60 BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
of some five and twenty years visited certain favoured 
localities in our county, are probably off-shoots of the stock 
in Cumberland, where they have been known to nest tor 
upwards of one hundred years * 
In 1865 a male Pied Flycatcher was seen near Drumlanrig 
Castle (Durisdeer) by WiUiam Hastings ; but it was not 
until May 30th, 1884, that Mr. Tom Brown found a 
nest and six eggs in a hole in an alder growing by the banks 
of Scaur Water in Tynron parish.f The same hole was 
resorted to in the following year, and in subsequent years 
there has always been a nest within half a mile of the 
first-discovered site. In 1889 there were reports of 
several nests found on Cample Water, Scaur Water, and the 
River Nith, and on the River Annan near Kirkwood 
(Dalton), where in August of that year Mr. R. Service 
saw a brood of three flying about. In 1894 they were first 
observed on Shinnel Water, a tributary of the Scaur ; and 
in 1897 they were first noticed in the Cairn valley, both near 
Dunscore and in Glencairn parish ; and on the Nith near 
Kirkmahoe. Mr. W. F. Graham informs me that he took 
a nest of this species about 1899 below Bonshaw, on the 
Kirtle Water, which is interesting as being the most easterly 
record I have yet received. On May 9th, 1908, a male 
Pied Flycatcher was seen near Chanloch (Penpont) on the 
Scaur, a very suitable spot for this species, but further up 
that water than has been previously reported. At many of 
the above localities they have been noticed subsequently, 
but I cannot say that the species has annually visited aU 
of them. 
The birds would appear yearly to vary in numbers on 
different streams, and it is therefore most difficult to say 
whether the breeding-area of the species is extending, though 
its numbers during the last ten years are believed to have 
increased. A glance at the map will, however, show that it is 
still confined to Annandale and Nithsdale. The photograph 
* Fauna of Lakeland, 1892, pp. 123-129. 
t Trans. D. and G. Nat. Hist. Soc, December 4th, 1885. 
