BIRDS. 



131 



brought to our shores an unusual supply of strange visitors, four of 

 which I forward to you to kindly identify." Very unfortunately, when 

 Mr. Eagle Clarke received these birds they were too far gone for 

 preservation (vide Annals Scot. Nat. Hist, of July 1898). 



Obs.— On date of 2nd May 1885 I recorded the occurrence of this 

 species at the Isle of May — an adult male and three others seen by 

 the late Mr. Agnew, lighthouse-keeper there, who forwarded the 

 specimen for identification. I exhibited it at a meeting of the Eoyal 

 Physical Society (vide Froc. Eoyal Phys. Soc, vol. viii. p. 498). 



Emberiza schoeniclus, L. Reed-Buntlng. 



Resident. Fairly common, but somewhat local according to its 

 requirements. 



It wanders a good deal in winter according to the severity of the 

 season, removing, for instance, from the higher localities occupied 

 in summer to the carses, and even down to the shores of the sea. 

 Moves much about locally. 



The Reed-Bunting had been apparently by an oversight omitted 

 from Col. Drummond Hay's list. — "Report on the Ornithology of 

 the East of Scotland Districts" (Scot. Nat., 1889-90, p. 98). 



Elsewhere, however. Col. Drummond Hay, speaking of a visible 

 decrease in its numbers, considers that this decrease is due to the 

 same causes as have been referred to under the Corn-Bunting. It is 

 still, however, quite abundant in the lower districts of the Tay valley, 

 especially along the tidal portions below Perth, which run through 

 the Carse of Gowrie, a very favourite haunt naturally being the great 

 reed-beds of Mugdrum Island, and other beds of the same reeds along 

 both banks of the tidal Tay. 



It is found as far up as the Moor of Rannoch, and all the way 

 down the Tay in suitable ground. I have seen it in midsummer at 

 the Rannoch Railway Station, and even late in the autumn on the 

 shores of Loch Luydon, though Mr. Godfrey does not appear to have 

 seen it on the islands at the west end of that sheet of water. I had 

 seen them there in August, and again in September, and once in 

 early October. 



In the north-east it is reported as "less numerous in winter." 



About Loch Earn, not abundant, and rather local at the head of 

 Loch Earn and at the mouth of the Glen Beithe Burn, where I have 

 myself found the nest when fishing that stream. Millais mentions 

 that he has a yellow specimen shot by Malloch at Glencarse in 

 September 1886. 



