BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 189 
On December 1st, 1863, Sir William recorded- "In 
Dumfriesshire, the Common Buzzard and Peregrine Falcon 
are now very rare."* Mr. John Corrie in 1888 described 
the Buzzard m Glencaim as rarely seen, but that it was 
common thirty or forty years before; and he stated emphati- 
caUy that it no longer nested in the parish f Mr Tom 
Crosbie told me in 1005 that he could well remember 
the Buzzard nesting in a tree at the foot of Glenquhargen 
Craig (Penpont) some forty years ago, and the Dumfries- 
shire naturahsts record that, on their excursion to that spot 
on June 3rd, 1882, the empty nest of the Buzzard was 
observed. I Mr. R. Service tells me that about 1860- 
1863 he remembers the eggs of this species being newly 
brought by Walter Harkness of Mitchellslacks from the 
neighbourhood of Queensberry to Dumfries Academy 
Dr. Grierson records in his diary that Thomas Maxwell 
told him in 1862 that the Common Buzzard, once 
plentiful at Dalswmton, was now seldom met with About 
1863 a Buzzard nested on Croglin Craig (Tynron) and 
took a whole brood of Blackgame one by one off the farm 
of Appm, so I am informed by an old drainer, James 
Anderson. This incident, by the way, shows the appro- 
priateness of the name " Puttock," i.e., Poult-hawk In 
reference to the nesting-site, Mr. J. Harkness tells me 
that the Buzzards nested regularly on Croglin Craig from 
1861 to 1885, and on one visit to the nest he found the 
young surrounded by the carcases of a partridge a 
rabbit, and many moles. A young bird which he took 
and reared as a pet, reached maturity, but escaped 
in 1885 some drainers employed on Appin Farm took 
all the nestUngs, after which the site was abandoned 
Mr. Tom Brown writes me that during his residence at 
Auchanhessnane (Tynron) from 1874 to 1891 he " frequentlv 
saw the birds in the district, and the nest a few times." 
* Trans. D. and G. Nat. Hist. Soc, December 1st, 1863. 
t Op. cit., November lOth, 1888. 
t Op. cit., June 3rd, 1882. 
