144 



BIRDS. 



In the old Statistical Account there is no reference to the species 

 within the bounds of our present area. 



Now, the old local name of the Chough in most parts of Scot- 

 land where it appears to have been known, was "Red-legged 

 Crow" or "Daw," but in England it seems to have been better 

 known as the "Cornish Daw," and later as the "Cornish Chough." 

 I mention this with reference to some remarks which follow later 

 on — q.r. 



There was one in Arbuthnot House, said to have been obtained 

 in, or bearing date of, 1837. This is now in the Montrose Museum, 

 but no data have been added to the record. Therefore I have no 

 assurance that it was got anywhere in the neighbourhood. 



Don also spoke of it as "resident in the mountains of Clova." 

 Be that as it may, it seems almost indisputable that nearly all our 

 accounts of Choughs breeding at inland places are sadly awanting in 

 authenticity. Even where they are most abundant at the present 

 time, inland cliffs are not their favourite haunts in Scotland, though 

 I am aware of localities where a few pairs breed, or recently bred, 

 three or four miles inland from the western seas. 



Mr. Henderson, of Dundee, assured me viva voce that Choughs 

 were not uncommon near Arbroath, and he added that "the birds 

 were known to the boys there by that name." Mr. Henderson 

 offered to obtain eggs for me (February 27, 1874), but had not done 

 so by 1886, nor since. 



Mr. Marshall, Stanley, had two birds in his collection, but these 

 were not got within Tay. These are male and female, and were 

 obtained for him in a locality in the West of Scotland, on the 28th 

 December 1892, as he is careful to state in his very full list of his 

 collection which he copied out for me. (I mention this here, in order 

 to avoid any future complication that may arise, as Mr. Marshall's 

 collection has been principally formed of local Tay birds.) 



As I have said, there is very little certain evidence that many of 

 the notes on the Chough nesting in Scotland in inland localities are 

 reliable. I may be allowed to instance some at least of these here. 

 Perhaps the best and most reliable record is that given by Rev. Mr. 

 Lapslie in the old Statistical Account of the parish of Campsie, but even 

 that remains open to doubt ; and, as above given, those by Pennant 

 and Don. I will presently explain why they cannot be accepted 

 unreservedly. Alva precipices in the Ochils (Forth) is another, of 

 the reliability of which I have never been able to satisfy myself. 

 Then we have Knockdolian Hill, inland a few miles from Ballantrae 



