The Vertebrates of Solway. 25 



•doubtedly the case, I am rather inclined to think that its increasing 

 scarcity here is caused by some obscure climatic change. 



The Goldfinch {Carduelis elegans, Steph.). 



Owing to bird-catching, and the great improvements in agri- 

 culture, whereby fields and wastes covered with thistles and other 

 weeds have been done away with, the Goldfinch has decreased 

 almost to vanishing point. It can never regain its former num- 

 bers, but a small remnant may exist if the Wild Birds' Preservation 

 Acts are well enforced. 



The Starling {Sturnus vulgaris, L.). 



Within the memory of many persons still living, the StarHng 

 was either unknown or very i-are. In the earliest years of the 

 century the Starling was disappearing in Solway, and 40 or 50 

 years elapsed during which it seems to have been only a transient 

 visitant. Then with the next score of years it very rapidly in- 

 creased till it reached its present abundance everywhere. Details 

 of its interesting history as a local bird need not be given. I have 

 already published many such notes in the "Annals of Scottish 

 Natural History" for 1895. 



The Chough {Pyrrhocorax graculus, L.). 



With the exception of a pair or two in the west of Wigtown- 

 shire, there are no Choughs now in Galloway. Once common, 

 they became very scarce in Kirkcudbrightshire by 1865, and soon 

 thereafter quite disappeared, with the exception of an occasional 

 .straggler from the Isle of Man, or Rathlin. Jackdaws have been 

 freely blamed for frightening them away, but there is no evidence 

 that they ever did so. 



The Magpie {Pica mstica, Scop.). 



The Magpie still survives as a local species, and of late years 

 seems actually to be slightly increased in numbers. Formerly very 

 abundant, its decrease is attributable to game-preserving. 



The Rook {Trypanocorax frugilegus, L.). 



The Rook is entitled to particular attention in connection with 

 my subject. While greatly diminished from its numbers of half 

 a generation ago, the most interesting thing about the local and 



