DISTKIBUTION OF THE CHIFF-CHAFF IN THE CLYDE AREA. 49 



On the Doon Water I Lave heard it at Doonfoot and Cam- 

 busdoon* (Annals of the Andersonian Nat. Soc, Yol. 11., pt. 1, 

 p. 32). Mr. J. Robertson visited the Doon, below Auchendrane, 

 at my suggestion, on 26th March, 1894, and reported its occur- 

 rence in four localities as the result of his dav's observation. 



On the Water of Avr it was noted at an excursion of the 

 Andersonian Naturalists' Society to Auchincruive in April this 

 year, and it was heard on the Coyle Water on the same occasion. 

 It had been reported to me the previous year by Mr. Wm. Adam, 

 Jun., from a locality a few miles from Ayr. 



In the Irvine Yalley it occurs as far up as Lanfine estate, near 

 Darvel, as I learn from Mr. Robert Wilson ; and Mr. John 

 Robertson reported its occurrence at Dundonald Glen some years 

 ago, where, in his company, I have since heard it. 



In a list of birds of the Parish of Beith, by Messrs. Matthew 

 Barr and John Craisf, it is included as a nesting species. 



The Rev. David Landsborough, of Kilmarnock, informs me that 

 about 1840 the Chiff-chaff nested in his father's manse garden at 

 Stevenston. Mr. Landsborough says it appeared to get frequent 

 at that time.f 



Rexfeewshire. — Taking up the record at Lochwinnoch, on the 

 Ayrshire boundary, we find that in this parish it is a familiar 

 bird, as mentioned in these Transactions (Yol. lY., N.S., p. 363), 

 some seven males being heard in the course of a Saturday 

 afternoon's ramble in Castle Semple grounds, and it occurs in the 

 Skiff Wood, above Howwood, in the same parish. Mr. John 

 Lang, of Greenock, has reported it to occur at Duchall, near 

 Kilmalcolm. The late Mr. Morris Young, of the Paisley Museum, 

 told me that it was formerly not uncommon in a wood at Rushylie, 

 two miles east of Erskine Ferrv, and that he had taken its nest 

 and eggs there. 



In the political division known as East Renfrewshire, a list of 

 the birds of which, by Mr. John Robertson and the writer, 



* Mr. J. Robertson has reminded me that on the date we visited Cam- 

 busdoon he heard it at Newark Castle in that neighbourhood. 



t In passing through Eglinton Castle grounds a few days after readmg 

 this paper, I heard the Chiff-chaff calling at five places. The weather, it 

 should be stated, was blustering and unfavourable for successful observation. 



D 



