354 Ornithological Notes, by Robert Gray, F.R.S.E. 



Stock Doves ( Columba anas). — Two specimens were recently 

 snot on the Brankston Grange and Tnlliallan estates. One of 

 these was exhibited by John J. Dalgleish, Esq., of West Grange, 

 at a meeting of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh. 

 Writing on 1 8th April of the present year, Mr Charles Watson, 

 solicitor, Dunse, states that a few months ago he was shown a 

 specimen of the Stock-dove shot in the woods of Dunse Castle, 

 and that the gamekeeper had informed him that Stock-doves 

 have bred there for several years. 



Capercaillie (Tetrao urog alius). — This fine bird has now ap- 

 parently established itself in the county of Fife, and I have no 

 doubt that in a short time, if unmolested, it will extend its flight 

 to the shires of Haddington and Berwick. One was killed in 

 Fifeshire on 13th August 1877, and another was shot by Lord 

 Rosebery at Dalmeny Park, Midlothian, on 2nd November last. 

 The Capercaillie has likewise of late years appeared in Clack- 

 mannanshire, and is now found in the woods of that county in 

 considerable numbers, as well as in the adjoining parishes of 

 Tulliallan and Culross, which form a detached portion of the 

 county of Perth, and extend to the banks of the Forth. 



Spotted Crake (Crex porzana.) — One killed at Portobello, on 

 3rd October last, was shewn to me by Mr Small. The species is 

 but sparingly met with in any quarter of our district, owing for 

 the most part to its skulking habits and aversion to take wing 

 when disturbed. 



Green Sandpiper (Totanus ochropus.) — A male bird of this 

 species was shot at Chirnside, Berwickshire, on 1st May, 1877, 

 and was sent to Edinburgh for preservation, where I had an op- 

 portunity of seeing it. 



Black-throated Diver {Colymbus arcticus). — I observed con- 

 siderable numbers of this Diver in the bay off Portobello, on 22nd 

 September last. I was shewn three specimens which were taken 

 about that season of the year on a fresh water loch at Inchrye, 

 in Fifeshire. These birds had their dorsal plumage covered with 

 spangles, but their throats were white. On the same occasion 

 Great Northern Divers were obtained in like plumage, also 

 several Red-throated Divers — the last-named however having 

 entirely thrown off their summer dress. I found in the stomach 

 of one of the Red-throated Diners, two Shore Crabs, measuring 

 one inch and a quarter across the carapace. 



