I 4 2 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



winter. I have seen flocks in the second half of May in full 

 breeding plumage. 



OYSTER-CATCHER (H&matopus ostralegus). This is a common 

 and resident species. The noise made by a number of Oyster- 

 Catchers when one intrudes upon their nesting-ground is deafening. 

 Though the majority of nests have only two or three eggs, I have 

 seen several in which the clutch consisted of four. 



WOODCOCK (Scolopax rusticula). A fairly common winter 

 visitant, and I believe some birds remain to breed. I have seen 

 and heard birds on a June evening near Kilchattan Bay. 



COMMON SNIPE (Gallinago ccelestis). Common. In winter it 

 may often be flushed from wet places by the shore as well as inland. 

 I think, however, that comparatively few nest on the island. 



JACK SNIPE (G. gaUinula). Frequent in winter. 



DUNLIN (Tringa alpind). Common by the shore from September 

 till May. A few remain to breed, particularly on wet ground close 

 to the shore. 



LITTLE STINT (T. minuta). Mr. John Paterson in a note on 

 "The Little Stint in the Clyde area" in the "Annals" for January 

 1897, says, "Mr. M'Culloch, the taxidermist, tells me he handled 

 one at Port Bannatyne, Bute, which was in the possession of Mr. 

 Frew, an artist, who had shot it out of a number in Etterick Bay, 

 Bute." 



KNOT (T. canutus}. Mr. Evans records a flock of about twenty 

 in Kilchattan Bay, seen during his winter visit, and small parties are 

 occasionally observed in the autumn. 



COMMON SANDPIPER (Totanus hypoleucus). This is a common 

 summer visitant, and contrary to some authorities, it is found nesting 

 by the sea-shore as well as by fresh water. 



REDSHANK (T. calidris). Abundant by the shore in winter. 

 Many remain to breed. I have not seen this bird more numerous 

 anywhere in the nesting season than it is on some parts of the west 

 coast of Bute. 



BAR-TAILED GODWIT (Limosa lapponica). This species is present 

 in small flocks during every month of the year, unless, perhaps, July. 

 In St. Ninian's Bay, if the tide is out, one is pretty sure of finding a 

 few Godwits, busily engaged probing the sand. During a visit paid 

 to this locality on 3rd June 1898, along with Mr. John Paterson, 

 we saw nineteen birds there, three of which were in mature summer 

 plumage. 



COMMON CURLEW (Numenius arquata). This is a common 

 nesting species in some parts of Bute. I have seen a nest on the 

 shore at Garroch Head just above high- water mark. 



