Birds. 



6597 



avenue of Duff House. The bird was alone and in song at the 

 time. 



The Snow Bunting (Emberiza nivalis). In large flocks during 

 winter, and exhibiting generally amongst the various members a motley 

 mixture of colouring, consisting of a pure white, a jet black, a dull 

 tawny and a deep chesnut, — the beautiful white band, however, across 

 the wings being conspicuous in all during flight. I have often met 

 with this bird in different places here during summer, such as at the 

 rocks of Melosoe, the Longman hill, and in Benvennis, but have never 

 as yet been able to detect them breeding. They generally arrive here 

 about the middle of October or beginning of November, and depart 

 again in March or the first of April. They have a most beautiful song; 

 though not loud it is very sweet, and it would seem that they begin 

 early, for I have heard them frequently lilting away at it in February 

 and March. On all such occasions they were either seated on the top 

 of a wall surrounding a field, or on ricks. 



The Common Bunting, or as we call it here, the Corn Bunting (E. 

 miliaria), is not very numerous with us, and, in fact, I do not remember 

 ever having seen them very plentiful anywhere, but I may be 

 mistaken. 



The Blackheaded Bunting or Ring Fowl {E. schceniclus). About 

 in equal numbers with the last. It is called the "moss sparrow" by the 

 country people. Mosses appear to be a favourite resort with them in 

 our quarter. I have found their nests in pretty bushes, amongst reeds, 

 and on the ground. There were a few, and only a few, whin bushes 

 on a sandy knoll near Aberdeen when I was a boy, where I never 

 failed to find a nest of these birds for many years in succession. I 

 never saw any other birds at the spot but themselves. I remember 

 having seen a black variety of this bird, and one almost yellow. 



The Yellowhammer (E. citrinella). Far more numerous than 

 either of the two last. Its common name here is " skite." This is 

 another species by no means particular as to the choice of a site 

 whereon, or in, to build. On one occasion I knew of a nest which was 

 placed in a cart track, beneath a tuft of grass, and close by the way- 

 side. The road was a bye-road to be sure, that is, one not much used, 

 and quite narrow, there being only bare room for a cart and one person 

 to pass. I saw the nest when forming, and dreaded, nay knew, its 

 fate should a cart pass. I saw it again with eggs, and then with young, 

 which were at the time about twelve or thirteen days old. No vehicle 

 had passed, and I now began to hope that they would fly. Five days 

 afterwards, passing that way, curiosity tempted me to look once more. 



