78 THE ZOOLOGIST 



that this is not an uncommon salutation with which to greet one who 

 has bagged a Cormorant, but neither this woman, nor any other person 

 acquainted with this curious remark that I have asked for an explanation, 

 could give me any reason for it, or tell me how it originated. Throughout 

 this county, as I formerly stated (' Zoologist,' 1878, p. 428), the Cormorant 

 is known as the " Cow'en Elder," Cow'en being the provincial pronuncia- 

 tion of Colvend, a seaboard parish on the rocky coast of which these birds 

 formerly nested commonly. In the adjoining county of Wigtown they are 

 known as " Mochrum Elders " — Mochrum being an inland loch, on the 

 banks of which they once bred in numbers, but from which they have 

 lately been nearly, if not altogether, banished. Their territorial titles are 

 easily understood, but why are such voracious, uncleanly creatures called 

 after those decent, douce, peculiarly Scottish productions, the Pillars o' the 

 Kirk? And why a killed Cormorant should be " ane o' the six Elders " is 

 still more inexplicable. However, six Elders are a fair average number 

 with which to constitute that ecclesiastical court, the Kirk Session, which 

 in former times held undisputed sway in rural districts, imposing pains and 

 penalties for breaches of morality, non-attendance at Kirk, Sabbath-break- 

 ing, and various other offences. Seaside dwellers familiar with the charac- 

 teristics of the Cormorants may, by way of revenge for some infliction of the 

 " cutty-stool," have thought it a good return to call a Cormorant an Elder! 

 I shall be pleased if any of your readers can throw light on the subject. — 

 Robert Service (Maxwelltown, Kirkcudbrightshire). 



Black Redstart in the North of Ireland.— As the capture of a female 

 Black Redstart here on the 30th of last October, which I reported to 

 you a few days later, is an uncommon event in this northern part of Ireland, 

 I think you may perhaps consider it deserving of a notice in ' The Zoolo- 

 gist.' It is the first time that I have known or heard of a Black Redstart 

 in the North of Ireland since the publication of Thompson's ' Irish Birds.' 

 The facts are as follows : — On October 30th, 1882, a female Black Redstart, 

 which had been catching flies on the window-sills, flew in at an open 

 window into one of the rooms, when I caught it, and, having compared it 

 with a stuffed specimen to verify the species with accuracy, let it go again 

 unhurt. It flew off, and has not been since seen, although probably it is 

 wintering in this country, — Clermont (Ravensdale Park, Newry). 



Dipper singing during severe frost.— On the coldest day during the 

 severe spell of weather we had last December, I was by the river-side 

 waiting for a shot at wild duck. The temperature was low enough for my 

 beard to be covered with icicles from my frozen breath. Close to me, on a 

 stone in the river, was a Water Ouzel warbling a soft Thrush-like song, and 

 seemiug to be extremely jolly. At the very same spot in the cold weather 

 of January, 1881, I heard a Dipper singing from a large lump of ice in 



