434 The Rarer Birds of the Solway Area. 



was a failure. They remained during the summer, and totally- 

 disappeared in the autumn when the migration fever set in. 



The introduction of the Capercailzie was also a failure. 

 The late Duke of Buccleuch proposed to introduce them at 

 Sanquhar, and the eggs were successfully hatched, but the 

 birds disappeared. Several years later a couple of specimens 

 were found at Glenapp, no doubt stragglers from an introduction 

 by the late Duke of Hamilton. 



The Virginian Quail was introduced by Mr Shaw at Drum- 

 lanrig, but also disappeared. Had the proper conditions been 

 observed it might have become one of the local species, 

 because they have been successfully introduced in Norfolk and 

 other English parts, and give good sport. 



vn. 



Alleged Occurrences. 



The Black-throated Thrush is a Siberian species which 

 comes to England in very hard weather. One is said to have 

 been seen at Kirkconnel in 1895 during the fearful snowstorm of 

 that year. 



The Black Redstart is alleged to have occurred and bred 

 here, but I venture to think the statement was on totally erroneous 

 grounds, because over and over again I have been asked to come 

 and see its nest, and greatly to my disgust on every occasion it 

 has turned out to be that of the common redstart only. 



The Nightingale — Whene\-er a good warm dry summer 

 occurs, when such species as the sedge warbler begin to sing at 

 night, their songs are attributed to the nightingale, and we are 

 sure to see in some newspapers a paragraph that the bird has 

 been here — but not seen. 



The Wood Lark, according to the Old Statistical Account, is 

 said to ha\-e been seen in Dumfriesshire, but up to date it has not 

 authentically been found here. 



The Pine Grosbeak — There is a very interesting old record in 

 the Statistical Account of Kirkmichael parish by Dr Burgess, a 

 very well-known botanist, who gives the pine grosbeak as one of 

 the birds of his parish, but contemporary writers also say that the 

 crossbill was unusually common in Kirkmichael, so that no doubt 

 he wrote down grosbeak instead. 



The Green Woodpecker is said to have occurred at 



