THE BIRDS OF CARMICHAEL PARISH 211 



pasture lands. Mr. Paterson found it common, and in the 

 valley of the Duneaton, about Crawfordjohn, very many occur 



("Notes"). 



SWIFT, Cypsdus apus (L.) Regular summer visitor. There is a 

 colony of from thirty to forty pairs nesting under the iron 

 bridge of the Caledonian Railway at Pretts Mill. A favourite 

 haunt is around the cairn on Tinto. 



NIGHTJAR, Capriuntlgiis europans, L., local name "Burr Owl."- Mr. 

 T. Cranston informs me that he shot a "Burr Owl" over 

 twenty-five years ago at Fala, Carnwath. Rare, but may be 

 heard occasionally in Stonehill Plantation, where one was shot 

 a few years ago (Mr. J. Kerr, gamekeeper, Douglas). Mr. 

 J. AVylie tells me one rose from the heather on Shawhill, June 

 ii, 1897, where a fortnight afterwards he saw the remains of a 

 dead one. Mr. A. Telfer saw an old one with a young one on 

 August 9 of this year, and I saw one on evening of September 

 2 near the Schoolhouse. 



KINGFISHER, Alcedo ispida, L. An irregular visitor. One fre- 

 quented the Carmichael Burn at foot of Manse garden at 

 intervals during 1889-90. Has been seen by the Clyde, and 

 by the stream below Carmichael House, and near Warrenhill 

 (Messrs. T. Cranston and J. Wylie), and by the pond at 

 Eastend (Mr. Ed. Stodart). About five years ago there was a 

 nest unfortunately destroyed on the banks of Douglas Water 

 below Harperfield (Mr. J. Kerr). Mr. A. Telfer has seen it 

 this season within Douglas Policies. 



ROLLER, Coracias garruhts, L. Gray (" B. W. S.") notes that a bird 

 of this species was shot at Culter House, Biggar, in October 

 1866. 



CUCKOO, Cuculus canorus, L. Seen and heard all over the district. 

 First heard this season, April 26. 



BARN OWL, Strix flaminea, L. Still frequents the district. 

 Specimens are preserved in Eastend House. One was caught 

 on Lochlyock in a rabbit trap at the mouth of a burrow, 

 February 19, 1897. 



LONG-EARED OWL, Asia otus L., local name " Horned Owl."- 

 This species has, of all the Owls, come most frequently under 

 my notice. Mr. A. Telfer finds it the most common around 

 Douglas. Alston ("B. W. S.") states it is common in the 

 Upper Ward. 



SHORT-EARED OWL, Asia accipitrinus (Pallas), local name " Hill 

 Owl."- Was very common on Thankerton Moor during the vole 

 plague ; since then less common (Mr. T. Cranston). It is not 

 unfrequently seen on the moors around Douglas (Mr. A. Telfer). 



