48 
plumage, have been seen near Ballantrae, each attended by a 
young one about the size of a wild duck. Mr Watson of 
Stranraer informs us that he repeatedly sees three or four at a 
time off the Galloway coast, near Kirkmaiden. 
The Black-throated Diver ( Colymbus arcticus). 
Occurs off the coasts, chiefly in spring and beginning of summer, 
about the time of moving towards the breeding localities to the 
north-west. We have seen pairs of this beautiful bird also off 
Girvan. Mr Anderson had a splendid specimen, in the breeding 
plumage, presented to him by Mr Murray. It was taken alive in 
the salmon nets, and has lately been transferred to Mr Gray’s 
private collection in Glasgow. 
The Red-throated Diver ( Colymbus septentrionalis). 
So far as we can learn, this species is only a winter visitant; it 
is frequently taken in fresh-water lakes, deep pools in rivers, and 
still oftener on the sea-coast, close to the shore, where it finds its 
favourite food in suitable quantity. It is very rarely met with in 
the breeding plumage in our district. 
ALCADAE. 
The Common Guillemot ( Uria troile). 
A very common species off the coasts of both counties. Its 
breeding haunts are at Ailsa Craig, in Ayrshire, and the Scaur 
rocks, at the entrance to the Bay of Luce, in Wigtownshire—at 
both of which places it is found in great abundance. Vast num¬ 
bers were at one time killed yearly on Ailsa Craig, during the 
breeding season; but since the passing of the “Sea Birds Preser¬ 
vation Bill ” the practice is believed to have been discontinued. 
At the Scaur Rocks the birds were seldom if ever molested. 
Towards the close of summer, large companies of these birds 
occasionally congregate near the shore, and remain there for 
days in calm weather, over the sand banks where their food is 
obtained. 
The Ringed Guillemot, or Bridled Guillemot (Uria 
lachrymans). 
Occurs at Ailsa Craig and also at the Scaur Rocks, in the pro¬ 
portion of one to five hundred of the commoner species. We have 
