NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 317 



nursery is, or was until recently, situated on the banks of the 

 Castle Loch, about seven miles inland.* Another very imjiortant 

 breeding station is at Loch Moan, in Ayrshire, and is frequented 

 by several hundred pairs, Avhicli lay their eggs on a small island 

 in the middle of the lake. The nesting haunts of this species, 

 however, are not confined to inland districts. A pretty extensive 

 colony may be seen hatching on a part of the cliffs between 

 Ballantrae and the entrance to Glen App, and a few pairs are 

 also found breeding on Ailsa Craig. 



The Shag, or Green Cormorant {Phalacrocomx gramhis). 



The green cormorant occurs much less frequently than the pre- 

 ceding species; it is, however, a common bird of the coasts. Its 

 breeding haunts with us are strictly confined to Ailsa Craig and 

 the numerous caves which exist southwards of Ballantrae, and 

 again at the Mull of Galloway and Burrow Head. 



The Gannet, or Soland Goose (Sula alba), 



Ofi" the Ayrshire coast the gannet is a daily olDJect of attention 

 as it sweeps its pure white figure against the blue sky or the dark 

 cloud. Occasionally it comes very near the beach; we have 

 observed it in shallow bays diving after whitings, in a depth of 

 water not exceeding three or four feet. On such occasions the 

 plunge was m.ade at an acute angle, the gannet appearing almost 

 immediately, and before its body had time to be fully submerged. 

 Its mode of fishing was very skilful and guarded. The gannet 

 appears ofi" our coasts early in February, and generally leaves about 

 the close of September; its movements, however, are consideral^ly 

 influenced by the abundance or scarcity of the various fish upon 

 which it is known to feed. 



LARID^. 

 The Sandwich Tern {Sterna Boysii). 



"We have recognised this fine species in flight off the coast near 

 Girvan, and have seen an occasional specimen shot in our district. 

 We have not, however, been able to discover it breeding on any 

 of the rocks frequented hj the other species. 



* This loch, one of a grouiJ, is situated in the parish of Mochrum, and 

 throughout the district these birds are known by the name of " Mochrum 

 Elders." 



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