178 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



over his dog at flight time. In September, 1907, Mr. John 

 Robertson drew my attention to the note of an Owl which 

 he believed to be this species, and since then I have 

 frequently heard the same note behind Fairlie, but never 

 have been able to trace the bird. Mr. Millar is quite 

 familiar with this bird at Hunterston. 



Long-Eared Owl, Asio otus (Linn.). — In the fine evenings of early 

 autumn I have frequently seen this species hawking about 

 the shore. 



Tawny Owl, Syrnium aluco, (Linn.). — Fairly common; several may 

 be heard hooting to each other on a still evening. 



Sparrow Hawk, Accipiter nisus (Linn.). — A frequent visitor to 

 the shore, where it finds abundance of spoil among the 

 small birds. 



Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus, Tunstall. — This bird is 

 now but an occasional visitor, and the famous eyrie at 

 Ardneil, where, from time immemorial, the Peregrine had its 

 home, is now deserted ; but the estate of Hunterston must 

 ever be associated with this falcon. I have observed it on 

 three occasions only. On 25th December, 1901, one was 

 seen at the Black Rock ; on 4th October, 1902, while lying 

 up at Brigaird, waiting for the flight of Curlews from 

 Fence Bay, I was startled by the sudden swoop of a fine 

 blue-backed male at a small wader standing in a pool of 

 water within 20 yards of where I was concealed ; and on 

 September 30th, 1905, two, in brown immature plumage, 

 were noticed at Poteath Bay. One October evening in 

 1906, at Poteath, a Peregrine made a dash at the Tam-o'- 

 Shanter worn by a well-known Fairlie wild-fowler, who was 

 snugly ensconsed in the heart of a whin bush, from which 

 projected his conspicuous head-gear ; but for what queer 

 kind of fowl the falcon mistook the latter, I am not 

 prepared to say. 



Merlin, Falco tesalon, Tunstall. — Frequently seen in autumn, 

 and occasionally in winter. It preys chiefly on Dunlins and 

 small birds ; these it fairly flies down, not pouncing unex- 

 pectedly on them, as that feathered sneak, the Sparrow 

 Hawk, does. Swallows give it considerable trouble to take ; 

 and I have seen several long-continued flights out over 



