110 



BIRDS. 



preserved, and in 1905 Mr. Norrie took a photograph of it along with 

 a portrait of Mr. Milne. 



Some seasons more abundant than others (see above under 

 Swallows). Of old, and probably original, sites for the breeding 

 places of this species, amongst many others which could be in- 

 stanced, are Glen Tilt and the cliffs of Ben-y-Gloe (Col. Drummond 

 Hay), and above the junction of the Tarff and Tilt, near Pol Tarff. 



Mr. Milne considers it to have been more abundant formerly. 

 He remembers in the fifties a Martin, having a white back as well as 

 a white breast, nesting two successive seasons in the same house 

 in Fordoun. He also relates the battles of the Martin and the 

 Sparrow, ending in the whole colony of Martins joining, and 

 plastering up the entrance. On two other occasions Mr. Milne 

 has himself witnessed the fact of Sparrows being imprisoned in a 

 similar fashion, and found them dead in the closed-up nest. 



The Rev. Mr. M'Connochie shares in the belief that Martins are 

 persecuted by Sparrows. 



Cotile riparia (L.). Sand- Martin. 



Old Gaelic name, Gobhlan-gainbheich (see supra). 



Summer visitant. Very abundant. Breeds. Colonies innumer- 

 able. Therefore truly gregarious, so far as our powers of observation 

 go at the time of their spring arrivals. 



In the cold spring and summer of 1905 I found this Swallow 

 decidedly scarce as compared with their usual numbers in most years ; 

 and it seems perhaps a little difficult to account for the scarcity, when 

 it was also taken note of how unusually abundant the allied House- 

 Martin was (as I have already mentioned). The only large colony 

 met with of Sand-Martins was at Auchenblae, in a sand and gravel 

 pit which faced directly south. I obtained a photograph of this site, 

 which was occupied by some forty pairs of the birds, along with the 

 portrait of my friend Mr. J. Milne, whose house in Auchenblae 

 is close to the colony, but faces directly north. Warmth surely 

 made this locality favourable. 



Another small colony occupied another sand and gravel pit between 

 Rannoch and Struan, also facing the south ; but gravel pits facing the 

 north failed to show up a single Sand-Martin. It is curious to find that 

 some birds prefer a northern aspect for their breeding places, whilst 

 others, as it were, " seek the sunny side." Innumerable instances of 

 this could be given. I will only instance one here — the screes and 

 slopes befriended by the Snow-Bunting, at least so far as nests of that 



