GREATER SNOW GOOSE IN SCOTTISH SOLWAY AREA 69 
THE GREATER SNOW GOOSE IN THE SCOTTISH 
SOLWAY AREA: A FIRST RECORD FOR 
GREAT BRITAIN. 
By WILLIAM EAGLE CLARKE, I.S.0., LL.D. 
THE following are the particulars relating to the unusual 
occurrence of a small skein of the Greater Snow Goose, 
Chen nivalzs, in southern Kirkcudbrightshire in the autumn 
and winter of 1920-21, alluded to in the last number of this 
magazine. Since then I have fortunately been favoured 
with much additional and interesting information relating 
to their presence in the county. 
Major Russell informs me that he first heard of some 
light-coloured geese being seen in the autumn about 
Crossmichael, where they were observed in company with 
a large party of Bean Geese, but he cannot recollect the 
date. The earliest recorded date is in October, when one 
of two was shot at Craigley, near Castle-Douglas, by 
Mr James M‘Adam, who, not being aware of its rarity, did 
not preserve it. Later the presence of White Geese was 
reported from various places in the county, and it is 
supposed that in all they were originally five in number— 
four certainly. Of these, two were shot—one in October at 
Craigley as related, while the other, which fortunately found 
its way to the Royal Scottish Museum, was shot on the 
18th of February by Capt. Montgomery on the River Dee, 
from a party composed of a number of Bean Geese and 
three Snow Geese. 
This mixed flock resorted to some low-lying meadows, 
which are frequently under water, near Crossmichael. To 
these meadows and young grass fields the Geese came from 
the Solway to feed, and Major Russell saw them last about 
the 20th of March, when he had an excellent view of the 
two remaining white birds. 
Other “Snow Geese” have been reported from the 
Scottish Solway. One was obtained in the stake-nets at 
Newbie (Annan) in the autumn of 1884, while in March 
1879 a flock of pure white geese was observed on Lochar 
