S6 



BIRDS. 



experiences of the said Black Wood, the Long-tailed Tit did not 

 seem to affect the pine woods to any great extent. I found it 

 among the mixed hazel, birch, and hard-woods on Crosscraig, and 

 along the shore of the loch among alders, but did not see any among 

 the pines. I have often met with it in many valleys, as for instance 

 Killiechassie, Aberfeldy, Killiecrankie, and Blair, and in many 

 other glens and low-ground plantations of mixed woods. Even well 

 up Glen Tilt, above Atholl, I fell in with a family party of some 

 eight or ten birds in June. 



Similar remarks to the above may be held as applicable in the 

 eastern districts of our area. 



Parus major, L. Great Tit. 



Eesident. Common. Breeds. Universal, but local — i.e. with wide 

 dispersal, but not conspicuously abundant. 



In autumn it resorts in family parties — in which it usually travels 

 — to the great reed-beds on the banks of the tidal and lower Tay, 

 where, as Col. Drummond Hay tells us, it appears in " large 

 numbers," but though in large numbers, not gregarious in the true 

 sense, but found in small parties, all day long, insect-hunting. This 

 ground would therefore appear to be a favourite haunt to which 

 local parties gather from all sides, probably from considerable distances 

 on both sides of the Tay. It is in fact merely a wanderer — not a 

 migrant in any true sense — spreading outwards from their summer 

 haunts and finding sufficient food within easy reach of their own 

 homes, as indeed, I consider all our Titmice do. 



Great Tits are to a very considerable extent carnivorcas, and even 

 develop cannibal tendencies, eating the dead body of a brother Tit 

 at times with high appreciation. They also evince a favour for 

 bees, and have been watched busily intent on capturing them at the 

 entrance of a bees' skej)." This I have observed myself, and my 

 correspondents, or some of them at least, have noticed the latter also. 



Parus britannicus, Sharpe and Dresser. English Cole-Tit 



I do not separate our bird here from the true Parus ater of Linnaeus ; 

 though the Cole-Tit found north of the Grampians may deserve that 

 distinction. 



Resident. Very abundant. Breeds over the whole area in most 

 suitable places. Roams, but does not migrate, or inappreciably. 

 The commonest of our Paridse, not excepting the Blue Tit. Very 

 abundant in the east around Fordoun, and generally through the 



