7 8 The Scottish Naturalist. 



must be several broods of it throughout the year, for it is found 

 in fine condition from April to September. 



Lvc/ENA Alsus. — This delicate little butterfly, the smallest 

 of our native species, is rather local, though generally distributed 

 throughout the district. It is in some plenty on the sand hills, 

 and along the banks of the line of railway from Monkton to 

 Troon. 



L. Alexis is a very abundant insect, and is generally dis- 

 tributed over all the county. Its habitats are grassy meadows 

 and pasture-lands, and it may be found from June to September. 



L. Artaxerxes is by no means common in Ayrshire, and 

 is local in its distribution. The locality where it used to be 

 captured has undergone considerable alterations, and I fear it 

 has been completely extirpated from the place where we were 

 wont to find it in some plenty. It is also found on the rising 

 ground near Loch Doon. 



Thanaos Tages. — This species is generally distributed 

 throughout the county and not unfrequently found on dry 

 heaths and commons, in the neighbourhood of Troon, in the 

 month of May ; especially where the Lotus corniculatus (Bird's- 

 foot trefoil), the food of the larvce, grows in abundance, 



NOTES ON SOME OF THE RARE BIRDS THAT HAVE BEEN 

 OBTAINED IN THE EAST OF FIFE DURING RECENT YEARS. 



By ROBERT WALKER, F.G.S.E. 



ALL the birds given in the following list have come under 

 my own observation, with the exception of two which 

 I give on the authority of Mr. R. Gray ; the names are after 

 Yarrell. 



White-tailed Eagle ( ' Hal'uvctus albicilla). — A young speci- 

 men of this eagle was shot at Kinkell rocks, close to the edge 

 of the sea, on the 29th December, 1866. 



Peregrine Falcon ( Falco peregripus). — Occasionally seen. 

 There was a male shot at Eden, in February, 1864, while 

 making off with a Golden Plover which he had just caught, 



