BIRDS. 



321 



There is one in the St. Andrews Museum labelled "Tents Muir, 

 1865." 



Millais, however, considers it as a regular, though scarce, autumn 

 visitor. He adds: "I have shot several both at Murthly and at 

 Loch Leven (Forth)." 



Calidris arenaria (L.). Sanderling. 



Regular autumn visitant to Tay and Eden. 



Col. Drummond Hay did not appear to think that it was 

 regular in its visits to Tay in 1880, but I have known it as a regular 

 visitor in Forth at least as far back as 1860. I confess I had not 

 observed it at Edenmouth, though I have been along the shores 

 there at the right time on several occasions. Mr. W. Evans has found 

 them there, however, not uncommonly — e.g. one in full summer 

 plumage on 15th June; and " Sanderlings, Knots, and Grey Plovers 

 at mouth of Eden all apparently in summer dress," on 31st July 1885. 



A male at Monifieth, 29th August 1889 (aud. John Nelson) ; 

 a female — the Scalp, Tayport, 13th May 1882, — both in the collection 

 of Mr. Marshall, Stanley. 



In the north-east, one "some years ago, in the Glen of Drum- 

 tochty ; is preserved in the castle " (J. Milne). This is rather an 

 unusual haunt, as it is not often found in inland localities. 



It has been obtained on the North Sands of St. Andrews. One in 

 the Museum there is so labelled under date of " October 1868." 



Millais' notes have it : " Arrives generally in the last week in 

 August. I have shot adults with a good deal of summer plumage 

 remaining at this date. Common on all the sandy coasts." 



[Totanus macularius (L.). Spotted Sandpiper. 



Very rare occasional visitant. 



Obs. — One is entered in the list of specimens in the Montrose Museum, 

 "Shot at the Montrose Basin in September 1888," but on consulting Mr. J. 

 Henry Gurney's account of specimens of this species reported as obtained in 

 Britain, Mr. Gurney dismisses this record (as indeed all previous Scottish 

 records should be dismissed). It was recorded by Messrs. MoUison and 

 Brewster, collectors and birdstufFers, and referred to by ISJacgilliyray (British 

 Birds, iv. p. 358). But as has been explained by Mr. Gurney (Rambles of a 

 Naturalist, p. 260), the said Mr. Mollison possessed a copy of "Bewick" 

 (British Birds), in which a plate given as that of the rarer species is really 

 a plate of the Common Sandpiper ; and this same plate has been the occasion 

 of many — or most— of the erroneous records for Great Britain. I hope 

 square brackets will here eflFect their purpose finally, as they do at least for 

 this Tay area specin)en.] 



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