THE BIRDS OF RENFREWSHIRE 125 



of Ayrshire and Wigtownshh'e, or Birds of Glasgow and its 

 Vicinity — the latter in Notes on the Fauna and Flora of the 

 West of Scotland {GXdiSgow, 1876), all by the late Robert 

 Gray. The " Paisley MS. List" was prepared by the Paisley 

 Philosophical Society about 1856, with later additions. 



TURDIDiE. 



In summer the *Mistle-thrush is common, while the "*Song- 

 THRUSH and *Blackbird are abundant. Of the two latter, there is 

 a marked decrease in numbers after November, particularly of the 

 Song-thrush, but, at the same time, this species is really not so scarce 

 in winter as it seems. In the colder months the Song-thrush keeps 

 more to woods and cover than does the Blackbird, and there is 

 hardly a mild and still day, even when coming on the heels of a 

 hard spell, in any winter month, on which we may not hear the 

 Mavis mend her lay, in some sheltered spot. Then it is a moot 

 point whether our winter Song-thrushes have been locally bred, or 

 are visitors replacing our native birds, which may have gone farther 

 south for the season. Of course, the same question arises with 

 many other species. The Redwing, coming about the first week 

 in October, and the Fieldfare, a fortnight later, are common. 

 Mackeith saw a flock of about 300 Redwings near Kilmacolm, 

 on 27th September 1914 — an early date for so many. The *Ring- 

 OUZEL is sparingly distributed, but a few pairs nest in the wilder 

 parts of Lochwinnoch and Kilmacolm parishes. 



The *Wheatear is generally distributed at the migration periods ; 

 a fair number nest in the upland districts, and a few in the lowlands, 

 where the ground is suitable. Sometimes appearing as early as i6th 

 March, our local nesting-birds are all in their haunts before April 

 is out, but often, during the first half of May, Wheatears are seen 

 lingering in situations where the bird never nests. These late-comers 

 appear to us to be larger than our earlier arrivals, and probably 

 belong to the sub-species known as the Greenland Wheatear, 

 but we know of no example having been obtained within the county. 

 It has occurred on every side of, but a few miles beyond, our area. 

 The *Whinchat is fairly common, while a few pairs only of the 

 *Stonechat nest. The *Redstart is, perhaps, best known on 

 passage, although it nests sparsely in several localities in the western 

 half of the county. Everywhere abundant, the ^Redbreast may 

 be heard in song in every month of the year. Even in winter, 

 contrary to popular opinion, it is common in places far removed 



