BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
has known the Merhn to make use of an old Wood-Pigeon's 
nest, while Mr. J. Pringle gives me similar information, and 
Mr. WiUiam Coltherd writes me of such a nest in a Scots 
fir, in Duke's Wood (Hoddom). Of five eggs which I knew 
of in 1908, the fourth was laid on May 14th, the fifth on 
the 15th. On June 13th three eggs were hatched, another 
the next day and the last on the 15th ; the period of 
incubation in this case thus being thirty days. This 
reckoning is precisely confirmed by similar observations by 
Mr. David Johnstone. 
An immigration of this species from the mountain-districts 
of northern Europe occurs in the autumn, at which 
season it is also found in the countries bordering the 
Mediterranean. 
THE KESTREL. Falco tinnunculus, Linnseus. 
Local names — ^Keelie ; Red Hawk. 
A common resident. 
Of recent years the prejudice against the Kestrel has been 
fast dying out, and it is satisfactory to be able to record 
it as an increasing species. 
In winter the numbers of our resident Kestrels are con- 
siderably augmented by others from farther north. 
This species is a most useful bird to agriculture, and weU 
deserves the protection it should receive under the Wild 
Birds Protection Acts. A " rogue " Kestrel, with a hungry 
young family of its own to provide for, learns bad habits 
and visits the Pheasant coops, and a keeper has told me 
that he was once an eye-witness of an attack by a Kestrel 
on a brood of young Partridges, but the marauder was 
kept at bay by the gallantry of the parent birds. However 
