INTEODTJCTION". XVll 



fro, vast numbers of this bird were bovering about in all directions 

 in company witb numerous Eedsbanks and Snipes, tbe latter all 

 tbe wbile mingling their drumming noise with the constantly- 

 repeated cry of the Peewit. The Curlew also was there, and 

 some of the other denizens of the swamp. 



Prestwick Car was drained in 1857, and, with the drainage, 

 many objects of interest to the naturalist have disappeared from 

 the district. The botanist has lost a great field of research ; the 

 entomologist, too, has suffered greatly ; and two or more species 

 are lost to our local conchologists. The birds that congregated 

 there have been dispersed, and several that had, on account of 

 their breeding in that place ranked as residents, have now be- 

 come mere visitants. The KufP breeds nowhere else that I am 

 aware of in the two counties, neither does the Dunlin, though 

 it has been seen in the breeding season near Crag Lough. The 

 Shoveller and Pintail, too, have now no breeding place in the 

 district, and the Wood-Sandpiper belongs to the same category. 

 And though these birds will no doubt continue to visit the local- 

 ity, yet some of them at least will do so in diminished numbers, 

 and will probably ultimately cease to make their appearance al- 

 together. 



A breeding station, such as Prestwick Car was, acts as a feeder 

 to the ornithology of a district or country. Birds have a ten- 

 dency to return, being attached to the place of their nativity. 

 It is well known that the same pair of Swallows will return year 

 after year to their old nesting place, that the Stork is ever con- 

 stant to its home, regularly making its annual migration to the 

 same place. This is also a patent fact with regard to the Eook ; 

 and it holds good with birds in general. The individuals them- 

 selves do not only return to their breeding places, but doubtless 

 act as decoys in inducing others to join them. HenGe the de- 

 struction of such a place as Prestwick Car caimot fail to mate- 

 rially affect the avifauna of the district. 



This disturbing influence of the acts of man has been going on 

 for many ages, and is now proceeding with accelerated force. It 

 has already been stated that upwards of two hundred years ago 

 a gi-eat feeding and breeding station of marine birds existed in 



