Nov. 1907. ] A WEST OF SCOTLAND GARDEN. 303 
It was a very pretty sight to watch the whole family, old 
and young together, whirling, flying and flashing in pursuit 
of their rapid winged prey, and it is wonderful to see the 
number of flies, midges, and other insects which they seem to 
catch, 
“We are favoured with them till August ; but almost all 
are gone ere the end of that month, though we have noted 
one early in September ; but it may have spent the summer 
farther north, and it may have been so far on its migration. 
“ Turdus iliacus and Turdus pilaris (redwing and fieldfare). 
—One of the most interesting bird-sights of Rosneath is the 
autumn visit of large flocks of fieldfares and redwings. 
“The famous yew avenue at Rosneath by its berries seems 
specially to attract these birds, and from it they scatter to 
the gardens and shrubberies around, making, wherever they 
visit, a clearance of yew and rowan-trees of their berries. 
Having during November finished these they disperse, and 
are not seen during the winter; but in April they appear in 
large flocks in the fields near the castle, apparently preparing 
for their migration in spring. 
“The date of arrival varies, no doubt affected by the 
prevailing winds. With continuous east wind the birds come 
early ; but when west and south-west winds prevail the 
arrival of the birds is delayed. We have recorded the 
following dates of arrival in the yew avenue— 
1902, November 5. 
1905, " ie 
1904, ts vse 
1905, ha cS: 
1906, Se 21. 
“Whatever the date of arrival the scene is the same. 
Large flocks of birds are busy at the berries of the yews— 
very wild, very noisy, and apparently very quarrelsome, but 
so timid that on the slightest disturbance they fly to the 
tops of a line of tall lime trees which run parallel with the 
avenue of yew. 
“In a few days they are much less excited, and do not fly 
away so hurriedly when any one approaches. Soon they 
begin to appear throughout the neighbourhood—a great 
number of fieldfares and a fair number of redwings at 
