COL. CAMPBELL ON DISTRIBUTION OF PERTHSHIRE BIRDS. 107 
occurs all over Europe, and, as with us, is a favourite cage bird in 
Germany and Russia. 
The Common Crossbill {Loxia curvirostrd) is generally distributed 
throughout the pine woods of the country. I have seen it or heard 
of its occurrence at Moncreiffe, Stobhall, Glenalmond, Renmore, 
and other districts, and have no doubt it may be found wherever 
fir seed, its favourite food, is obtainable. It is common all over 
I Mid and Northern Europe as far as Lapland, and I have seen it as 
a cage bird in Russia. 
Emberizid^. —The Common Bunting {JLinheviza inilianci) is 
very local in its distribution—common in some districts, whilst in 
' others, apparently equally suitable, it is seldom if ever seen. 
' The Yellow Bunting {Emberiza citrinellci)^ on the other hand, is 
one of our commonest birds, and may be seen with distended throat 
emitting its plaintive song on the top of every hedgerow in the 
country. 
: The Reed Bunting {Emberiza schoeniciilus) is found among the 
j thatching grass along the lower reaches of the Tay, and I have seen 
it in the marshlands of Holland and Belgium. The above three 
j| species have a wide European and Asiatic range, 
il The Snow Bunting {Plectrophanes nivalis) comes to us from 
J Lapland and other northern countries in autumn, and departs in 
spring. It is also found throughout Siberia, and. Col. Drummond 
Hay informs me, it extends from North America to the Bermudas, 
“ where it arrives most winters in small parties, but does not remain 
long.” 
ALAUDiNiE.—Of the Larks, our only resident species is the Sky 
Lark {Alauda arvensis), which delights us every spring with its 
beautiful song. Much has been written of late years regarding the 
diminution and possible extinction of this species. It is, however, 
still well known all over Europe; and, I am sorry to say, delights 
the gourmets on account of the delicacy of its plump little body, as 
,1 much as it does the lover of nature by its song. Thousands are 
! killed every year all over the Continent, and I fear this country is not 
! behind others in the work of destruction. 
i STURNID.E. —The Common Starling {Sturnus vulgaris) is met 
with everywhere all over the country, as well as in this county, and 
over almost the whole of the Old World, even to the Canary Islands, 
I the Azores, and the Cape. I have seen it breeding in Cashmere, 
and, to come nearer home, a colony have established themselves 
in the Old Watch Tower at the back of the General Prison, where 
they nest every spring, and use it as a roosting-place summer and 
winter. About sunset every evening the surrounding trees are 
covered with the birds, and, shortly after, they commence flying in. 
