AUTUMN AND WINTER BIRD-LIFE OF THE FAIRLIE SHORE. 177 



Snow Bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis (Linn.). — Occurs occasionally 

 in small parties in winter, November 1st being the earliest 

 date I have of its arrival. 



Starling, Sturnus vulgaris, Linn. — Very abundant. In the 

 warm days <>f autumn the shore often swarms with Starlings 

 hawking after Hies, in the same manner as the more agile 

 Swallows. 



Magpie, Pica rustica (Scopoli). — I have seen this bird on one 

 occasion near Hunterston, and believe it to be a scarce 

 species hereabouts. 



Jackdaw, Corvns monedula, Linn. — Abundant, the clifFs north 

 of Portincross being a favourite resort. 



Raven, Corvns corax, Linn. — On September 1st, 1907, Mr. John 

 Robertson saw a pair flying inland near the Black Rock ; 

 and Mr. Millar tells me he has, on sereral occasions, observed 

 a pair flying in the same direction. 



Carrion-Crow, Corvus corone, Linn. — Often seen on the flats, 

 genei'ally in pairs. 



Rook, Corvus frugilecjus, Linn. — Abundant; numbers cross 

 Fairlie Roads from the Great Cumbrae every morning, 

 returning in the late afternoon, when they often have a 

 rough passage if the prevailing winds from the south- 

 west and west are blowing strongly. 



Skylark, Alauda arvensis, Linn.— A few are always about the 

 shore, but after a fall of snow inland they become very 

 numerous. On the morning of the great blizzard of wind 

 and snow on 26th December, 1906, I watched a great move- 

 ment of this species in a westerly direction (see Annals of 

 Scottish Natural Ilistory, 1907). 



Swift, Cypselus npus (Linn.).— Abundant in August, but rarely 

 seen after September 1st. In the fine September of last 

 year (1907), however, a few remained rather later, the last 

 beinw observed on the 2 2nd September, a late date. 



Nightjar, Caprimulgus europceus, Linn. — Mr. Robert Millar 

 has heard this bird in August at Hunterston. 



Kingfisher, Alcedo ispida, Linn. — Mr. Robert Millar tells me 

 of one occurrence of this bird at the Green Point. 



Barn-Owl, Strix flammea, Linn.— On 22nd October, 1904, Mr. 

 Knox Whyte shot one in Poteath Bay as it was hovering 



