278 PROCEEDINGS OF THE' 



on tlie borders of desolate moors, and the banks of fertile glens, 

 where the bird is alike at home, trusting to the nearest clachan or 

 homestead for a sufficient supply of its favourite prey. 



The Tawny Owl {Symium stridula). 

 Frequently obtained. It seems to prefer woods where the trees 

 are of some height, but its nest is seldom more than a few feet 

 from the ground. It is merely a handful of withered leaves laid 

 in a cavity where the larger branches diverge from the main 

 trunk. The tawny owl is often procured by parties practising 

 shooting at rooks. We have long noticed the partiality of this 

 owl for rookeries. 



The Snowy Owl (Surnia nydea). 



A splendid male bird of this species was shot near Kilmarnock 

 in February, 1863, and exhibited by Dr Colquhoun at a meeting 

 of the Natural History Society of Glasgow. It may not be out 

 of place to state that two other examples of the sno^yy owl 

 occurred in the Firth of Clyde about the same time. One of 

 these, captured near Greenock, is now in the collection of Mr W. 

 C. Angus, Aberdeen. 



Obs. — The Hawk Owl (Surnia funerea), having twice occurred 

 near the Clyde estuary, is likely to be met with accidentally in 

 our district. Examples of this bird, no doubt, find their way to 

 the shores of Scotland by means of Clyde ships, on which they 

 alight when at a considerable distance from land, and remain 

 until nearing the coast. 



INSESSOBES. TAATTAT)^ 



DENTIROSTRES LAIS I AD j^. 



Great Grey Shrike (Lanius exciibitor). 



It is only of late years that the grey shrike has appeared in our 

 district, or indeed in any part of the "West of Scotland. Mr 

 Oliver Eaton, bird preserver, Kilmarnock, has informed us that 

 he preserved a specimen which was shot on the Kilkerran estate 

 on 10th December, 18G8, by George Blacklaw, gamekeeper there, 

 and Mr Gray has examined two which were obtained near Kil- 

 birnie in 1863. It has likewise been shot in Eenfrewshire on one 

 or two occasions. This species is now a regular winter visitant to 

 the eastern counties of Scotland. 



