NovtES ON THE Birps or DUMFRIESSHIRE. 81 
A well-known ornithologist informs me that on 14th 
May, 1911, he saw two big birds of prey, flying towards Loch 
Skeen, which ‘‘ from their long pointed wings, white breasts, 
ce 
etc.,’’ he was ‘‘ inwardly confident were Ospreys ’’ but which 
he ‘‘ would not dream of recording as such.’’ | 
The CORMORANT (p. 221). In 1908 the late Mr R. 
Service wrote to me that he had never heard of Cormorants 
breeding at Lochmaben but I have since been confidently 
informed that from 1808 till 1903 five pairs nested in trees 
on the island in the Castle Loch and another pair on a Scots 
fir in the wood bordering the road to Annan. Although 
since that date the Cormorants have not bred at Lochmaben 
they may almost be regarded as daily visitors and I saw one 
there on 28th May, 1921. 
A Cormorant was shot on the Nith near Drumlanrig 
(Durisdeer) on 2nd December, 1912; and one, shot at the 
Far Loch (Keir) on 12th September, 1921, was the first I 
had ever seen there. 
(Recovery of ringed birds, see p. 24 antea.) 
The GANNET (p. 224). One, in beautiful plumage, was 
picked up near Hoddam in the winter of 1910-11. A Gannet, 
apparently about three years old, was caught about four 
miles south-west of Beattock (Moffat) on 26th june, 1912. 
A mature female, which had killed itself by flying against 
some telegraph wires fitteen miles inland, was picked up on 
5th June, 1913. On 6th May, 1914, a Gannet was found with 
a broken wing, near Sanquhar, its captor wished to take it 
alive but it bit him so severely in his leg and thumb that he 
killed it. A Gannet alighted near Dumfries boathouse on 15th 
May, 1919, and allowed itself to be captured. One or two 
were seen near Glencaple (Caerlaverock) in the winter of 
1920-21, and one was seen near there in January, 1921. A 
young Gannet, which had flown against the telegraph wires 
along the Cairn Valley Railway, was picked up alive near 
Snade Mill (Glencairn) on 16th October, 1921. 
The COMMON HERON (p. 225). There was a Heronry 
at Jardine Hall (Applegarth) in 1870, but not a large one. Mr 
