THE BIRDS OF CARMICHAEL PARISH 217 



and hillsides, and as the season advances these flocks assume 

 large size. By September, if not earlier, there is a gradual 

 decrease in the numbers, the incoming stream having spent 

 itself, while emigration is increasing in force. One with a 

 white wing appeared this spring near Cloburnwood (Mr. T. 

 Cranston). 



OYSTER-CATCHER, Hceinatopus ostralegus (L.) Mr. R. Gray kindly 

 informs me that two pairs frequented the Clyde during the 

 summer of 1896. 



| PHALAROPE. Mr. A. Telfer kindly reported to me the presence of 

 a small bird of the habits of a Redshank, which swam freely on 

 the lochs at Douglas. In my note-book I find the following : 

 " August 9. Showed Mr. Telfer the plates of Phalaropes in 

 Morris's " British Birds," and he at once said that the red-necked 

 was the bird he had seen swimming on the lochs. (It may be 

 observed, however, that the Gray Phalarope in this book is 

 represented in winter plumage.) When walking with him 

 towards the Castle from his house, he recognised the bird, by 

 its note, flying up the Douglas Water. I saw the bird some 

 150 to 200 yards distant. The light was not good (7.15 P.M.), 

 and the setting sun was on our backs, low down : the bird 

 appeared dark above and whitish or light-coloured underneath. 

 Every now and then it was uttering its note, which corresponded 

 with 'a low metallic pleep^ pleep' (H. Saunders, 'Illustrated 

 Manual of British Birds "). The bird is a solitary one, and 

 every night Mr. Telfer sees it ascending the Douglas Water 

 from the lochs."] 



AVooDCOCK, Scolopax rusticitla, L. Regular autumn and winter 

 visitor. Though individuals have been known to tarry through 

 the summer, I have not known of its nesting in the parish. 

 Mr. T. Cranston has known of it nesting on Climpy, Carnwath. 

 Mr. Paterson has the following note : " Formerly bred, but has 

 not done so for some years (Mr. Amos). Twenty shot on one 

 day. This is the largest number at a time (Mr. Amos)." 



COMMON SNIPE, Gallinago coclestis (Frenzel). Common, and may 

 be heard in spring and early summer anywhere in the parish 

 and district "bleating." On evening (very wet) August 13, 

 1897, on the main road west of Howford, as many as nine 

 rose within a hundred yards. 



JACK SNIPE, Gallinago gallinula (L.) Regular winter visitor. 



COMMON SANDPIPER, Totanus hypoleucus (L.) Regular spring to 

 autumn sojourner. Returned this season, April 25. Rarer 

 this season. Gray hasnotes ("B. W. S.") from his own observation 

 and Alston's on its nesting habits in Upper Ward. These are 

 to the effect that it not infrequently nests in gardens and 

 24 C 



