BIRDS. 



The Re^'. Mr. Alexander, above referred to, was intimately 

 acquainted with the bird in England before he came to reside at 

 Avonbank, and his evidence is absolutely reliable, as all the details 

 he gave me clearly prove. 



Between the values in the above examples given I have eveiy 

 stage and description of records, but have been obliged to reject all, 

 except such as relate to an isolated occurrence or small colony further 

 north, presently to be given. 



But before going further north I wish to emphasise my long- 

 formed opinion that the Marsh-Tits which have reached Almond 

 Bank via Methven, etc., only prove the intensely slow progress of 

 the bird in populating since Macgillivray wrote. 



I ^W11 just say a few words leading up to the record incidentally 

 mentioned above. 



When Macgillivray wrote his account he clearly states his belief 

 that the Marsh-Tit was not to be found anywhere to the north of 

 the Forth. 



Besides the evidence that the bird is of slow progression, we also 

 know that its procreative powers are far more limited than those of 

 any others of our Parida?, except perhaps the Crested Tit. (But the 

 similitude there, as I believe, may have ceased, and recuperation of 

 the latter may have become of comparatively recent development.) 



Now, of more northern records in Tay I accept the late Mr. 

 Booth's {Piough Notes, vol. v. part xi., 1882). But I realise the signi- 

 ficance of the date. Mr. Booth says, but in the most casual way, 

 after referring to "a few in the Lothians" : "but with the exception 

 of a few stragglers in the neighbourhood of Dunkekl and near Perth, 

 I have observed none that could be positively identified in the High- 

 lands." His references, I believe, are : "near Perth" for Methven; and 

 the "neighbourhood of Dunkeld" may be held as further verified by 

 the next records by Mr. Bruce Campbell, which I, of course, also accept. 



Mr. Bruce Campbell wrote to me in reply to my inquiry {in. lit., 

 20th November 1902) as follows : "Ballinluig. In June 1893 I saw 

 a pair in the fir woods near Logierait, in the centre of the wood. . . . 

 I cannot say whether they were breeding or not." Again : "On 3rd 

 August I saw a pair I took to be young birds in the wood near 

 {i.e. the same place). ... I was unable to follow them, as I got 

 drenched . . . and had not another opportunity, as I left the 

 following day." The Rev. H. A. Macpherson was resident at 

 Pitlochry for several years, and he assured me he had " never met 

 with it about Pitlochry." 



