5264 Birds. 



bird ? — yet so it is. Truly may we exclaim, a Surely ihe Natural- 

 History schoolmaster is abroad or dead altogether. 11 As sure and 

 constant as autumn bares the harvest fields, so sure does robin, the 

 summer inhabitant of our woods and copses, come to tell us, with his 

 chilly song, when all other birds are mute, that long and dark- 

 some nights and stormy days will soon be ours. But who amongst 

 us, although he does thus come to warn us that winter is coming, 

 could be cruel or harsh to the little bird, or grudge him a crumb ? 

 Not I ! 1 love little robin, and have loved him ever since I was a 

 child and first read the ' Babes in the Wood ;' yes, and I love him still. 



"Welcome, welcome, little bird with bosom red, 

 Thrice welcome to my humble shed." 



Some winters ago, during a severe storm, one took up his quarters in 

 a merchant's shop here, aud, food being given him, became very fami- 

 liar, and appeared to be quile at home, so much so, in fact, that it was 

 expected as well as wished that he would have remained. But no : 

 after about four weeks the snow disappeared, and so did bob. I have 

 known these birds have eggs as early as the middle of March. 



The Redstart {Sylvia phamicurus). Rare. In a garden in Banff, 

 in Duff House and Cullen House policies, in the garden of Rothie- 

 may House, near Keith, and at Drummuir, are places where they have 

 been known occasionally to breed. 



The Black Redstart (Sylvia tithys). I am only aware of two of 

 these birds, a male and female, having been seen within our county, 

 and one of them, the male, was procured. This occurred in a garden 

 in Cullen, in March, 1851. 



The Stonechat (Sylvia rubicola) and the whinchat (S. rubetra) are 

 in about equal numbers, neither of them being numerous. They 

 remain with us all the year through. 



The Wheatear (Sylvia cenanthe). A summer visitor. I have seen 

 them as early as the month of February, and as late as October. 

 They generally appear on the sea-shore first, and then disperse 

 inland. I remember one early spring, whilst searching about for 

 ptarmigan and some other things on Benvennis (not Ben-Vennis, as 

 printed in a former part of my list, Zool. 5119), and just as I had 

 gained its summit, meeting with one of these birds hopping about 

 alone amongst the stones, which were there partially covered with 

 snow. With the exception of a few white hares, it was the only 

 living object I could discern on the top of the mountain. They are 



