118 THE ORNITHOLOGIST. 



" local race," and, although it may differ constantly as such, yet the existence 

 of intermediate forms between it and the typical form seems to be indisput- 

 able, and our bird is therefore certainly ?iot entitled to take rank as Parus 

 dresseri. The greatest puzzle in the application of the A.O.U. Code rule is 

 why the Western Dowitcher should figure as M. scolopaceus, and the Brown 

 Creeper as C. familiaris americana, for in the first case intermediate forms 

 may exist, while ia the second case they cannot. — H. Kirke Swann. 



Local Bird Names. — Can any reader say in what particular counties or 

 districts the Cariion Crow goes under the name of " Gor Crow" (i.e., 

 ' ' bloody " crow, or, more probably, ' ' filthy " crow) ? Also where the 

 Hooded Crow is known as " Banting Crow " ? What is the origin of the 

 latter name ?— H. Kirke Swann. 



Albino Jay. — I saw to-day (June 22nd) a white Jay bird ; a beautiful 

 bird, not quite fall-grown, but able to feed ; all white, with the exception of 

 the wings, which are tipped with light brown ; legs light yellow ; eyes light 

 blue. It was caught close to Kettering. — C. E. Wright (Kettering). 



Local Bird Names in S.W. Scotland. — Mallard : Mire Duck. 

 Wigeon : Golden Teal (on Solway). Ring Dove : Cushie Doo. Skylark : 

 Leverock. Buzzard : Gled. Owls : Hoolets. Blackbird : Blackie. 

 Thrush : Mavie. Missel Thrush : Felty Flee'er. Rooks : Craws. Carrion 

 Crow : Corbie Craw. Jackdaw : Kyaw. Dipper : Water Pyat, Burn 

 Becker. Heron: Craigie or Jenny Heron. House Sparrows: "Spyugs' ; 

 or " Spags." Hedge Sparrow : Hedgie and Hempie. Gold Finch : Gooldie. 

 Bullfinches : Bullies. Chaffinch : Shilfie ; in Galloway, Snabbie and 

 Brichtie. Brambliug : Cock o' the North. Snow Bunting : Snaw Fleck. 

 Wagtails : Wullie Wagtails. Wheatear : Dyker (Galloway) (Dyke=Stone 

 Wall). Whiu and Stone Chats : Whun and Stane Cherker. Yellow 

 Hammer: Yellow Yoit ; Thornhill name, " Gunner.'' Gold Crest: 

 Basket Hinger. Wren : Cutty Wran. Long-Tailed Tit : Bellringer. 

 Creeper: Tree Speeler (i.e., Cliviber). Meadow Pipit: Moss Cheeper. 

 Tree Pipit : Wood Lark. Tits and Willow Wren : Ox Ee's. Curlew : 

 Whaup. San /piper : Saun' Leverock. Lapwing: Peasweep, Teewheat ; in 

 Galloway, Deil's Plover. Water Hen: Stankie. Oyster Catcher: Sea 

 Pyat. Ring Plover : Ringie. Dunlin : Pirr. Cormorant : Scart ; in 

 Galloway: Black Dooker, Cow'en Elder, Mochrum Elder. — R. Armstrong 

 (Thornhill, Dumfries). 



Notes from Dumfriesshire. — In two localities in this district Jackdaws 

 build in yuuug fir-woods, on the trees, like Rooks. The nests are placed 

 high up, sometimes two or three in one tree, on firs 15 to 25 feet high. They 



