A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF EAST RENFREWSHIRE 227 



LONG-EARED OWL, Asia otus (L.) Comparatively common, and the 

 best-known Owl in the district. Five eggs partially incubated 

 were found on 26th March 1887. A small plantation suffices 

 for this bird's requirements. 



SHORT - EARED OWL, Asia acdpitrimis (Pallas). Well known in 

 autumn to sportsmen on our moors. 



TAWNY OWL, Syrnium aluco (L.) Resident, and breeds, but much 

 less numerous than A. otus. 



SNOWY OWL, Nyctea scandiaca (L.) One was obtained at Pollok- 

 shields (Gray, " Birds of the West of Scotland," p. 63). 



HEN HARRIER, Circus cyaneus (L.) Mentioned in the New 

 Statistical Account of Eaglesham. 



SPARROW HAWK, Accipiter nisus (L.) Not common, but breeds. 

 Mr. Cox tell us that in the thirty years he has been at 

 Nether Pollok he knows no difference in the numbers of this 

 species and the Kestrel. 



PEREGRINE FALCON, Falco peregrinus, Tunstall. The writer of the 

 New Statistical Account of Eaglesham says he has handled 

 examples of this and the following species shot on Mearns Moor. 



HOBBY, Falco snbbuteo, L. See previous species. 



MERLIN, Falco cesalon, Tunstall. Has been shot in Mearns, and 

 may nest on the heathery moors in Eaglesham. 



KESTREL, Falco tinnunculus, L. Most numerous in winter. 



CORMORANT, Phalacrocorax carbo (L.) Mr. Gilmour gives us the 

 following interesting note referring to the 22nd December 

 1894: "During the height of the big gale my boys and I 

 watched a Cormorant fighting to make headway against the 

 wind for some time, high up in the air, but it was eventually 

 beaten, and blown away south-eastwards. 



SHAG, Phalacrocorax graculus (L.) Mr. Morris Young informs us of 

 the occurrence of this species at Glanderston Dam. 



GANNET, Snla bassana (L.) A party of six was observed passing 

 over Thornliebank on 2Qth June in 1892. 



COMMON HERON, Ardea cincrea, L. Although we do not know of 

 the Heron breeding in this district, it is a common bird on the 

 numerous lochs in Mearns and Eaglesham. Two seasons in 

 August parties of thirteen and fourteen respectively have come 

 under our notice at the Glen reservoir. 



BARNACLE GOOSE, Bernicla leucopsis (Bechst.) Mr. Gilmour informs 

 us that on 5th October 1882 he saw twenty-five Barnacle 

 Geese alighting at Binend Loch. Some shot at that time are 

 in his possession. Again, on 8th October 1887 he saw a flock 

 of thirty heading south-east. 



