20 Our Common Migrants. [Sess. 
would be much more common with us than itis. At least 
one pair of them have been frequenting Dalmeny woods since 
November, and it is hoped they may nest this summer. No 
later than yesterday (January 24, 1899), a male bird was seen 
close to Dalmeny mansion-house. It was feeding on an oak 
tree, and was noticed several times to fly up to the small 
branches and break off a gall-nut. This it carried down to a 
cleft in the tree, where it broke the gall-nut open for the sake 
of the grub that was inside. Numbers of gall-nuts, neatly 
split in two, found under oak trees in different parts of the 
estate, showed that this was a favourite food of the bird. 
There is no chance of any of these birds being shot in 
Dalmeny; and from personal interviews with the tenants or 
proprietors, I have been assured they will be equally well 
guarded if they should happen to stray to the neighbouring 
grounds of Craigiehall, Cammo, or Cramond. The woodpecker 
was also noticed in the Dalkeith district on Sunday, so that 
there is a reasonable chance of this fine bird nesting in the 
Lothians. 
[Writing on the 12th of June, Mr Campbell says :— 
“JT am sorry that the expectations we formed in the early 
spring of being able to add the great spotted woodpecker to 
our nesting species in West Lothian have not been fulfilled, as 
far as I am aware. Since the first week in May no trace of 
these birds has been seen in Dalmeny Park, and inquiries 
made outside lead to no better results. I am afraid they have 
gone as suddenly as they came.” | 
At this meeting Dr Traquair, F.R.S., gave a most interesting 
lecture, with lime-light illustrations, on “The Bearing of 
Fossil Ichthyology on the Doctrine of Descent.” 
