BIRDS. 



65 



We have not many old accounts of this bird by name. The old 

 Statistical Account gives it place in the parishes of Weem and Monzie. 



Fieldfares arrive as early as October in some years, but often 

 much later, according to the state of the weather in Northern Europe, 

 whence they migrate to our shores. Thus, in 1904 they did not 

 put in an appearance in the midland portion of Scotland till the 

 19th and 20th of November, just before the strong storm of frost 

 and snow began on the 21st, and which continued for some days. 



J. G. Millais, in his notes upon distribution sent me for the pur- 

 poses of this volume, places the occasional advent of the Fieldfare at 

 an even earlier date. He says : " Arrives in large numbers, some- 

 times as early as September 25. During a Grouse drive on October 

 15, 1899, at Dunalastair, a constant stream of Fieldfares, numbering 

 many thousands, passed my butt, and continued moving from east to 

 west all day long." 



I have always considered the Fieldfare to be a more abundant 

 migrant to this country than the Eedwing, and to penetrate at the 

 same time further westward — at least in any numbers on the main- 

 land. I do not here refer to its well-known appearances in the further 

 western isles, and along the well-known migration routes ; rather do I 

 speak of the interior of the area, and the limits of the boundaries to the 

 west, and of the comparative scarcity of the Redwing in the same places. 



Turdus merula, L. Blackbird. 



Not truly gregarious. Resident. The most abundant of the family. 

 Breeds, and is increasing very rapidly ; and is extending its area 

 largely, especially of late years. It must be kept within reasonable 

 bounds, as every gardener knows, if we are to have any small fruit 

 at all, and if we are to protect our ripening pears and apples with 

 any success. They are also destructive to large quantities of fruit 

 besides what they use, and plums seem to strike their eye for colour 

 more than most fruits. Netting even the wall-trees is often in- 

 sufficient, as they soon discover a way in and a M'ay out again, and 

 become exceeding cunning at doing so, as I have often witnessed. 



Many partial or complete albinos of this bird are often recorded. 

 The following is perhaps worthy of mention. Mr. J. Milne describes 

 one shot at Fordoun having a broad white band across the back of 

 the head, and extending on one side as far as the ear. 



Turdus atrigularis, Temm. Black-throated Thrush. 

 Rare. Occasional visitant. 



The only one obtained is now in the Perth Museum. For a 



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