Natural History Notes. 37 



district. Doubtless many starved to death, but tlie following 

 winter I put up no less than nine one afternoon from the Kirk- 

 land meadow, Terregles. Observations at Heligoland show that 

 many birds not generally regarded as migratory, such as hawks, 

 crows, «kc., do cross the sea in immense numbers, and probably 

 even very rare species are constantly passing over our district 

 unknown to the keenest observer. Favourable conditions would 

 make them stay. The black-headed gull has now ceased to nest 

 at CoUochan. Terregles. Some years ago they bred there in 

 hundreds on the floating islands and in the reeds round the edge 

 of the loch. The gales of late years have driven these islands to 

 the sides, and it is thought by some that the risk of attacks from 

 the land has thus caused the gulls to quit. Another cause has 

 been suggested to me. There are a good many coots on the loch, 

 and they have developed a taste for eggs. The tenant of Collochan 

 tells me that he has often seen them eating the eggs of the gulls, 

 and that he caught them robbing a turkey's nest some way from 

 the loch. It is good news to hear that the jay is being seen at 

 many places in Dumfriesshire, probably the result of Sir Herbert 

 Maxwell's importation of several into Western Galloway. I 

 heard of one being seen by some friends of mine about three 

 miles from Dumfries in Troqueer parish. From the description 

 there is no doubt in my mind that the bird seen was a jay. 



A fact about fish culture may be interesting. The late Captain 

 Maxwell introduced a few roach and dace fry into the ponds at 

 Terregles some fifteen years ago, with the idea that they would 

 be food for the trout with which the ponds are stocked. After 

 the lapse of ten or twelve years, however, it was found that the 

 roach had increased amazingly, in place of having been eaten as 

 was meant. They devoured all the food put in for the trout, and 

 to get rid of them the water was run olf, so that they were easily 

 caught. Upwards of half a ton of roach were taken out, packed 

 in huge tubs and baskets from the laundry, iu\d carted round the 

 parish for distribution. Being caught at the right season they 

 were good eating, though rather bony, and for three days the 

 whole parish of Terregles smelt of fried tish. T kept some alive, 

 and put them into the moat at Carlaverock Castle and Collochan 

 Loch, and some other places not suitable for trout. 



I have for some years kept as a pet an animal not often seen 

 in this country, a Chinese mongoose. It is a thoroughly 

 domesticated animal, and enjoys complete liberty, spending the 



