68 Transactiuns. 



Some of you at least may not be aware that a few years ago 

 conchological laajis of every county in Great Britain and Ireland, 

 showing the distribution and number of species of land and fresh- 

 water shells then known to occur in each county, were from time to 

 time being published, and I was astonished to see that Dumfries- 

 shire stood nearly, if not quite, at the bottom of the list, and 

 deserving to wear the dunce's cap ! Now, I want some of you to 

 help me to blot out this stain upon our character as naturalists. 

 Of course it is but little that I have been able as yet to effect in 

 this direction, but that little convinces mc that a diligent and 

 persevering search will reap a rich reward. I trust, therefore, that 

 our knowledge of the moUusca of this district will in the coming 

 year be largely increased, and then I shall be glad, if permitted, to 

 speak to you at greater length about them than I have been able to 

 do this evening. 



In conclusion, I would sti'ongly urge upon you the necessity 

 of striving to do original work. This will bring you face to face 

 with Nature. Listen to her teachings, which, if rightly learnt, 

 will help you to shake off the fetters of self-pride which are too 

 often wont to stay our progress, and then she will lead you Step by 

 step onward and upward until you are enabled to form a better, 

 though still feeble, conception of the stupendous majesty of 

 Nature's beneficent Creator. 



Communications. 



I. An Oriiif/iological List for the Parish of Gleiicairii. By Mr 

 John Corrie of Moniaive. 



The first bird to be mentioned is the Peregrine Falcon {Falco 

 Feregrmus), now a rare bird in the district, although common, I 

 believe, at one time, and known to nest regularly on the Auchen- 

 strowan, Lorg, and Craigenputtock crags. Single birds were seen 

 this year in the vicinity of Woodlea and Maxwelton, but it is un- 

 likely they would be allowed to nest. The Merlin {Falco CEsalon), 

 like the Peregrine, is yearly becoming less common. During May 

 of the present year a pair nested on the Bogrie moors, but the 

 female was trapped and her mate is said to have been shot. The 

 Kestral {Falco Tin?uiiiculus) is still a fairly common species, but 

 its extermination, like that of all the hawks, can only be a matter 

 of time. The Sparrow Hawk {Accipiter Nisiis) may be considered 

 rare. The Kite {Milvus vulgaris) is now almost, if not quite, 

 extinct. When a boy, a tame Kite or " Gled " as we called it, was 



