178 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



ft majus, Wittr. Rare. Ross Strathpeffer ; Aberdeen 

 Upper Powlair in Birse ; Kincardine Dalbrake, 

 and Bogandreep in Strachan ; Forfar Glen Clova 

 and Clova Tableland; Perth Folotry Loch in 

 Fowlis Wester ; Argyle near Kingshouse. 



Forma minor, Wille. Very rare. Perth Ben Lawers. 



178. C. Wiitrockii, Lundell. Very rare. Aberdeen near Heugh- 

 head, Aboyne. 



ZOOLOGICAL NOTES. 



Great Gray Shrike in the Solway District. A specimen of 

 this scarce winter visitant was secured at Terregles on Feburary 

 1 5th, and I had the opportunity of inspecting it while in the hands 

 of Mr. Mackay for preservation. Out of a large number of local 

 specimens of Lanius excubitor that I have seen from time to time, it 

 is the only one in which no trace could be found of the vermicula- 

 tions usually so conspicuous on the feathers of the under parts. I 

 should suppose from this that the bird is fully adult. ROBERT 

 SERVICE, Maxwelltown. 



Nesting- of the Great Spotted Woodpecker in Berwickshire. 



I am glad to inform the readers of the " Annals " that the Great 

 Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major} is nesting this season in 

 Duns Castle woods. Mr. John Fergusson, factor on the Duns estate, 

 a most careful and accurate observer, having got a hint about the 

 bird being seen, went with the keepers, and, concealing themselves, 

 after half an hour's wait saw the female bird go into a round hole in 

 the boll of an old ash tree, about 20 feet from the ground, and feed 

 her young, who were heard quite distinctly. There is reason to 

 believe that this bird bred in the Duns Castle woods last year. Is 

 there any instance well authenticated of the Great Spotted Wood- 

 pecker nesting in Scotland ? CHARLES STUART, Chirnside. 



[This Woodpecker is believed to have been a resident, and hence 

 a breeding species, in Scotland clown to about the middle of the 

 present century, since which date, however, there is no reliable 

 evidence, that we are aware of, that the species has nested in 

 Scotland. Dr. Stuart's record we regard as of the greatest interest. - 

 EDS.] 



Swift in Mull. As I have only once seen the Swift (Cypselus 

 apus] in Mull, and never heard of a nest in the island, I venture to 

 call attention to a statement in "The Field" of 5th May last, wherein 

 it is stated that this bird breeds in Mull. I do not find this 

 corroborated by the information afforded in the " Fauna of Argyll 

 and the Inner Hebrides."- P. C. MACKENZIE, Linlithgow. 



