Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/82

56 (Passer domesticus).—Common about the houses and in the oat-stubbles near the farms; not going far from human habitations, and nowhere in large flocks.

(Linota flavirostris).—Small flocks of five to twelve were seen every day feeding on the stubbles, while occasionally a few were observed on the heather. I am not sufficiently acquainted with the note of this bird to distinguish it from that of the Linnet, but the slimness and greater comparative length of tail were conspicuous points of difference, while, with the glasses, the yellow beak could be made out. They were always very restless, and not nearly so tame as most of the other birds.

(Plectrophenax nivalis).—A single bird of this species was seen on the moors on Oct. 10th; the main flocks had not arrived by the 18th.

(Alauda arvensis).—Not very numerous; a few were generally to be seen in the grassy meadows, and around the edges of the loch; they seemed to prefer places that were somewhat wet and boggy to the drier parts of the meadows. A few were also seen on the "brakes" (pieces of enclosed moorland not yet cultivated), but none were noticed on the moorland itself.

(Sturnus vulgaris).—Every evening a vast flock of some thousands assembled at sunset on the few small trees in the garden at Grœmeshall, quite blackening the almost bare branches. At the same time the ridges of the roofs and "crowsteps" of the gables would be similarly occupied, while a ring of birds were seated round the edge of every chimney-pot. A little later on, and apparently by signal, they would all rise in a great cloud, and go off to roost on the reeds in the loch. During the day there were comparatively few to be seen; one or two small flocks were always feeding round the loch edge, and a few were constantly about the farm-buildings, but where the vast numbers that assembled at evening came from was a mystery. The tameness of those about the house was absurd; when disturbed from the chicken-run they would fly on to the wall, and sit chattering within six or eight feet of one. The majority of the birds were immature, in a plumage that I had not noticed before, the head and neck being a dull russet-brown, while the rest of the body was in the speckled glossy plumage.

(Corvus monecula).—A large colony inhabited the