Transactions. 137 



Sjyecularia hyhrida. — Has been gathered in Fife and Hadding- 

 ton as a casual. 



I have omitted mention of such plants as Cypripidium, 

 Cacaulis daucoides, Bupleurum rotundifolium and tenuissimum, 

 Papaver hybridum and Ranunculus paviflorus as not likely to be 

 atives of Scotland. 



It will be seen that since 18G8, the date of Baker's Flora of 

 Northumberland and Durham, that many records northwards have 

 been made, hence it is interesting historically to review now and 

 again the status of dubious native species in Scotland that " thin 

 out " rapidly northwards from the mid-English counties. 



In Dumfries, especially, a large number of alien species and 

 escapes evidently occur ; and, so much is this a feature of the 

 flora, that care should be used to show these plants plainly as not 

 natives or entering into the real flora of the county. 



2. — Or7iithological Notes for iSgj. 

 By Mr HUGH Mackay, Dumfries. 



Within the past twelve months several interesting specimens 

 have come under my notice which are not altogether unworthy of 

 note. The appearance of the quail in such unusual numbers in the 

 district last summer is already too well known to require mention. 

 During the months of July and August I received large numbers 

 of owls from various parts of the country. The long-eared species 

 were by far the moat numerous, and from their emaciated condition 

 it was not difiicult to perceive that death was due to starvation, 

 as scarcely one bird out of every dozen had been shot or trapped. 

 This great mortality is attributed principally to the cessation of 

 the vole plague, for when the voles were numerous the owls flocked 

 from all parts of the country atti\acted by the abundant food supply. 

 At first I was inclined to think that this mortality was due to 

 some peculiar disease amongst the long-eared species, as the very 

 few tawny and short-eared owls which were brought to me were 

 in fairly good condition, and had been either shot or trapped. My 

 theory, however, proved incorrect, as I afterwards learned that 

 hundreds of owls had been found dead in other vole infested dis- 

 tricts. Many of these birds were so emaciated that scarcely a 

 particle of flesh remained upon the bones, and several which T 

 weighed averaged from four to six ounces, whereas the normal 



