bers in the neighbourhood of Girvan. In a nest taken by Mr 
Anderson one of the eggs was not much larger than a pea. It is 
permanently resident, and, so far as we can learn, there are no 
winter flocks in our district from other quarters. 
The Yellow Bunting, or Yellow Hammer (Emberiza citrinella). 
This bunting is very common in all the lower grounds under 
cultivation. During the warm season of 1868 it appeared to be 
unusually abundant in Wigtownshire, and attracted notice by its 
assembling on the public roads during the excessive heat. They 
seemed to be the only birds visible, and harmonised curiously 
with the golden tints pervading all surrounding objects. 
* FRINGILLIDjE. 
The Chaffinch ( Fringilla ccelebs). 
Very common everywhere, and a familiar visitant to farm-stead¬ 
ings even when situated in moorland localities. Mr Anderson 
found a nest of this species built on the top of a wall at Enoch 
Farm, beside a bit of turf. Two other nests were situated in a 
tree only a few feet from the spot. A tame chaffinch at Penkill 
Castle lived in confinement upwards of seventeen years; it was 
taken from the nest, and carefully supplied with insect food, 
which doubtlessly accounts for its prolonged life in captivity. 
The Mountain Finch, or Brambling (. Fringilla montifringilla). 
A regular winter visitant, but only in small numbers, except in 
unusually severe weather. It then appears at farm-steadings, 
mixing with sparrows, chaffinches, yellow hammers, and green 
linnets; and is often caught by country boys, who cage their 
captives in triumph, as the Cock d the North. 
The House Sparrow (. Passer domesticus). 
Extremely common. A colony of these birds have taken pos¬ 
session of a number of holes in a broken embankment above a 
deep pool in the Water of Girvan on Enoch Farm. Dr Anderson 
turned out many of their nests containing eggs; these had been 
placed on beds of material laid there by a colony of sand martins, 
the original owners of the holes. Frequent battles were fought 
by the martins and sparrows for possession, and these were in one 
