306 



BIRDS. 



termed rare on this east coast ; but examples are obtained, even in 

 inland situations at rare intervals, or at least at landlocked localities, 

 like the Montrose Basin. There are specimens in the Montrose 

 Museum and one in Drumtochty Castle, " obtained some years ago " 

 (J. Milne). 



Haematopus ostralegus, L. Oystercatcher. 



Old Gaelic name, Grille bride (old Statistical Account, vol. xvii. p. 251). 

 Also it is called Chalder and Chaldrick 



It is somewhat curious to find that such very slight notice is taken 

 of this conspicuous species in any of the parish accounts in the 

 volumes of the old Statistical Account, nor is any mention made of its 

 nesting along the banks of the rivers of the east. As long as I can 

 remember the haughs of Tay, for instance, the Oystercatcher was 

 prominent there in the nesting season, though when I first became 

 aware of the fact I certainly felt surprised, because I had seen at that 

 time so few accounts which drew attention to the fact. I refer to a 

 matter of some forty-five years ago — say 1860. Is it possible that 

 these inland and river haunts have only become occupied in com- 

 paratively recent years, and that to the almost total desertion of 

 maritime haunts along our eastern seaboard ? Certainly it is now 

 quite a rare bird on the seacoast of the area ; and it is quite con- 

 ceivable that if it was at a former time commoner there in the 

 breeding season, that it has been driven away by constant persecu- 

 tion and nest-robbing, and came to search for — and find — safer 

 harbourage. 



But even so early as Don's time, he included it as " frequent by 

 the side of the Esk." 



Whatever the prior habitation may have been, that at the present 

 time is distinctly riverine and not maritime in summer, and they 

 include almost every main river where the required stony or gravelly 

 banks and beaches are found, though the birds often breed at con- 

 siderable distances from the river on the flat haughs and on the 

 newly sown cornfields. 



They arrive about the 15th April, but in some years earlier, and 

 in some later, just as the seasons are early or late. Even on many 

 small waters or their enclosing valleys some are to be found nesting, 

 in preference to the shores close at hand. Instances of this may be 

 found on the small water of Bervie, and in other parts. Others go 

 far up the main streams, and follow up in some cases almost to the 

 sources; thus, as far up the Tummel and Garry as Loch Garry — 



