56 Transactions. 



but for half a century at least they havt^, been unknown. A dead 

 specimen of the common Tern or Sea Swallow was picked up at 

 Marwhirn, three miles north of Moniaive, on the 2nd October 

 last. It measured 12i^ inches in length, and was probably a first 

 year's bird. A pair of Wild Swans were shot in the district on 

 the 20tli December. They weighed 15 lbs. a-piece, and measured 

 5 feet in length. This is the first time I have known these birds 

 to occur in Glencairn. 



2. — Recent Zoological Additions to the Kirkcudbright Museum. 

 By Mr John M'Kie. 



A male specimen of the Shoveller, Spoon-bill Duck, or Broad- 

 bill (spatula clypeta), Mras brought to the Museum on the 23rd 

 of February. It was shot in a secluded loch in the parish of 

 Twynholm, about three miles from Kirkcudbright. Though glad 

 to receive such a fine specimen, yet it is a pity that the pair, 

 which were for some time in the above locality, had not been left 

 undisturbed in their solitary haunt, where very probably they 

 might have bred. For though the Shoveller is generally con- 

 sidered as a winter visitor to this country, yet some occasionally 

 remain to breed ; but owing to the extensive system of drainage in 

 this district, however, few localities now remain suited to their habits. 

 The nest of the Shoveller is generally placed in a tuft of grass 

 where the ground is quite dry, and is made of fine grass, the eggs 

 being from 8 to 14 in number and of a greenish buff colour. 

 This adult male has a lead-coloured bill, dilated on each side to- 

 wards the tip, the irrides yellow, the whole of the head and upper 

 part of the neck green, lower part of the neck, the interscupulars, 

 scupulars, and some of the tertials white, middle of the back dark 

 brown, the point of the wing, the lesser wing coverts, and outer 

 web of some of the tertials pale blue ; greater wing coverts white, 

 primaries dark brown, nearly black, the secondaries the same, but 

 the speculum green ; rump, upper tail coverts, and tail feathers 

 almost black ; breast and all the belly a rich chestnut brown ; 

 thighs freckled with dark brown, on a ground of lighter pale 

 brown ; the back white ; under tail coverts black ; legs, toes, and 

 their membranes reddish orange ; the nails black. 



The female shot at Kirkmahoe has the head and neck mottled 

 with two shades of brown, the feathers on the upper surface of 



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