294 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



The Jay {Gamilus glandarius). 



Even less numerous than the magpie, althougli rivalUng it in 



beauty of phunage. Its thievish habits form the universal apology 



for its destruction ; but no sensible ornithologist, we think, would 



object to a few jays being left to enliven and beautify our woods. 



INSESSORES. 



SCANSORES. PICID^. 



Great Spotted Woodpecker (Piais major). 

 This Woodpecker, which of late years has become rather a com- 

 mon Avinter visitant to the eastern districts of Scotland, has been 

 obtained several times in Ayrshire, and once on the outskirts of 

 the county. One was shot at Cumnock; another at Fullarton, 

 near Troon, on 2d November, 1868; and a third, about five weeks 

 later, near Ajo-. For these notices we are indebted to Mr Oliver 

 Eaton, bird preserver, Kilmarnock. A specimen was shot at 

 Inverkip, Eenfrewshire, in October of the same year. This locality 

 is very close to the boundary of our district. 



CERTHIAB.^. 



The Common Creeper (Certhia familiaris). 

 Well known in both counties, and permanently resident in 

 woods and patches of plantation attractive to a bird of its habits. 



The Wren (Troglodi/fes vulgaris). 



Common everywhere. It frequents Ailsa Craig, where it ap- 

 parently remains all the year. Great numbers of winter nests are 

 found underneath the abrupt banks of the water of Girvan. 

 These structures are of small size, and without any lining. 



There is a cream-coloured variety of this bird in the collection 

 of Mr Eaton, Kihnarnock. It was shot near that town. 



The Hoopoe (Ujnqm epops). 



Mr Yarrell states, in his " British Birds," that a specimen of 

 the hoopoe was killed in Aj^rshire, without, however, specifying 

 any particular locality. This record probably refers to a specimen 

 shot near Coylton, in Ayrshire, on IGth October, 1836 — an occur- 

 rence which is noted in the " Magazine of Geology and Botany," 

 Vol. I., page 491, on the authority of Mr P. W. Maclagan. 



Mr Gray was lately informed by Mr Stewart of Tonderghie, 



