I2 4 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



and Minnoch in Kirkcudbrightshire, and Mochrum and Castle Lochs 

 in Wigtownshire, and in only one instance, referred to in the July 

 number of the "Annals," did I find any evidence of its presence. 

 This is a great contrast to what obtains among the lochs of East 

 Renfrewshire. It would be interesting if the extension of the Tufted 

 Duck's range was carefully chronicled, not only in the South-West but 

 throughout Scotland. This can be done more satisfactorily when 

 the process is going forward than after it has become a thing accom- 

 plished. It becomes of importance now to know where it does not 

 breed. JOHN PATERSON, Glasgow. 



The Pintail, Great Grey Shrike, and Jay in Renfrewshire. 



On Saturday, 22nd December last, after the great storm, a drake 

 Pintail (Dafila acutd) was shot on one of the Mearns lochs. This 

 duck is of rare occurrence in East Renfrewshire. I only know of 

 another one shot a number of years ago on a small pond in Nether 

 Pollok. On the i2th of February of this year a Great Grey Shrike 

 (Lanius excubitor) was observed on the loch side near to Castle 

 Semple, by George M'Arthur (Mr. J. W. Shand-Harvey's keeper), 

 who shot one near the same place fifteen years since in May. I am 

 not aware of any record of the occurrence of the Jay (Garrulus 

 glandarius) in Renfrewshire, and Mr. Lumsden in his " Notes on the 

 Distribution of the Common Jay in Scotland " (" Scot. Nat.," iii. 

 p. 233) says he has no note of it ever having occurred in this 

 county. In the course of some inquiries on the birds of this 

 district, I am informed by Mr. Allan Gilmour Yr. that he remembers 

 one being shot in the Stonebyres wood about twenty-five years 

 since. JOHN PATERSON, Glasgow. 



Smew in Midlothian. It may interest your readers to know that 

 a friend of mine shot a Smew (Mergus albellus) on the Water of 

 Leith, in Redhall Grounds, near Slateford, on gth February. The 

 specimen is a young male. DAVID CHALMERS, Slateford. 



[We are informed that an adult male Smew was shot on the 

 river Earn, near Crieff, on Tuesday, the 5th of February, by Mr. H. 

 Kelsall. EDS.] 



Brent and Pink -footed Geese on the Solway. The Brent 

 Goose (Bernida brentd) is sufficiently scarce on the Solway to deserve 

 a note. One was shot on the Ken, above New Galloway, at the 

 end of December last, which had evidently been blown inland by 

 the gales. Three others were obtained at about the same time, two 

 at Carsethorne. The Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus] has 

 also put in an appearance in large numbers this winter. One very 

 curious bird was sent to me from Kirkconnell for examination. It 

 was much larger in its dimensions than the largest birds of the 

 species I had previously seen ; was, in fact, fully larger than an 

 average Bean Goose. Its coloration was in all respects the same 



