DISAPPEARANCE OF THE CHOUGH. 117 



XII. 



DISAPPEARANCE OF THE CHOUGH (Pyr- 

 rhocorax graculus, L.) FROM THE STEWARTRY 

 OF KIRKCUDBRIGHT 



BY ROBERT SERVICE. 



[Read 2Sth April, 1S85.] 



Thp: Chough has completely disappeared from this 

 county, and there are a good many birds left that 

 we could have better spared ! Till nearly twenty 

 years ago it was tolerably common on all the pre- 

 cipitous shore cliffs suited to its habits, but it then 

 began to diminish rapidly in numbers, nnd shortly 

 disappeared altogether. So lately as 1809, Messrs. 

 Robert Gray and Thomas Anderson had information 

 which enabled them to record in their Birds ofAijr- 

 h-Jiire and Wigtotrnshu'e {]}. 25) that "along the shores 

 of tlie soutliern i)art of Kirkcudbrightshire the 

 Chough occurs in small flocks." In 187.*), when lie 

 published his interesting little Handbook of Colvend, 

 Mr. M'Diarmid could not include the Chough in a 

 list of the birds of the parish which he gives us, for 

 he states (]). 12) that "formerly the cliffs were 

 frequented by the red-legged crow, and they are 

 supposed to have been driven away by the jack- 

 daws, though it is matter of doubt if they have 

 been entirely extirpated." Since 1870, I am aware 

 of a single occurrence only, and that was a solitary 

 bird tliat frequented the Rerrick Heughs from 

 February to April of 1883, as I was informed by 

 several competent observers who often saw it during 

 the time stated. 



The whole line of the Stewartry coast is suitable 

 for a cliff-loving bird like tlie Chough, and to many 

 portions of the shore no objection can be taken 

 from the bird's point of view on the score of their 



