226 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



MAGPIE, Pica rustica (Scop.) Fortunately this handsome bird is 

 not yet uncommon in the district, nesting here and there. 

 The largest number we have seen together, was a party of 

 eleven, early in the present year, at Thornliebank ; but eighteen 

 and nineteen have been seen together by others in recent years. 



JACKDAW, Corvus monedula, L. Common, but greatly out-numbered 

 by the Rook. 



RAVEN, Corvus corax, L. Mr. Gilmour informs us he has in his 

 possession one shot in the Stonebyres Wood about fifty years 



ago. 



CARRION CROW, Connis corone, L. Mr. Gilmour has one which 

 was shot on 26th October 1892. This is a decidedly rare 

 bird in our district, keepers declaring they have never known a 

 place where it was so scarce. 



HOODED CROW, Corvus cornix, L. This species is better known 

 than the last ; but, though sometimes trapped, it is an unfamiliar 

 bird. 



ROOK, Corvus frugilegus, L. Abundant. There are many 

 rookeries in the district, though none of great size. The 

 apparently recently acquired egging propensity of the Rook has 

 brought it under the ban of the game preserver. The loss of 

 eggs on one estate in our area is estimated at 6000 per annum 

 in recent years. Thirty years ago the Rook caused no anxiety 

 in this connexion. 



SKYLARK, Alauda arvensis, L. Common, particularly in the 

 uplands and in winter, sometimes occurring in enormous 

 numbers when snow is on the ground. 



SWIFT, Cypselus apits (L.) Fairly common, arriving in the last days 

 of April or first two or three days of May. 



NIGHTJAR, Caprimnlgiis eiiropceus, L. Has been mentioned by 

 Gray as occurring in Queen's Park, and has been heard at 

 Nether Pollok, but we know of no instance of its occurrence 

 for the past twenty years. 



KINGFISHER, Alcedo ispida, L. Not unfamiliar on our streams, 

 also on the reservoirs in the uplands. A few pairs breed. 



CUCKOO, Cuculus canorus, L. Common, arriving from the middle 

 of April. Twice in the same season within a few days, and at 

 localities about fifty yards apart, the egg of the Cuckoo has 

 been found in the Sedge Warbler's nest. 



BARN OWL, Strix flammed, L. Formerly bred, as Mr. Cox 

 informs us, at the railway bridge over the Cart at Pollok- 

 shaws. We suppose it to have nested at Darnley, where it has 

 been seen in the breeding season. It is a species little known 

 nowadays. 



