342 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



From the Pad the Arran hills and the Firth of Clyde could 

 be seen, although the atmosphere was rather hazy and un- 

 favourable for an extended view. At Harelaw Dam most of 

 the party were conveyed by means of a boat to the island, on 

 which is the nesting-place of a well-known large colony of Black- 

 headed Gulls. Nests were seen at all stages, many still without 

 eggs, while a few had young birds hatched out. Most of the 

 nests contained three eggs, but there were several with four. 

 The colony still keeps up to its usual strength. There is little 

 doubt, in fact, but that it would greatly increase were it not that 

 the birds are not allowed to nest on the sides of the Dam. The 

 eggs are taken by the keepers to prevent boys and other tres- 

 passers from being attracted to the place. On Harelaw were 

 also seen a number of Tufted Ducks and five Great Crested 

 Grebes. Some of the party returned direct to Neilston by 

 road, others by the old road to the east of Neilston Pad, two 

 sand pits near Neilston being visited en route. The ground 

 passed over is a well-known locality for the Moonwort, which 

 was observed during the afternoon. A Common Bat or 

 Pipistrelle was obtained, and the following summer birds were 

 noted: — Swallow, Sand-martin, Wheatear, Common Sandpiper, 

 and Willow-wren. 



Bishop Loch, 6th May, 1902. — This evening excursion, under 

 the leadership of Mr. John Paterson, was sparsely attended, only 

 six persons being present. The weather was cold and windy, 

 but bright and comparatively favourable for observation of the 

 bird life of the district, to which feature of its natural history 

 attention was entirely devoted. Many Redshanks, Common 

 Sandpipers, Swallows, and one Yellow Wagtail were seen at 

 Bishop Loch, and on the loch or in its immediate neighbourhood 

 were some Coots, Water-hens, Little Grebes, four Tufted Ducks <?, 

 several Mallards, several Pochards, and a pair of Mute-swans, 

 the last-named nesting on an islet and having erected apparently 

 a structure like a hay-rick in form and size. The conditions 

 were not quite so favourable at Woodend Loch, but one pair 

 of Tufted Ducks was seen there, and at Lochend Loch several 

 Mallards and Teal. A Pheasant with no ring discernible on its 

 neck is perhaps worth noting now-a-days, although the same claim 



