The Rarer Birds of the Solway Area. 438 



country people called the ordinary heron a crane, and it is 

 possible there may be some little confusion. 



The Bittern— -Xearly 300 years ago Dr Archibald in writing 

 of the fauna of Dumfries mentioned biltour as found very fre- 

 quently on the land. 



The Chough shown came from Islay, but at one period it 

 was exceedingly common round our shores from Colvend to Port- 

 patrick. At present I am not aware that it breeds anywhere 

 along our coast. 



Ptarmigan — Up till 1825 these were to be found on our hill- 

 tops. In the Dungeon of Buchan one was shot so lately as 1828, 

 the last recorded. »The late Duke of Buccleuch tried to intro- 

 duce them at Wanlockhead, but there was a sequence of mild 

 winters, and they disappeared. 



V. 



Accidentals or Casuals. 



The Red-backed Shrike was only once found at Lochmaben. 



The Waxwing, a curious bird, the appearance of which 

 people long attributed to forebodings of war or pestilence, or 

 other calamities, was long a mystery in the matter of the place of 

 breeding, until in 1854 it was found breeding in great numbers in 

 Lapland. It is very rare here. 



Of Richard's Pipit there is an authentic occurrence as having 

 taken place in Terregles. 



The White-winged Crossbill is said to have occurred in 

 Dunscore. 



The Rose-coloured Pastor comes to us at long intervals 

 from the Far East. It is said in Southern Europe to follow 

 up the swarms of locusts, and feed on them, and is reckoned to 

 be one of the means whereby the locust is kept in check. 



The Nutcracker is said to have occurred in Wigtownshire a 

 few years ago. 



VI. 

 Introduced Birds. 



Of the Red-winged Starling we have only one occurrence, 

 recorded in Sanquhar. No doubt it came from Inveraray, where, 

 after the Marquis of Lome's return from the Governor-General- 

 ship of Canada, the introduction of 200 of the red-winged starling 



