Birds. 503 



ing of exotics are often liable to challenge, as sufficient proof, on the 

 score of their suspected natural hardihood or of the artificial heat or 

 protection they may receive : or, the favouring tradition, or the love of 

 fatherland, might unconsciously influence the native, or make scepti- 

 cal the foreigner ; but no such prepossessions or antipathies can re- 

 gulate the determinations of any species of bird to select our woods 

 or waters for their winter abodes. The stated occurrence here in sum- 

 mer of the quail, the redstart, &c, and the permanent or winter resi- 

 dence of the creeper, the golden-crested wren, the two Motacillae, and 

 some others, mark the superiority of the "flat of Moray" over the 

 same parallels, and even over many a more southern degree of latitude. 

 The knowledge of the Ornithology of Moray was greatly extended 

 by the discoveries of the late Henry S. Foljambe, Esq., of Notting- 

 ham, who, during the few years that he resided at Grant-lodge, 

 in the vicinity of Elgin, detected many species formerly unknown to 

 the Province. Possessing an intimate acquaintance with many bran- 

 ches of Natural History, this department seemed to be his favourite 

 study. Having devoted his leisure hours, while in England, to the 

 observation of their characters and habits, he was able at once to point 

 out and name several distinct species which had hitherto been over- 

 looked or mistaken by observers in this district of Scotland. 



Golden eagle, Aquila Chrysaetos. Resident only in the alpine 

 districts of the Province, and even there becoming more scarce every 

 year through the unremitting warfare waged against them by the shep- 

 herd and gamekeeper. A splendid specimen was trapped last year 

 on Lord Cawdor's moors, in the Streens on the Findhorn. When a 

 nest with young has been discovered, a most barbarous practice is in 

 some places adopted. The poor fledgelings are maimed, shackled, 

 or have ligatures tied tightly around different parts of their bodies, so 

 as to make them keep up a constant screaming. The parents, think- 

 ing that this arises from the cravings of hunger, cease not to bring in 

 a supply, chiefly of grouse, which, being unheeded by the tortured fa- 

 mily, are daily carried off by their inhuman tormentor, in numbers 

 and with an ease not experienced by any other mode of poaching. 



The Erne, A. albicilla. The southern shores of the Moray-frith 

 afford no cliffs suitable for the permanent abode of this species ; but 

 stragglers have been occasionally seen. A few years ago Mr. Martin 

 observed one in a disabled state on the sandy beach near Innes-house, 

 which was supposed to have been the one afterwards taken in the 

 neighbourhood of Pitgaveny. 



