i8o ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



There were no marks of any violence upon it. On dissection, the 

 ovaries were found to be somewhat enlarged. Two examples of this 

 species, believed to have been shot in the district about 1855, are 

 in Montrose Museum. So far as we have heard, there are no other 

 records for north-eastern Scotland. T. F. and W. J. DEWAR, 

 Arbroath. 



Red-backed Shrike in Forfarshire. On the morning of 2ist 



O 



May I noticed a male Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio] on the 

 farm of West Kirkton about half a mile from Arbroath. It was not 

 at all shy, and was under observation, usually at a distance of within 

 twenty or thirty yards, for half an hour. It flew from post to post 

 of a wire fence. When at last it flew off over the field, it was 

 accompanied by another bird which, I thought, might be its mate. 

 In the evening of the same day I saw it again. Next day I found 

 both birds together, and so tame that I was able to observe them 

 for several minutes. In the afternoon my brother visited the spot 

 and saw the male bird only. On each of the six following days I 

 visited the place, but no further sign of either bird was seen. I 

 have never seen the species farther north than the Fame Islands, on 

 which I observed one in May 1892. It seems to be extremely 

 rare in this county, there being only one record, that of a specimen 

 shot near Montrose about 1864. T. F. DEWAR, Arbroath. 



[An adult male -Red-backed Shrike was seen at Innerwick in 

 East Lothian on the 25th of May. These birds were probably 

 migrants on their way to their breeding-haunts in Scandinavia. 

 W. E. C.] 



The Goldfinch in West Lothian. It may be interesting to note 

 that on the ist of January last I saw three Goldfinches (Carduetis 

 degans\ in company with a number of other birds, on an elm tree in 

 a field near East Craigie Farm, Dalmeny Park; and on the igth 

 February I saw a single bird of this species very near the same 

 place. BRUCE CAMPBELL, Edinburgh. 



Note on the Siskin in Kirkcudbright. These pretty little birds 

 have become rather uncertain visitants to our neighbourhood within 

 recent years. Formerly they were more regular, and a few nested 

 in certain localities. Indeed, the species was found nesting in 

 Britain for the first time in the woods of Shambellie, adjoining the 

 picturesque little village of Newabbey. During March several 

 flocks and lesser parties of Siskins were noted in the seaward 

 parishes of the Stewartry. R. SERVICE, Maxwelltown. 



Curious Nesting-site of the Marsh Titmouse. Whilst 

 walking along the bank of the Fiddler's Burn, near Braidwood, 

 Lanarkshire, on the 28th May, one of my companions directed my 

 attention to what seemed a mass of rubbish on a tree growing on 

 the opposite bank of the stream. Thinking it well to make 



