A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF EAST RENFREWSHIRE 229 



BLACK GROUSE, Tetrao tetrix, L. A breeding species in Mearns 

 and Eaglesham. About a hundred cocks have been shot on 

 one estate in a season. 



RED GROUSE, Lagopus scoticus (Lath.) Common in suitable 

 localities in Eaglesham and Mearns. 



PHEASANT, Phasianus cohhicus, L. Common. 



PARTRIDGE, Perdix cinerea, Lath. Common in the lowlands, and a 

 few in the uplands. 



QUAIL, Coturnix communis, Bonnat. This species has occurred in a 

 solitary instance at Nether Pollok. 



CORNCRAKE, Crex pratensis, Bechst. Common, arriving regularly in 

 the last week of April. 



WATER-RAIL, Rallus aqitatiats, L. Occurs occasionally throughout 

 the district, but it is not known to breed. 



MOOR-HEN, Gallinula ehloropus (L.) Common. 



COMMON COOT, Fulica a/ra, L. Common. Has become much 

 scarcer at Balgray on account of the removal of suitable cover. 



RINGED PLOVER, sEgialitis hiatiada (L.) Mentioned by Gray as 

 occurring in Eaglesham, where Mr. Gilmour tells us he has 

 seen numbers in spring. This species has only come under our 

 notice in the present autumn and in Mearns. 



GOLDEN PLOVER, Charadrius pluvial is, L. Very common in culti- 

 vated ground in autumn and winter. Not very numerous as a 

 nesting species. Eggs are not infrequently found in the second 

 week in April (and these sometimes partially incubated). This 

 is earlier than it is usually stated to nest in this country. 



LAPWING, Vanellus vulgaris, Bechst. Common. In winter flocks 

 of thousands are not infrequently seen. 



OYSTER-CATCHER, Hcematopus ostralegus, L. This species was heard 

 passing near Pollokshaws on 2Qth July 1894. 



WOODCOCK, Scolopax rusticula, L. Not numerous in winter. Not 

 known to breed. 



COMMON SNIPE, Gallinago ccelestis (Frenzel). Common. 

 JACK SNIPE, Gallinago gallinula (L.) Always a few in winter. 



DUNLIN, Tringa alpina, L. The commonest nesting wader in suit- 

 able localities in Mearns and Eaglesham, the Lapwing alone 

 excepted. The second week in May is the usual time to find 

 fresh eggs, although broken eggs have been found in a nest on 

 3oth April in our district. 



RUFF, Machetes pugnax (L.) Mr. Gilmour informs us that a Reeve 

 was shot on his property out of a flock of Golden Plovers. 



