NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BANKS OF THE TAY. 
67 
reeds, busily extracting the seeds, and all the time uttering a some¬ 
what feeble monotonous chirp to keep the little party together. So 
ntent are they that they heed us not, but, if by chance disturbed, 
they immediately fly off and settle a little farther on. Among the 
land birds frequently inhabiting the reeds and marshy ground is the 
Pheasant, which I here mention, though, being an introduction, it is 
not enumerated in the list; but I do so to illustrate how strangely 
the wild habits of a bird have been retained after generations of 
semi-domestication. In Macedonia, where the Pheasant is truly 
wild, having originally spread over from Asia Minor, I invariably 
found them on the margins, of the large rivers, among reeds and 
osier beds, also in the marshy woods and reedy thickets in the 
vicinity, never on the high grounds or in dry woods; and so with us, 
the Pheasant still shows itself to be a true bird of the reeds wherever 
it can get at them. The Partridge also sometimes comes down and 
settles in some warm corner of the drier grassy spots, not that 
he prefers marshy ground, like the Pheasant, but either he comes 
for protection, or for the rich supply of various aquatic seeds he well 
knows are to be found there. Here, also, we see, though in broad 
daylight, an Owl hunting the marsh. This is the Short-eared Owl, 
occasionally seen with us during autumn within the river banks, his 
home and habit being very different from those of other Owls, and 
though, as we see him, he is only on the look-out for water beetleSj 
or any small fry he may pick up, yet he is a veritable mouse-hunter 
and should be encouraged instead of being shot at, as he too often is. 
I must add another good word in his favour. During the great 
mouse or vole plague, which occurred so lately in the Border 
counties, every device was tried to stay it, but without effect. But 
when these same Owls arrived afterwards in considerable numbers, 
and, being unmolested, remained to breed, feeding their young 
entirely on voles, the numbers consumed proved to be so enormous 
that soon the voles began perceptibly to decrease. 
But to proceed; entering our boat again, and keeping the left 
bank, we pass Errol and meet with various birds on our way. As we 
glide past, the Hooded Crow is to be seen pretty abundantly on 
various points along the water’s edge, searching for dead fish and 
other savoury morsels. Though occasionally seen at other seasons, 
the Hooded Crow is not nearly so frequent as its congener, the 
Carrion, but at this time they are always more abundant than at 
other times. The plumage, also, is much clearer and brighter, 
suggesting these to be foreigners which have recently come, and which 
will take their departure a little later on. As we near Seaside, Wild 
Geese are seen on the outer banks. These have only lately arrived, 
the first week of October being about the time of their first appear- 
