NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 303 



ber to remain. In Loch Ryan, Wigtown Bay, and Garliestown, 

 it again appears in abundance. We have seen flocks of twenty to 

 tliirty, flying at a great height, passing Girvan on their way to 

 another feeding ground ; and have counted, in the month of July, 

 as many as sixty resting together on the sandy beach near 

 Turnberry Castle. 



ABDEIDM. 

 The Common Heron (Ardea cinerea). 

 Common everywhere, from the sea-coast to the source of the 

 moorland burn, many miles inland, and more than a thousand feet 

 above the sea level. There are one or two heronries in Ayrshire. 

 Towards nightfall, in the month of August, we have seen as many 

 as six herons flying in company, and following the windings of the 

 Water of Girvan, looking out for an attractive pool. They are at 

 times very destructive to fish. 



The Common Bittern {Botaurus stellaris). 



Formerly bred in Bruntwood Loch, near Mauchline. This 

 species is now, however, of very rare and uncertain occurrence in 

 both counties. We have not, indeed, seen a recently killed speci- 

 men for some years. 



The Night Heron (Nycticorax Gardeni). 



Mr Eaton has informed us that a specimen of this heron was 

 shot, many years ago, within a mile of Kilmarnock. We know of 

 no other instance of its occurrence in any part of our district. 



SGOLOPACIDJE. 



The Common Curlew {Numenius arquata). 

 The well-known whaup is very abundant, breeding on all the 

 moors of both counties, and frecjuenting the entire coast line, at 

 low water, from Fairlie banks to the shores of Kirkmaiden. 

 When the young are fledged, and Isegin to congregate in autumn, 

 they frequent pasture lands, and are then easily obtained, not 

 having acquired the characteristic wariness of the old birds. We 

 have seen them in July traversing the line of high water mark, 

 and feeding upon sand hoppers, which at that season are exceed- 

 ingly abundant; and in the same month immense flocks collect in 



