Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/543

Rh List of Birds observed in the District of Moffat, Dumfries-shire, from October, 1896, to February, 1897.—The following (fifty-five identifications) does not pretend to be a complete list of the birds of the district. My notes were made during a residence in Moffat extending over the period specified above, and in my walks for four or five miles around the town I simply made a note of what I saw. The town of Moffat is situated on the river Annan, and lies nineteen miles north-east from Dumfries. It is frequented for its mineral waters, which are saliue and sulphurous, and are said to resemble those of Harrogate. The district is hilly and not much wooded.

Mistle-Thrush (Turdus viscivorus).— Common.

Song-Thrush (T. musicas).—Common, but not quite so plentiful as the former.

Redwing (T. iliacus).—Frequently seen in small parties.

Fieldfare (T. pilaris).— V exy plentiful; hundreds seen feeding on the hawthorn trees close to the town.

Blackbird (T. merula).—Fairly plentiful.

Redbreast (Erithacus rubecula).—Common.

Golden-crested Wren (Regulus cristatus).—Very plentiful, perhaps the commonest bird in the district.

Hedgesparrow (Accentor modularis).—Occasionally met with.

Dipper (Cinclus aquaticus).—Plentiful.

Long-tailed Tit (Acredula rosea).—Parties of twelve or so met with on several occasions.

Great Tit (Parus major).—Fairly common.

Coal Tit (P. ater).—Also fairly common.

Marsh Tit (P. palustris).—Three or four birds only observed among the firs at Evan side.

Blue Tit (P. cæruleus).—Very common.

Wren (Troglodytes parvulus).—Somewhat plentiful.

Tree Creeper (Certhia familiaris).—Scarce; only two or three noticed.

Swallow (Hirundo rustica).—Saw a few about the middle of October.

Greenfinch (Ligurinus chloris).—Common.

Goldfinch (Carduelis elegans).—One or two only observed.

Siskin (Chrysomitris spinus).—Fairly common.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus).—Always plentiful.

Chaffinch (Fringilla cœlebs).—Plentiful.

Linnet (Linota cannabina).—Somewhat scarce.

Lesser Redpoll (L. rufescens).—A small party occasionally seen feeding on the alders at Annan side.

Bullfinch (Pyrrhula europæa).—Single birds occasionally noticed, and on one occasion a party of five.