124 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISJORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



Lake of Menteith, 20th May, 1897. — This excursion, arranged 

 for the day appointed for the local celebration of the Queen's 

 Birthday, did not take place. 



Neilston, 29th May, 1897. — On the afternoon of this date a 

 fairly representative party turned out to visit Neilston Pad and 

 Harelaw Dam. From the former, owing to the atmosphere being 

 comparatively clear, an excellent prospect was obtained. By the 

 side of a little loch near the "Pad," Hi'p'puris vulgaris^ Linn., was 

 found. Harelaw Dam has been lonjr celebrated for the large 

 colony of Black-headed Gulls which nests on an island there. 

 The gullery maintains its position in point of numbers, if, indeed, 

 it is not larger in recent years. Numbers of the gulls have nested 

 on the loch side, but the keepers, who have orders to protect the 

 birds on the island, lift the eggs on the shore, as they attract 

 trespassers. Most of the members and friends who were present 

 succeeded in reaching the island, and much interest was excited 

 at the droves of young gulls and at the great variety in the 

 markings and colours of the eggs in the nests. In some cases 

 little preparation had been made for the reception of the eggs, 

 but in others the nests were substantially built. Several Tufted 

 Ducks [Fuligida cristata, Leach) were seen on the loch. Perhaps 

 the most interesting feature to the ornithologists present was the 

 presence of the Great Crested Grebe (Fodicipes cristatus, Linn.) 

 on the loch, and a nest of this species, with three eggs, rewarded 

 the diligence of one searcher. Although becoming well known 

 during the past decade as a Scottish breeding species, this {e.g.^ 

 East Renfrewshire) was the first locality in which its nest was 

 found in Scotland. 



West Kilbride, 12th June, 1897. — This was a joint-excursion 

 with the Ayr Natural History Society. The attendance was poor. 

 From West Kilbride the road to Portincross was followed, and 

 from this point to Fairlie the party kept by the shore. On leaving 

 West Kilbride, Claytonia jierfoliata^ Don, was the first notable 

 plant met with. At the shore a number of plants was found to 

 be in a backward condition. In the neighbourhood of Portincross 

 were found Ligusticum scoticum, Linn., Geranimn lucidum^ Linn., 



