86 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



Little Ross Lighthouse guarding the narrow entrance, were 

 long straggling scattered flocks of waders that had evidently 

 come in from the outlying shores for the comparative 

 shelter and quiet of the margins of the Manxman's Lake. 

 Curlews were in great force, and so were Golden Plovers, 

 Redshanks, and Lapwings, while many Sea-pies were also 

 conspicuous. But what specially attracted me was the large 

 proportion of Bar-tailed Godwits. All the members of this 

 assemblage were very tame, probably to be accounted for 

 by the buffetings to which the winds of the previous week 

 had subjected them. They paid little heed when looked at 

 over the hedge of the adjacent public road from a distance 

 of ten or fifteen yards. It was quite an unusual experience 

 to watch at this distance a Curlew stalking along searching 

 the grass for food, and observation of Bar-tailed Godwits 

 in like circumstances is unique so far as I am concerned. 

 Since then. Bar-tailed Godwits have remained numerously 

 in various of their usual feeding- places in the Solway. 

 These last few days (i6th January) many have been exposed 

 in the Dumfries poulterers' windows (and also, I may add, 

 in those of Carlisle), a thing I have not noticed for many 

 years past. 



But the most extraordinary thing in connection with 

 the Bar-tailed Godwit, as a Solway species, I have now to 

 record. During the whole summer season (so-called) of 

 1907, a flock of the species, estimated to consist of about 

 200 birds, has remained near to Carsethorn, far down the 

 estuary of the Nith. My attention was only drawn to this 

 on 15 th August, and the flock was pointed out to me, too 

 far off for positive identification, but I saw nothing about 

 them to lead me to doubt their identification. However, 

 seeing them at that date proves nothing, for the ordinary 

 northern parties are regularly back by that time — if not on 

 the Solway, at all events on the shores of Eastern England. 

 My informant is Robert M'Call, one of the most experienced 

 fishers and gunners of the Scottish Solway, and the owner 

 of a fine little collection of local rarities obtained and 

 mounted by himself. I obtained full and sufficient con- 

 firmation of the continued stay all through June and July 

 from the other gunners and boatmen. Most of the birds 



