28 
THE JAY (Garrulus glandarius). 
Even less numerous than the magpie, although rivalling it in 
beauty of plumage. Its thievish habits form the universal apology 
for its destruction; but no sensible ornithologist, we think, would 
object to a few jays being left to enliven and beautify our woods. 
INSESSORES. 
SCANSORES. PICIDA. 
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Picus major). 
This Woodpecker, which of late years has become rather a com- 
mon winter visitant to the eastern districts of Scotland, has been 
obtained several times in Ayrshire, and once on the outskirts of 
the county. One was shot at Cumnock; another at Fullarton, 
near Troon, on 2d November, 1868; and a third, about five weeks 
later, near Ayr. For these notices we are indebted to Mr Oliver 
Eaton, bird preserver, Kilmarnock. A specimen was shot at 
Inverkip, Renfrewshire, in October of the same year. This locality 
is very close to the boundary of our district. 
CERTHIAD. 
THE COMMON CREEPER (Certhia familiaris). 
Well known in both counties, and permanently resident in 
woods and patches of plantation attractive to a bird of its habits. 
THE WREN (Troglodytes vulgaris). 
Common everywhere. It frequents Ailsa Craig, where it ap- 
parently remains all the year. Great numbers of winter nests are 
found underneath the abrupt banks of the water of Girvan. 
These structures are of small size, and without any lining. 
There is a cream-coloured variety of this bird in the collection 
of Mr Eaton, Kilmarnock. It was shot near that town. 
THE Hoopor (Upupa epops). 
Mr Yarrell states, in his “British Birds,” that a specimen of 
the hoopoe was killed in Ayrshire, without, however, specifying 
any particular locality. This record probably refers to a specimen 
shot near Coylton, in Ayrshire, on 16th October, 1836—an occur- 
rence which is noted in the “Magazine of Geology and Botany,” 
Vol. I., page 491, on the authority of Mr P. W. Maclagan. 
Mr Gray was lately informed by Mr Stewart of Tonderghie, 
