BIRDS. 



331 



central hills of Stirlingshire (Forth) ; but I can well remember that 

 they were quite rare there, and, in a whole day's tramp, not more 

 than three or four nests could be found. Where one nest was, now 

 I believe at least ten could be found. On my own moor above Denny, 

 I used to know of perhaps two nests at most in a season. Now they 

 breed there quite abundantly. Formerly the heather was longer 

 and older, and now it has been put into better fettle, and draining 

 has been carried out during improvements on behalf of the Grouse. 

 (Has this also anything to do with the shifting habits of the Golden 

 Plover 1 I scarcely think the causes are all the same.) 



In autumn the migration of the Curlew takes place across Scot- 

 land from east to west, i.e. up the valleys of the eastern slopes, 

 pursuing a westerly course. I have long known this in Central 

 Scotland districts, where I live ; and Mr. William Evans has also 

 found them pursuing a similar course — or direction — at the head of 

 Loch Tay in the autumn of 1905; and the same directions are 

 followed by many — if not by all — of those birds which breed 

 throughout the eastern districts. 



I may mention here also that I have observed a return track of 

 a certain proportion of Whimbrels {N. phceopus) across Scotland, at 

 certain passes in spring, both here, in Central Scotland, and — as I 

 have before related — at the upper sources of the tributaries of Spey 

 (Moray), e.g. on the river Pattaig, and at Dalwhinnie. We know 

 of course that the great bulk of the Whimbrel spring migration 

 passes from south to north along the line of the Outer Hebrides. 

 The natural (perhaps X) conclusion arrived at is, that this hdk of these 

 birds is en route for their well-known breeding haunts in Faroe and 

 Iceland ; but what about those which break away across Scotland 

 to the eastward in spring 1 It may be — and no doubt is — premature 

 to theorise from even such isolated data, but I think such notes are 

 always worthy of record for future comparison, so I do not apologise 

 for inserting Mr. Evans's notes in full here in regard to the 

 Curlews : — 



"Curlews were observed almost daily till the 24th August, coming 

 from the east over Killin, and flying west up Glen Dochart, usually 

 passing in twos and threes, or in parties up to half a dozen. But on 

 the 7th, thirty (30) went over in two groups. The last seen was 

 on the 24th (on the 23rd several were seen at Dalmally (Argyll) 

 flying west). On 15th August several were seen flying high over 

 Loch an Lairige, and going in the direction of Loch Tay." Mr. Evans 

 concludes with the remark : " The above observations show that a 



