BIRDS. 



205 



carious tenure in some of its old and favourite haunts in 1904. Mr. 

 W. Evans found a pair frequenting a hillside near Loch Tay in 1887 

 and 1902. 



In the north-east Mr. Milne speaks of it as still resident, and 

 mentions obtaining an egg in a nest on the open moor above 

 Consbald. 



By 1901 Mr. D. Dewar entered it as "much rarer in central 

 Perthshire than formerly, but as still nesting on his ground." 



In the east Dr. Dewar marks it in his list " rare — breeds " ; and 

 quotes Mr. Larnach as being aware of a pair, presumably nesting at 

 Seton in that year (1904). 



Of the south of the area very much the same account might 

 be written. It is — still is — of general distribution, but I fear in 

 waning numbers. The entire stoppage of the use of pole-traps may 

 make a difference in a short time, but then a reaction would be sure 

 to take place, as there can be no doubt though they are "game " and 

 "noble" little Falcons, they are ''no' to he lippenecl tae" if allowed to 

 become too numerous. That wise middle course is always hard 

 to follow, and to regulate by law or in practice. 



I know that the Merlin is still well in evidence south of Forth 

 and Clyde, but among the central hills of Stirlingshire it is much 

 rarer, though I heard of a nest and eggs having been found there, 

 not far removed from the boundaries of Forth with Tay in 1905; 

 and I am informed that it still nests, though much more rarely, 

 in Fife. 



Faico tinnunculus, L. Kestrel. 

 Common. Resident. Breeds. 



"^' I ken is it's jist a hmk ; and a' haaks is vermin ; and a' vermin 

 maun be killed." 



That was the dictum of a very old and very able gamekeeper, 

 long ago servant on the Breadalbane estates, and it has been very 

 generally believed and acted up to by nine-tenths of keepers 

 since, until quite recently. It seems almost vain to try and point 

 out the fallacy of it as regards the poor innocent Kestrel, as no 

 amount of insistence appears to have the least effect with some 

 keepers, and worse, careless landlords and careless shooting-tenants. 

 Considerable improvement, however, has taken place in some dis- 

 tricts, and a good deal of discussion often takes place between 

 keepers who were at one time unanimous in their adverse views 

 about them. Now, I will not deny that some particular Kestrel 



