A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF EAST RENFREWSHIRE 221 



but it is sufficiently varied in aspect to be quite free from 

 monotony. The greatest elevation is attained in the south- 

 east corner of Eaglesham (1230 feet). The slope of the 

 district is to the north. There are in the upland parishes 

 of Eaglesham and Mearns extensive moorlands ; but while 

 the moors in the former are of the heathery type, Mearns 

 Moor is formed principally of grass lands. Lochs and 

 reservoirs abound in this upland tract. Cathcart and 

 Eastwood parishes, with little elevation, are largely culti- 

 vated, with a fair share of woodlands. The White Cart and 

 its tributary the Earn are the principal streams. The 

 presence of maritime or estuarine conditions in this country 

 always greatly augment a local list of birds. This advantage 

 our district does not possess. Still birds are abundant, 

 although the list of species, even for an inland district, may 

 not be a remarkable one. Of 130 species recorded, 73 are 

 believed to have nested. 



To Mr. A. Gilmour, Yr. of Eaglesham, Mr. W. Cox, who 

 has been for a long period head gamekeeper to Sir John 

 Stirling Maxwell, Bart, M.P., and Mr. Taylor, the keeper at 

 Pollok Castle, we are much indebted for information regarding 

 the birds of the district. 



MISSEL THRUSH, Turdus vistivorus, L. Fairly common, but in the 

 present year (1895), presumably from the unusual severity of 

 the weather of the months of January and February, scarcer 

 than in former years. 



SONG THRUSH, Turdus musicus, L. Common. Usually after severe 

 winters, and notably so this year, a decrease in numbers is 

 observed. But in the hardest winter an occasional bird may 

 still be seen. 



REDWING, Turdus iliacus, L. A few are seen annually, usually 

 appearing in the last days of October. They are seen not 

 infrequently in Queen's Park within the Glasgow boundaries. 



FIELDFARE, Turdus pilaris, L. A regular and abundant winter 

 visitor. In 1894 very generally observed in the district in the 

 first ten days of November. The fly line of this species, as of 

 the Lark, when seen in companies on arrival, is in a direction 

 from N.E. to S.W., and they have been observed in spring 

 flying in a N.E. direction. Remaining, according to the New 

 Statistical Account of Mearns, till the end of April, a solitary 

 bird has been seen as late as the i ith of May. 



