i02 
It is very generally distributed all over the county, 
being quite abundant along the high wooded and 
moorland ground to the west of Perth, and to the 
east by Murray shall Hill. This bird leaves its inland 
haunts for the coast during the winter, when it may 
be seen in hundreds along the shore. Returning 
inland in the early spring it pairs and begins nesting 
pretty early, having laid all its eggs (four in number) 
by the month of April. The Curlew builds among 
heather or rank grass near marshy places, making 
a mere apology for a nest, in which it deposits its 
eggs. These are of a dull greenish colour, spotted 
with dark brown. The Curlew has a sort of loud 
whistle which it repeats over and over again at short 
intervals, during the morning especially, sounding 
rather cheery on a lonely moor. The Curlew is con¬ 
sidered good eating, although it does not sell to ad¬ 
vantage in the market. 
HcEmatopus Ostralegus — the Oyster Catcher, is 
another well known bird, and a very pretty one too. 
When seen running about the beach it is rather an 
attractive object, the black and white plurrage, 
yellow bill, orange legs, and red eye giving it a fine 
appearance. Like the Curlew it leaves us during the 
winter for the coast, returning, however, as early as 
February. Even this year, though a severe one, it 
had arrived by that time. The favourite haunts of 
these birds are long reaches of gravel banks, alorg 
running streams, where they pipe out their song, 
marching round now in a circle, now in a straight 
line, and always in single file, with their bills all 
pointed towards the ground, putting one in mind of 
the description of an Indian war dance and song. 
At other times, generally in the dusk of the evening, 
they sit in flocks on the gravel, when one begins the 
song in a very low key at first, increasing the sound, 
until the whole flock joins in the general chorus. 
They may be heard at a great distance on a quiet 
night. They are very common above Perth, especially 
about Scone Palace, and the mouth of the River 
Almond. They prefer the non-tidal districts, nesting 
on the bare beech, or in a natural hollow among the 
stones or sand. They will also nest in the fields near 
