BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 87 
Mouswald,* Kirkmichael,t Johnstone, J and in Eliock 
Woods, Sanquhar §; while in 1795 it is recorded as 
"migratory in Canoby "|| ; and the Rev. Alexander 
Brown in his report dated Moffat, 1792, says : " The Bull- 
finch has appeared within the last seven years and seems 
to multiply fast."U Some forty years later we read of it 
as abundant in Mouswald** and Holywood,tt and as 
"found in the woods of Comlongon " (Ruthwell)4{ 
In 1878 Mr. R. Service drew attention to "the 
appearance of large numbers of Bullfinches in the 
district during the last two years, which were proving 
most destructive to the fruit trees. Dr. Sharpe remarked 
that the same thing had happened at Eccles (Morton) ; 
these birds had been very scarce for many yeare, but were 
now met with commonly. Mr. W. G. Gibson stated that 
a number of Bullfinches' nests had been seen in the grounds 
of the Crichton Institution in the summer of 1877 for the 
first time."§§ 
At the present day it cannot be said to be increasing, 
owing perhaps to the persecution it meets from any gardener 
who is allowed a gun. In some of the upland and less 
wooded districts the Bullfinch is decidedly uncommon, 
as in Upper Eskdale where Richard Bell of Castle O'er 
described it, in 1905, as very rare in the district, a nest only 
once seen, and an occasional flock in autumn.|||| 
In the spring this species is often found in the garden 
or "policies," attracted perhaps by such favourite nesting- 
* Stat. Acct. Scot., Vol. VII., p. 294. 
t Op. cit.. Vol. I., p. 60. 
% Op. cit.. Vol. IV., p. 226. 
§ Op. cit.. Vol. VI., p. 460. 
II Op. cit.. Vol. XIV., p. 413. 
H Op. cit.. Vol. 11. , p. 291. 
** New Stat. Acct. Scot., Vol. IV., p. 443. 
tt Op. cit.. Vol. IV., p. 556. 
%X Op. cit.. Vol. IV., p. 220. 
§§ Trans. D. and Q. Nat. Hist. Sac, February 1st, 1878. 
II 11 My Strange Pets, p. 115. 
