BIRDS. 



339 



But, curiously enough, we have very much fewer records or definite accounts of 

 this great invasion anywhere so extensive to the north of the tidal Tay. At St. 

 Andrews I myself saw literally hundreds — principally Glaucous Gulls — that winter, 

 streaming along the tops and under the shelter of the sandhills which fringe the 

 golf-links, flying low over and almost touching the tops, and hugging the shelter 

 these aflforded from the gale from seaward that was blowing. Down along the rocky, 

 cliflFy shore under Gillespie Terrace also, these birds continued flying close under the 

 edge of the clifis over the rocky under-cliff, within half a stone-throw of the tops. 



It would seem that the great bulk of these Arctic Gulls first struck our east coast 

 about the projecting spur of Tents Muir, then followed along the coast till they 

 reached the entrance of the Firth of Forth, and then deviated, as regards a very large 

 proportion of their numbers, and followed that firth as far as Kincardine-on-Forth, and 

 further up as far as Alloa. Thence southwards they bulked largely on the coast. But 

 I give them now the pass-by, as I took good toll of their numbers, and obtained 

 specimens in almost every stage of plumage and age. For the first time, also, Kitti- 

 wakes became winter visitors to the Firth of Forth — at least in any great numbers — 

 accompanying these Arctic species. Of them also I obtained a very fine series of 

 plumages, all of which could scarcely be included under the new code of nomenclature 

 of pre-nuptial, nuptial, etc. etc., dresses ! Still, they were quite interesting. Alas ! I 

 lost them all one big migration they made, vanishing into thin air in about an hour or 

 two at most.^ That winter, 1872-3, was quite a remarkable one for the enormous 

 shoals of " Garvies " {Ghcpea sprattus) which swarmed in the narrow tideway of 

 the upper Forth at Kincardine and higher up the estuary. These little fish were 

 shovelled out on the adjoining fields as manure in hundreds of tons, and others sold 

 by the hawkers at a penny a plate. 



Larus glaucus, Fabricius. Glaucous Gull. 



A regular visitant to our east coasts. Abundant in some seasons. 



This bird is said not to be common along the Forfarshire coast. 

 Indeed, Dr. Dewar designates it as "a rare visitor" there. This is 

 curious if quite correct, because I myself have seen them " swarming " 

 — if I may use that expression to describe continuous flights follow- 

 ing one another south along the ridges of the sandhills at St. Andrews 

 — during the year of the great invasion in the winter of 1871-2 ; and 

 they were well known to men there whom I knew, and who knew them. 



There is a specimen of the Glaucous Gull in the Perth Museum, 

 which was purchased from Mr. J. Henderson, which is in full summer 

 plumage. This example is probably of Arctic origin, as it is scarcely 

 necessary to point out that it is almost impossible that such a stage 



* I allude to a fire I suflfered loss by, which caused a big ascent of birds and a big 

 hatch-off of eggs, etc. etc., in January 1897 ! 



