248 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



but to my mind seem to be prospecting for nesting — a very pretty 

 sight." Mackeith saw a male near Kilmacolm on 3rd April 1914. 

 A pair of Common Buzzards spent the winter of 191 2-13 on 

 Ardgowan Estate, but left when the nesting season came round. 

 We are pleased to record that Mr M 'Alpine, the head keeper, gave 

 his assistants instructions not to interfere with this pair of fine birds. 

 A Rough-legged Buzzard from Langbank was exhibited to the 

 Natural History Society of Glasgow on 27th November 1906. A 

 Golden Eagle was observed flying over Paisley in midsummer 

 1869 (Paisley MS. List), and Mr Wm. Watson saw a pair hunting 

 the Linwood Moss about 1893. In spite of unremitting persecution 

 the *Sparrow-hawk still nests in fair numbers. There is only 

 one record of the Honey-buzzard, one shot near Paisley in 

 1874 (Paisley MS. List). Passing examples of the Peregrine 

 Falcon are seen from time to time in different parts of the county, 

 the latest occurrences being in 19 13 and 1914. A few pairs of 

 *Merlins still nest, but the *Kestrel is more numerous, particu- 

 larly in winter, when occasionally several birds may be seen in the 

 air at the same time. On 19th May 191 1, Mr Thomas Malloch 

 picked up dead near Loch Thorn a male Osprey, which had 

 evidently been hit by a rifle-shot without being bagged. This is 

 the only authentic occurrence of which we know, although we have 

 heard something about the bird being seen about Castle-Semple 

 Loch in the long ago. 



Pelicanid^. 



Except in the nesting season the Cormorant is fairly common 

 along the shore, some birds ascending the river Clyde as far as 

 Bishopton House. Inland, over a period of thirty years, there have 

 been at least ten occurrences in some half-dozen parishes. Its 

 smaller relative, the Shag, though less numerous, occurs regularly 

 inshore from Wemyss B^y to the Cloch Light at the same season, 

 but, according to Gray, in his time it was numerous in autumn as 

 far up as Dumbarton. The late Morris Young informed Mr John 

 Paterson of the occurrence of an example at Glanderston Dam — 

 the only inland record. The Gannet is common at certain seasons 

 along the coast, at times coming up to Port-Glasgow. Inland, 

 Robertson saw a party of six pass over near Thornliebank on 29th 

 June 1892; the season and the number are alike remarkable; 

 single birds have been obtained in Mearns, Kilbarchan, and 

 Houston parishes, and one was seen flying over Houston in 

 January 19 14. 



