122 Transactions. 
me ; it would be about two weeks old, and was the first I ever 
had bred in this country. It was from the Galloway side. More 
than twenty years ago, I had two eggs of the Woodcock sent me 
also from Galloway ; these were 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 various parts of the country, that had 
remained here and brought 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 Ruf brought me. It was 
shot in Carlaverock, and of course 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 Auf shot in the district. It was shot in 
the neighbourhood 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 Ruff 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 halits 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. JI 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 had one that I knew was shot in 
this district, In the beginning of September I had a curious 
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