BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 421 
J. E. Steele writes me that he saw a Whimbrel on the Powfoot 
Golf Course (Cummertrees) in the last week of August, 1906, 
and at the end of September, 1908, this species was more 
than usually numerous near Glencaple.* 
Mr. R. Service records : " On a moor in Closeburn a nest, 
supposed to be that of a Whimbrel, was shown to me on 
June 15th, 1895. Two eggs had been taken from it, one 
of which I examined. It looked like that of a Whimbrel, 
and certainly no one could have distinguished it from an 
authenticated egg, but, of course, full proof was wanting, "f 
He further informs me that he personally saw the bird, 
and " could almost be sure that it was a Whimbrel," however, 
it was not shot, so the record remains unsubstantiated. 
This species, called the " May-bird " in the southern and 
eastern counties of England on account of its regular 
appearance there in that month, nests sparingly in the 
Orkneys, Shetlands, and Outer Hebrides. In northern Europe 
it nests on the " fjelds " and beyond the limits of forest- 
growth. In winter it is found in parts of India, Mauritius, 
Madagascar, and in Africa as far as the Cape, while on 
passage it occurs on most of the shores of Europe. 
THE BLACK TERN. Hydrochelidon nigra (Linnaeus). 
A very rare visitor to our coast. 
This species is said to have nested in 1855 J on Solway Flow, 
which, although not within the boundaries of the county, 
is sufficiently near to have warranted its inclusion in the 
once " Debateable Land." That it has occurred in the 
county more often than the records show, is probable from 
its visits to the shores of the EngHsh side of the Solway, 
as well as off the neighbouring county of Kirkcudbright. 
Sir William Jardine writes in 1843 : "In Scotland we are 
* Dumfries Courier and Herald, October 7th, 1908. 
t Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. Glasg., 1905, Vol. VIII., p. 59. 
t Naturalist, Vol. VII., p. 251. 
