xlviii 



DESCRIPTIVE CHAPTERS. 



Pertlishire which we had occasion to visit this season.^ This was, as 

 we afterwards had opportunity of knowing, in direct opposition to 

 our experiences in the east; but during the latter portion of our 

 tour, the weather changed for the worse, and we experienced bitterly 

 cold north-east and east winds for weeks up to and after my return 

 home about the 10th June. This extreme cold is simply a continu- 

 ance of the reigning weather which we have had in spring and 

 summer now for the last four years at least. And I feel considerable 

 certainty that this long continuance has had most direct effect upon 

 much of our bird-life in several directions. Indeed, we experienced 

 what might almost be described as a short Arctic summer. 



To illustrate the general avi-fauna of the south-west glens 

 around Crieff, I give here a list of the birds observed during one 

 day's drive from Crieff to Glen Artney on the 17th May 1905. This 

 list was made without leaving the driving road : — 



Song-Thrush. 



Missel-Thrush (not common). 

 Blackbird. 



Wheatear (scarcer than usual). 



Hedge-Sparrow. 



Eobin. 



Willow- Warbler. 



Chafi&nch. 



Wren. 



Pied Wagtail. 



Jackdaw. 



Rook. 



Lapwing. 



Meadow-Pipit. 



Tree-Pipit (two singing). 



Sparrow. 



Starling. 



Cuckoo (common). 



Spotted Flycatcher (two near Comrie). 



Skylark (not common). 



Yellow-hammer. 



Wood-Pigeon. 



Curlew. 



Redshank. 



Sand-Martin (scarce). 



House-Martin (very abundant). 



Swallow (not very abundant). 



Whinchat (one near Comrie). 



Partridge. 



Grouse. 



Coot. 



Canada Goose (Loch Ochtertyre). 

 Black-headed Gull (ditto). 

 Swan (ditto). 

 Swift (very abundant). 



1 Later iu the summer and early autumn, however, considerable increase of 

 several species was taken note of, as will be seen under species. 



