332 



BIRDS. 



large number of Curlews cross towards the west coast in autumn by 

 way of Loch Tay and Glen Dochart." 



Note. — It may prove of interest here to refer my readers to the 

 statement made in our volume on " Argyll " regarding this species, 

 and the chronological dates of its appearance as a nesting species on 

 the moors of that area (Fauna of Argyll under species). 



Numenius borealis (J. R. F&rster). Esquimaux Curlew. 



Rare occasional visitant. 



Col. Drummond Hay marks it merely as "occasional -vdsitor," and 

 other writers quote the same. The original record is given in 

 Yarrell's British Birds, and it was the first occurrence in Britain — 6th 

 September 1855 (2nd Supplement to 1st Edition), on the authority of 

 W. R. Cussock Smith, at that time occupant of Durris House, 

 Kincardineshire (op. cit., p. 36). See Dee. 



Order GAVI^. 

 Family hARlDJE. 



Sterninae, or Terns generally. 



Col. Drummond Hay vouches for the destruction of Terns' eggs on Tents Muir, 

 agreeing with, and quoting from, a communication to the Glasgow Nat. Hist. Society 

 by myself (Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc. Glasgoiv, 1878-80, vol. iv. p. 189),^ as was in 

 evidence at that time.^ Since then a considerable addition to their numbers has 

 taken place due to the protection afforded to them, along with other species, upon 

 Tents Muir, which I have already referred to, but see also at page 335. 



1 Ornithological Journal of the Winter of 1878-9, with Collected Notes regarding 

 its effects upon Animal Life, including Remarks on the Migration of Birds in the 

 Autumn of 1878 and Spring of 1879 [ut supra, pp. 128-203). Kind readers, "read 

 back." 



- The only part of my own notes to the Glasgow Society which I need reproduce 

 here apply quite as well to-day as they did twenty-five years ago. Fortunately, how- 

 ever, there has been less necessity for care of ^' local authority" (?) to interfere, as the 

 duty has been taken over by more able hands. Col. Drummond Hay, quoting my 

 notes, says : " Commenting on the above-described destruction of eggs, Mr. Harvie- 

 Brown adds: ' Have we not a Society of Field Naturalists in Dundee? I think so. 

 And is it not a part of their duty to try and prevent this destruction ? ' '"' Col. 

 Drummond Hay then says (footnote) : "Tents Muir belongs to three proprietors who, 

 I am sure, would be willing to give every assistance were the matter taken up firmly 

 by the Dundee Natural History Society." I am not aware that the Dundee Society 

 ever did anything, but I would be very well pleased to learn if they have ; because such 

 appears to me to constitute one of the first principles on which such local societies 

 should be founded ; and one of the principal duties local societies should perform is the 

 protection of our rarer species. 



