126 Birp NOTES. 
influence upon the birds. The first thing that they caused was a 
general retardation of the vernal migration movement. Up till 
the middle of April the weather was fairly normal, and the birds 
shewed every indication of coming away with their usual activity. 
Both in our own neighbourhood and throughout Great Britain 
unusually early dates were recorded among the small birds. 
That, however, soon came to a termination, and a long succes- 
sion of bad weather set in about the third week of April. One 
very prominent incident was the stay opposite Southerness and 
Carsethorn, and along the estuary of the Nith, of a very con- 
siderable flock of the bar-tailed godwits, a species which went to 
the Lapland fells, and not any nearer, for nesting purposes. 
They remained there through the brief summer of the northern 
regions, and were back here again by the beginning of August. 
That particular flock to which he referred remained on week 
after week throughout the whole of last summer, and was noticed 
by many of the local gunners at Carsethorn, although he did not 
see them till the end of July. About two-thirds of them were in 
full breeding plumage, probably a unique incident so far as this 
district was concerned. Another incident which was worthy of 
mention was the stay of two pairs of eider ducks on the Colvend 
coast during the whole of last summer ; but whether they bred or 
not was doubtful. Many times during the twenty-four hours one 
or other of the sexes was absent, showing that nesting operations 
were attempted. Nests must have been prepared, and probably 
eggs were laid. The eider duck had gradually crept round the 
Wigtownshire and Ayrshire coasts, but so far it was not recorded 
that the nests had been made in the Stewartry, and the Dum- 
friesshire coasts were not at all suitable. There was, however, 
little doubt but that this year or next year someone would be 
lucky enough to find the first eider duck nest in the Stewartry. 
He also noted the stay at a certain place—not far from where 
they were, but it would not be proper to mention where—of five 
ruffs and reeves along the Nith margin during last season, though 
they might not have attempted to nest. The ruffs had on their 
beautiful and very characteristic nuptial plumage during that 
time, and they carried out their sham fights to perfection. They 
stayed in the neighbourhood during the summer, and were a 
matter of great interest to local faunists. No doubt their stay 
was caused by the unusual weather conditions which were ex- 
