234 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
Heron. N est with 4 Eggs (complete). 
This bird builds on an island in Loch Lydon, which was visited 
by Colonel Drummond Hay in company with Sir Robert 
Menzies in 1S84. At that time, however, the nests were 
found to be so large—being mostly built for many genera¬ 
tions one on the top of the other—that it was quite impossible, 
in the limited time, to select one suitable for the Museum. 
John M'Donald was, therefore, directed to try to get one in 
the spring of this year—a task which he has now most 
successfully accomplished. 
Black-Throated Diver. Nest and 2 Eggs (the full 
complement). 
' 
This may be called the treasure of the collection. The Black- 
throated Diver is often mistaken for the Great Northern 
Diver. Keeping far out on the loch, and seldom admitting 
of a close inspection, it is sometimes difficult to decide which 
is which, without a good glass. The Great Northern Diver, 
however, chiefly confines itself to the salt-water lochs and 
inlets on our coasts, though no doubt occasionally visiting 
some of our larger inland fresh-water lochs; but as yet there 
is no actual proof of their ever breeding in this country, 
though Colonel Drummond Hay has seen them in abundance, 
and shot them as late as the 10th of June, in the Island of 
Westrays, in the Orkneys, and at that time in full nuptial 
dress. Its nest is said to be clumsily made and slight in 
material, whereas that of the Black-throated, as may be 
noticed by the specimen, is a large and substantial structure. 
The eggs, however, so exactly resemble in colour those of 
the Great Northern, that they are not to be distinguished, 
especially when small examples of the latter are compared 
with larger ones of the former. 
Many other nests not previously represented in the Museum 
have been sent, comprising chiefly those of the smaller birds, 
such as the Swallows, House-Martins, Fly-catchers, &c. Among 
these, one in particular is deserving of mention, namely, that of a 
Wren, large in size, and entirely composed of grey lichens 
(Evernia prunastri). This nest, when fresh, must have been 
most difficult to distinguish from some lichen-covered stump 
or excrescence. Last, though not least, may be mentioned 
a very fine fresh specimen of a Squirrel’s Nest or “Drey,” 
half domed, with the interior (about 7 inches deep) warmly 
lined with wool. 
The following series of papers was read :— 
The Natural History of Kinnoull Hill. 
I. Introduction. 
By Dr Buchanan White, F.L.S. 
The purpose of the following series of papers may be 
said to be manifold. 
In the first place, by showing what are the natural pro¬ 
ductions of a limited area of the central part of Lowland 
Perthshire, a good idea may be given of the general 
character of the fauna and flora of the lowland portion of 
the county, since the area in question is probably fairly 
representative, and neither much richer nor much poorer 
than many other parts of our lowlands. 
In the second place, the series will serve to show that 
for purposes of field-studies in natural history, it is 
not necessary for an inhabitant of Perth to seek a distant 
locality, since in the close vicinity of the town he can find 
ample scope for his pursuits. 
Thirdly, since the district under discussion is in the 
immediate neighbourhood of a place that for many ages 
has been an inhabited town, and has now 31,000 inhabi¬ 
tants, some of the influences of human agency in 
modifying the fauna and flora cannot fail to be shown. 
Thus, while some species have probably disappeared, 
others—especially amongst plants—have doubtless been 
added. But though—from the absence of records—some 
of the effects in question can only be more or less con¬ 
jectured, yet, by making a careful record now, it will be 
more easy to detect the changes, due to these influences, 
that take place in future. 
Lastly, since the papers will show how very far from 
perfect our knowledge of a limited area close to Perth is, 
and hence how still more imperfect is that of Perthshire in 
general, it is hoped that they will stir up the working 
members of the Society to renewed efforts in their special 
work. 
The area whose natural history we are about to discuss 
lies immediately to the east of the city of Perth, and in 
fact includes within its boundaries part of the town itself. 
Its limits may be thus defined. Starting from the eastern 
end of Perth Bridge, the Muirhall Road, as far as the 
entrance lodge to Kinfauns Castle, forms the northern 
boundary. Prom this lodge the line goes down the 
Deuchny Burn nearly to the mill-dam, thence to the point 
of the wood west of the mill-dam, and thence along the 
lower edge of the wood westwards to where the Barnhill 
toll-bar used to be. From the toll-bar it follows the foot¬ 
path that leads to the River Tay, and thenee up the river 
to the starting point at Perth Bridge. 
The area thus defined includes about ODe and a-half 
square miles, its greatest breadth and its greatest length 
being about one and a-third miles. 
Physiographically, the area is a hill with a gentle slope 
upwards from the north and west to near the east and 
south boundaries, where the descent is very abrupt—nearly 
perpendicular cliffs or very steep slopes forming this side 
of the hill. At the River Tay the altitude above sea-level 
is only about 10 feet, and the highest point of the hill is 
