Only a larger bags may be made, in a favourable season, than here. few years ago the mosses covered a considerable extent of ground, but now they are being rapidly drained and turned into arable land. The only natural feature which excites the admiration of any chance visitor to Buchan is the coast line, which consists of lofty and rugged cliffs, worn into the most extraordinary and picturesque shapes by the combined action of wind and wave, with, here and there, a low-lying piece of ground, consisting of sand-hills covered with bent grass, and which offers a temporary resting-place to Woodcock and numerous other birds when they first land on the coast. There is no finer coast scenery in Scotland than the Bullers of Buchan, the rocks at Slains Castle, Pennon Rocks (352 feet above the sea), Troup Head (309 feet), Gamrie More (403 feet), &c. On these cliffs numerous species of sea-birds, such as the Razor-bill, Kittiwake, Guillemot, and Puffin, take up their abode. Several fresh-water lochs offer great attractions to almost every variety of wild-fowl, chiefly on account of their shallow and marshy character, and in the case of Strathbeg, where more rare wild-fowl have been obtained than anywhere else in Scotland, perhaps on account of its being the most easterly fresh-water loch in the country. The Loch of Strathbeg possesses no natural beauty, and is as dreary a spot as can well be imagined. It is about 3 miles long bymile broad at the widest part, and is situated about halfway between Peterhead and Fraserburgh, on the estate of Mr. Gordon of Cairness. In severe winters, when all the smaller lochs are covered with ice, wild-fowl flock here in countless numbers, while in spring it is the resort of numerous species of gulls, waders, and ducks, for breeding purposes. Along its banks, and among the rushes, which extend for a considerable distance into the lake, nestle many varieties of small birds. Many species are increasing in number annually, while others are rapidly becoming extinct. Among the former may be noted:— the Missel Thrush; Great, Blue, and Coal Titmice; Bullfinch; Starling; Rook; Jackdaw; Tree Creeper; Wood Pigeon; Pheasant; and Lapwing; and we have not far to go to find a cause for this increase. It is without doubt the annually increasing acreage under wood. On the other hand, nearly all the raptorial birds, the Goldfinch, Rock Dove, Black Grouse, and Common Snipe are becoming scarcer. All kinds of Hawks are shot down and trapped by gamekeepers, without reference to species, or the damage done by them, and it is only a marvel that so many varieties are still to be procured. The Rock Dove, which formerly was common in caverns on the cliffs of this rocky coast, has been driven away by being constantly fired at, and now but a few pairs breed in the district. The Black Grouse and Common Snipe, though still tolerably common, are not nearly so numerous as they once were, chiefly on account of the ground which is suitable for them becoming annually more contracted in its area, through agricultural improvements. I must not omit to mention that since the passing of the Wild-Fowl Preservation Act, Seagulls have increased to an enormous extent, and that during autumn and winter they are to be met with in very large flocks on the coast. Altogether I have included in the following list 199 species, besides 19 others which have occurred just outside the district I have attempted to describe, and which may very possibly have occurred in Buchan. In making this list, I have made use of Mr. Gray's "Birds of the West of Scotland," and Mr. Edward's paper on the "Birds of Strathbeg," published in the Naturalist.* Mr. George Sim, of Aberdeen, has given me every assistance in his power; and I am also much indebted to Mr. T. Ferguson, of Alton, Kinmundy, and to Mr. Duncan, for many years gamekeeper at Brucklay Castle, as well as to Mr. Henderson, formerly keeper at Brucklay Castle, but now with Mrs. Gordon of Cluny, in South Uist. The nomenclature is according to Sundevall's method, revised by Henry Thornton Wharton. OSCINES. OBS. Bluethroat.-Cyanecula suecica (Linnaeus). On the 16th May, 1872, a fine male specimen of this species flew on board a fisherman's boat off the coast of Aberdeenshire in company with a common Redstart, and was taken into Aberdeen, where it was examined by Mr. George Sim, who has it in his possession. This is the first recorded occurrence of the species in Scotland.† Redstart.-Ruticilla phoenicurus (Lin.). Tolerably common, and breeds in the district. Redbreast.-Erithacus rubecula (Lin.). Common. Nat., vol. iv., p. 239-247 and 263-271. + Scottish Naturalist, vol. i., p. 226. Very rare. Stonechat.-Pratincola rubicola (Lin.). Rare. Common. Missel Thrush.-Turdus viscivorus, Lin. Rare, but increasing in numbers annually. Song Thrush.-Turdus musicus, Lin. Common in all the wooded parts of the district. Redwing.-Turdus iliacus, Lin. winter. Common in autumn and Has been observed to remain all summer in this neigh bourhood.* Fieldfare.-Turdus pilaris, Lin. An autumn and winter visitant like the last-named species. Blackbird.-Turdus merula, Lin. Very common. Ring Ouzel.-Turdus torquatus, Lin. Not common, but is sometimes seen on the moors at Aberdour and on Mormond Hill. Dipper.-Cinclus aquaticus, Bechstein. Breeds on all the burns and rivers, and at the Loch of Strathbeg. Wren.