288 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



bers in the neighbourhood of Girvan. In a nest taken by Mr 

 Anderson one of the eggs was not much larger than a pea. It is 

 permanently resident, and, so far as we can learn, there are no 

 winter flocks in our district from other quarters. 



The Yellow Bunting, or Yellow Hammer (Emheriza citrinella). 



This bunting is very common in all the lower grounds under 

 cultivation. During the warm season of 1868 it appeared to be 

 unusually abundant in Wigtownshire, and attracted notice by its 

 assembling on the public roads during the excessive heat. They 

 seemed to be the only birds visible, and harmonised curiously 

 with the golden tmts pervading all surrounding objects. 



FBINGILLIDM 



The Chaffinch {Fiingilla ccelebs). 



Very common everjr^Jiere, and a familiar visitant to farm-stead- 

 ings even when situated in moorland localities. Mr Anderson 

 found a nest of this species built on the top of a wall at Enoch 

 Farm, beside a bit of turf Two other nests were situated in a 

 tree only a few feet from the spot. A tame Chaffinch at Penkill 

 Castle lived in confinement upwards of seventeen years; it was 

 taken from the nest, and carefully supplied with insect food, 

 which doubtlessly accounts for its prolonged life in captivity. 



The Mountain Finch, or Brajnibling {Fringilla montifringilla). 



A regular winter visitant, but only in small numbers, except in 

 unusually severe weather. It then appears at farm-steadings, 

 mixing with sparrows, chaffinches, yellow hammers, and green 

 linnets; and is often caught by country boys, Avho cage their 

 captives in triumph, as the Cock o the North. 



The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). 



Extremely common. A colony of these birds have taken pos- 

 session of a numl:)er of holes in a broken embankment above a 

 deep pool in the Water of Girvan on Enoch Farm. Dr Anderson 

 turned out many of tlieir nests containing eggs ; these had been 

 placed on beds of material laid there by a colony of sand martins, 

 the original owners of the holes. Frequent battles were fought 

 by the martins and sparrows for possession, and these were in on^ 



