BIRDS. 



129 



know, less likely to know the European bird), the evidence for either occur- 

 ring as related by him is quite insufficient for correct recording, and indeed 

 he does not claim it as a record, being too good a naturalist to do so. One 

 or other of the above-mentioned species may in time come to have the square 

 brackets removed, or even possibly both ; but until such can be put on firm 

 ground, I must adhere to the brackets for both.] 



Family EMBERIZIDJE. 



Emberlza miliaria, L. Common or Corn-Bunting. 



Eesident. Common. Breeds. " Flocks " in winter. 



Said by most authorities to be rarer than formerly in many parts, 

 without any corresponding increase in others. Such maybe expected 

 in a species which affects very restricted areas and is peculiar to these 

 areas, or nearly so. 



Col. Drummond Hay believed that the decrease was due to 

 alterations of drainage systems and change in drainage operations — 

 in part at least — as also the filling in of old standard Carse ditches, 

 "which formed," says Col. Drummond Hay, " their special nesting 

 places." To this remark I think may be added : the general 

 "improvements " (?) in agriculture, including the clearing out of dock- 

 weeds on the farm-lands, which, in many parts of Scotland, at least, 

 are also favourite sites for nesting and for shelter, as well as favourite 

 perches for the old birds, when the seed-stems shoot up in summer 

 and early autumn. 



The general distribution is " coastwards," and the poorer kinds of 

 soil appear to harbour it best. It is scarcely a bird of agriculture 

 and high cultivation, as I have indicated above, but rather a bird of 

 the lower order of cultivation which is usually found along our 

 coasts, and dotted about over the crofters' holdings in the Highlands. 



I have said in a previous volume of this series that it aflfects the 

 limestone tracts perhaps more than others ; but that remark must 

 not be taken as undiluted fact because the tracts are limestone 

 only, but because, upon the limestone tracts, dock -weeds and 

 other suitable weeds are more rampant there as well as the better 

 grain. 



Amongst inland localities they are stated to be common in 

 Gruthrie parish. 



I 