-Troglodytes parvulus, Koch. Very generally dis tributed. Gold-crest.--Regulus cristatus, Koch. Rare. Willow Wren.-Phylloscopus trochilus (Lin.). Common in summer. Wood Wren.-Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Bechst.). A specimen was procured by Mr. W. Craibe Angus, at Fyvie Castle, in 1862, when he took the nest and eggs.† Two others were seen and one shot at Gourdas, Fyvie, in the beginning of May, 1872.‡ Whitethroat.-Sylvia rufa (Boddaert). during the summer months. Occasionally seen Blackcap.-Sylvia atricapilla (Lin.). Mr. G. Sim, Gourdas, Fyvie, shot one on 27th April, 1872, which was the second specimen of this species seen in the locality.§ Reed Warbler.-Acrocephalus streperus (Vieillot). Breeds in suitable localities round the Loch of Strathbeg. Probably the Sedge Warbler, Calamodus schoenobanus, is meant here. Great Titmouse.-Parus major, Lin. are large woods, and increasing every year. Numerous where there * Yarrell's British Birds, 3rd edition, vol. i., p. 218. + Gray's "Birds of West of Scotland," p. 97. § Scot. Nat., vol. i., p. 226. || Nat., vol. iv., pp. 239-247 and 263-271. Blue Titmouse.-Parus coeruleus, Lin. Also common in the wooded parts of the district, and is seen in greater numbers every year. Coal Titmouse.-Parus ater, Lin. Commoner than either of the two last-named species. Long-tailed Titmouse.-Acredula caudata (Lin.). Rare. I have seen it only in one place, near Aberdour, among some birch trees close to the Brucklay Castle keeper's house. OBS. Great Gray Shrike.-Lanius excubitor, Lin. A specimen was caught in the rigging of a ship about sixty miles off the coast of Aberdeenshire, and it was brought into the harbour of Fraserburgh alive. This was on the 8th October, 1860.* Red-backed Shrike.—Lanius collurio, Lin. Mentioned in a list of the birds of Peterhead prepared by Mr. Adam Arbuthnot, which is published in the New Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xii., p. 351. The specimen is a male, and was obtained about the year 1833. It is still in the museum at Peterhead. Waxwing.-Ampelis garrulus, Lin. Regular winter visitant. One was killed in the gar In severe winters tolerably common. den at Kinmundy, near Peterhead, about the beginning of April, 1851. Many others have been seen and killed at Brucklay, Loch of Strathbeg, &c. Pied Flycatcher.-Muscicapa atricapilla, Lin. In May, 1849, one was killed in a plantation at Brucklay Castle. Another was killed at Peterhead in May, 1872, on the authority of Mr. G. Sim, naturalist, Aberdeen.§ Mr. Henderson, gamekeeper to Mrs. Gordon of Cluny, tells me that two were killed, near Pitfour, by Mr. Grant, keeper to Col. Ferguson, of Pitfour, about the same time as the Brucklay one. Spotted Flycatcher.—Muscicapa grisola, Lin. An occasional visitor. Pied Wagtail.-Motacilla lugubris, Temminck. breeds at the Loch of Strathbeg. Common, and Gray Wagtail.-Motacilla sulphurea, Bechst. Rare, but a few pairs are to be seen every year on or near the shore. Yellow Wagtail.-Motacilla raii (Bonaparte). This graceful bird is to be found on the sandy hillocks covered with bent grass * Zoologist, vol. xviii., p. 7235. + Zool., vol. viii., p. 2651. † Nat., vol. i., p. 147. § Scot. Nat., vol. i., p. 226. on the shore near St. Fergus, between Strathbeg and the sea, where it breeds. Meadow Pipit.-Anthus pratensis (Lin.). Very common. Breeds among the bent grass on the seashore, and on the inland moors. Rock Pipit.-Anthus obscurus (Latham). Very common along the coast. Hedge Sparrow.-—Accentor modularis (Lin.). Pretty numerous. Bullfinch.-Pyrrhula europaea, Vieill. Increasing rapidly in numbers. In the woods at Brucklay Castle, consisting chiefly of spruce and birch, I have seen a good many lately. Greenfinch.--Ligurinus chloris (Lin.). Very common. Goldfinch.-Carduelis elegans, Stephens. Not so common as it used to be; still a few are to be seen occasionally. Siskin. Carduelis spinus (Lin.). Rare. This species is mentioned by Edwards as being a rare visitor in the neighbourhood of Strathbeg.* Lesser Redpoll.-Linota rufescens (Vieill.). Breeds numerously in the higher parts of this district, but is rare near the coast, and is not known to breed there. One flew against the lighthouse at Fraserburgh on 11th October, 1854. Mr. Thomas Ferguson, of Alton, Mintlaw, writes me that he found a specimen of this bird dead in the snow outside his window last winter (1879), and that he never saw it before in this part of Buchan. Linnet.-Linota cannabina (Lin.). Breeds plentifully on the sandy mounds covered with bent grass along this coast. Twite.-Linota flavirostris (Lin.). Rarer than the last-mentioned species. Breeds on the same ground. Localities on east coast scarcer than in the west. Chaffinch.-Fringilla coelebs, Lin. Very common. Brambling.-Fringilla montifringilla, Lin. Often seen in winter, especially in severe winters, in company with the Yellow and Snow Buntings. Common. House Sparrow.-Passer domesticus (Lin.). Crossbill.-Loxia curvirostra, Lin. Rare. Six specimens (3) males and 3 females) were killed at Craigston, near Turriff, by Mr. Pollock Urquhart's gamekeeper. It is included in Mr. Adam Arbuthnot's list of the birds of Peterhead, and is mentioned in the * Nat., vol. iv., p. 263-271. + Nat., vol. iv., p. 225. |