REPORTS ON EXCURSIONS. 363 
elsewhere, which makes it a difficult matter to determine the age 
of this fort. There is no appearance of the influence of Roman or 
Celtic civilisation. The animal remains, which have yet to be 
investigated, may help to fix the period of occupation of this 
remarkable antiquity, which those who engaged in this excursion 
were fortunate in seeing under most favourable circumstances. 
* Howwoop, 18th April, 1896.—The fine estate of Castle 
Semple, embracing Lochwinnoch, has been visited frequently by 
this and kindred societies, and reported upon in its botanical 
aspects, A large company turned out on the afternoon of this 
date, and under the leadership of the President, Professor King, 
an enjoyable and profitable afternoon was spent in fine weather ; 
but the date was an early one for the botanists, and nothing falls 
to be recorded in their department. To the ornithologist the 
estate is very attractive, and many interesting records are con- 
nected with it. On the present occasion a large number of species 
of birds was noted, and among them the following deserve 
mention. The Chiff-chaff (Phylloscopus rufus (Bechst.) ) was first 
heard and seen in the gardens; and subsequently, in the woods 
between the mansion house and: the western boundary, some half- 
dozen males were heard calling. In Gray’s classic work on the 
* Birds of the West of Scotland” extremely little information is 
74 given regarding the distribution of this species in the area drained 
_ by the Clyde. The Willow-wren (Phylloscopus trochilus (Linn.) ) 
_ was industriously sought for, but without success. It was un- 
_ doubtedly later than usual in arriving in the Clyde area this year. 
Of the Long-tailed Titmouse (Acredula rosea (Blyth) ) a pair was 
seen. The Rhododendrons in the gardens form the roosting-place 
_ of vast numbers of Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris, Linn.), and the 
- wood west of the gardens contains a very large rookery. Not 
_ many years ago Castle Semple boasted the possession of a heronry 
_ of fair size, but at present it is doubtful if more than one pair of 
_ Herons (Ardea cinerea, Linn.) nests within the demesne. Several 
_ Mallards (Anas boscas, Linn.), a pair of Teal (Querquedula crecca 
(Linn.) ), and several flocks of Widgeon (Mareca penelope (Linn.) ) 
of about a dozen birds each, were noted. It was interesting to find 
that, besides the Chiff-chaff, another of our summer visitors, the 
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