LOXIA PYTIOPSITTACUS [_Parrot Crossbill_].
While walking one morning round the Whinhill, and just as I reached the south side, I was rather surprised at hearing the voice of what I knew to be a stranger. On looking to a low, bare wall, about three or four yards in front of me, I beheld, in all his pride and beauty, a male parrot crossbill. This is the only instance, to my knowledge, of its existence amongst us.
LOXIA LEUCOPTERA [_White-Winged Crossbill_].
About fifty years ago, a large flock of these birds suddenly made their appearance on the “Castle trees,” in this neighbourhood. Their strange appearance and gaudy plumage soon attracted notice,—nearly the whole town flocking to see the “foreigners.” They appeared quite exhausted, many of them dropping from the trees.
The starling has been rapidly increasing of late years. At one time single starlings were rarely to be seen, whereas flocks of this bird now appear towards the close of every season.
STURNUS PREDATORIUS [_The Red-Winged Starling_].
A pretty bird which occasionally visits this county.
This is another rare beauty, occasionally seen in this county.
A few of these birds inhabit the precipitous parts of the coast, where they breed in company with the falcon, kestrel, gull, guillemot, etc. The raven will tame pretty well; it will talk hoarsely, and do mischievous tricks.
Both occur in about equal numbers. (See p. 271.)
Many large rookeries exist in the county. (See p. 126.)
One of the most bashful of birds. It is very sparingly distributed, and in some places is scarcely known. Our keepers both shoot and trap them wherever found.
PICUS MAJOR [_Greater Spotted Woodpecker_].
Several pairs of this showy bird have been procured within our district. It is also found in the higher parts of the county. A specimen was shot near Banff, and when dissected, its stomach was found crammed with two species of grub, of a creamy or grayish colour. It contained also several beetles and a small spider.
PICUS MINOR [_Lesser Spotted Woodpecker_].
More rare than the last. One sent to me, fourteen years since, from Mayen, where it was shot, and another seen on the Lodge hills, are all that I am aware of. Very probably others have occurred.