348 



BIRDS. 



have received some twenty specimens, mostly dating 11th and 12th 

 January, but he does not specify localities, though presumably many, 

 if not most, were from inland localities. This great flight occupied 

 in time — i.e. judging from Mr. Eagle Clarke's full census — between 

 the 22nd December 1894 and February 1895 ; and one was obtained 

 (Forth) as late as 24th March 1895. 



Of earlier records I may mention one in the Museum at St. 

 Andrews, "February 1865." 



And of the latest — one brought to Dr. Dewar, Arbroath, of 

 which he says: "The first I have seen for some years. It was 

 taken in a turnip- field at Seaton, within a mile of the coast (Annals 

 Scot. Nat. Hist., January 1905). No exact date given beyond ' to-day,' 

 but probably got shortly before." 



Millais also includes as an uncommonly fruitful year of the bird 

 in Tay "the early spring of 1882, and a few also in 1896. Large 

 numbers were found dead in the Tay estuary in the former dates." 



Fratercula arctica (L.). Puffin, 



Though more abundant than the above, yet its visits can only be 

 looked upon as occasional at the mouth of the Tay. It is got also 

 occasionally driven far inland by gales, as, for instance, on the North 

 Inch of Perth, and as far as Loch Tay (D. Dewar). Breeds at 

 Fowlsheugh. Mr. Dewar shot one out of a small party of about half 

 a dozen on a pool of a little burn on Remony. The specimen is at 

 present in his possession. 



Family COLYMBIDJE. 



Colymbus glacialis, L. Great Northern Diver. 



Winter visitant, remaining long into the spring, and even seen in full 

 summer plumage well into the summer; but there is no certainty 

 that it has ever bred in this country, notwithstanding all that has 

 been said to the contrary. 



Col. Drummond Hay, however, relates that two, male and female, 

 were caught in nets set for pike in Loch Ordie, and he tells us it has 

 also been known "to frequent Loch Oisinneach More, and other 

 places," and he adds — "they are also seen to frequent salt water in 

 full summer plumage." As regards their frequenting the lochs 

 named, unless Col. Drummond Hay speaks from his own observation, 

 and not upon the authority of others, I think it is wiser to reject 

 such accounts as exceedingly doubtful. 



