X NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF CLYDESDALE. 



spring; and the KESTREL is a well-known permanent resident in the 

 suburbs, coming frequently into the heart of the town. The same 

 remark applies to the SPARROW-HAWK. The COMMON and ROUGH- 

 LEGGED BUZZARDS have both occurred within a few miles of the 

 city, and an occasional HEN HARRIER makes its appearance on 

 moors within full view of the church spires and higher buildings. 

 I recently examined a male Hen Harrier in perfect condition, which 

 had been shot a short distance north of Buchanan Street about the 

 beginning of the present century. At that time the locality was a 

 wild heath, though it is now the centre of a densely-populated dis- 

 trict. 



Many Owls are still found in the immediate neighbourhood of the 

 city, and even within its boundaries. The BARN OWL, TAWNY OWL, 

 and SHORT-EARED OWL are all regularly obtained in the outskirts. 

 Two specimens of the SNOWY OWL were shot in December, 1863: 

 one at Pollokshields, the other at Port-Glasgow. These had pro- 

 bably reached this country by the aid of ships bound for the Clyde. 

 In the same year and month a beautiful specimen of the AMERICAN 

 HAWK OWL (Surnia funerea) was shot at Maryhill, near Glasgow ; 

 a second occurred near Greenock in November, 1868; and a third 

 was taken in the flesh to the same town in December, 1871. All 

 these had probably been aided in their flight by Clyde-bound ves- 

 sels, as in the case of the Snowy Owls. This owl has been proved 

 to be a distinct species from the European Hawk Owl (Surnia ululd) 

 by Mr. Sharpe, who has given a full description of both in B. of Eur. 

 part xii. 



The GREAT GRAY SHRIKE has repeatedly been taken in the 

 vicinity, and the SPOTTED FLY-CATCHER is known as a regular 

 summer visitant to gardens and fields around the city. The impurity 

 of the streams near large towns naturally deters such birds as the 

 DIPPER and KING-FISHER, yet both are frequently seen on the 

 Kelvin, even where the contaminated waters must prove poisonous 

 to their natural prey. Both have been seen of late years within the 

 parliamentary boundaries, especially in hard winters, during which 

 these birds are compelled to stray considerable distances in search of 

 open water. 



The MISSEL THRUSH is abundant, and seems to have increased 

 very considerably in numbers during the last thirty years. Its 

 bulky nest is everywhere noticeable, and is found every year in the 

 Kelvingrove Park. The FIELDFARE and EEDWING occur in large 

 flocks every winter in the same locality, and the SONG-THRUSH and 

 BLACKBIRD both enliven the spring-time in all the parks and gardens. 

 The EING OUZEL is a well-marked object in the bird-life of the 

 Kilpatrick Hills within the ten miles' radius; the HEDGE ACCENTOR 

 is abundant in all the surroundings of the city, and the REDBREAST 

 finds its way into the busiest streets. The EEDSTART, STONECHAT, 

 WHINCHAT, WHEATEAR, and SEDGE WARBLER all make their appear- 



