174 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



during that time. As these visits have always been in the 

 months from August till February inclusive, I have been unable 

 to deal with the bird-life of the spring and summer months. 

 In preparing these notes, T have confined myself to those species 

 of birds which have been observed on the line of shore between 

 the villages of Fairlie and Portincross, taking in the fields and 

 woods which lie within a hundred yards of it, and also part of 

 Fairlie Roads. The number of species recorded is 114. 



To Mr. John Paterson and Mr. John Robertson, and also to 

 Mr. Robert Millar, gamekeeper at Hunterston, I am indebted for 

 much valuable information. 



Between Fairlie and Brigaird Spit the receding tide lays bare 

 a vast area of sand and mud, which proves very attractive to the 

 wild-fowl that annually visit this locality, but does not help the 

 observer, as birds are easily passed by when scattered over so 

 large an area. 



I have found that from about an hour before high-water to 

 an hour after then is the best time to see what waders and 

 ducks may be present ; and if the observer takes his stand at 

 Brigaird Point at a suitable time, the best being when the tide 

 is beginning to ebb about an hour before sunset, he will often 

 see almost the whole feathered population of the Fairlie Sands 

 pass before him. 



MiSTLE Thrush, Turdus vlscivoms, Linn. — Common, especially 



during hard frost. 

 Song-Thrush, Turdus mtisicus, Linn. — Abundant in autumn, 



and not uncommon in winter. 



(Both species occur in winter, 

 tlie xiieidtare being the more 

 abundant of the two. 

 Blackbird, Turdus merula, Linn. — The most abundant of all the 



thrushes here. 

 Wheatear, Saxicola oenanthe (Linn.). — Numerous in August and 



September, but all have disappeared by the 7th October. 

 Whinchat, Pratincola rubetra (Linn.). — -A few to be seen in the 



autumn. 

 Stoxechat, Pratincola ritbicola (J^inn.). — Rather rare; I have seen 

 it in the months of September, October, and December. 



