BIRDS. 



103 



Macgregor picked up a dead one within the policies of Blair Castle 

 — a female. This was about three weeks previous to the date of a 

 letter he wrote to Col. Drummond Hay announcing it, on April 14, 

 1892. 



In 1893 one is noted by Dr. Dewar (sex not ascertained) near 

 Arbroath, December 7, 1893, and Mr. Milne records another, sent to 

 him on the 8th March of the same year, from the Drumtochty 

 Kennels. This, Mr. Milne adds, "is the first I have seen in Kin- 

 cardineshire.'' ^ 



And in 1894 one is recorded in the Field for March (p. 451) 

 by "Pan." 



Others are recorded from Craigo (1870), Drumminauld (1888). 



I think I have quoted enough to justify the statement that it has 

 occurred in every month in the year except January, and it may 1)e 

 quite possible that it has occurred in that month also. 



I also have note of its occurrence in May 1905 from Mr. 

 M'Connochie, as seen by himself in Guthrie parish. 



Millais has also met with it, and designates it "an occasional 

 autumn and winter -s-isitor." He continues : "I have seen it twice 

 at Murthly, and once spent a whole afternoon trying to shoot one 

 of these. It was, however, extremely wild, and I did not succeed. 

 Shortly afterwards the same bird was shot by one of our keepers, 

 and it is now in the Museum at Perth, where you will see it." 



Ohs. — Pallas' s Grey ' Shrike. — Seebohm identified the bird obtained 

 at Kirriemuir which is now in the Royal Scottish Museum. I have 

 not had an opportunity of seeing it. But if it is " as distinct as the 

 Common is from the Hooded Crow " (Seebohm, p. 595), I think the 

 distinction has yet to be more definitely pointed out. Seebohm goes 

 on to say : "There are said to be several examples of Pallas's Grey 

 Shrike in the Museum at Edinburgh," but I cannot get this verified, 

 though I have made inquiries, and am not very well able to go my- 

 self and see them. 



Lanius collurio, L. Red-backed Shrike. 



Very rare and apparently casual -visitant. Usually appears, so far as 

 my returns show, in late summer and early autumn. 



^ It should be remembered that the district for wliich Mr. Milne vouches is restricted 

 to a radius of some ten miles around Auchenblae. Auehenblae is situated about the 

 north-west corner of the county, and about ten miles from the coast and three miles 

 from the base of the great divide of the Grampians. All the more are such notes 

 useful, i.e. if such are interpreted and used aright, which I hope I succeed in doing. 



