154 BIED8 OF GLENCAIRN. 



Black-headed Gull {Lams ridibundus). 



Remains with us the whole year in considerable numbers. 

 It was noticed that a great many died this spring during the 

 nesting time, without doubt through lack of food, caused by the 

 prolonged drought, which sent worms well out of sight and 

 reach. At Loch Urr, the nearest nesting place, fully sixty per 

 cent, of the young birds must have died through starvation, and 

 those that survived were very weak and thin. 



Common Gull, Blue-head, ou Sea Mew, Blue-Maa {Lams 

 can us). 

 Although not so numerous as the black-headed, is fairly 

 plentiful, and is especially noticeable in the autumn. Nests as a 

 rule near the sea. 



Lesser Black-backed Gull {L.fuscus). 



This gull may be generally noticed in April, frequenting the 

 hill-sides in search of carrion, and even attacking lambs, especially 

 weakly ones. In Dumfriesshire it principally breeds on the 

 Solway Firth. 



Herring Gull {L. argentatus. Gmelhi). 

 An occasional wanderer only. 



Female Birds taking the Male Plumage. 



A number of years ago I remember three grey hens being 

 shot in one day, each of which had assimilated to a large extent 

 the plumage of the blackcock. This season I watched a hen 

 pheasant that was accustomed and had come for several years to 

 be fed with bread crumbs at a certain house in the parish, which 

 had a most complete imitation of the cock pheasant, a most 

 perfect green neck, and white ring, but no comb nor spurs. The 

 breast feathers lacked the rich black tips and sheen of the male, 

 otherwise the imitation was most exact. 



Mr Service said he had listened with exceeding pleasure to 

 Dr Martin's paper. Considering that Glencairn was an inland 

 parish far removed from the sea, and without large sheets of 

 water, and sea birds consequently being rare, the list Dr Martin 

 had given was a very good one. It also contained many notes 

 of interest and value. He noticed with peculiar pleasure 



