72 Transactions. 



Anderson calls it, carols over all our meadows. The Snow 

 Bunting {Plectroplianes Niv Lis) has only been seen once. The 

 Common Bunting {Emberiza Miliaria), although recorded for the 

 lower portions of the parish, does not appear to be generally dis- 

 tributed. The Black-Headed Bunting {Em/>eriza Schoenichis) is 

 not by any means an uncommon bird, l)ut it is rarely seen at any 

 great distance from its nesting haunts — the rushy margins of 

 streams or marshes. The Yellow Hammer {Emijeriza Citrinella) 

 is still a common species, although sadly reduced in numbers by 

 recent severe wintei's. The Chaffinch {Fringilla Coelebs) is almost 

 as common as the ubiquitous House Sparrow, and, despite his 

 handsome coat, almost as little prized. He sings a good song, 

 nevertheless, and builds the prettiest nest of all our British birds. 

 The Mountain Finch {Fringilla Mo7itifnngilla) is known to us as 

 an occasional visitor only. The House Sparrow {Passer Domesticus) 

 is met with everywhere. The larger number build their nests 

 under the eaves of houses, but no inconsiderable portion build on 

 trees. When a tree is selected the structure is invariably large 

 and ugly. The Greenfinch {Coccothraustes Chloris) occurs plenti- 

 fully. The Goldfinch {Carduelis Elegaiis), a common enough 

 bird, I believe, at one time, must now be considered rare. The 

 Siskin {Carduelis Spinus) is occasionally seen as a visitor, but it has 

 never been known to nest. The Common Linnet {Linota Catinabina) 

 is abundant. The Mountain Linnet {Linota Montium) visits us from 

 time to time ip flocks. One winter, four or five years ago, I caught 

 two of these birds in the hand by simply following a flock of them 

 and imitating their feeding note. The Lesser Redpoll {Linota 

 Linaria) is rare even as a visitor. The Bullfinch {Pyrrhula 

 Vulgaris), although seen here and there throughout the parish, 

 occurs in no great numbers anywhere. The Starling {Sturnus 

 Vulgaris) in Glencairn, as elsewhere, is becoming increasingly 

 common. A generation ago starlings were almost unknown, and 

 I am credibly informed that tlie first starling seen in Glencairn 

 was sold for half-a-sovereign, and the bird was a dead one. The 

 Eaven ( Corvus Corax) down to within recent years nested regularly 

 on the face of Auchenstrowan Crag, but the site has now been 

 abandoned, and we are not aware of any other in the parish or 

 its vicinity. The birds, however, are still seen at intervals. The 

 Crow {Corvus Corone) is common, and, I need scarcely say, so is 

 the Rook {Conn/s pyugi/egus). It is a popular belief in the Soutli 

 of Scotland tliat crow nest-building commences on the first Sabbath 



