64: 



BIRDS. 



Turdus iliacus, L. Redwing. 



A winter visitant, and many pass on in late autumn or early winter 

 migration. Colonel Drummond Hay records seeing it near Pitlochry 

 as late in summer as June. He refers also to Saxby's claim to have 

 found its nest in Wales {Birds of Shetland, p. 64). Partly gregarious. 



The old StatUtical Account has no mention of this bird by name, 

 nor do I find much in the writings of our earlier authors. 



Mr. J. Milne refers to it in somewhat general terms similar to 

 above. 



Mr. James Davidson marks it as common and resident in winter 

 on the borders of Perth and Forfar, and along with the next as 

 arriving in some numbers at the end of October or beginning of 

 November. 



Similarly the Kedwing is included in all lists from the Vale of 

 Strathmore and eastwards, but seems of less certain occurrence, or 

 in fewer numbers, in more westerly localities. 



In May 1905 I saw in Mr. Malloch's workroom in Perth a curious 

 pale variety of Eedwing. I thought I had found a rarity ; but I 

 could not make it out to be anything other than a variety of the 

 RedAving, though at first I had ideas of Siberian rarities. 



Turdus pilaris, L. Fieldfare. 



Winter visitant. Common. Truly gregarious. 



The old Statistical Account old Gaelic name given by the Rev. 

 Alexander Stuart, of Luss, is Liatroisg, i.e. the Grey Thrush. ^ 



The reported nesting of the Fieldfare in Britain and also a note 

 of the nesting of the Eedwing in Wales, have never been fully and 

 satisfactorily proved. I have an account also from near Fordoun, 

 but it is, like nearly all similar accounts, faulty and imperfect, and 

 must, like all others, be rejected. 



The Fieldfare, says Mr. Milne, is only a winter visitant to 

 Strathmore and the east of our area," and that represents its true 

 status in Scotland at the present time. "Seeing may be believing," 

 but the seer has also to be believed, and his abilities put to the test 

 along with all other reporters' accounts. 



^ The further back we go for authority for Gaelic names of animals, the more correct 

 they will probably be found to be. The Rev. Alex. Stuart has always been considered 

 a first authority in such matters, and also a naturalist of no mean capacity at the time 

 he wrote his account of the parish of Luss (Clyde). 



