NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 57 



unusually plentifully and early in 8. W. of Scotland, as I am 

 informed by Mj. R. Service — a flock of forty having been seen at 

 Slogarie a few days prior to the 22nd Oct. Years ago Goldfinches 

 bred regularly upon the high plane trees (sycamores) on our wester 

 avenue here. This winter, in the same spot where I have before 

 known the nest to be, I saw a nest again, after all the leaves had 

 fallen, built in between the highest sprays of one of the trees. It 

 is curious sometimes to observe how these favourite sites are thus 

 reoccupied after many years' absence, I begin to think distribution 

 during the breeding season greatly depends, with many species, upon 

 the directions of the lines of migration, and if birds passing over 

 find an old site unoccupied, they take possession. 



Siskin. — Carduelis spinus (Lin.). — This species, not usually 

 common with us, this year appeared. On 27th Sept. I saw a little 

 flock of six or seven frequenting some waste ground along the river- 

 bank, where thistles have lately grown up. Some of these remained 

 about the same place for several weeks. It is remarked that an 

 early migration of Siskins and Redpoles has been caused by early 

 falls of snow in N. of Scotland— [Field, 16. x. 80, also fide J. Cor- 

 deaux in lit.]. In Nov. Siskins continued to frequent our alders 

 and marshes, and bird-catchers were busy. 



Snow Buntin G.—Plectropha?ies nivalis (Lin.). — The Snow Bun- 

 ting is not a common migrant at Larbert or the neighbourhood, but 

 this winter they appeared along the river Canon above Larbert, and 

 at Dunipace, with the commencement of the frost, in small numbers. 

 They are common winter visitants, however, in other parts, both in- 

 land — as on the higher Campsie and Darritch Hills— and on the 

 coast. This season they are unusually abundant in Central Scotland, 

 large flocks being not uncommon. They have been observed also 

 in S.W. Perthshire in flocks in the lower ground, where they have 

 hitherto been not very commonly observed. Generally they appear 

 to be most unusually abundant this winter, and since the end or 

 middle of Nov. especially, warning us of the great severity of winter 

 which dates from the New Year onwards. An unusually early ap- 

 pearance is also noted by Mr. W. Lawrence, in the Fair Isle, as well 

 as unusually large numbers. 



From the Aberfoyle district of Perthshire they are reported as 

 common up to 23rd Jan. Mr. C. C. Tunnard saw them on the 

 20th, but on the 23rd only one, the rest having shifted their ground. 

 Mr. Hardy notes the first appearance in E. Lothian on 18th Oct. 



