50 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



impression that we see the Sea-Pyets at inland localities far more 

 frequently than was formerly the case. 



Black-wingkd Stilt ( Himantopus candidus). 



Only two instances of the occurrence of this fine species in 

 Solway Firth have ever been recorded, and that was so long ago 

 as 1684 — just 221 years since! They were gotjby a soldier, who, 

 if we read the old Latin right, " transfixed them with a spear " 

 and gave them to his superior, Wm. Dalmahoy, one of the 

 officers of the King's bodyguard, and who, in his turn, sent one 

 of the birds to Sir Robert Sibbald, who published the incident 

 in his Scotia Illustrata. These were the first of the species 

 that seem to have been recorded in the British Isles. The " lake 

 near Dumfries," where these first Black-winged Stilts were got, 

 cannot now be identified, as some lochs that would have answered 

 the description have long been reclaimed and ploughed over. 



Grey Phalarope ( Phalaropua fulicarius ) 



is a species of pretty frequent occurrence in some autumns, 

 though by no means always present at that season. November 

 is its usual time of appearance. I have often thought that 

 they are sure to occur after any unusually wild gales from 

 west or north-west in early November, as the times of their 

 appearance here have always been preceded by such a storm. 

 Possibly they may about that time be passing down outside 

 our western Scottish coasts to their winter quarters, which are 

 understood to be somewhere off the Canaries on the open ocean, 

 though this seems to be only vaguely known. 



When seen in Solway, the Grey Phalarope is always extremely 

 tame, as is the case elsewhere in Great Britain. On 10th 

 August of this year a friend of mine, Mr. George Robson, Barn- 

 cleugh, and a most competent observer, found one on his land, 

 sitting on a small pool, which permitted a thorough examina- 

 tion at close quarters before flying off. This date is a rather 

 remarkable one. 



Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropua hyperboreus). 



A bird of extreme rarity with us, only one occurrence being 

 known, nearly forty years ago. 



