216 



BIRDS. 



Sula bassana (Z.). Gannet. 



Only a seasonal visitant along shore, but seen at all times of year by 

 the lighthouse-keepers at the Bell Kock in more or less quantities.^ 

 Common ; fishing off the mouth of the Tay, and coming up as far 

 as the Dundee Bridge {aud. Mr. Nelson, a correspondent of the late 

 Mr. E. Graj' ). This same party supplied Mr. Marshall, of Stanley, 

 with many specimens (see Mr. Marshall's catalogue, kindly supplied 

 to me for purposes of this book). 



In the north-east Mr. Milne also mentions a wounded Gannet 

 caught at the Mains of Fordoun. 



Millais affirms that Gannets seldom ascend the Tay above the 

 Tayport Lighthouse. But occasionally a storm-driven example is 

 met with at some inland locality. Thus, as I am informed by Mr. 

 Frost, an immature Gannet was shot on Wednesday, the 20th Septem- 

 ber 1905, about IJ miles higher up the glen from Connachan Lodge, 

 near CriefF. It was resting amongst rushes on a small streamlet about 

 sixty 3^ards from the Shaggie Burn. It was found after a storm. 

 The bird was sent to Mr. Kirke, of Glasgow, for preservation (W. E. 

 Frost, Esq., in lit., 15th December 1905). 



Order HERODIONES. 

 Family ARDEID^. 



Ardea cinerea, L. Common Heron. 



Old Gaelic name, Corra riatliach (old Statistical Account, xvii. p. 251). 

 Common resident. Breeds. 



The old Statistical Account has several references to old Heronries, 

 thus : " Herons used to hatch in numbers in the trees of the island at 

 Clunie Castle, but not since the late reparation of the Castle " {op. cit., 

 vol. xi. p. 235) : and in the Agricultural Survey a Heronry is made 

 mention of at Inglismaldie, Forfarshire, in 1793. 



Also in the north-east Mr. Milne speaks of Heronries "at 

 Arbuthnot, and Fetteresso Woods, to his knowledge since at least 

 1868, when he got eggs from the latter locality." There is little 

 doubt these Heronries are of older date. Dr. Dewar, Arbroath, also 

 speaks of the same Heronries, and of another at Kinnaird, and adds 

 that he "knows of none sluy nearer to Arbroath at the date of 1901." 

 Six Herons were seen sitting on one tree at Edgelaw Reservoir, 

 Arniston, Forfar, by the members of the Glasgow Natural History 



^ Fide Mr. J. M. Campbell, lighthouse-keeper at Bell Rock, author of Note-i on the 

 Naturod History of the Bell Bock, p. 35. Ediu. 1904. 



