26 RENFREWSHIRE EXCURSIONS. 



Neilston Parish. — Loch Libo, the beauties of which have 

 been often extolled, was visited in September, 1889, but the loch 

 was very full and there was little opportunity of examining the 

 flora of the locality. Particular reference to the botanical features 

 of the loch will be found in Mr. Wood's paper in this volume. 

 Neilston Pad and Hairlaw Dam were at a later date (26th April, 

 1890) the scene of an excursion. "The Craig of Neilston, 

 . . . vulgarly called the Pad, from having in its appearance 

 the form of a pillion " (as the writer of the first statistical account 

 of the parish declares), is a favourite resort of Glasgow ramblers. 

 On the occasion of our Society visit, the weather being clear a 

 magnificent prospect was obtained, embracing Loudoun Hill, the 

 mountains of Arran, the Argyleshire mountains, Ben Lomond, 

 Ben Venue, etc. Common spring flowering plants only were 

 noted at this time, but at one of the meetings in the following 

 summer the green habenaria or frog-orchis (Habenaria viridis) 

 was exhibited from this neighbourhood, where it is abundant. 



The chief feature of interest, however, was the breeding colony 

 of the familiar black-headed gull {Larus ridibundus) on an islet in 

 Hairlaw Dam — an extensive artificial collection of water south of 

 the Pad. Glasgow people must always entertain some degree of 

 affection for this species, as it does a great deal to enliven our 

 polluted river at its busiest part, and the whole year round is to 

 be seen in considerable numbers between the bridges and among 

 the shipping in the harbour. The mature bird in summer 

 plumage is strikingly beautiful, with its black head, red beak 

 and legs, French-grey back, and pure white sides and under 

 surface. In his Birds of the West of Scotland, Gray, writing 

 in 187 1, says, with reference to the Hairlaw colony: — "There 

 are perhaps from 500 to 800 pairs to be found breeding there 

 every year. ... At the time when this colony is in the 

 state of greatest activity the old birds are constantly flying 

 about the neighbouring fields, especially those from which 

 potatoes have been lifted, and picking up worms and beetles, 

 the remains of these being found at almost every nest." When- 

 ever the dam came within sight it was apparent that since Gray's 

 time there is no diminution in the size of the colony. By means 

 of a boat about twenty of those present got on the island, 

 which was thickly strewn with nests, and care was necessary 



