BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 375 
the Solway."* A specimen (No. 180) from his coUection 
may be seen m the Royal Scottish Museum, labeUed as 
obtamed on the Solway, but whether this bi;d was from 
the Dumfriesshire coast is not known. The species is rare 
ZrOo^T' TP* ^''^ ^ ^^^'^^ ™ September or 
' ^^^"^ ^ "^^"J' immature birds may be 
seen The majority of these pass on, and only a very few 
stay throughout the winter. In 1909, they were unusuaUy 
numerous at Powfoot and were observed so'^arly a. AuguS 
nn^h " Vircumpolar bird, breeding in the high 
aS ^«'^'«PJ^«'-««- In the cold season it ranges over 
Asia, the African region, Oceania and South America, while 
on migration It is found on the entire coast-line of Europe 
and many mland waters. To Great Britain it is principally 
noXn ^'^'^^*»*"'^-«>igrant on its way to and from its 
northern breedmg-quarters, though a few remain throughout 
the wmter on the milder south and west coasts. The return 
northwards takes place in May, and in July or August the 
southern movement begins. Hitherto it has not been detected 
breedmg m Great Britain, but it may yet be discovered to 
do so m the Hebndes or on the west coast of Ireland. 
THE OYSTER-CATCHER. 
H(Bmatopus ostralegm, Linnjeus. 
Local names— Sea-pie ; Sea-pyet. 
y immigranu , in spnng a few pairs ascend the larger rivers to nest. 
Of this species Mr. R. Service writes : " The Oyster-catcher, 
or as I prefer to call it, the Sea-Pie, is far and away the 
most conspicuous bird of the flats of the Solway Firth. 
Flocks extending along shore for nearly a mile ii length 
nZZ "TV"" ^""^ ^'id the enormous 
numbers to be seen in the course of an October day in the 
* Nat. Lib., 1842, Vol. XII., p. 260. 
