BIRDS. 



75 



The Redstart appears to be another of the birds which I considered 

 scarcer than usual in May 1905, but which appeared to recover their 

 numbers through the summer, because in Glen Lochay W. Evans 

 found five or six pairs (sic) on 5th August. He found them, how- 

 ever, become scarce b}^ the 24th, and the last observed by him was 

 on the 29th. Of course I may or may not have missed seeing more 

 there in May, as I was driving, and passing, of course, more rapidly 

 over the same ground. And another factor must always be con- 

 sidered, viz. the influence of even one or two dark, cold, or wet days 

 in the early summer, which is always very marked upon our smaller 

 birds, which love the sunshine. 



[Ruticilla titys (Scoj).). Black Redstart. 



I have no reliable record of the occurrence of this species within our boundaries 

 of Tay. Mr. J. Milne expresses himself as being doubtful of the instance 

 in the Glen of Drumtochty, as reported once to him. (See his list, given 

 to me shortly after the lamented death of Col. Drummond Hay.) 



But Mr. Berwick has the note : " Very uncommon ; has been seen in 

 Fife " ; and he quotes the one obtained at Kincardine-on -Forth, November 10 

 1876, as recorded by me (Proc. Eoyal Fhys. Soc. Edin.^ vol. iv., 1874-8, 

 p. 142).] 



Erithacus nubecula {L.). Robin. 



It is somewhat curious to find so little said of the Eobin in the old 

 Statistical Account] and there is not one mention, I think, in the 

 treatment of any of the parishes of Tay, though given often in the 

 parishes of Moray and Argyll. It is curious to find it omitted 

 from the parishes of Weem, Moulin, and others which supply other- 

 wise pretty full lists. 



But we find that an old Gaelic name is given, and appeared 

 well known to the Rev. Alexander Stuart, in Dumbartonshire, viz. 

 Brionn dearg, i.e. " Red Breast." 



However that may be, it is now universally distributed and 

 common. Solitary, and pugnacious. 



Sylvia atricapilla (L.). Blackcap. 



Frequent, and less local than the next species. Found as far up the 

 Tay valley as Dunkeld in 1880. 



Mr. Nichol Simpson claims to have "found it breeding on this 

 side of Friockheim," in a paper on the " Ornithology of Arbroath " 

 (Scot. Nat., 1887-8, p. 290). This, however, was over twenty years 

 previously. At that time I myself certainly found them breeding 

 commonly in the central districts of Scotland, and collected a fine 



