1 44 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



occurred just about the times between which it may be supposed 

 the Squirrel became scarcer, or extinct. One was in 1740, and it 

 continued for five months, and " destroyed vegetation of all kinds 

 over the country." The next occurred in January, 1795, when 

 " thousands of sheep were lost and a number of shepherds 

 perished." In 1788-9, 1794-5, 1796-7, the mean temperature was 

 equally low with that of 1878-79. It is this succession of hard 

 winters which one of my correspondents specially alludes to, " as 

 having had effect in hastening the decrease of the Squirrel in some 

 localities, and its extinction in others." 



It must be remembered that in those days the area of woods of 

 refuge for the species was much more circumscribed than it is now, 

 and consequently extermination would be more rapidly accom- 

 plished. 



FISH. 



It is reported to me by Mr. F. S. Mitchell, who visited Islay 

 in May, 1879, and took notes for me upon the effects of the winter, 

 that Fish, during the frost, left Lochindall, in Islay, for the deep 

 sea, and I have general and similar reports from various places on 

 the west coast. 



BIRDS. 



OSPREY. 



Pandion haliaetus (Lin.). 



Whilst fishing in Loch Awe on the 30th April, 1879, my friend, 

 Mr. W. Horn, and I saw an Osprey, which came close overhead, 

 and we had a fine view of it. It was being chased by Crows and 

 Gulls. It came over our heads four times, hovered, with heavy 

 flapping, and feet hanging down, over " The Minister's Bay," near 

 Taycreggan, but did not dash down to fish. About 6.30 p.m. we 

 again saw it opposite to Loch Main, Bhalloch, and about the same 

 hour it (or another) was reported to have been seen about the 

 islands, 6 miles further down the loch, near Dalmally. 



