Volume 9 - Electric Scotland

148 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY
acres of permanent pasture, and the rest is rough
heather, with a considereble portion of the latter given over
hill or
to grouse and deer. The mean summer temperature is 58,
and the mean winter temperature 37. Rain or snow falls
on an average on 190 days, and the mean depth
is
36^inches
annually. The Grampian range crosses the shire
from the west, until the village of Muchals is reached. The
valley (or Howe of the Mearns) is simply a continuation of
the vale of Strathmore.
Many of the birds recorded for Forfarshire on the
western boundary may be justly claimed for Kincardineshire,
as in the older records these finds are simply put down as
being made " at the Montrose Basin." This may indicate
either county, as the Basin at Montrose embraces the western
limit of Kincardineshire as well as the eastern boundary of
Angus. Scattered throughout the county there are a great
number of private collections ; but, generally speaking, these
are composed of birds which have been " set up " more for
ornament than as an indication of the richness of the county
in this special direction. Although the majority of these
might be included, I have refrained in some measure from
acknowledging the same, as neither date nor locality can
now be ascertained.
Where the letters H. and M. are used, the reader will
understand H. stands for the late Colonel H. M. Drummond
Hay of Seggieden, and M. for Mr. John Milne, Auchinblae,
to whose researches I am indebted where these letters are
inserted, and which I
hereby acknowledge.
MISSEL THRUSH. Resident and fairly distributed in inland parts.
The nest may be found in many of the well-wooded portions
of the county.
SONG THRUSH. Breeds in every quarter of the shire. In winter the
lowlands become the feeding-grounds, and if the weather continues
severe, large numbers die. The bird appears to suffer
where a Sparrow would thrive.
REDWING. Seems to arrive singly towards the end of autumn, but
is seldom seen unless the weather farther north is severe.
Stray examples, however, are met now and again even in mild
seasons. I have found more Redwings killed by the medium
of the telegraph wires than any other species.