BABEB BIRDS OF THE SOLWAY FIRTH. 283 



2. Birds from Eastern Europe. — Mature reflection favours 

 the belief that comparatively few species visit the shores of the 

 Solway Firth from Eastern Europe. We have no local finds of 

 Turdus varius or T. sibiricus : no rare Phylloscopi ; no notes of 

 Lanius minor or Muscicapa parva ; no Asiatic Buntings ; and not 

 one occurrence of Falco vespertinus. It is true that Saxicola 

 isabellina, Tadorna casarca, Glareola pratincola, Cursorius galli- 

 cus have visited us at long intervals ; but what are these among so 

 many absent species ? It must be admitted that Anthus richardi 

 and Pastor roseus are believed to have occurred repeatedly, the 

 former species in both spring and autumn. Rtiticilla titys has 

 only twice occurred, yet it cannot be easily overlooked, as it 

 occurs so late in the season. In vain have we searched, year 

 after year, for such birds as Totanus stagnatilis, Charadrius 

 fulvus, Recurvirostra avocetta, or Numenius tenuirostris. It is 

 conceivable that some of the commoner British birds visit us 

 from the east, such as Garrulus glandarius ; but an incursion of 

 Jays is at least as likely to owe its fons et origo to the pine-woods 

 of Norway. Certain birds, of which Anthus richardi is the safest 

 example, do appear to visit us from the east ; but most eastern 

 Palsearctic birds are chiefly remarkable for their absence. 



3. Birds from Scandinavia. — A number of species appear to 

 visit the Solway Firth from Scandinavia, including Turdus 

 pilaris, T. iliacus, Lanius excubitor, Bombycilla garrulus, Acanthis 

 linaria, Fringilla montifringilla, Chrysomitris spinus, Corvus cor- 

 nix, Otocorys alpestris, Dendrocopus major, Buteo lagopus, Asio 

 brachyotus, Columba palumbus, Clangula glaucion, Mergus mer- 

 ganser, Strepsilas interpres, Scolopax rusticula, Gallinago galli- 

 nula. Machetes pugnax, Totanus canescens, Limosa lapponica, 

 Colymbus septentrionalis. But of these, Machetes pugnax only 

 occurs — normally, at any rate — in autumn ; while Otocorys 

 alpestris and Buteo lagopus have hitherto proved to be very rare 

 visitors. Possibly Chrysomitris spinus and Mergus merganser 

 visit the neighbourhood of the Solway Firth from the north of 

 Scotland. Acanthis linaria is relatively rare in the neighbour- 

 hood of the Solway Firth, or at any rate appears to be ; possibly, 

 if there were any London birdcatchers at work with clap-nets 

 near the Solway, we might hear of the capture of various small 

 species which at present are overlooked. 



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