NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 177 



storm. Also the same recorded from various other localities, such 

 as Auchenfroe, Cardross — where one also died of overfeeding — 

 Arden, &c, Dumfriesshire, auct. R. Service, who thus instances 

 its scarcity there : — " So scarce had they become that only one 

 nest rewarded my searches in the breeding season, whereas 50 or 

 60 could formerly have been found on Troqueer alone." 



CORNCRAKE. 



Orex pratensis, Bechst. 



The scarcity of the Corncrake has been of late years very 

 generally remarked upon in various parts of Scotland. No 

 diminution of its numbers appears to have taken place, however, 

 in the Hebrides, where, in the summer of 1879, it was exceedingly 

 abundant. 



WATER RAIL. 



bvALLUS AQUATICUS, Liu. 



Extremely abundant, apparently, all over Scotland. Great num- 

 bers were shot and preserved by local birdstuffers. Seventeen 

 were shot in one day on the Tay estuary by Mr. Maloch, Perth. 

 Water Rails — three pairs — bred in Eig this summer — 1879. [Auct. 

 J. J. Dalgleish, ex ore.] Extremely abundant over many parts of 

 Scotland. Fifteen sent to one birdstuffer in Edinburgh [R. Gray, 

 in Proc. Bene. Nat. Club, 1878-79, p. 500]. 



SPOTTED CRAKE. 



PORZAXA MARUETTA ( Leach). 



This species has occurred more commonly than usual. Mr. 

 Maloch pursued one for a long time on the Tay side the day he 

 shot 17 Water Rails. I saw one in our own marsh here, and 

 another was seen another day. [Recorded also from Dumfries by 

 Mr. Hastings, he. cit.] 



GOOSE. 



Anser, sp. ! 



A very large flock of Grey Geese [probably Grey-lag or Bean] 

 passed northward over Loch Awe on the 2nd May, which is just 

 one mouth later than usual. They were flying low, and were 

 apparently tired. 



The following account of the slaughter of Wild" Geese in the 



