80 NovreES ON THE BirDS oF DUMFRIESSHIRE. 
to hear of birds of this species having been shot near Brockle- 
hirst (Mouswald) in 1913 and in September, 1918; near Grib- 
ton (Holywood) on 27th November, 1919; near Dalawoodie 
(Holywood) in December, 1919; a pair, young birds, near 
Comlongon (Ruthwell) in 1920; and it is probable that others, 
of which I am not aware, have been killed elsewhere in the 
county. 
Mr George Robson informs me that on six or seven 
occasions, in the winter of 1918-19, he saw a male Peregrine 
Falcon come from the direction of Criffel to the spire of St. 
Michael’s Church, Dumfries, where it presumably roosted. 
Pigeons are a favourite prey of the Peregrine and, near 
an eyry in Gareland Cleuch (Kirkconnel), the remains of a 
number of homing-pigeons and ten metal rings were found 
iva, TOOT Ne 
The MERLIN (p. 215). In 1910 I knew of a case where 
the female of a pair of breeding birds was shot from its nest 
on the ground: the survivor found a mate and the old nest 
of a Carrion-Crow was utilised for its second matrimonial 
venture. In 1911 a pair of Merlins bred in the old nest of a 
Carrion-Crow in a Scots fir, some thirty or forty feet from 
the ground, near Kilmark (Tynron). I have already recorded 
the fact that this species, locally, does not uncommonly breed 
in trees in disused nests of other species. 
Where afforded protection the Merlin would appear not 
to be decreasing and I knew of several nests in the county in 
1921: a brood, which was hatched out near Capenoch that 
year, afforded me frequent enjoyment in July when the young 
were receiving tuition from their parents. 
[The OSPREY (p. 219). I have recently come across a 
reference, in a book published in 1800, which may refer to 
Ospreys rather than to Eagles :—‘‘ Loch Skeen, is 1100 
yards in length, and about 4oo in breadth, there is a little 
island where eagles bring out their young in great safety, as 
the water is deep and there is no boat on the lake.’’156 
135 Pall Mall and Globe, 2nd June, 1921. 
136 T. Garnett: Observations on a Tour through the Highlands 
and Part of the Western Isles of Scotland, Vol. II. (1800), p. 262. 
