70 



BIRDS. 



Arbroath by Mr. Alex. Marshall, bird-stuflfer, on the 28th December 

 1887, at about 2 p.m., as it was flying inland across the road leading 

 along the top of the cliffs, having evidently just reached the shore. 

 It was blowing fresh from the south at the time, after a very severe 

 frost, which had continued for some days previous to this ; and by 

 mere chance it came into my hands." Col. Drummond Hay's atten- 

 tion v/as attracted to the " occurrence of a Wheatear in midwinter," 

 and hence arose the inquiry which resulted in the discovery. The 

 sex, however, could not be ascertained, but it was believed to be a 

 young male of the year (Trans. Perth. Soc, loc. cit.). 



To the above Col. Drummond Hay adds {in lit. to me, 18th 

 January 1888) that "it was sent loose to me in an envelope" — by 

 a correspondent — ^^and was stamped to pieces" ; and he sent on the 

 mutilated remains to me at the same time. However, it was made 

 up with fair success by Mr. Small, of Edinburgh, before it was sent 

 on to Dr. P. L. Sclater, and Col. Drummond Hay got it back in good 

 condition. 



The specific name was altered in the Ibis and P. Z. S. from 



melanolevm to deserii. 



Pratincola rubetra (L.). Whinchat. 



Summer visitant. Not uncommon. Has about the same distribution 

 as the next species, with some slight differences. It is perhaps the 

 more often seen of the two, because the Whinchats descend to the 

 lower grounds in the close vicinities of their nesting grounds. The 

 Whinchat is strictly migratory in autumn. Perhaps, on the whole, 

 the Whinchat is the more abundant and more conspicuous of the two 

 species. 



" Moderately common in summer. Breeding," is Mr. Davidson's 

 note of it generally. 



All the time during May and June, when driving through the 

 area, only on very rare occasions did I meet with the Whinchat — 

 once at Comrie and once near Killin being all I can recall to memory 

 or find entered in my journal. 



It is "fairly common" about Guthrie on the furze moors 

 (M'Connochie), but is only spoken of as " found here and there " 

 by Mr. Charles Mackintosh in Strathbraan. It appears to be of 

 only very limited faunal value, and of somewhat local importance, 

 at least in the central and west districts. 



Mr. Berwick does not consider it as abundant in the north-east 

 of Fife. 



