28 Transactions. 



Colvend coast about sixteen years ago, and another was got at 

 Auchencairn by the late Mr Ivie Mackie about twelve years since. 

 The severe gales retarded the migration of the shore birds during 

 October to a great extent, causing them to "accumulate" in our 

 district for several weeks. On the 1 2th October I saw a twenty- 

 acre field completely covered with Lapwings. At the same time, 

 and for about a fortnight afterwards, the number of birds on the 

 Solway banks was most extraordinaiy. The great majority of 

 these were Bartailed Godwits, Oyster Catchers, and Knots. Just 

 outside the line of breakers opposite the rocks at Southerness 

 Point, Scamps and Scoters were especially numerous diving above 

 the mussel beds. As they rose and fell on the crests of the heav- 

 ing waves, these birds formed many an interesting and beautiful 

 group. Gray Plovers have not been uncommon on the Solway 

 banks during the winter, but the larger wild fowl have been 

 rather scarce. Barnacle-geese have been few in number, as com- 

 pared with the immense flocks seen during the two previous 

 winters. A few Wild Swans were seen in the early part of 

 December, but the species was not ascertained. Several 

 Mergansers were procured in November both on the sea and on 

 inland waters. Although common in some parts of the country, 

 they are very scarce here. A Great Northern Diver was shot on 

 Castledykes pool on 17th November by Mr Irving Edgar. I can- 

 not conclude this paper without drawing attention to the great 

 good that is likely to result to our native birds by the Act passed 

 in 1880 for the purpose of protecting them during the breeding 

 season. In a few years we may hope to see a great increase in 

 their numbers. Asking one of the professional gunners of the 

 Solway one day lately how the Act was affectiiig him, he replied 

 that " It has completely spoiled the best of the shooting !" — that 

 is, during March and April, when the birds are pairing, and have 

 put off that wariness which characterises most species during the 

 winter months. From a naturalist's point of view, better testi- 

 mony to the value of the Act could not be got. What is still 

 needed is an Act to protect the eggs of birds. It seems quite an 

 anomalous state of matters that people dare not shoot (say) a 

 Hedge Sparrow, but may take its eggs with impunity. The gun- 

 tax has also done a very appreciable amount of good in diminish- 

 ino' the number of idle fellows who wander along our tidal rivers 

 and country roads, destroying everything in the shape of a bird 



