1891.  Scotland.
Sept. 12
(No. 4)
Larbert, Sterlingshire. - Soon after breakfast we started
for some woods on a hill about half-a-mile
from the house, passing, on the way, through
a large walled garden where robins were singing
and Wrens dodging about among the currant
and raspberry bushes. Further on we crossed a
knoll covered with young spruces and larches
about breast high. This little plantation was
literally alive with young Pheasants from half
to two-thirds grown. As we advanced they rose
on every side of us the smaller ones flying only
a few rods and after circling around us alighting 
again, the stronger birds going straight away
over the open fields to more distant covers. All
made more or less whirring and even flew very
swiftly.
  On the hillside above a pair of Kestrels were
flying about some isolated, large [?] occasionally
alighting on dead branches and screaming in
shrill tones very like those of our Sparrow Hawk.
We also saw two larger, sharp-winded Hawks
which Mr. H-B. pronounced to be peregrines
flying at an immense height, one about a
thousand yards in advance of the other
both steering a perfectly straight course
and scaling most of the time on set wings.
  There was a flock of about 90 Lapwings in
a hollow of the open pasture but no small
birds of any kind in this or any other
of the open fields that we crossed. In such 
places at home one would flush Grass Finches.