ON THE BIRDS. xiil 



be found nesting at Dowanhill, not far from the University. I took 

 lapwings' eggs there three years ago. 



The TURNSTONE frequents the Firth of Clyde in small flocks during 

 winter. The OYSTER-CATCHER is likewise found on all the sandy 

 shores of the Clyde estuary, and frequently follows the course of the 

 river as far as Bothwell. It breeds in various localities within easy 

 reach of Glasgow. The HERON is very common in the district, and 

 there are several heronries sufficiently near the city to keep up a 

 never-failing supply of birds on the different properties where the 

 heron is protected as an ornament. Passing birds sometimes pitch 

 down in open places quite close to the streets. I remember seeing 

 one two years ago arrested in its flight as it passed high above the 

 College tower, and after a few rapid turns in the air allow its own 

 weight to carry it down to an old quarry situated behind the 

 University buildings at Gilmorehill. The COMMON BITTERN has even 

 of recent years been shot in several instances at Fossil Marsh, a 

 district now almost surrounded by factories; also at Hogganfield 

 Loch, within a few miles of Glasgow. Quite recently an AMERICAN 

 BITTERN was shot in Islay. The CURLEW breeds on all the hills 

 which command a view of the city, some of the haunts of this bird 

 being at a distance of only a few miles. The WHIMBREL is occasion- 

 ally seen in May on the muddy shores of the Clyde estuary. The 

 EEDSHANK breeds in some numbers within sight of Glasgow, and the 

 GREEN SANDPIPER has on two or three occasions been shot on streams 

 quite near its southern limits. The WOOD SANDPIPER has occurred 

 once on the Clyde, and I have elsewhere recorded the occurrence of 

 a single example of the GREEN-RUMP TATLER near Airdrie. This 

 specimen is now, I believe, in the Hunterian Museum. The COMMON 

 SANDPIPER is abundant on all the streams, rain-pools, and old 

 quarries quite close to the town. The GREENSHANK has been shot 

 on several occasions on Mearns Moor, where I have reason to think 

 a pair or two may nest annually. The BLACK-WINGED STILT was 

 killed in 1850 on the banks of the Clyde, and in 1867 another was 

 seen and carefully stalked, but without effect, on Possil Marsh, near 

 the city. The BLACK-TAILED GODWIT has occurred in two instances 

 in the district: once near Dumbarton in November, 1867, and again 

 at Castle Semple in August, 1869. The BAR-TAILED GODWIT is not 

 common in the estuary, and the RUFF is rare. The WOODCOCK comes 

 regularly to the outskirts, where I have seen several shot of late 

 years. House-building, however, is driving the bird year by year 

 from its old haunts. The COMMON SNIPE and JACK SNIPE are both 

 well known on the shootings in the immediate neighbourhood, the 

 former breeding in some numbers at Possil Marsh. I have observed, 

 in hard winters, frozen- out snipes in a grass-field at the west end of 

 the university buildings. 



The KNOT is a scarce bird in the Clyde estuary. The DUNLIN is 

 found in hundreds on the river-banks near Dumbarton and on the 



