PROCEEDINGS OE THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
233 
7th January, 1886. 
F. Buchanan White, M.D., F.L.S., President, 
in the Chair. 
NEW MEMBERS. 
The following were elected :— 
Mr Charles S. Sandeman, SpriDgland ; Mr Andrew 
Calderwood, Kilmartin Place; and Miss Stirling, Athole 
Place. 
Mr F. H. White, Annat Lodge, was nominated for 
election at next meeting. 
DONATIONS. 
The following were intimated 
A large collection of mosses (Perthshire, British, and 
European), including most of the British species—from Dr 
Buchanan White; a large and interesting series of nests 
and eggs collected in the district of Rannoeh—from Mr 
John M'Donald, gamekeeper to Sir Robert Menzies, Bart.; 
twin salmon caught at Stormontfield ponds by the late Mr 
Peter Marshall—from Mrs Marshall, Barrack Street; 
geological specimens—from Dr Trotter and Mr R. S. 
Trotter. 
Note on Collection of Nests and Eggs presented to the 
Museum by Mr John M'Donald. By Col. Drum¬ 
mond Hay, C.M.Z.S. 
The Curator has to report the receipt of a valuable con¬ 
signment of nests and eggs from the district of Rannoch, 
collected by Mr John M'Donald, gamekeeper to Sir Robert 
Menzies, Bart, (by kind permission of the latter). Many 
of these were got in 1884, but, there being no good oppor¬ 
tunity, could not be forwarded until now. In making this 
report, the Curator would especially draw attention to the 
very careful manner in which those nests placed on the 
ground have been lifted, the sod having been taken up 
with them, by which means the character of each 
individual nest has been entirely preserved. This 
could not otherwise have been the case, as these 
ground - nests are for the most part mere depres¬ 
sions in the soil (either natural or scratched out by the 
bird, or made by its own weight) or in some tuft of moss, 
grass, or heather, with merely the surrounding materials 
used as a lining, and where these are thin and scanty the 
character would have been entirely lost. Mr Macdonald, 
therefore, deserves the cordial thanks of the Society 
for the great pains he has taken in thus securing, as far as 
possible, a correct representation of the nidification of our 
birds—an object so particularly to be desired, and so much 
at heart in the Society’s wishes. 
The list being a long one, the Curator merely mentions 
those that are new to the Society’s collection. 
Raven. Nest and Eggs. 
Long-Eared owl. 
The nest which this bird had taken possession of (it never 
builds one of its own) proves to be that of a hooded crow o£ 
the previous year. This is the usual nest of its adoption, 
though that of the wood-pigeon is sometimes used, also 
that of the heron, and it has even been known to take 
possession of a deserted squirrel’s “drey.” The nest now 
sent had two eggs in it, which were forwarded last year, and 
are now in the Museum. The usual number deposited is 
five or six, which are often laid early in March, and sat on as 
soon as laid, as is the case with many other birds of this 
family, young birds and fresh eggs often being found together 
in the same nest. 
Merlin. Nest with 4 Eggs. 
This is a ground nest, a site often chosen when breeding on the 
moorlands among tall heather, though some flat spot among 
rocks on steep slopes at the foot of precipitous ridges is also 
frequently selected. 
Kestrel. Nest with 5 Eggs. 
Red Grouse. Nest and 7 Eggs. 
Black game. Nest and 7 Eggs—had 8 when found. 
Golden Plover. Nest and 4 Eggs (complete). 
Redshank, Nest and 3 Egg3. 
Four were found in the nest; one broken in blowing, 
Greenshank. Nest and 3 Eggs. 
Curlew. Nest only. 
The eggs (4 in number, the full complement) which were in this 
nest were forwarded last year, and are now in the Museum. 
Common Gull (Larus canus). Nest only. 
Eggs sent last year, which were the ones deposited in it when 
found, and are now in the Museum. 
Herring Gull. Nest only. 
The eggs belonging to this nest were sent last year, and are now 
iD the Museum. 
