206 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



were laid. Gray records a touching incident referring to the 

 song of a Dipper observed near Lanark ("B.W. S.") 



From the Hyndford Bridge it may be watched resting like a 

 miniature duck on the water to dive to the bed of the river, 

 where it may be seen searching for food among the pebbles of the 

 bottom. One very cold morning in the beginning of last April 

 I was much pleased by being the witness of a male bird dis- 

 playing the charms of his dress and voice to his mate. Sitting 

 " bolt upright " and uttering loudly his song, he made the 

 white feathers of his breast stand out straight and conspicuous, 

 giving him the appearance as if a white napkin had been tied 

 around his neck and was hanging down in front. This attitude 

 he went through several times, following in short flights his 

 seemingly irresponsive and inattentive spouse. 



LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE, Acredula caudata (L.) It is noted as scarce 

 in Biggar Parish in 1835 (" S. A."). Mr. Robert Gray, game- 

 keeper, Westraw, has known it nesting in Carmichael Policies. 

 Mr. A. Telfer has kindly informed me that he has seen it several 

 times in Douglasdale : once on a tree in front of his house at 

 Braidlea. Seen frequently in Fiddler's Gill (Mr. D. Pringle). 



GREAT TITMOUSE, Parus major, L., local name " Ox-ee."- -Resident 

 and generally distributed. Chiefly in evidence with the Blue 

 Titmouse in winter. 



COAL TITMOUSE, Parus ater, L. Not so common in winter as 

 preceding and following, but during summer and autumn it is 

 the commonest of all the Tits. 



MARSH TITMOUSE, Parus palustris, L. Gray's remarks on this 

 species (" B. W. S.") may be quoted : " Writing from the Upper 

 Ward of Lanarkshire, Mr. Alston informs me that, though not 

 so numerous as the preceding" (i.e. Coal Titmouse), "the 

 Marsh Tit is not uncommon in his neighbourhood, and nests 

 there regularly, frequenting natural birch woods and pine 

 plantations." I have not observed it in the parish. Mr. D. 

 Pringle reports its presence at Chapel, Braidwood, but tells me 

 that it has not been so common within the last eighteen months. 



BLUE TITMOUSE, Parus cxmleus, L. Resident and common. 



WREN, Troglodytes parmdus, K. L. Koch. Resident ; varying in 

 numbers, being more common during some seasons than others. 



TREE CREEPER, Certhia fa milia ris, L., local name "Woodpecker," 

 " Tree-speeler."- Resident ; rarer than the preceding. Mr. 

 Paterson observed it in Braidlea Burn glen ("Notes"). 



PIED WAGTAIL, Motarilla lugubris, Temminck. Common spring 

 and summer visitor. The most common of all the Wagtails. 



o 



Rarer than usual this season. 



