BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 11 
THE BRITISH STONECHAT. 
Pratincola torquata hibernans, Hartert. 
A resident of extremely local distribution, though often fairly plentiful 
where it occurs ; probably increasing. 
In 1832 Sir William Jardine writes of the Stonechat as 
the most uncommon of the Saxicolce found in Applegarth 
parish, and adds, " a few pairs may be met with about 
waste brushwood or whin-coverts during the whole year."* 
Two specimens obtained at Jardine Hall were in his col- 
lection.! 18^5 is recorded in an account of Loch- 
maben parish as " found in great abundance on the 
moors, "J a statement which I am inclined to doubt ; and 
it may well refer to the Wheatear or Whinchat, as neither 
of these are mentioned in the account. Mr. S. Chrystie 
in 1881 includes the Stonechat in a " List of birds that 
breed in the parish of Dumfries " as " rare."§ Mr. Tom 
Brown speaks of it in 1885 as " very rare " in Tynron 
parish. II In 1901 it is described by Dr. J. W. Martin as 
" seldom seen" in Glencairn,^ and Dr. Anstruther Davidson 
in 1888 discredits the report that it had nested in Upper 
Nithsdale as he had " never seen the bird at any time."** 
Mr. R. Armstrong writes me from Thornhill that he 
considers the Stonechat as very rare in Nithsdale, the only 
occasion on which he had seen it breeding being in 1902, 
when he found a nest with six eggs at Kirkbog (Close- 
burn). Personally I have only once met with the species 
in this district. It was in June, 1905, when I saw a pair 
* New Stat. Acct. Scot., Vol. IV., p. 179. 
t Cat. Birds in Coll. Sir Pf. J., p. 83 (3361) a, a. 
J New Stat. Acct. Scot., Vol. IV., p. 382. 
§ Trans. D. and G. Nat. Hist. <Soc., December 4th, 1881. 
II Op. city December 4th, 1885. 
^ Op. cit., December 13th, 1901. 
** Op. cit., November 10th, 1888. 
