PROCEEDINGS OF THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
155 
such as will in all probability be found when the fauna is 
more fully worked out, was 215;—it now amounts to 219, 
four species having been added, as new to the district, in¬ 
clusive of the whole basin of the Tay. Of these, three have 
been obtained, viz., the purple sandpiper, the green sand¬ 
piper, and eared dabchick; and, besides these, several other 
varieties have been added to the Museum, some of which 
are deserving of particular mention. The grey phala- 
rope, in full summer plumage, being rarely got in this 
stage (that of winter, in this country, being the more fre¬ 
quent), was picked up last autumn at the foot of the light¬ 
house at the mouth of the Tay, having dashed itself dur¬ 
ing the night against the lantern on its southern migration. 
The little stint and the pigmy curlew, or curlew sand¬ 
piper, as it is sometimes called, were also obtained. 
These are the first examples that have been got in the 
district, though the latter has been reported from Loch 
Tay. The green-sandpiper is also a most interesting bird 
to have obtained, as it is now for the first time confirmed 
as a Perthshire bird, though suspected to have been seen 
in Rannocb. This is not an unlikely locality, it being an 
inland sandpiper, and not a frequenter of the coast. The 
specimen in question was shot on the Earn by Mr Pit- 
caithly last September. One peculiarity in this bird, 
different from all of its genus, is its habit of nesting on 
trees, which it does on its regular breeding-grounds in 
Sweden and the northern parts of Europe, generally selecting 
a fir tree for the purpose, and always choosing old nests in 
which to deposit its four eggs, at about thirty feet or more 
from the ground, the favourite being that of the song- 
thrush, though sometimes the nest of the missel-thrush as 
well as the wood-pigeon is used, and instances are not 
wanting of its taking possession of an old squirrel’s nest 
or drey. I mentioned last year that it was in contem¬ 
plation, in addition to the birds mounted in the larger 
cases, to have a full collection of skins, for the purpose 
of comparison, and of more readily studying the several 
genera. This collection has been commenced, and though 
a considerable number of specimens have been secured, 
it has not attained sufficient dimension to admit as yet of 
its being systematically arranged. This will, however, 
necessarily take time, as the mounted specimens in the 
cases must take precedence ; but as soon as their arrange¬ 
ment is complete, they will be placed in drawers in the 
centre tables for reference and study. Under this head 
(Birds) come nests and eggs, of which a few additions have 
been made, but not to the extent we could have wished, 
and now that the nesting season is coming on, it is hoped 
that contributions may be sent in. To prevent any un¬ 
necessary taking of birds’ nests, which the Society would 
greatly deprecate, only those in the list sent out will be 
required. 
Reptiles and Amphibians.- —The species found in the 
district are few in number, and not many have been as yet 
collected; but as it is requisite to have specimens from 
various parts of the county, also from different altitudes, 
to illustrate their distribution and variation, any'snakes, 
newts, lizards, frogs, &c,, will be thankfully received. 
Fish. —In this collection there have been several very 
interesting contributions, among which, from Mr Charles 
Murray of Taymount, was a magnificent Tay salmon of 
54 lb. weight. But a great deal is yet required to be done, 
and as fish of all kinds are required, both from the inland 
Perthshire waters, and from the tidal parts of the basin 
of the Tay, it is hoped that the tacksmen who rent 
fishings (whose Museum this practically is, as well as 
that of others), will take an interest in the matter, and,'give 
instructions to their fishermen to send any fish that can be 
spared, especially those that they may get in their nets on 
the lower waters of the Tay. Many of these, not being 
marketable, are generally thrown aside, or left to die on 
the bank, to be carried off by the first tide. I would also 
especially bring to the notice of all anglers, to spare, if they 
can, a trout or two out of their baskets, from any stream 
or loch in the county; these might be quite of ordinary size, 
as it is desirable to illustrate the variation of the common 
trout from all our streams and lochs, taken at various 
seasons. In addition to these, charr, grayling, or any 
other salmonidce, or other fish than those mentioned, from 
the different lochs or streams, such as loach, miller’s 
thumbs, minnows, sticklebacks, lamperns, &e., will all be 
acceptable. 
Mollusca. —Among these we have also several additions, 
but, as in the case of the fish, to illustrate distribution 
and variation, specimens of common land and fresh-water 
shells are required from all parts of the county. Members 
and others are particularly solicited to collect these. In 
all still waters, among weeds, or in burns, on stony and 
gravelly bottoms, may be found abundance of water-shells; 
while on mossy banks, under stones and leaves, on many 
a plant and tree, may be found land-shells of various sorts; 
—these are all easy to collect, and require no preservation. 
Insects. —The collection in this branch is also getting on, 
but as yet has chiefly been confined to the moths. It is 
hoped, therefore, now that the Museum is open to the 
public, that there may be many willing hands to assist in 
extending it to the other families, such as flies (Diptera), 
beetles (ColeopteraJ, and others, which, though not yet in 
the Museum, are not being lost sight of. The latter are 
easy of preservation, requiring little trouble; if only put 
