TRANSACTIONS. 215 
6th of February, 1890. 
Rev. WILLIAM ANDSON in the Chair, 
New Members.—Mrs Maxwell Witham and Miss Maud Max- 
well Witham of Kirkconnel. 
+ Donations.—Transactions of the New York Academy of 
Sciences (February to June, 1889) ; Proceedings of the Canadian 
Institute, Toronto, for October, 1889. 
COMMUNICATIONS. 
I. Notes on Birds. By Mr JouHn Corrie. 
I have to report two noteworthy additions to my ornitho- 
logical list for the parish of Glencairn, viz.: (1) The Great Snipe 
(Scolopax Major); (2) The Spotted Crake (Cvex Porzana), 
Neither of these species would appear to be very common in 
Scotland. Morris, while recording the Spotted Crake for Dum- 
friesshire, says that the species is a very local one, and in his 
notice of the Great Snipe he gives no nearer localities than 
Orkney on the one hand and Northumberland on the other. It is 
not unlikely, however, that both birds occur sparingly throughout 
our counties, more particularly, I would imagine, the county of 
Kirkcudbright, where the lochs are numerous and of a character in 
keeping with the tastes of such birds. The Dabchick, I am glad 
to say, continues to nest in the parish. Last year the birds were 
subjected to so much annoyance by some boys that I was quite 
prepared to see them forsake the locality. This summer they 
nested as usual, however, and, I have reason to believe, succeeded 
in rearing a brood in safety. A new nesting locality for the Red- 
shank has been discovered in Stroanshalloch Loch, a remote nook 
where the birds may be considered secure. The Goldfinch, a 
species that has long been scarce in the district, would appear to 
be again becoming common. Several small flocks have been 
observed this winter, and individuals are of frequent occurrence. 
It is to be hoped that this increase will not tempt the bird-catchers 
to a renewal of their ignoble craft. The present season, as is well 
known, has been a remarkably mild one, and the birds as was to be 
expected have been greatly influenced thereby. The Common 
and Black-headed Gulls, for instance, which visit us but rarely at 
this season, may be seen daily. The Grey Wagtail has also been 
observed, although only once. On the other hand, the Brambling 
Finch, a bird which never fails to visit us in severe weather, has 
