138 Transactions. 



weight is fi-om ten to twelve ounces. The long-eared species is 

 still the most numerous in the district, the tawny and short-eared 

 species comes next, while the barn owl appears to be the scarcest 

 of all. 



On the 19th of November Mr Hume, gunsmith, brought me a 

 fine specimen of the shoveller duck (Spatula Clypeata), which had 

 been sent him from the parish of Carlaverock. This species is 

 chiefly a winter visitor, although a few remain with us all the 

 year round. 



A specimen of the grey ^XmA&vot^q ( Phalaropus fidicariousj yv&s 

 sent to me from Gribton on 24th November. Two or three speci- 

 mens were obtained during the winter of 1892-93, but so far as I 

 can learn the specimen refeiTcd to is the only one recorded during 

 the past winter. 



A specimen of the Little Auk (MerguUus dlle) was found on 

 the railway near Loch Skerrow on 20th December. About the 

 same time a specimen was picked up in the streets of Sanquhar, 

 and another was found a month later on Eskdalemuir, near 

 Lockerbie. All three specimens were obtained immediately after 

 stormy weather. 



On the 3rd of February Mr Davidson, fisherman, sent me a 

 beautiful adult male specimen of the red-breasted merganser 

 (Mergus Serrator). Immature specimens are frequently met with 

 in the Solway. It is on very rare occasions that adult male birds 

 are found. 



Mr Turner gave me a specimen of the fork -tailed petrel 

 (Proccllaria leiicorrhoa) to set up. It was caught in the nets on 

 Carlaverock shore in the beginning of January. This species 

 breeds on St. Kilda, and is known to many as the St. Kilda Petrel. 



About the end of February a specimen of the great grey 

 shrike or butcher bird (Laniits excubitor) was brought to me from 

 Terregles village. It is two years since a sj^ecimen was recorded. 



A specimen of the common buzzard (Buteo vulgaris) was sent 

 to me during the winter from Newabbey parish. These birds are 

 annually becoming scarcer owing to the incessant war waged 

 against them by gamekeepers, who imagine that the larger the 

 bird the more harm it must do. Now, the common buzzard preys 

 very little upon birds of any kind, its principal food being rats, 

 mice, moles, and young rabbits. Indeed, the crop of the specimen 

 referred to was distended with rabbit's flesh when opened. Several 



