BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 389 
point out that a specimen of the Great Snipe shot by 
Mr. C. Hinton on September 28th, 1904, and previously 
recorded as from Dumfriesshire* was obtained near The Brae, 
Lochrutton, Kirkcudbrightshire. This specimen, which is 
beheved to be a male, is now (thanks to the generosity of 
Mr. Hinton) in my collection. Another example, obtained 
near Crocketford, Kirkcudbrightshire, on October 2nd, 1896, 
has also been recorded as a Dumfriesshire specimen, but it 
is only fair to add that neither of these localities is more 
than six miles from our boundary. 
This species breeds in northern, north-eastern, and parts 
of central Europe and north-western Asia ; on passage 
it is regularly found in southern Europe from the Rhone 
VaUey eastwards; and in Africa from Morocco to Egypt, 
whence it passes south to Natal ; it has also been found in 
Turkestan, Persia and Kashmir. To England it is an annual 
autumn-visitant, but in small numbers, and it more rarely 
visits Scotland and Ireland. 
THE COMMON SNIPE. Gallmago coelestis (Frenzel). 
Local names— Mire-Snipe ; Heather-bleat ; Heather- 
BLEATER ; Heather-blite ; Heather-blitter. 
" The cuckoo and the gowk, 
The laverock and the lark. 
The Heather-bleat, the mire-snipe. 
How many birds is that ?" 
Old Dumfriesshire Riddle. 
A common resident in suitable localities, but subject to migration. 
That the long bill of this species gained for it the name of 
Smpe IS traceable through the old-time name of " snite " 
for snout. Dr. Archbald, about 1684, in his account of 
* Field, 1904, Vol. CIV., p. 654. 
