54 TRAI^SACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



Ou lOth November, 1887, oue was shot at Kirkiiiichael, eleven 

 miles iulaiid. 



Knot (Trin<ja canutus). 

 An extremely common species, at least within the limits of 

 the Solway Firth itself. Here great flocks are always on the 

 move, more especially during the later autumn months. It is 

 only exceeded in numbers by the Sea-Pyet and the Dunlin. It 

 remains sometimes in May till the summer or breeding plumage 

 has been attained, departing northward with the last flocks of 

 migrants to the Arctic regions. 



Sandkrling (Calidris arenay'ia). 

 Though never very abundant, this species is of general distri- 

 bution in small parties. Whether it always remained with us 

 in winter may be a matter of doubt, so far at least as any con- 

 siderable number is concerned. On 4th January, 1900, I shot 

 several Sanderlings at Southerness, and have since ascertained 

 that a good many Ijirds have remained the whole of each 

 winter since. The whiteness of their plumage makes them very 

 easily seen and identified. It is of interest to note in this 

 connection that Macjaherson & Duckworth state, in their Birds 

 of Cwnherland, that the Sanderling does not winter on the 

 opposite side of the firth. 



Ruff (Machetes puynax). 

 An irregular summer visitant, occurring at pretty long intervals. 

 Sir Wm. Jardine, writing in 1844 (British Birds J, says " he had 

 often shot them on the banks of the Solway, where from August 

 to October they may almost always be met with." That is 

 assuredly not the case now-a-days. When Gray &. Anderson 

 wrote in 1869 they said the Ruft" " was rare." There is a 

 specimen, shot at Lochrutton about 1880, which is now in the 

 Kirkcudbright Museum. A Ruft' and a Reeve were taken at 

 Carsthorn in October, 1903. Oue was shot several years ago on 

 the Caerlaverock Estate, which forms the eastern side of the 

 narrowest part of the Nith estuary, and another bird of the 

 species, now on the table, was shot only a month ago, almost on 

 the same spot as the other. 



