COL. CAMPBELL ON DISTRIBUTION OF PERTHSHIRE BIRDS. II5 
all Mid and Northern Europe, and I have seen both it and the 
Capercailzie in St. Petersburg. 
Before closing my notes on the Rasores I would mention a bird, 
specimens of which we are fortunate enough to possess, though it 
must be called, not only an occasional, but a very rare visitor—I 
mean the Sand Grouse [Syrraptesparadoxus). This bird, whose home 
is on the parched stony plains of India, Persia, Arabia, Egypt, 
Algeria, and Morocco, has at various times visited this country, and 
in t888 considerable flocks suddenly appeared, both in England and 
Scotland, and made themselves so much at home that it was con¬ 
fidently thought they might be induced to stop and breed with us. 
An act for their preservation was actually passed through Parliament, 
but our erratic visitors evidently objected to being legislated on, and 
took themselves off, disappearing in the same mysterious manner in 
which they had come. 
RALLiDiE.—Of the Rallidae, the Water Rail {Rallus aquaticus) is 
very common in the marshy grounds along the banks of the Tay and 
Earn, whilst the Land Rail {Crex prafens/s) is generally distributed 
over the agricultural districts. They are found all over Europe, and 
the former is reported from Smyrna, whilst Colonel Drummond Hay 
says the latter occurs in Bermuda and the Azores. 
The Spotted Rail {Porzana 7 naruetta)^ so rare a bird in Perthshire, 
is found over the greater part of the continent of Europe either as a 
summer or winter migrant, and is one of the commonest of the cold 
weather visitors to India. 
The Moor Hen {Gallinula chloropus) and the Coot {Fulica afro) 
are very common on our rivers and lochs, where they breed, and I 
have seen thousands of the latter bird off the mouth of the Tay in 
winter. They extend throughout Europe and are common in 
India. 
Charadriad^.— Our Common Golden Plover {Charadrius plu- 
vialis), so well known on our moors during summer and our coasts 
in winter, has an almost world-wide distribution, varieties, if not the 
same bird, being found in Europe, Asia, America, and Australia. 
The Grey Plover {Squatarola helvetica)^ which is nowhere so 
common as the last species, has, however, a wide range, extending, 
according to Jerdon, to Southern India and Australia. 
The Ringed Plover {^gialitis hiaticula)^ so common on Tents- 
muir and the adjoining shores at all seasons, is found throughout 
Europe and Asia. Yarrell mentions it in the fauna of West Green¬ 
land, and I have seen specimens from Saghalien, so I have no doubt 
it extends round the whole of the North Temperate and Arctic Zones. 
The Dotterel {Eudroiaias morinellus) is very locally distributed 
through the higher districts, and specimens have been procured in 
