308 



BIRDS. 



[Himantopus candidus, Bonnat. Black-winged Stilt. 



Very rare, if not indeed of doubtful occurrence. 



Don, however, records the statement that he himself saw these birds — one 

 in Glen Clova in August 1793, and mentions another seen on Ben Lawers ; 

 and these records are duly accredited in Mr. R. Gray's Birds of the West of 

 Scotland, p. 303, and were given place in Yarrell's British Birds (1st ed., 

 vol. ii. p. 560). 



These are of such ancient date, as mere occurrences, that they want some 

 freshening up. Therefore I put them in square brackets, from which I will 

 at any time be glad to have them removed again. I do not necessarily dis- 

 believe in them ; but their occurrence appears to me to be so indefinitely 

 stated as to have little or no value in the fauna. Also, they are recorded 

 from what appears to me to be such unlikely localities, that I cannot suppress 

 a doubt as to possibly incorrect identification. 



Sibbald, it is true, had also recorded two from " Scotland " (Yarrell, loc. 

 cit.\ probably the same birds.] 



Phaiaropus hyperboreus {L.). Red-necked Phalarope. 



Extremely rare visitant. Formerly summer visitant, and bred — as I 

 consider we must accept Col. Drummond Hay's evidence given 

 below, q.v. Col. Drummond Hay spoke of it as nesting within the 

 bounds of the area, to his own knowledge, fifty years ago, at a 

 certain locality in Perthshire ; but he spoke of it as " quite ancient 

 history." Fifty years ago at his time of writing would put the date 

 at about 1830. The locality was made known to me, and is well 

 known to me otherwise. Surely and certainly the species has not 

 remained there, or, if it has, it certainly has not increased in numbers, 

 if indeed it has ever really bred there since. But the character of 

 the locality is eminently suitable. 



It is true that one bird has been seen near the said locality — in 

 1876, — but there was no trace of another, nor could any nest be 

 found on that occasion. However, as I believe that Phalaropes pair 

 for life, the probability remains that there was another bird there, 

 and I will even go the length of admitting that that season may 

 have produced young at that place. Yet we must remember that 

 while "one Swallow does not make a summer," also "one summer is 

 not always made by the advent of even more than one Phalarope." 

 It is now {i.e. 1905) eighty years since Col. Drummond Hay knew of 

 its nesting in Perthshire, and he told Professor Newton of it. (He 

 was then Maurice Drummond.) He told Horn at a later date — 

 about 1879 — and about 1881 he mentioned it to me at the Conversa- 

 ^ Pronounced scaups. 



