BIRDS. 



151 



in diminishing quantities. Thus : In 1891, 16 were killed ; in 1892, 

 4 ; in 1893, 15 ; in 1894, 11 ; in 1895, 61 ; in 1896, 36 ; in 1897, 24 ; 

 in 1898, 7 ; in 1899, 6 ; in 1900, 8 ; in 1901, 8— total 190 in eleven 

 years. 



On the Atholl estates 176 were paid for at the estates offices in the 

 past ten years. The most in 1896-7 were 30 ; next 25 in 1901-3, and 

 24 in each of the seasons 1897-8 and 1898-9. The fewest were 

 obtained in 1903-4, when only one was got ; 12 in 1902-3 ; and 13 in 

 1905-6. The average in the ten years is thus 17*6. 



Millais speaks of it as even rarer within his experience. He 

 says : " Now a rare species. I have seldom seen more than two 

 in a whole year." 



Similarly Magpies are rarer around Guthrie, where, however, the 

 Eev. Mr. M'Connochie has seen as many as six together in a planta- 

 tion near the road, and a few pairs still nest near Carmyllie. 



Corvus monedula, L. Jackdaw. 



Old Gaelic name, Cathag (old Statistical Account, xvii. p. 248). 



Resident. Abundant throughout the area. Universal and still 

 increasing, and violently assertive. Gregarious. 



The Jackdaw swarms along the whole coast-line, and is especially 

 numerous in the low cliffs near Arbroath (see A New History of 

 Arbroath and District, by T. F. Dewar, M.D.). 



Numerous ; nesting under bridges and along with Rooks, as is 

 their custom elsewhere (J. M.). 



Far too abundant round Pitlochry. Such as are destroyed are 

 shot off their nests by the keepers in the evenings (Rev. H. A. 

 Macpherson). 



Breed in rabbit-holes in hundreds near Killin. 



In the south-west numbers on the hillsides near the foot of Glen 

 Ogle in the latter half of July, and common in the woods of Edinchip, 

 and also in the railway cuttings near Lochan Eala (Godfrey). 



Increasing over a large extent of country. Thus : Breadalbane 

 estates offices yielded payments for 6098 in eleven years, as follows ; 

 546 in 1891 ; 460 in 1892 ; 542 in 1893 ; 433 in 1894 ; 223 in 1895; 

 533 in 1896 ; 654 in 1897; 485 in 1898 ; 633 in 1900; and 905 in 

 1901. 



Ohs. — There is evidence that in England the Daw was called 

 "Chough," and the true Chough was named the Cornish Daw, and 

 also the Cornish Chough. But I cannot find any evidence that 



