COL. CAMPBELL ON DISTRIBUTION OF PERTHSHIRE BIRDS. Ill 
named, and we are particularly fortunate in possessing a Perthshire 
specimen, which was acquired through the generosity of Sir Reginald 
Ogilvy. We have also a specimen of the Gyr or Jer Falcon (yFalco 
gyrfalco), another extremely rare bird in Great Britain; an Arctic 
bird found in Russia, Siberia, and North America. , 
The Peregrine Falcon {Falco peregrinus), the finest of all our 
hawks, is common in all the wild mountainous parts of the country, 
and I have frequently seen it in the Glencoe districts on the borders 
of Argyllshire. I met with it frequently in North India, and found 
it breeding in Cashmere. It may be casually remarked that it is 
nearly, if not quite, cosmopolitan. The Peregrine is a bird for which 
I have always had an intense admiration, and when last I heard its 
shrill bell-like notes echoing among the rocks of Loch-na-Larige it 
reminded me of a similar scene many years before, when, stalking 
Ibex in the rocky ravines of the Scinde Valley in Cashmere, I un¬ 
wittingly invaded the sanctuary of Falco peregrinus. 
The Hobby {Falco subbuteo) is a miniature Peregrine, and con¬ 
sequently a very handsome bird. I saw one last August chasing a 
Meadow Pipit, and stooping to it several times, but always missing 
it, as the little bird invariably gave a turn or double—which reminded 
me of a hare being coursed by greyhounds,—and finally saved its 
little life by gaining the friendly shelter of a young fir plantation. 
It has a wide distribution over the whole of Europe, and is also 
found in North India. 
The Merlin {Falco cesalon) is very rare in the north-west provinces 
of India, where, like our own bird, it is migratory. 
Of the Kestril {Falco thinunciilus), one of our commonest hawks, 
I have the following note :—“ Common in the Punjab in cold 
weather. I found it breeding in Cashmere in May.” I have seen 
it in Belgium—one accompanied our steamer from Ostend to Dover 
a few weeks ago,—also in France, Italy, and Spain. 
The Osprey {Pandion lialiaetus) is almost extinct, but our Museum 
possesses a specimen shot at Finlarig, Loch Tay, in 1866. It is still 
comparatively common throughout Europe, and when out shooting 
in India I used constantly to see it hovering over the surface of the 
lakes and rivers or plunging into their depths. 
PELECANID.D. —The Cormorant {Phalacrocorax carbo) and the 
Gannet {Sula bassana) are. Col. Drummond Hay informs me, quite 
common at the mouth of the Tay, and he has been so fortunate as 
to procure an albino specimen of the former species, which he has 
presented to the Museum. I have seen the Gannet in the Medi¬ 
terranean and the Bay of Biscay. 
The Shag {Ph. graculus) is, on the other hand, a very rare bird 
in our part of the country. 
