vni BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
I have foUowed the classification and nomenclature of 
Howard Saunders in the second edition of his Manmdof 
British Birds, 1899, together with the revisions made by 
him in his Ust of British Birds revised to July, 190. . 
I have departed from that system so far as to introduce 
trinomials where the British form of a species has been 
separated as a distinct geographical race from its continental 
alhes For this purpose I have foUowed the nomenclature 
emnloved by Dr. E. Hartert in his Viigel der pzlaark- 
UschenFaum, and his article in British Birds (Magazine) 
(Vol. I., pp. 208-228) on the races of birds pecuhar to 
the British Isles. • t i „ 
As regards local names, it has seemed to me a mistake 
not to include those which may now be obsolete. References 
to birds by such names may from time to time be found in 
old periodicals or magazines ; and the fact that they are given 
throughout my book, among the " Local Names of the 
various species to which they are applied, may prove useful 
to the student of our local avifauna. It should also be 
remembered that persons coming into a county may bring 
nicknames with them, and that many so-called Local 
Names " have a far less restricted meaning than is implied 
bv the term. In view of the fact that many birds are known 
in Dumfriesshire by names which are misleadmg, the hst 
of " Local Misnomers " {see p. xciii) is worth attention 
I have been tempted by numerous enquiries on the 
subject, to give, very briefly in each case, an epitome ot 
what is known as regards the distribution extraneous to 
Dumfriesshire of our visitors and visitants The whole 
question of migration is as yet so imperfectly understood 
and is of so great magnitude that it is impossible in such 
a book as this, to deal adequately with the sub]ect ; yet it 
is hoped that such information as is here given may not be 
without interest. , 
It is hardly necessary for me to point out that unless 
otherwise stated, the summary, given as a heading when 
dealing with each individual species, refers to the county as 
