BIRDS. 



95. 



parish of Killin, the only entry of this species in all the volumes. 

 This bird was "once received by the Rev. Patrick Grant." 



Certainly it has occurred, as Don received one from the woods 

 of Tannadyce in 1807 (Don wrote in 1813). Mr. Nichol Simpson 

 says : " The only one I have seen was a stuffed specimen, and 

 its owner informed me that it was shot in the neighbourhood." 

 Naturally, scientific recorders cannot accept an ambiguity (v. Scot. 

 Nat, p. 291). 



The New Statistical Account probably refers to its predecessor, 

 quoting Killin, and the bird as "a rarity," and mentions it as 

 "frequenting Drummond Hill." Alex. Campbell {Journey through 

 Scotland, 1802, vol. i. p. 231) includes " Nuthatches," but, as usual 

 with that author, adds few or no notes. 



So far, Don's record must be accepted as the only one which can 

 be said to have any value up to this period. 



Col. Drummond Hay next records one as distinctly seen by 

 Mr. Neil Richardson, " climbing up one or two large timber-trees in 

 the park at Pitfour Castle, on the 24th January 1895"; and this 

 account was followed by Mr. W. T. Colman, of the University 

 College Museum, Dundee. He reported one seen on the top of 

 Kinnoull Hill, "on the 17th of September last" {i.e. September 1895) 

 — "a distance of at most, from the aforementioned spot, three 

 miles" {and. Col. Drummond Hay). Col. Drummond Hay also 

 accepts the "only other record, seen many years ago at the head 

 of Loch Tay, near Killin " (v. Scot Nat., 1896, p. 24). 



Family CERTHIIDiE. 



Certhia familiaris, L. Creeper. 



Solitary. Resident. Common, but scarcely to be termed abundant. Breeds. 

 It is mentioned by Seebohm that the Creeper's nest is found 

 suspended from a branch at times. I have never seen this ; and if 

 the statement is correct, it is a most singular departure from its usual 

 custom (v. British Birds, vol. i. p. 172). 



Family TROGLODYTID^. 



Troglodytes parvulus, Koch. Wren. 

 Old Gaelic name, Dreathan. 



Resident. Common. Breeds. Common even far up the hillsides, 

 as, for instance, near the Eagles' nests among the precipices in many 

 localities. 



