48 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



The Distribution of the Chiff-chaff (Phylloscopus rufus 

 (Becbst.)), in the Clyde Area. By John Paterson. 



[Read 29ih June, 1897.] 



The status of the Chiff-chaff, as a Clyde species, does not appear 

 to be at all understood by British ornithologists. This is not 

 surprising when we bear in mind that the chief, indeed the only, 

 source of information on this subject has hitherto been Gray's 

 The Birds of the West of Scotland, d'c, published in this city 

 twenty-six years ago. In that work the student of the distribution 

 of avian life in the Clyde area gets so little information that we 

 can repeat it here in full. " It is not uncommon," Gray says 

 {loG. cit., p. 98), " in roadside plantations near Glasgow, and a few 

 also visit the district of Lochlomond." Further on it is stated 

 — " Mr. Anderson has procured specimens at Girvan, in 

 Ayrshire." This completes the information supplied for the great 

 natural area draining into the Clyde and its Firth. 



Treating the distribution topographically, and proceeding from 

 South to North, we begin in the South of Ayrshire. 



Ayrshire. — At Glen App Mr. H. B. Watt found it of frequent 

 occurrence (April, 1895). Mr. Charles Berry, of Lendalfoot, has 

 shown me eggs of this species taken in his district, and he informs 

 me that it is quite common in the valley of the Stinchar. It 

 occurs near the Ayrshire boundary, on the Feoch Burn, a tribu- 

 tary of the Duisk, which runs into the Stinchar, as I am informed 

 by Mr. John Robertson (April, 1895). 



In the valley of the Girvan Water it is of frequent occurrence. 

 When walking down this valley in June, 1896, with Mr. 

 Robertson, we heard it at Blairquhan, near Straitoii, and at two 

 points on the road between Dailly and Killochan Station. At 

 Killochan House I have known it to occur for a number of years. 

 " Girvan " is one of the localities named by Gray. 



