THE RED HEAD AXD COAST-LINE OF FORFAR. Ixvii 



through the demesnes of Ethie, the seat of the Earl of Southesk, and 

 found the timber-growth to be quite extensive, and of considerable 

 importance, as compared with woods and forests in other parts along 

 the east coast of Scotland. Undoubtedly this is due to the fact 

 that the plantations have been formed in sufficiently broad and 

 extensive areas to protect each other from the prevailing salt-laden 

 sea-breezes. Even where narrower belts are in evidence, the general 

 influence of the shelter of the rest has been beneficial. Quite well- 

 formed and almost stately timber-trees are formed over the exten- 

 sive enclosures of woodland, and some very fine old elms and beech, 

 and other hard-woods surround the immediate neighbourhood of the 

 mansion-house at Ethie. That the timber runs to money may be 

 gathered from the fact that a judicious thinning out has lately taken 

 place, in which the well-grown birches — as evidenced by the 

 diameters of the remaining stumps — have been cut down, without 

 interfering with the amenities of the rest of the timber tract. 

 Evidences of really good forestry strike the eye of one in some 

 measure a student of forestry whilst driving through the grounds. 

 The lovely forestry of the more favoured districts through which 

 I have lately passed — especially those of south-west Perthshire — 

 only emphasised the care which appeared to me to have been 

 expended in less favoured parts of our extensive area, as certainly 

 illustrated by those woodlands of Ethie. I think these would — 

 or ought to — teach a lesson to many as to how to make the most 

 of disadvantageous circumstances in the treatment of our Scottish 

 woodlands. I mention these matters in connection with my own 

 more immediate subject — the distribution of our Scottish birds, 

 and the shelter afforded to our migrants, and the inducements 

 offered to them to tarry on reaching land after their "sore travail 

 o'er the waste of waters." Xor is evidence awanting that such 

 shelter is accorded and taken advantage of, as may be perhaps 

 gathered from a study of the details under the species (especially 

 see Missel-Thrush). 



Of the remaining coast-lines of Forfar I have little to say, as I 

 have only passed them in the railway train between Dundee and 

 Carnoustie, and can only speak vaguely of their attractions for 

 birds. There are the sands and links of Buddon and Barry, where 

 Terns and Shelducks still breed, notwithstanding the persecution 



