62 



BIRDS. 



observed by him between June and November on the western 

 borders of Forfarshire in 1900, 1901, and 1904, and on the South 

 Esk at Finavon in 1902. He says: "Resident and common 

 everywhere I have stayed; increases in numbers in August and 

 September" (see above). 



Mr. W. Evans 1 found a few about Fearnan in July 1887. 



In my personal inspection of the area in the early summer or 

 late spring of 1905, I found the Missel-Thrush far from abundant 

 in the glens of Perthshire : but on arriving at more eastern localities, 

 such as Auchenblae and the hard-woods of Ethie, near Arbroath, they 

 were seen quite abundantl3^ The spring and summer up to late in 

 June were excessively cold, and east and north-east winds prevailed, 

 and there was little warmth or sunshine until the summer was well 

 advanced, nearly, indeed, as far as the last week in June. 



Other correspondents' letters and notes bear out the facts above 

 given as regards the fluctuations in the distribution of this species. In 

 1905 Missel-Thrushes were decidedly scarce in the central glens of 

 Perthshire in May. But in the east, notwithstanding the cold east 

 ™ids, they were more abundant, occupying the sheltered glen of Drum- 

 tochty and the hard-woods around Ethie in considerable numbers. In 

 Strathbraan, Mr. Mackintosh appears to consider that their numbers 

 have not varied much, about the same number of pairs occupying the 

 same areas year after year, and small flocks being seen in the autumn. 



By August, howevei", in the same year, a considerable increase 

 was apparent — I mean taking into consideration any natural increase 

 of young birds, which, of course, is to be looked for. My friend 

 Mr. W. Evans found Missel-Thrushes in considerable numbers feed- 

 ing upon the "rowan" berries in Glen Lochay, and in good-sized 

 flocks about the bases of the hills generally, during a stay he made at 

 Killin in August 1905. 



Turdus musicus, L. Song-Thrush. 



Solitary. Resident. Common. Breeds. Locally migratory. Rarer in 

 parts of the area, especially in the north and central. Thus it does not 

 reside all winter in upper Tay. It is doubtful if a single bird resides 



^ Mr. W. Evans, of Edinburgh, has kindly furnished me with his MS. notes on birds 

 observed by him : 1st, at Fearnan, Loch Tay, on 23rd, 24th, and 25th July 1887, and 

 some notes in 1892 added; 2nd, notes at Edenmouth, Fife, 2oth December 1886, and 

 again on 31st May, and some other summer notes in 1885, with some records of rarities 

 in different years, besides kindly assisting me in other respects. In 1905, also, I am 

 indebted to him for some interesting notes taken at and around Killin in the month 

 of August, which will be found frequently referred to. 



