212 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



although specimens have once or twice been got on the banks of 

 Loch Lomond, as before recorded in the Proceedings of the Society. 



Gray Phalarope. — Phdlaropus fulicarius (Lin.). — I have now 

 to record the occurrence of the Gray Phalarope, for the first time, 

 in our district. On the 14th of December, Mr. Robert E. Findlay 

 of Boturich, picked up a dead specimen of this species on the shore 

 near Boturich Castle. On dissection it proved to be a male, and 

 its stomach was found quite empty. Like many other northern 

 birds, the Gray Phalarope is much more common on the East of 

 Scotland than on the West. As a breeding species it has its home 

 in the Arctic regions, and it has never been met with in this 

 country except in winter, and in its winter plumage. Its summer 

 plumage is of a rich chestnut colour. 



Great Gray Shrike. — Lanius exeubitor, Lin. — As before re- 

 corded, the Great Gray Shrike has several times occurred on the 

 shores of Loch Lomond, but it is by no means a common species. 

 Within the last two months I have seen two specimens in the flesh 

 from the district. One, killed at Arden on the 30th of December, 

 was a male, and its stomach contained the feathers of a Golden- 

 crested Wren. 



Gannet. — Sula bassana (Lin.). — Gannets are seldom seen on 

 fresh water, and I was therefore much surprised, when told by 

 Sir George Leith Buchanan a few days after the violent gale of 

 last October, that he had seen a Gannet on the Loch. But sure 

 enough it was one, for a few days afterwards I got within 100 

 yards of it, or rather it came within 100 yards of me as I was 

 standing on the shore. With my glass I could see that it was a 

 fine old bird in full plumage, the yellow on the head being very 

 distinct. It has often been seen since then, both by Sir George 

 and myself, but neither of us have ever seen it feeding. One 

 stormy day I watched it for a long time, and several times it rose 

 high in the air as if about to dive, but as often it seemed to chauge 

 its mind, for it never entered the water. 



This ends my Jottings for 1881, and rough and meagre as they 

 are, I hope they may be of some interest to the members of the 

 Society. I have taken the Loch Lomond district as my special 

 charge, for I feel convinced if we are ever to have a perfect know- 

 ledge of the bird-life of our country, it is only by having many 

 workers, and by each worker having a special district. In this 

 way scraps of information, which would otherwise be passed over, 



