166 



BIRDS. 



Don, I believe, correctly included it as long ago as 1813 as 

 an inhabitant of the eastern districts — "a native; and occurring at 

 Glamis and Newmill." 



" Thirty or forty years ago," says Col. Drummond Hay, " the King- 

 fisher was a constant resident on the Almond, and much commoner 

 generally." Since that time it seems to have become rarer for a 

 while. "But now again," Col. Drummond Hay continues in 1880, 

 "gradually on the increase. It had actually disappeared for a time 

 at many of its former haunts." By 1903, I have very decided 

 evidences of its again being on the increase both here and in the 

 west, and a distinct expansion westwards into Argyll, even finding 

 its way as far as the isles, as, for instance, I have a record of a King- 

 fisher in Islay and another in Mull in 1903 and 1904. 



In the north-east Dr. Howden reports that the Kingfisher is 

 frequently seen on the North and South Esks (communicated to 

 Dr. Drummond Hay). 



It has been also distinctly stated to have been far more abundant 

 formerly on the Tay about Aberfeldy and Kenmore, but became 

 much scarcer by 1879. In 1878 a nest was found a little above 

 Perth by Mr. P. D. Malloch. {Ohs. — They were unusually abundant 

 in central Scotland in the autumn.) 



In Forfar Mr. Milne notes it as of suflicient importance to enter a 

 specimen seen flying up and down the stream at Auchenblae for two 

 or three days in the spring. 



In Fife it is given as abundant. Mr. George Bruce gives a very 

 interesting account of the life-history of this bird, which with the 

 accounts of a few other species of birds goes a long way to redeem 

 other faults and inaccuracies. 



One of the last I have a note of killed in Fife was shot at Tay- 

 port, on 29th October 1904, and under the Protection of the Birds 

 Acts, the "young man," who obtained it in a garden there, was fined 

 by the Sheriff half a crown, and the specimen went to the St. Andrews 

 Museum {Annals Scot Nat. Hist, Jan. 1905). 



During my survey of Tay in 1905 I met with plenty of evidence, 

 from the accounts of others, of a decided increase, especially in the 

 south-west of the area ; Mr, Frost ^ informing me of as many as 

 four having been seen together not far from Crieff this season. 

 Also, Mr. D. Dewar thinks there must be more now, whereas 

 formerly he only got one at Eemony. They appear to be advancing 



^ Mr. Frost, Ardvreck, Crieff Academy, whose small but select collection of stuffed 

 birds I inspected in May 1905. 



