80 TRANSACTIONS. 
the whole. I have often wondered at this habit, and think it has 
been acquired in the robbing of nests of those birds like grouse 
and duck, whose eggs are so carefully covered when the parent 
bird is absent. The lapwing alone of all birds nesting in the open 
can by his “ right arm” hold his own against the crow ; but he is 
sometimes outwitted by the superior cunning of the enemy. An 
illustration of this was given me by an eye-witness, who observed 
a crow fly away after a series of futile attempts on the lapwing’s 
nest. Ina short time after he returned with two companions, who 
successfully enticed the lapwing from the neighbourhood of its 
nest, and left the other to the quiet enjoyment of the plunder. In 
another instance, where two crows discovered and failed to dislodge 
a wild duck, different tactics were enforced. Apparently conscious 
that all comes to them who can but wait, they laid siege to the 
nest, and for two days one of them remained on the ground, and 
eventually seized the opportunity when the duck had gone for his 
diurnal constitutional, and plundered the whole. Of all the 
feathered tribes, the sparrow alone seems to understand the crow. 
He builds his nest among the very twigs the crow has gathered 
as the foundation of his nest, and there rears his brood unmolested 
by the abstract-minded thief who sits above him. For many years 
a pair of Ravens have nested in the parish. Two seasons ago they 
attempted to build on the steepest part of the rock which they 
frequent, but the wind carried it away, and they had to renew 
their work on more suitable foundation. Next year the same thing 
was attempted, and again it failed. I shall watch with interest 
whether next season they have profited by their failures. The 
Cuckoo is common; in Euchan glen even abundant. I once saw 
ten in a flock there. The dates of their arrival for the last three 
years have been April 28, April 7, and May 4. The Night Jar is 
very rare. One pair, however, have for years nested in the Holm 
woods. The Tawny Owl and Long-eared Owl are both natives. 
The former is common; the latter rare, and limited to one 
locality. The hilly nature of this district favours the continuance 
of birds of prey, and we can still find the Peregrine, Merlin, 
Kestrel, and Sparrow Hawk. The Peregrine has of late only ap- 
peared as a visitor in the spring, but for many years it nested 
regularly in Kirkconnel parish. The game little Merlin, nesting in 
the heather far among the hills, defies extermination. The Sparrow 
Hawk, more accessible, is gradually becoming scarcer, and may 
soon be extinct. The Kestrel, being more harmless than the 
