TRANSACTIONS. 77 
First in order comes the Passeres, the most important in this 
district, numbering 41 out of a total of 67. Of these the Missel 
Thrush and Blackbird are both common, the former more wary and 
cunning, electing the less frequented woods, while the “ blackie ” 
shows a decided attachment to the haunts of man. The Song 
Thrush is comparatively a rare bird. Of the Ring Ousel this is 
par excellence the home. In every rocky glen or rugged moun- 
tain scar his impudent chatter may be heard. With his nest 
firmly planted on the ledge of a steep rock or buried in the heather 
bush on an overhanging crag in some lonely glen, he rears his 
voracious brood in complete security. The same, or presumably 
the same, pair return year after year to the same place to breed, 
and the nests of many seasons can be found within a few yards of 
each other. Some glens are, for no apparent reason, more affected 
than others. In one of these, not more than a mile long, I in one 
season saw five nests, and from the number of birds concluded 
that still others existed. In such circumstances suitable sites are 
not always available, and he contents himself with building on the 
edge of a sheep drain or sloping knoll. Solitary and wary in their 
breeding habits, they avoid the more frequented country. Once 
only have I found them forgetful, but the place (the Holm woods) 
being too public they forsook it when half the eggs had been laid. 
. They begin to build very shortly after their arrival, in the end of 
April, and, in the event of thenest being destroyed,rapidly build anew. 
In one instance, when the nest was robbed of 4 eggs on April 24, 
the birds built again near the same site, and by March 9 had again 
4 eggs. These having been removed by some wanton boys, they 
again renewed their toil, and had built and replenished a new 
abode by the 19th. Being again robbed they refused to build 
again, no doubt thinking that 3 nests and 12 eggs in 30 days were 
sufficient to command greater success. For the remainder of the 
season they frequented their unfortunate haunt and returned next 
season, when, I am pleased to say, they were successful in rearing 
a vigorous brood. The Wheatear, Whinchat, Redbreast, Wren, 
Willow Wren, and Hedge Sparrow are all common. The Red- 
start and Sedge Warbler are somewhat rare, the latter particularly 
so, on account of the lack of suitable breeding ground here, 
though common enough on the lower reaches of the Nith from 
Thornhill downwards. The Dipper comes next, and, like the 
ubiquitous sparrow, is rapidly acquiring the habit of utilising the 
crevices and holes in bridges and tree roots, instead of building a 
