122 Traiisacfinvs. 



me ; it would be about two weeks old, and was the first I ever 

 had bred in this country. It was from tlie Galloway side. More 

 than twenty years ago, I had two eggs of the Woodcock sent me 

 also from Galloway ; these wei-e deposited in the Observatory 

 Museum. Although this bird does not generally remain here to 

 breed, I have been informed that odd pairs have been met with 

 from time to time in vai-ious parts of the country, that had 

 remained here and l)rought up their young. It leaves here in 

 the early months of spring for the north of Europe, and returns 

 about the month of October to spend the winter with us. I have 

 had only one specimen this winter as yet. In the month of 

 October I had a nice specimen of the ^zt^?' brought me. It was 

 shot in Carlaverock, and of coui'se was in the winter plumage, 

 and had not the large frill on the neck, which comes on in 

 the spring, when it is in full dress. I have had only one 

 other specimen of the Ruff shot in the district. It was shot in 

 the neiglibourhood of Lochfoot. It is now in the Kirkcudbright 

 Museum. I have also had a specimen of the Reeve, or female, 

 shot in this district. The Ruft" used to be not uncommon in 

 some parts of England, especially in the Fens of Lincolnshire, 

 but I am informed they are not common there now, as the Fens 

 have been drained to a large extent, and are not so suitable to 

 the ha'dts of the Ruff as they were formerly. In the month of 

 October I received a nice specimen of the Quail, shot in the 

 district. It is very seldom that I have had it. The only one 

 that ever I saw alive I put up in a field in the neighbourhood of 

 Auchencairn, a good many years ago. Some fifteen years ago a 

 pair frequented the fields in the neighbourhood of Barkerlands 

 all the summer. Although I never saw them I often heard 

 them about the gloaming. Their cry resembles the words, 

 " weet mi feet," often repeated. In September last I received a 

 very curious specimen of the Grouse Hen. She is of a uniform 

 grey colour all over. I never saw another specimen of the 

 Grouse anything like her. I have also had several Kestrel 

 Hawks of a very unusual colour, approaching to white, whereas 

 the usual colour is reddish or reddish-brown. Last month I 

 received a specimen of the Green Woodpecker (Picus Viridis, L.) 

 I could not say where it was shot, but it was newly killed when 

 I received it, for it was quite fresh. I have had it sent me from 

 England and Wales, but never liad one that I knew was shot in 

 this district. In the beginning of Septemb3r I had a curious 



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