BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 377 
which is some thirteen miles from the sea. I have purposely 
only mentioned records of this species from the farthest inland 
localities on our large rivers ; to suitable nesting-places on 
their lower reaches and on some of their tributaries the 
Oyster-catcher is an annual spring-visitant, arriving in March 
or April to nest, and departing in August for the coast. 
In autumn the numbers of Oyster-catchers to be seen on 
our shore are prodigious, having been augmented at this 
season of the year by immigrants from the northward and 
eastward. The species has probably always been numerous 
on our coast, but of late years has been increasing most 
markedly, and this increase may account for the growing 
tendency to resort to inland localities to breed. 
An extraordinary accident which befel a flock of these 
birds near Ruthwell, is thus told by Mr. George Smith in a 
letter to Mr. R. Service : " On September 5th, 1886, a very 
severe thunderstorm visited this district. The preceding 
twenty-four hours had been terribly oppressive. Between 
3 and 4 p.m. just after the storm burst, a whirlwind (said 
to have been accompanied by a waterspout) swept across 
the Nith estuary going in a north-westerly direction taking 
with it a flock of Sea-pies. They were dashed against a 
wire-fence on the Thwaite Farm, and literally cut to pieces, 
some of them being severed as if they had been cut with a 
razor. The wind was so strong that it blew them away, as it 
were, and as they are a very low-flying bird, they came in 
contact with the fence, and upwards of seventy were killed." 
THE BLACK-WINGED STILT. 
Himantopus candidus, Bonnaterre. 
Hm occurred twice, possibly three times. 
The first occurrence of the Black-winged Stilt in Great Britain 
was recorded by Sir Robert Sibbald in 1684,* and I am 
* Scotia Illustrata, Part II., Book III., p. 18, Plates Nos. XI. (Fia l\ 
and XIII. (Fig. 2). ^ » / 
