BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 223 
THE SHAG. Phalacrocorax graculus (Linnaeus). 
Local names— Green Cormorant; Green-crested Cor- 
morant. 
Formerly more common, is now a very scarce visitor to 
our sea-coast. 
This species was formerly not the rarity it is now, for Sir 
WiUiam Jardine wrote in 1843 as follows: "We have 
frequently observed from five to twenty ... at rest on 
the low banks, with which the Solway Firth is so fatally 
interspersed."* But Mr. R. Service writes me in 1908 : 
" Nowadays one would look in vain for such parties on any 
of the Solway banks." 
A specimen was obtained at Sarkfoot (Gretna) in 1854, 
and was stuffed by Mr. Andrew Plenderleath of Longtown.f 
Dr. Grierson, in the " Running Catalogue of the Contents 
of my Museum " records : " No. 701, (Carho graculus) a fine 
crested specimen of this bird shot in Lochar Moss about 
1840, presented by Mr. McKenzie, Farmer, Barnhill, near 
Dumfries, 24th November, 1868." This specimen is stiU 
(1908) to be seen in Grierson's museum at Thornhill. 
Dr. J . W. Martin recorded in 1901 that : " One was noticed 
to haunt a pool in the River Cairn, during the early spring 
a few years ago "} ; but the bird not being obtained, its 
identification is not entirely satisfactory. Mr. R. Service 
teUs me that two Shags were caught just below the Caul 
at Dumfries in October, 1885, by a fisherman, who said 
they suddenly fiew down and swam to the side of the river. 
He caught them, put them in a basket, and brought them 
* Nat. Lib., 1843, Vol. XIV., p. 242. 
t Dumfries Courier, March 28th, 1854. 
% Trans. D, and G. Nat. Hist. Soc, December 13th, 1901. 
