xl 



DESCRIPTIVE CHAPTERS. 



as I have over and over again A\dtnessed, and as is well known to resident 

 observers there. For a few days the Vale of Menteith holds vast flocks, but 

 there they rarely remain for any length of time. At the same period scarcely 

 any increase in numbers is observable upon the south side of the central 

 hills of Stirlingshire, and the bulk of these vast flights passes on west and dis- 

 appears. But to the Lothians a still vaster immigration takes place, and a 

 great number of those also i)ass over Tents Muir on first arrival from seaward. 



I might also instance the comparative numbers of Waders in the 

 estuaries of Forth and in Tay generally, but prefer to leave that for further 

 proofs and observations. When Forth comes to be treated of, no doubt 

 attention will be given to these matters more fully. 



There can be, however, little doubt regarding the faunal position 

 which the reaches of the Lower Tay hold when we come to compare 

 the matters relating to it in detail. I will mention in these intro- 

 ductory portions of this volume certain stepping-stones, as it were, to 

 the further west ; and also under the separate species there will be found 

 many references which, if studied by the expert, will, I believe, indicate 

 some considerable shaping of the land-routes of migrants on these portions 

 of an indented coast like that of Scotland. I say nothing here of wider 

 reaches, or more continuous flat lands and levels, such as predominate further 

 south ; but perhaps some of the readers of our previous volumes may find 

 earlier indications of my views in connection wdth an elucidation of some 

 of these points, as well as opinions elsewhere expressed. 



An examination of the schedules sent from the Bell Rock — which I 

 have not had an opportunity of again consulting — may perhaps assist in 

 deciding the above and a few other points ; but no doubt Mr. W. Evans, 

 who has made a special study of Forth, vnll be able to institute the proper 

 comparisons. 



In the following description of certain districts which I visited 

 for the purpose of renewing acquaintance with some, and seeing 

 others for the first time, and obtaining suitable materials for in- 

 telligent illustration, I begin with the shores of Fife which drain 

 into Tay, and pass onwards up the lower Tay reaches to the Earn 

 Valley, and so on westward round the confines of the area ; and 

 describing a rough circle, again come to the south coast of Forfar 

 and the embouchure of the river Tay. 



While describing the general skylines, however, in a previous 

 chapter, I have reversed this procedure, as that plan preserves a 

 certain continuity with other natural areas before treated of, which lie 

 more to north. This plan provides for further continuous treatment 

 of areas to the south, and perhaps I may be allowed to express a 

 hope that such continuity may be preserved as far as possible by 



