NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 171 



of September — Wliimbrels were more than usually plentiful. In 

 most seasons it is a rare bird on the Stirlingshire coast. 



These records point, I think, to unusual crowding of the species 

 upon latitudes further south than their ordinary range, owing to 

 the extra severity of the spring at localities upon their northern 

 limits. 



Mr. Cordeaux also records their commonness on the Lincolnshire 

 coast [in lit.], and mentions that the last Whimbrel passed that 

 district as late as the last week in July, 1879. Comparing this 

 with my autumn observation on our Stirlingshire coast, the time 

 between the end of the spring migration and beginning (?) of the 

 autumn return journey of this species, did not extend much over a 

 month, which I hold to be another indication of the Arctic nature 

 of our climate in these days. 



HERON. 



Ardea cinerea, Lin. 



In Berwickshire Herons were not observed in their usual winter 

 haunts. One young one was found dead upon a frozen ditch at 

 Arden, Lochlomond [J. Lumsden, in lit.] In Stirlingshire a few 

 remained on the coast, but not so many as usual: while in the 

 Kelso district they did not seem to be much affected [A. Brother- 

 ston, Scot. Nat, 1879, p. 82], but rather to thrive. They were 

 shut out from their food-resorts in Dumfriesshire, " and a good 

 many died from hunger " [R. Service], A rat was found in the 

 stomach of one. In an ordinary season, however, I have found 

 the Heron swallowing the Water Yole : it is part of its regular 

 food when obtainable. 



NIGHT HERON. 

 Nycticorax griseus (Lin. J. 



A tine specimen of that rare and interesting bird the Night 

 Heron was shot on 23rd May on a tree on the banks of the Black 

 Devon, adjoining Alloa Park policies, by one of Lord Mar's game- 

 keepers. So far as is known, this appears to be the second or 

 third example which has been met with in Scotland, and there is 

 no record of any having been seen since 1823. 



BITTERN. 



BOTAURUS STELLARIS (Lill.J. 



Mr. James D. Dougall exhibited to the members of this Society 

 a specimen of the Bittern, shot in the end of December last on 



