160 l^ROCEEDINGS OF THE 



far as he was aware, this was the first instance in which the genus 

 Leptacanthus had been recorded from Scottish Carboniferous strata, 

 and afterwards pointed out the characters by which it is distin- 

 guished from the nearly allied genera Ctenacanthus and Homocanthus. 

 In this specimen a portion of the base of the spine was wanting, 

 but when perfect it probably measures about eight inches in 

 length. Mr Young expressed himself indebted for the specimen 

 to the Eev. Dr Gloag, one of the Society's corresponding 

 members, who had obtained it from a workman in one of the 

 pits at High Blantyre. 



PAPERS READ. 



I. — The Birds Frequenting Fossil Marsh. By Mr James S. Dixon. 



Fossil marsh, situated about 2J miles north of this city, has 

 always been a favourite resort of many species of birds, but from 

 the encroachments that are yearly made upon its area, and still 

 more from the increasing population in its vicinity, through the 

 establishment of numerous public works, it is being gradually 

 deserted by the more shy species, and I am afraid the more 

 pertinaceous ones will also soon be driven off. In these circum- 

 stances, it is well to put on record the species now frequenting 

 this locality, and also to mention those rarer birds which have 

 within the last few years been known to pay it a passing visit, 

 the attractions of the place proving strong for every wading or 

 marsh-loving bird. 



I have been in the habit of making oological expeditions to 

 Fossil marsh during each spring and summer for the last seven or 

 eight years, and during the rest of the year I have paid occasional 

 visits, in the hopes of seeing some of the rarer stragglers. 



Of the birds of prey the Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) may be seen 

 daily hovering over the drier parts of the marsh, and I have 

 occasionally noticed the Merlin {F. aesalon). The Sparrow-hawk 

 (Accipiter nisus) is also a constant visitor. These birds seem to be 

 attracted by the large number of Jack and Common Snipes, and 

 smaller birds, on which they prey. 



Of the Swallows great numbers of the two common species, 

 Hirundo rustica and //. urbica, roost during the autumn on the 

 branches of the willows and other shrubs which grow in parts 

 of the marsh. They, together with numerous other land birds to 



