102 



BIRDS. 



in the Montrose Museum obtained of late years f?) — in lit. to me, 

 26th February 1886. 



But it remained for Dr. Dewar to give us tangible proof. On 

 8th June 1898 a female in fine plumage was shot by Mr. W. T. 

 Dewar and brought in to Dr. Dewar. It was got about two miles 

 north-east of Arbroath, and about a mile from the coast {Annals Scot. 

 Nat. Hist., 1898, p. 170). 



Family LANHDJE. 

 Lanius excubitor, L. Grey Shrike. 



There is no mention of this bird in the old Statistical Account. 



Visitant. Irregular as regards the season, as specimens have 

 occurred from early spring and through the summer, and again from 

 late summer and in autumn and mnter. There are no authentic 

 records of its actually nesting, although some accounts have reached 

 me. It may almost be looked upon as a regular annual visitant. 

 Solitary. 



The late Rev. H. A. Macpherson, in his account of this species in 

 Scotland (Scot. Nat., 1891, p. 63) to date of 1890, gives us some 

 statistics of its appearances in Tay. Quoting from information 

 contributed by Mr. P. Henderson, of Dundee, he tells us that in 

 twenty years Mr. P. Henderson had twelve which passed through his 

 hands for preservation, but only four in the previous five years before 

 he gave the information. These were under the dates of June 1884, 

 May 1885, June 1887, and one last year (i.e. in 1888). Then he had 

 one from Kinnaird "this season " (i.e. 1889), and he had heard of one 

 at Monifieth, east of Broughty Ferry. 



Besides those given above by the Rev. Mr. Macpherson, I can add 

 as follows : Further inland Mr. Marshall, Stanley, had a male from 

 Berry Hill on 5th April 1876, obtained by Mr. Thomas Kinnear ; and 

 another male, got at the ponds at Stormontfield on the 19th February 

 1877 by James Marshall. 



In 1878 one was shot by James Dow, West Cultmalundie (fide 

 P. D. Malloch), and which is now in the Perth Museum (auct. Col. 

 Drummond Hay, 24th December 1878). 



In 1887 Mr. Nichol Simpson records one "shot north of 

 Carnoustie" on November 30 (Scot. Nat., 1887, p. 292). 



No doubt there are others which have escaped notice or record 

 to date of 1890, but the above fairly illustrate the irregularity of its 

 visitations and general dispersal on these occasions. 



Since 1890 I have a few more to record : In 1892 Mr. Atholl 



