Transactions. 61 



have rarely seen it. A specimen of the Sclavonian Grebe (P. 

 comutus, Gm.) was sent from Lochmaben in Decembei-. I had 

 numerous Little Grebes (P. minor, Gm.) — some of them were 

 sent alive, but in a dying condition. Several Manx Sbearwatere 

 (Pujffinus anglorum, 2'emm.) were sent me from the Sol way Firth: 

 this species seems to be more frequently met with these last 

 few years. 



In October I had an immature Richardson's Skua ( Stercorarius 

 crepidatus, Gin.), which was jirocured in Hensol meadows. Some 

 specimens of the Chough were sent from the neighbourhood of 

 Stranraer. This bird used to be not infrequently met with on the 

 Colvend shore, but it is now extinct there. I had two fine 

 female Peregrines— birds of the year from Auchencairn. They 

 also ai"e becoming scarcer on our coast. Two specimens of the 

 Grey Phalarope (P/uilarojncs fulicarius, L.) were received from 

 the Glenkeus. I had a large number of Snow Buntings ; they 

 seemed to be plentiful in sevei-al localities. One si)ecimen of the 

 Greater Spotted Woodpecker (Picus nuijor, 1 .) and one of the 

 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (P. minor, L.) passed through my 

 hands during the winter. In March a Wryneck from near Kirk- 

 cudbright was sent to me for preservation. A Hawfinch, the only 

 one I ever possessed, was sent from Wigtownshire ; a few of the 

 Bartailed Godwit ( Limosa lapponica, L.) from the Solway Firth. 

 Water Kail (liallus acpuiticus, L.) and Spotted Crake (Porzana 

 mo/ruetta. Leach) have been sent during the season. None of 

 these are of common occurrence here. I had also a young Cuckoo, 

 nearly white, from Slogai-ie — a gi'eat curiosity so far as colour was 

 concerned. An unusual number of Kingfishers (Alcedo ispida, 

 L.) have been sent in during the winter. The Long-eared Owl 

 Asio otus, L.) seems to have been iinusually plentiful, and many 

 specimens of the Shoi-t-eared OyfXfAsio accijntnnus, Pallas) have 

 also been procured. The last-named species has almost invariably 

 in its stomach remains of the Field Vole and Wood Mouse. A 

 few Common Buzzards (Buteo vulgaris, J each) were sent in, 

 but none of the Rough-legged species, which I have not seen 

 since 1874. 



