natural history society of glasgow. 253 



April 28th, 1874. 

 Mr James Ramsay, Vice-President, in the chair. 



SPECIMENS EXHIBITED. 



Dr Dewar exhibited — I. The nest and eggs of the Common 

 Crossbill (Lona curvirostra), from Aberdeenshire, and remarked 

 that this species occurred more frequently in the North of Scot- 

 land than in the southern counties. The nest is difficult to find, 

 and, although he had been endeavouring to meet with one for 

 some years, this was the first he had got, and for it he was 

 indebted to the kindness of Mr John A. Harvie-Brown of 

 Dunipace, one of the Society's corresponding members. The 

 Crossbill breeds early, pairing in January and building in Febru- 

 ary; the present example, which was found on the 13th of April, 

 may therefore be considered later than usual. 



II. Eggs of the Woodcock (Scolopax nisticola), from a district on 

 the Frith of Clyde. It was thought at one time that Wood- 

 cocks did not breed in Scotland, but of late years their nests have 

 been frequently met with, and the number seems to be on the 

 increase. The bird is protected, although the eggs are not. ' 



III. Eggs of the Water Rail {Rallus aquaticus), from Fossil 

 marsh, in the vicinity of Glasgow. The Water Rail is not 

 common in this district, and was not known to breed here until 

 three years ago, when its eggs were found for the first time, as 

 they have been each season since. The ordinary time of breeding 

 is in May or June, and it would aj^pear in this instance the birds 

 have considerably anticipated the usual period. 



A conversation ensued as to the desirableness of a more thorouoli 

 protection for this unic^ue spot, which is the refuge of some of our 

 rarer birds and plants, from the depredations of amateur sports- 

 men and nest-hunters, in the course of which it was stated that 

 the proprietors of the marsh had put a stop to the practice of the 

 miners of the surrounding districts, who for a long time had made 

 it a field for Saturday afternoon shooting. It was thought, how- 

 ever, that something more might be done to stay the raids of boys 

 in search of eggs. 



IV. A specimen of the Sea Eagle (Haliaetus alUcilla), with a 

 singular malformation of the foot. This bird, which was in its 

 second year, had only one leg, and the talons on its remaining 



