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PREFACE. 
The counties of Ayr and Wigtown present many interesting 
features, which appear to be intimately associated with a profusion 
of bird life. A glance at the position and configuration of the 
districts of Kyle, Carrick, and Galloway, will show that the entire 
coast outline indicates a variety of locality sufficient to attract, 
and in many instances retain, species of a wandering habit 
v elsewhere.* Luce Bay, and the Bay of Wigtown, with their far- 
stretching sands, and Loch Byan, with its sheltered nooks and 
shores, draw large numbers of waders and waterfowl. Burrow 
Head and the Mull of Galloway furnish haunts for cliff-building 
birds, and for the peregrine and lively chough; while the many 
caves which intersect the precipitous rocks from Ballantrae to the 
entrance to Glen App, afford shelter to the rock-dove and cormo¬ 
rant. In inland quarters, on the other hand, the numerous lochs 
scattered over both counties draw flocks of fresh water species, 
and not a few rarities, as the black tern, garganey, osprey, and 
wild swan; the high rocky cliffs harbour the raven and eagle; 
the moors the merlin and hen harrier, dipper and ring ouzel; 
while the glens and valleys, from their extremely inviting aspect, 
give encouragement to a number of soft-billed birds, among which 
may be noticed the grasshopper warbler and lesser whitethroat. 
In addition to its many other attractions, this district possesses 
two isolated breeding places for gulls and guillemots—viz., Ailsa 
Craig in the Firth of Clyde, and the Scaur Rocks in the Bay of 
Luce. The former, being one of the most extensive nurseries for 
sea-fowl in Great Britain, is in some respects peculiarly inter¬ 
esting—the Iceland gull and little auk having been seen there 
* We may here recommend to the notice of ornithologists, in consulting this 
or any future catalogues that may be published, “ Philips’ Travelling Map of 
Scotland,” in which the various headlands, lochs, and islets are very correctly 
named and indicated. 
