I04 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



first seen there in 191 5, some eggs were found in 1916, 

 and they have increased rapidly since (i. 191 8, 242). 

 Many Common Gulls nested beside the Black-headed Gulls 

 at North Ronaldshay (Orkney) and Lesser Black-backed 

 Gulls had one nest, the first time our correspondent has 

 known them to nest there. Pheasants and Partridges were 

 plentiful in Banffshire, and Woodcock are increasing greatly 

 as a nesting species in Lauderdale (i. 19 19, 29). 



Turning to scarcity of species in various districts, we 

 find that fewer Rooks nested in the neighbourhood of 

 Beith than in 1917; our correspondent tells us that three 

 of last year's rookeries were deserted. Siskins were 

 scarce at Banff, none being seen in their last summer's 

 breeding-places. Crossbills too were scarce, and only a 

 few Missel-thrushes and Song-thrushes nested in Duff House 

 grounds (Banff); both species are described as being very 

 scarce. This was, however, only a local falling off in 

 numbers, as the same two species are recorded as plentiful 

 in mid-Banffshire. Further scarcity of Thrushes, Blackbirds, 

 and Redbreasts is noted near Turriff, while Lesser Red- 

 polls, Meadow-pipits, Pied Wagtails, Grey Wagtails, Willow- 

 warblers, Wheatears, Dippers, House-martins, Curlew, and 

 Lapwings were below the average numbers in the Kirk- 

 michael district. From Dundee we hear that Meadow- 

 pipits, Grey Wagtails, Pied Wagtails, Whitethroats, 

 House-martins, Swifts, Mallard, Tufted Ducks, Lapwings, 

 and Moorhens were all much below their average numbers ; 

 Blackbirds had decreased slightly, while Wrens are becoming 

 fewer and fewer. Not a single Stonechat bred on Corse- 

 malzie (Wigtownshire) in 1918; usually about fourteen pairs 

 nest, but only a single bird was seen on 22nd May, 

 probably passing through. No Dippers bred in the Malzie 

 Burn where for nearly a hundred years two pairs have 

 nested annually, none was seen on the stream till a 

 single bird appeared on 21st June. Chiffchaffs were 

 absent from Corsemalzie, and only a few Willow-wrens 

 and two or three pairs of Wood-wrens bred. Chiffchaffs 

 and Grasshopper-warblers were not heard at Darvel up 

 to nth May; no Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, nor Pied Flycatchers 



