ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES. 45 



about. There was a pair, the summer before last, turned a pair of Eavens 

 out of their nest, and took possession of it. I heard of another nest which 

 was built in a tree. 



Sparroio HawJc, (Accipiter nisus.) — On one occasion I climbed a tree to 

 get at a Sparrow Hawk's nest, taking a trap with me to set for the old 

 bird. When I got close up to the nest I saw the female sitting; so I caught 

 it by the tail and pulled it off; but it managed to get away, leaving its tail 

 in my hand. I then set the trap, and next morning caught the tail-less Hawk, 

 though it was only laying. 



The following species occur in our neighbourhood: — 



Raven, (Corvus corax.) — Breeds here. 



Carrion Crow, (Corvus corone.) — Breeds here. When out with my brother 

 one day we found a Carrion Crow's nest, with four eggs, in which my brother 

 set a trap, and at the time he remarked that one of them was singular in 

 its colour. On returning to look at it the Crow was absent, but I climbed 

 the tree to look at the strange egg, and found only three in the nest; so I 

 thought he must have made a mistake in the number. Next day, however, 

 when we went to take up the trap, they were all gone: the trap was not 

 sprung, but the Crow having been seen on its nest that morning, we presumed 

 it had shifted its eggs to a place of greater security. 



HSoded Crow, (Corvus cornix.) — Permanently resident, and breeds on rocks, 

 like the Raven. 



Quail, (Coturnix vulgaris.) 



Kingfisher, (Alcedo Ispida.) 



Snow Bunting, (Plectrophanes nivalis.) 



Bramhling, or Mountain Finch, (Fringilla Montifringilla.) 



Siskin, (Carduelis spinus.) — A winter visitant, in flocks, and generally found 

 about birch trees. 



Mealy Redpole, (Linota caneseens.) 



Lesser Redpole, (Linota linaria.) 



Mountain Linnet, or Twite, (Linota montium.) 



Common Grosshill, (Loxia Curvirostra.) — I believe this bird breeds here, 

 although I have never been able to find its nest yet. 



Nightjar, (Capri mulgus Europoeus.) 



Chough, (Fregilus graculus.) — Breeds at Garlieston, Wigtonshire. I took 

 a nest with young ones this year. 



Lapioing, (Vanellus cristatus.) — On one occasion my brother and I found 

 a Peewit's nest with three eggs, and tried to blow them; but after making 

 very large holes in them, we discovered that they were within a day or two 

 of being hatched; so we plugged up the ends of one of the eggs with moss, 

 and put it back into the nest. We had got too far with the other one, 

 however, and we took out the young bird; it was quite lively, and seemed 

 ready to come out. We left the place, and had gone a short way only, 

 when we found we had forgot a trap; so we went back for it, and 



