BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 23 
locally throughout the arable districts of the county. 
Since the beginning of the last century its numbers are 
believed to have increased, and it may be regarded as an 
increasing species.* Mr. William Laidlaw writes me that 
the Garden- Warbler is very plentiful in the south of Eskdale, 
where " it is a treat to hear them." 
Late in April this welcome songster arrives, and it leaves 
us again in August or September for continental Europe, 
whence it wanders as far south as Cape Colony. 
THE BRITISH GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 
Regulus cristatus anglorum, Hartert. 
Local names— Gold-Crest ; Crested Wren ; Crested 
Tit ; Basket-Hinger ; Golden Cuttie. 
A common resident. 
The Golden-crested Wren is included in 1791 in a list of 
the birds of Kirkmichaelf and Mouswald,J and Sir William 
Jardine writes of it m 1832 as breeding in small numbers in 
the parish of Applegarth and Sibbaldbie, "but durmg 
winter," he adds, " when the migratory flocks have arrived, 
[it] is very abundant."§ Dr. J. W. Martin noted a decrease 
in the numbers of this species in Glencairn after the devas- 
tating storm of 1883-1884,11 but since then the extensive 
cultivation of spruce and other evergreen pines has provided 
numerous suitable habitats for these birds, which have been, 
and are, increasing. Mr. Bruce Campbell, in a Hst of the 
birds of Moffat as observed by him between October, 
* R. Service, Trans. Glasg. Nat. Hist. Soc, 1905, Vol. VII., p. 140. 
t Stat. Acct. Scot., Vol. I., p. 60. 
t Op. cit.y Vol. VII., p. 294. 
§ New Stat. Acct. Scot., Vol. IV., p. 179. 
II Trans. D. and G. Nat. Hist. Sac, October 13th, 1901. 
