Transactio)iAi. 45 



brought from a distance, I'ounded and polished by water and ice. 

 These might have been obtained at or near the spot where they 

 stand, but the seven others have been detached from the living 

 rock by some ancient quarrying process. The nearest point 

 where such rock could be obtained is the hills in the vicinity of 

 Irongray Church. An inci-easing interest attaches to these 

 curious cup-markings, as it is now ascertained that they are not 

 confined to the north of Scotland, nor even to Britain, but are 

 to be found all over the world. Their object and use is yet 

 unascertained. 



II. Notes on the Ancient Bronze Implements and Weapons in the 



National Museum oj' Aiitiquities in Edinburgh. 



By Mr G. F. Black. 



In this paper the writer gave a detailed description of a few 



typical forms of ancient bronze implements, itc, and the only 



local specimen referred to was a bronze knife-dagger, found near 



Glenluce by the Rev. G. Wilson. This speciiiien, Mr Black says, 



measures 3 inches by 1;^ at the butt. The point is broken, and 



the tang is a good deal wasted, but still bears the mark of the 



heft. The blade is two-edged, and slightly bevelled at the edges. 



It is the only one not actually found in connection with an 



interment; but as fragments of urns were found in the sand 



near it, there can be no doubt that it was connected with a 



burial, 



III. Notes on Local Ornithology. By Mr W. Hastings. 



As far as my observation has gone, this last season has not 

 been very productive of much that can properly be called rare in 

 the bird line, although I have had a number of curiosities in their 

 way. In the month of December I had a fine specimen of a 

 young barn owl — Aliico Flammeus — brought me. It was covered 

 with beautiful white down, a very unusual time for the barn owl 

 to have its nest ; and at the time I received it, it would not be 

 above three weeks old. In the beginning of May this year, I 

 received a nice specimen of a white crow, and a few days later I 

 got a specimen of a blue one, both curious. I have before had 

 specimens of the white, but never of the blue ; of course 

 they were both young birds. About the beginning of last month 

 I received a specimen of the snow-bunting — Plectrophanes Nivalis 

 (L.) — which was much earlier than I had ever seen them before. 



