BIRDS. 



275 



district, but this variety seems to be of more general occurrence 

 than the last mentioned. 



Mr. J. Milne relates a curious incident : " A Partridge had the 

 misfortune to lay her eggs on the top of a mole-hill, and a quantity 

 of them disappeared down the hole. A keeper came to know of this, 

 and he succeeded in recovering them, and then filled up the hole 

 with stones and repaired the nest; and then there was no more 

 trouble." 



Millais remarks upon the small dark form of Partridge found 

 upon the skirts of the moor in the following terms : "There was a 

 covey of Partridges that lived at all seasons close to the bog at 

 Murthly. They never left it at any season, and were small and dark 

 in colour. A white-winged covey frequented Rohallion for some 

 years, and I shot a brace of them. Strathearn is the best Partridge 

 country in our area ; and I have often taken part when eighty and 

 even ninety brace were killed in the day (walking) " {sic). 



I have had accounts of almost as wonderful bags shot further up 

 the valley of the Tay — at Grandtully, for instance — but I have no 

 minute authentication of these latter bags. 



Caccabis rufa (X.). Red-legged Partridge. 



I have been informed that this poisonous bird — I mean poisonous as 

 regards its interference with our native species, and an undesirable 

 alien — was introduced one season some years ago in the neighbour- 

 hood of Guthrie. I have not heard what success attended this 

 inconsiderate action ; and I can only hope that they have all died. 

 In face of all that is known of its undesirableness — say, in Norfolk 

 and Cambridge, and the eastern counties of England — surely such a 

 mistake might have been avoided.^ 



I have lately learned — since the above was written — from Mr. 

 M'Connochie that a pair are still occasionally found in different parts 

 of the county. Let me implore that the keepers be instructed to kill 

 them out utterly. 



I find that Mr. W. Berwick has the note regarding this species, 

 " Occasionally found," but I am not aware of the particulars. 



^ I once heard of an even more fateful proposal, viz. to introduce American Jack 

 Rabbits into Banffshire. This was, I heard, projected by the tenant of the shootings, 

 but fortunately came to the ears of the County Council in time to have that little game 

 frustrated. I hope the proposal was made in pure ignorance ; but even if that was 

 the case, the fact only shows how careful we in this old country should be when drawing 

 up leases of shootings. If it was proposed as a joke, then all that can be said for it is — 

 it was a very silly one. 



