2 24 transactions—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
numerous. This was more apparent in the winter season, and the 
probabilities are that the birds were winter visitors. It is worthy of 
note that the Great, the Cole, and Blue Tits have always been com¬ 
mon in the locality, but the Long-tailed Tit and the Gold Crest were 
far from being so. So much so, that old woodmen and keepers 
scarcely know them. This does not rest merely on my own observa¬ 
tion, but on enquiries made of men who were likely to be acquainted 
with the matter—keepers and foresters. Coincident with this increase 
of the birds mentioned, the aphis plague on the larch has gradually 
abated, kor the past ten years at least, the abatement has been 
very marked, so that now the woods in this part are well free from 
it to any injurious extent, and with the aphis the fungus is also dis¬ 
appearing, The injurious effects of the disease may still be observed 
on the swollen and blistered lower branches of young larches, which, 
though now dead or dying, were growing whilst the plague was active, 
and on these the fungus can still be seen. The lower part of the 
stem bears also the same traces of the plague ; whilst above, both stem 
and branches are normal. 
In the winter time, I have watched the Long-tailed Tits minutely 
searching the twigs of the larch, examining every bud, as is their 
manner, where the aphis undoubtedly was to be found in its inactive 
state. The other tits preyed on the aphis also, but the Long-tailed Tit 
and the Gold Crest appeared to be the most active. The Great, the 
Cole, and the Blue Tits feed to some extent on seeds, but the Gold 
Crest and Long-tailed Tit are mostly, if not altogether, insectivorous. 
I am of opinion that the present improved condition of the larch is 
due to the agency of the birds mentioned; other agencies may have 
helped, but they seem to have played the principal part. An increase 
of these birds has taken place during the winter and has had the effect 
of almost exterminating the plague by their destruction of the winter 
broods of that aphis. 
I shall now give a few notes about some of the birds of the district. 
The Raven. From late autumn to spring the raven is frequently 
to be met with in this locality. For a number of years a pair might 
be seen almost every morning and evening crossing the valley from 
Craig-y-Barns towards Birnam Hill, and a pair or sometimes two 
pairs may be seen almost any day hovering between Craig-y-Barns 
and Craig Vinean. They are said to follow the sheep that come from 
higher grounds to winter. In 1888, I counted as many as four pairs 
above Kinnaird Rock. They do not now, however, nest in the 
district, so far as I know (the gamekeepers take care of that) j one of 
their former nesting places was Kennacoil Rock. Although no doubt 
they destroy eggs when they can find them, yet keepers confess that 
the common rook does more damage than they. 
