BIRDS. 



173 



is now of the same opinion as myself in the matter (in lit.^ 21st 

 April 1904). 



Besides, the actual date of these eggs, which were hard-set — or 

 the parent bird sitting hard ? — is a quite surprising and significant 

 departure from the usual habit of the Short-eared Owl in other parts 

 of Scotland, as it is well known that these birds breed at a much 

 later date, and rarely begin to lay till the month of June. 



I therefore cannot accept it as fact with any degree of comfort or 

 satisfaction to myself. 



But the species need not on this account alone be bracketed, as it 

 is known as an autumn migrant. And besides, Mr. Booth relates in 

 his Bough Notes that they are particularly numerous in the north- 

 west of Perthshire, or at least that they were so when he was in that 

 district. He says : "I have come across their nests on many occasions 

 on the grouse-moors." Though this was new to me, and is so still, 

 I throw no doubt upon his accuracy, because we know how curious 

 and sporadic are the visits and breeding of this Owl in other parts — 

 as, for instance, during the year of the last great Vole-plague ! It is 

 quite possible that there was a local abundance of Voles to the north 

 of Glen Lyon in the seasons when Mr. Booth was residing there. 

 Turning to other materials in my possession, I find, however, that 

 Mr. D. Dewar, who had been some forty years gamekeeper at 

 Eemony, on the south side of Loch Tay, and also near Killin, 

 assured the late Eev. H. A. Macpherson that he had "never heard of 

 the Short-eared Owl breeding in Perthshire, but had killed a few 

 when he lived near Killin " (H. A. Macpherson's MS.). 



In 1813 Don admitted it as "on the mountains of Angus." 

 Quite possibly Don was correct in his statement at the time he 

 wrote. 



In the north-east Dr. Dewar says of it also : " Occasional. Pro- 

 bably breeds in the north-east." But he is not speaking of his own 

 district here ; and of the fact so stated, as already said, I am still 

 full of doubt. 



Other notes give a general consensus of opinion that its value 

 there is only that of an autumn migrant. 



Horn, in 1879, spoke of it as "very common in the neighbour- 

 hood of Dunkeld," and he mentions the fact of Mr. Dewar having 

 killed some near Killin ; but I do not find it included in Mr. Dewar's 

 lists in my possession, nor would I expect to hear of its abundance in 

 wooded areas, which is so opposed to all we know of its usual habits 

 in other parts where it is known to nest. Indeed, I cannot help 



