eg, NT OT EL GLELAE OE 
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Transactions. 121 
is very rare. The Sedge Warbler must pass through the parish, 
although I have not seen it. It seems that there is no authentic 
record of the Marsh Tits having been found in either Dumfries- 
shire or Kirkcudbrightshire, but twice last winter a pair were 
observed along with Coal and Longtailed Tits. Snow Buntings are 
seen every winter, occasionally in large flocks, but more frequently 
only two or three together. The JSlack-headed Bunting is 
rare. About most farm-yards one or two Bramblings are 
found, and very rarely a large flock is seen in the fields. 
Great numbers of Zwites frequent the lower ground, par- 
ticularly fields in which Prunella vulgaris abounds. Now and 
then the croak of the Raven is heard as it sails slowly along the 
hills. The Sand Martin and Swift are not common. The Wood- 
cock is not plentiful. A pair were seen in the end of April last, 
which probably remained to breed, as it would appear their 
nests are found much more frequently of late years, and gradually 
extending southwards. I had frequent opportunities of seeing 
this bird carry its young to feeding ground on the west coast of 
Argyllshire. During the month of June numbers were to be 
seen every evening, from ten to eleven o’clock, leaving the woods 
for marshy ground, with their legs hanging down to their full 
length and their young clasped between their feet. The Heron 
frequents all the streams. The Teal is very rare. The Black- 
headed Gull is abundant. From one to three Great Black-backed 
Gulls are seen occasionally about the hills during the spring 
months when carrion is plentiful.. There is in Dr Grierson’s 
Museum in Thornhill a specimen of the Golden Oriole shot in the 
parish of Tynron some thirty years ago. 
II. Notes on Local Ornithology for 1885. By Mr W. Hasrinas. 
There is little to note this year regarding anything in the 
British bird line that can properly be called rare, so far as my 
observation has gone, although several specimens have been 
forwarded to me for preservation that are not commonly met with 
in this district. There was a great scarcity of the Martin and 
Swift this year, which usually visit us every summer in consider- 
able numbers. On the other hand, the Sand Martin was more 
than usually plentiful. The Cuckoo, too, was more than usually 
frequent. A great number of them was sent to me from different 
parts of the country, the majority of them being young birds of 
this year. In the month of June IT had a young Woodcock sent 
