224 



BIRDS. 



reaches of Speyside and Badenoch. If it migrates up or down the 

 Spey valley, it must do so greatly by night. In its autumn migra- 

 tion it doubtless passes, as do other land species, over the water- 

 sheds to the south and south-west. An old correspondent of 

 ours 1 took several nests of Ring-Ouzels for us many years ago up 

 amongst the head-waters of Avon and the Fergie Burn, all of 

 which were placed in rocks. It is abundant high up the river 

 Nethy, but less common in the great pine forests of Abernethy 

 or Eothiemurchus, preferring opener ground above the pine 

 growth. 



By 1893 a most decided increase in the population of this 

 species was evident upon the braes of the Upper Deveron, conse- 

 quent, we believe, upon the phenomenally early season. In 

 previous years, when residing at Lower Cabrach, that part of 

 the valley was not universally visited or frequented by the ' Black 

 Chacker ' before the declining week of July or beginning of August, 

 and few were seen much below the level of 950 feet. But in 1893, 

 even in June, they were daily seen in unusual numbers visiting the 

 gardens in the early mornings; and later, viz., by the 15th July, 

 both old and young visited the gardens during the whole day. 



The 'Black Chacker' is a well-recognised bird all over the 

 Carn district, and is freely spoken of as a pest in the ' farm-toon ' 

 gardens. It nests in low bushes, especially juniper, in old walls, 

 steep banks, or heather-crowned rocks, but seldom at any great 

 height above the ground, except when in a cliff face, and in this 

 respect, as recognised by the natives, differs from its congener, the 

 Missel-Thrush or ' Grey Chacker,' which generally builds its nest 

 close to the stems of the birch-trees, and at some distance above 

 the level of the ground. 



Hinxman found it nesting very abundantly near Inchrory in 

 Glen Avon up to 1750 feet above the sea, but he doubts if they 

 nest higher than 2000 feet. 



Saxicola oenanthe (L.). Common Wheatear. 



Local Names. — Fallowchat, Chackert, Stonechat, Chatterer. 



This is a very abundant summer visitant, and stays perhaps longer 



[1 Farquhar Maclennan, who first collected with us in Sutherland, and again in 

 Gaick ; was afterwards in the service of the late Campbell Macpherson-Grant, Esq. 

 of Drumduan, and, amongst other duties, attended to the aviary there. 



