BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 225 
appeared no wound. The distance of the place where it 
was caught from the sea is about twenty-five miles."* 
Richard Bell of Castle O'er narrates that on September 
18th, 1878, a Gannet was found near Billholm (Westerkirk) 
by a shepherd. It was in an exhausted condition, and had 
been driven so far (twenty-five miles) inland by a great 
storm. Oats and trout were offered to it, and in taking 
one of the latter it bit the narrator's thumb to the bone.f 
In 1885 several Gannets from inland locahties were sent to 
William Hastings for preservation, J one of which, sent in 
October, so Mr. R. Service informs me, came from Annan. 
Mr. Alexander Sim writes me that he identified an adult 
found dead at Loch Skene in the winter of 1895 by a 
shepherd ; and in 1898 another adult specimen was obtained 
in the same neighbourhood. § A Gannet blown inland by 
the gale of November 12th, 1902, was captured at Cluden 
Bank three miles above Dumfries, and was presented by 
Mr. Kennedy to the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural 
History and Antiquarian Society. 
THE COMMON HERON. Ardea cinerea, Linnseus. 
Local names — Long-necky Hern ; Long-necky ; Jenny 
Hern ; Heronsheugh ; Craigie ; Crane. 
" A hermit glutton on a sodded root, 
Fish-gorged, his head and bill sunk to his breast. 
The lean blue heron stands, and there will stand 
Motionless all the long dull afternoon." 
Thomas Aird. — " A Summer Day.'' 
A common resident. 
The Heron is a wary bird, well able to take care of itseK, 
and seldom comes within shot of those who would shoot it 
* Mag. Nat. Hist, 1829, Vol. II., p. 90. 
t Trans. D. and G. Nat. Hist. Soc, April 17th, 1901. 
t Op. cit.y December 4th, 1885. 
§ Ann. Scot. Nat. His^., 1901, p. 199. 
Q 
