414 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
How far Troglodytes hirtensis, the Wren found on St. Kilda, is justified 
in being advanced to specific rank may be open to argument, though the 
best authorities appear to look with disfavour on such an advancement ; 
but, touching rightful pretensions to whatsoever éclat there may be asso- 
ciated with the discovery and re-discovery of the little bird on the island, 
there is surely no room for two opinions. — H. 8. Davenport (Melton 
Mowbray). 
Scoters in Summer.—Larly on the morning of June 7th, when a few 
miles off Southerness, hundreds of Scoters were flying round the yacht. 
Four Velvet Scoters (Gidemia fusca) were detected, and no doubt there 
were others. In July, when sailing over the same spot, I observed the 
birds again, and I have often seen numbers of them in summer in the 
same locality. On the evening of June 138th, whilst fishing in Wigton Bay, 
a pair of Red-throated Divers (Colymbus septentrionalis) were seen. The 
birds were in full summer plumage, being apparently paired, and from 
their manners, had I been a little further north, I should have had no 
doubt as to the existence of a nest not far off. I visited several old nesting 
places of the Chough on the Kirkcudbrightshire coast, but not a bird of 
the species was to be seen, and | fear they have gone, never to return. 
Talking to an old fisherman, who was a close observer of birds, I gathered 
that fifty or sixty years ago they were common in several localities. Latterly 
they seem to have been driven away by the J ackdaws, which have increased 
in numbers.—J. J. ARMIsT“ZAD (Solway Fishery, Dumfries). 
Ivory Gull on the Solway.—On Aug. 3rd, when riding at anchor in 
the Solway Firth, I had the gratification of observing one of these rare birds 
(Pagophila eburnea) from my yacht. We had just had tea, and the scraps 
had been thrown overboard for the birds, which soon came round the yacht 
in considerable numbers. ‘They were a mixed lot, by far the largest pro- 
portion being of the Black-headed species, interspersed with a few Common 
Gulls, and also some representatives of the Herring and Lesser Black- 
backed kinds. One bird of a creamy-white colour attracted my attention, 
and as it came round for the third time, I distinctly saw that it had black 
feet; its bill was dusky, as far as I could see. Something suddenly 
alarmed the birds, and they retired to a distance and settled on the water, 
and I had not another good opportunity of observing the stranger that day. 
Next morning, however, on turning out early to weigh anchor, I saw it 
again. ‘This time it was feeding on the ooze, in company with some Black- 
headed Gulls, about one hundred and fifty yards away. It bore a striking 
resemblance to a white Pigeon, and a novice would have had the impression 
that one of these birds was feeding amongst the Gulls. — J. J. ARMISTEAD 
(Solway Fishery, Dumfries). 
