Xll NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF CLYDESDALE. 



is seen passing in flocks during the winter season, and the STARLING 

 is abundant even in the heart of the town. The EOSE-COLOURED 

 PASTOR has occurred in three instances within two miles of Glasgow, 

 a, pair having been shot in 1853, and a single bird in August, 1860. 



The CHOUGH, formerly found at Campsie, and also in the island 

 of Arran up till 1863, is not now met with nearer than the south of 

 Ayrshire. It is still moderately common in some of the western 

 islands ; but even in Islay, where it was quite abundant five years 

 ago, there is a sensible diminution of its numbers, caused, it is said, 

 by the inroads of dealers in natural history objects. The EAVEN 

 still nests within sight of the city, and the HOODED CROW and 

 CARRION CROW are found on the banks of the Clyde at low water, 

 chiefly in winter. EOOKERIES are not quite rooted out in the city. 

 The best-known is that in the Kelvingrove Park, the birds of which 

 are carefully fed by the park-keepers in hard weather. The JACKDAW 

 is plentiful in all the streets and squares, and the MAGPIE is common 

 in the immediate neighbourhood, where it is, as may be supposed, 

 safer than in the country. 



The COMMON CREEPER and WREN are well-known residents in old 

 dikes and blackened plantations. The HOOPOE has been met with 

 near Port-Glasgow. The CUCKOO, from old associations, comes to 

 the South-side Park and private gardens in the neighbourhood. The 

 BEE-EATER has been seen on one occasion haunting the banks of the 

 river Cart, near Paisley. The KING-FISHER, as has been remarked, 

 has frequently been obtained within the civic boundaries, and the 

 SWALLOW, MARTIN, SAND-MARTIN, and SWIFT are all equally well 

 known. The NIGHTJAR has on various occasions been seen in the 

 evening flying above the grass in the South-side Park ; the EING- 

 DOVE is an autumn visitant to the fields just outside the city. 



Wandering examples of the CAPERCAILLIE have been shot in pine 

 plantations at a sufficient altitude above the sea-level to be within 

 full view of Glasgow. The same may be said of the BLACK GROUSE. 

 The EED GROUSE is well known on the moors a few miles from the 

 city, but the PTARMIGAN is not found nearer than thirty miles. The 

 PARTRIDGE, in autumn, conies at times into the public streets in a 

 bewildered state, and the PHEASANT has been taken in like circum- 

 stances. 



Among the grallatorial birds the GOLDEN PLOVER is found every 

 winter in grass-fields close to the town, and it nests in some numbers 

 on the Eenfrewshire hills, about eight miles distant. The Eaglesham 

 moors, where a few pairs breed, partly overlook the city. The 

 DOTTEREL (Charadrius morinellus) has on two or three occasions 

 occurred near Go van and at Possil Marsh within the last fifteen 

 years, both localities being now surrounded by densely-populated 

 streets. The EINGED PLOVER has been taken of late years also on 

 the Eaglesham moors. The LAPWING still visits the blackened fields 

 within a few minutes' walk of the streets, and one or two pairs may 



