AUTUMN AND WINTER BIRD-LIFE OF THE FAIRLIE SHORE. 177 



Snow Bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis (Linn.). — Occurs occasionally 

 in small parties in winter, November 1st being the earliest 

 date I have of its arrival. 



Starling, Stumus vulgaris, Linn. — Very abundant. In the 

 warm days of autumn the shore often swarms with Starlings 

 hawking after flies, in the same manner as the more agile 

 Swallows. 



Magpie, Pica rustica (Scopoli). — I have seen this bird on one 

 occasion near Hunterston, and believe it to be a scarce 

 species hereabouts. 



Jackdaw, Corvus monedula, Linn. — Abundant, the cliffs north 

 of Portincross being a favourite resort. 



Raven, Corvus corax, Linn. — On September 1st, 1907, Mr. John 

 Robertson saw a pair flying inland near the Black Rock ; 

 and Mr. Millar tells me he has, on several occasions, observed 

 a pair flying in the same direction. 



Carrion-Crow, Corvus corone, Linn. — Often seen on the flats, 

 generally in pairs. 



Rook, Corvus frugilegus, Linn. — Abundant ; numbers cross 

 Fairlie Roads from the Great Cumbrae every morning, 

 returning in the late afternoon, when they often have a 

 rough passage if the prevailing winds from the south- 

 west and west are blowing strongly. 



Skylark, Alauda arvensis, Linn. — A few are always about the 

 shore, but after a fall of snow inland they become very 

 numerous. On the morning of the great blizzard of wind 

 and snow on 26th December, 1906, I watched a great move- 

 ment of this species in a westerly direction (see Annals of 

 Scottish Natural History, 1907). 



Swift, Cypselus apus (Linn.). — Abundant in August, but rarely 

 seen after September 1st. In the fine September of last 

 year (1907), however, a few remained rather later, the last 

 being observed on the 22nd September, a late date. 



Nightjar, Caprimulgus eurojXBus, Linn. — Mr. Robert Millar 

 has heard this bird in August at Hunterston. 



Kingfisher, Alcedo ispida, Linn. — Mr. Robert Millar tells me 

 of one occurrence of this bird at the Green Point. 



Barn-Owl, Strix flammea, Linn. — On 22nd October, 1904, Mr. 

 Knox Whyte shot one in Poteath Bay as it was hovering 



