BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 411 
(Caerlaverock) on October 5th, 1907, as it was flying inland 
from the shore. He informed me that it was sent to 
Kinharvie to be stuffed, but being mislaid was not 
found until its condition was such that it had to be thrown 
away. The species is but an irregular migrant on the 
spring and autumn-migrations to the east coast of England, 
being even more rarely observed elsewhere in the British Isles. 
H. A. Macpherson writes : " It is a curious fact that the 
Solway Firth is visited always every year by certain species 
which are excessively rare on the west coast of Scotland. 
The Spotted Redshank (Totanus fuscus) is a species in point. 
. . . Since we have searched for the Spotted Redshank, 
it has been met with in immature plumage nearly every 
autumn almost always on the same part of the [Enghsh ?] 
Solway."* 
The record from Caerlaverock above mentioned; a specimen 
shot by Mr. Robert McCall near Carsethorn (Kirkcudbright- 
shire) on February 13th, 1899t ; and another seen near there 
in October, 1903$ ; are the only three instances I know of 
the occurrence of the Spotted Redshank on the Scottish 
side of the Solway. But its presence may often pass 
undetected, for the duration of its stay is probably short, 
and its identification from the preceding species is not easy, 
except at close-quarters. The supposition that it may occur 
unnoticed is somewhat strengthened by the confident reports 
of local gunners, well acquainted with the calls of the 
various sea-birds, who state they at times can distinguish 
its peculiar cry : moreover, the species is regarded as an 
irregular autumn-migrant on the English side of the 
Solway. § 
The Spotted Redshank nests in northern Europe and Asia, 
its winter-quarters extending to Cape Colony, northern 
India, China, Japan, and Burmah. 
* Zoologist, 1894, p. 115. 
t Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1899, p. 112. 
t Op. cit., 1904, p. 216. 
§ Trans. Carlisle Nat. Hist. Soc, 1909, p. 58. 
