386 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



tions go back to 1872, has known in one season 12 or 14 

 occupied nests at one place. According to Mr. Harting, in 

 1871 they were in tall Spruce Firs, ^ but they have been 

 built in many different clumps of trees. The Herons have 

 had Rooks as neighbours, and have been ousted by the 

 smaller bird on occasion; but the chief cause of their decline 

 is the manner in which they have been shot down outside 

 the estate, although protected within. In 1896 there was 

 only one nest near the fog-house, and I fear it is a lost 

 colony, although last year there was also thought to be one 

 nest.- A nest was reported to have been found at Barrcraig 

 Meadows, Beith, but apparently this is an error. '^ In 1897 I 

 first heard a report that a pair of Herons nested in the woods at 

 Johnstone Castle, and in 1898 two pairs were found, and one 

 pair is also said to nest in the parish of Houston. " This com- 

 pletes my tale of Renfrewshire Heronries, as the remainder of 

 the county is covered by the statement of Messrs. John Paterson 

 and John Robertson in their "List of the Birds of East 

 Renfrewshire " — " we do not know of the Heron breeding in 

 this district," * and this I can only substantiate. 



Lanarkshire. 



In this county the largest existing Heronry I know of is at 

 Douglas Castle, where on Spruce Firs, on an island in the North 

 Loch, there were about a dozen nests in 1895. This colony 

 seems to have been founded about 1870, up to which year 

 there was also " an old-established Heronry on large Spruce 

 Firs in Glespin Wood, Douglas,"^ but of the fate of this 

 Heronry I know nothing. In the next parish (Crawford John), at 

 Gilkerscleuch, there was, about 100 years ago, on trees, "an ex- 

 tensive heronry, but in the course of time, and after many severe 

 contests with their multiplying foes, the herons were killed or 

 dispersed, and the victorious rooks occupied their place." ^ In 



1 Zoologist (1872), p. 3269. 



'^ Mr. C. Hogg, in lit., 14th Januar^^ 1899. 



5 Mr. M. Barr, in lit. to Mr J. Paterson, 8th November, 189G* 



* Annals Scot. Nat. Hist. (1895), p. 227. 



° Zoologist (1872), p. 3268. 



•' N.S.A., VI. (1845), p. 500. 



