a specimen, a male, in my possession, 

 which was shot about thirteen miles from this place, in the spring of 



