22 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



Rookeries in and around Glasgow. The limit-radius has been 

 fixed at three miles, more or less, from the Royal Exchange, and 

 it will be seen that eight of the nesting-places named are within 

 the bounds of the municipality. 



Beginning, like the sun, in the east, the nearest Rookery to 

 Alexandra Park is at Gartcraig House, where there are ap- 

 parently about 24 nests. This is outwith Glasgow, but as it is 

 in close proximity to Barlinnie Prison, it may fairly be claimed 

 as our own. At the Asylum, Carntyne, there are 10 nests in 

 tall beech trees, and at the neighbouring Tollcross Park (which, 

 although the property of the City, is not within the City bounds) 

 there are no fewer than 350, mostly in the beech and elm trees 

 by the burn which runs through the grounds to the east of the 

 Mansion-house. This is the largest Rookery on my Glasgow list, 

 and it is a stirring and busy place on a sunny spring day. It is 

 said to be more than a century old (Glasgow Herald, 21st June, 

 1897). Coming to the Clyde, Dalmarnock House (the Easter 

 one) has 6 nests in beech trees; and Belvidere has 9 in one 

 beech growing on the west side of the Smallpox Hospital. The 

 two last-named places are in the City, but we cross the boundary 

 again when we reach Westthorn House, where are 13 nests. 

 Easterhill House has 60, scattered in the beech trees through the 

 policy; and Fullarton House (near the Clyde Ironworks) has 19, 

 six of which are in slender birch trees, which, as I watched them, 

 swayed about in the breeze, rocking the cradles of this bird- 

 nursery. The other nests here are in beech and ash trees. 

 Crossing the river, we enter Rutherglen, but we cannot offer this 

 ancient and royal burgh the indignity of annexing its Rookeries 

 to Glasgow. It may be noted, however, that there is one at 

 Gallowflat; a small (and decreasing) one of about 10 nests at 

 Farme Castle ; one of 1 9 nests, in great maple and beech trees, 

 at Muirbank, at the west end of the burgh ; and one in which 

 there seems to be from 200 to 300 nests at Castlemilk — many of 

 the nests here are in the smaller trees, although there are larger 

 trees near them unoccupied. On the Cart, at Netherlee, are 20 

 nests in lime trees in an avenue near the works, and at Cathcart 

 House and Cartbank are 62 nests. There were 171 hereabouts 

 last season (1899). At Langside, in the immediate neighbour- 

 hood of the Mansion-house (in the " Blue-bell " Wood), are 182 



