I 9 6 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



nest. I am inclined to believe that the hen did this part of 

 the work. The nest had been commenced on the preceding 

 day, I think, and was not far advanced in construction. 

 The collection I alluded to was not deposited in a heap, 

 but spread over an area of about two square yards, and 

 would never have been observed by me, or, if it had, I should 

 not have discovered its significance. 



I saw many Willow Wrens in pairs in the neighbourhood 

 of the Pool of Virkie, and I am certain that many of them 

 must have bred there this year. 



NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF THE ST. MARY'S 

 LOCH DISTRICT, SELKIRKSHIRE. 



By JAMES M'L. MARSHALL, M.B.O.U. 



THESE notes were made during a three months' stay in the 

 district, from ipth April to I9th July 1900, most of the time 

 being spent on the sheep-farm of Henderland ; others were 

 made about Rodono, and during my wanderings on the hills. 

 I have added the names of a few birds at the end of the list 

 which I did not actually see myself, but about which I got 

 a few notes from the keeper. 



MISSEL THRUSH (Turdus viscivorus). A few scattered pairs. I under- 

 stand it does not occur in the neighbourhood of the loch during 

 winter. 



SONG THRUSH (Turdus inusicus). Not numerous, is absent during 

 the winter months. 



FIELDFARE (Turdus pilaris). Large flocks arrive in the autumn. 

 On 5th May my brother and I saw a single bird; the last few 

 days had been very stormy and wet. 



BLACKBIRD ( Turdus merula). Fairly numerous. During mild winters 

 they stay down about the loch, but Sim says he has never seen 

 them up at Meggat. 



RING OUZEL (Turdus torquatus). On igth April I saw three, two 

 males and a female, between Innerleithen and Rodono. That 

 evening I heard from Sim that he had seen the first of the 

 season on the xyth. By 2Qth April they were quite numerous, 

 and almost every hill burn had its pair. I saw the first nest 



