32 A Naturalist's Calendar. 



has since been destroyed. There are onlj' five records of ihe 

 occurrence of this species in Dumfriesshire. {Birds vf Dumfiiis- 

 shire, p. 439.) 



94 The Rook: Corvus Frugilegus. There is an old saying that 

 Rooks begin to build on the first Sunday of March. Mr R. Service 

 wrote to me: "I can hardly exactly tabulate dates re Rooks, but 

 let us say (1) Mid January for Rooks returning to nesting stations 

 in mild seasons, of course not to remain continuously ; (2) begin 

 building, 15th February ; (3) my first date for eggs is March IGth, 

 but I think that is exceptional." {In litt. 11, x. 1909.) 



95 In open winters they sometimes pair in January. 



96 Lepus EuropiEus. March or April is the more usual time. 



97 Probably the Whooper Swan : Cygnus Miisicus. 



98 3i miles S. of Jardine Hall. (See Note 182.) 



99 In some seasons, pair in January. 

 WO Corvus Cor one. Early. 



101 Pica Bustica. Early. 



102 Early. 



103 JEr'ithacus Ruhecitla: A very pertinacious songster, except 

 in severest weather. 



104 The Paridce. Early. 



105 Apis Mellifica. An average date to appear. " Heath 

 borders, must mean the borders in the garden planted Avith species 

 of Heather: or an E)icarium, as was the case in the old genera^ 

 tion of gardens. Here the common hive bee must be intended." 

 (R. Service, in lift. 28, ix. 1909.) 



106 T Urdus Merula. Rather early. 



107 " There is some ambiguity about this remark. Does it 

 mean new potatoes that have been forced in a pit; or an early 

 variety of potatoes that have been stored in a pit, and some taken 

 on that day for dinner?" (J. Rutherford, in litt. 16, ix. 1909.) 

 But Mr R. Service wrote to me as regards Sir W. J.'s not-6: 

 "'Forced' in a glass framed pit, as was the regular custom 

 then." {In litt. 28, ix. 1909.) 



108 Turdus lliacus. 



109 Eranthis Hiemcdis. A fair average date. 



110 Turdus Mu.'iicus. Heard irregularly during Winter on 

 sunny days. 



111 Aceiacice. Average date. 



112 Tartarian Maple: Acer Tartaricum. Average date of fl. 



113 Water Crowfoot. " Extraordinarily early. I should ex- 

 pect some warm water in the place where it grew." (G. F. Scott- 

 Elliot, in litt. 3, ix. 1909.) 



114 Green Hellebore, or Bear's Foot. " Fl. early Spring." 

 <Bentham & Hooker: Handbook Brit. Flora, 1904, p. 12.) 



115 Heard irregularly during Winter on sunny daj's. 



116 Nothing unusual. 



117 Crocus Satirus. An average date. 



