266 



BIRDS. 



Kincardine be accounted for 1 And also, how can the earlier dates 

 which, it has been before pointed out, occur in their dispersal north of 

 the Divide and north of Aberdeen be explained ? (Read back ; refer 

 to Moray dates and to Dee dates, and consult my previous papers, 

 and consult Mr. Sim's Dee. I fear I have occupied too much space here 

 in mere reiteration, which I well know is a weary thing to do, but 

 I also find that too little attention has been given by many writers, 

 in recent recording, to what has been said and done before.) 



But to save others trouble in verifications, I will yet say, lastly, 

 the prominent features I endeavour to attract attention to are : — 



(1) The vast increase in central Scotland, and its suddenness. 



(2) The scarcity of returns to date from Forfar east and Kincardine. 



(3) Their rather late arrival at Tents Muir (see here a second paper 

 of mine, Annals Scot. Nat. Hist., 1894, pp. 3-8), which dates 

 1892, except one bird on record, sent to the British Museum 

 about eight years before by Mr. James Duffus, of Pickletillum 

 —say 1884. 



(4) Absence, or nearly so, in the Carse of Gowrie and the lowlands 

 up to December 1893 (Col. Drummond Hay, whose corre- 

 spondent says of them : " They appear from a southerly direc- 

 tion, and if disturbed always fly back by the same route "). 



(5) Their abundance on the links of St. Fergus to the north of 

 Peterhead, where, as Mr. Sim tells us, they were first seen in 

 Dee about eight or nine years ago (say 1884), and at present 

 (1904) there may be some thirty or forty pairs there {aud. Mr. 

 George Sim). 



In my paper last mentioned I have worked out these arguments 

 already, and will now close this long article in the present place. 



Columba livia, Bonnat. Rock-Dove. 



Old correct Gaelic, Smudan, as above (see under Wood-Pigeon). It 

 appears evident that at some time or other a confusion existed 

 amongst Gaelic-speaking people between Rock- and Wood-Pigeons. 



Fairly common on the coast. Resident. Breeds. But it is 

 much more difficult now to get pure-bred birds here than formerly, 

 as for very many years and generations they have mixed with the 

 dovecote Pigeons, and all sorts of colours are seen. 



Mr. J. Milne quoted for me from a copy of the Black Book of 

 Kincardineshire, now a very rare volume (I have since obtained a copy 

 after some trouble). It refers to the caves generally, and goes on to 

 say : "The most remarkable one (cave) is named ' The Long Gallery,' 



