128 BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
passed.* It is believed that about 1860 the Rooks in 
the county were at their lowest numerical strength, and 
that from that time onwards they were in the ascendant. 
Mrs. Pollock writes me that about 1866 " The Rooks had 
innumerable nests in the old wood (Dalswinton). On a 
summer's night (put early to bed !) I have lain by the 
nursery window, watching them flying home from the White 
Hill ; the sky would be black with them, their flight over- 
head would occupy at least an hour and a half— a wide 
stretch, apparently one hundred and eighty yards. It 
looked like a river." 
Certain woods are resorted to as roosts, perhaps the most 
notable being Woodcockair (Annan), where thousands 
upon thousands of Rooks flock nightly throughout the 
summer, autumn and winter months. A similar but 
smaUer resort is in what remains of the old wood at Dal- 
swinton (Kirkmahoe) where, Mr. T. Ranken teUs me, they 
come in thousands to roost at aU times but the sprmg. 
Other woods in different parts of the county are also 
resorted to, but none are more patronized than that at 
Woodcockair. 
In so common a species varieties in coloration are to 
be expected. The rookery at Castledykes in Dumfries 
became at one time famous for its white Rooks. A full- 
grown one which had left the rookery was shot in June, 
1834, near Craigs (Dumfries), and passed into the possession 
of Mr. Shanks of Friars Vennel.t Another is recorded in 
1835 " Discovered on the very tree occupied by the previous 
one. Its eyes are a dehcate hght-blue. Its body, a dusky- 
white, no black feathers, the legs the same colour as the 
body"}; and in 1847, "The rookery at Castledykes 
has . . . again produced one this year, which was caught 
on the Kingholm Road. It is a handsome young bird of 
* Dumfries Courier, May 6th, 1844. 
t Op. cit., June 18th, 1834. 
% Op. cit.. May 20th, 1835. 
