72 The Zoologist — February, 1866. 



Coot — Not very numerous. 



Beriiicle Goose. — Only ouce have I seen a flock of these geese settle 

 here, though frequently i see them passing overhead. Near this, but 

 not in either of the parishes, they come in large flocks, and require to 

 be driven off" by the farmers. 



Mute Swan.— Common on preserved ponds, &c. 



Wild Duck. — More or less numerous, according to the severity of 

 the winter. Very few breed with us. 



Teal. 



Goldeneye. — A few, especially males, come (o the river every year. 



Redbreasted Merc/anser and Goosander. — Only occasionally seen. 



Little Grebe. — Not frequent. 



Gannet. — I have seen a few pass over during stormy weather. One 

 was picked up in an exhausted state in a field in Dunipace parish, 

 after a storm. 



Common Tern. — Local name, " sea swallow." This and the following 

 species 1 have seen ascending the course of the river in stormy weather, 

 but at other times they seldom make their appearance. 



Arctic Tern. — 1 have shot this and the first-named tern on two 

 different occasions. 



Blackheaded Gull. — Comes up frequently from the Frilh of Forth, 

 both in mature and immature plumage. Used to breed in small 

 numbers at Loch Colter. 



Common Gull, Herring Gull. 



Great Blackbacked Gull. — Passes over at a great height in stormy 

 weather. 



Lesser Blackbacked Gull. — This, along with most of the above- 

 mentioned gulls, 1 have seen sailing on the surface or flying around 

 Loch Colter. 



Some other species I might add to this list, but as I am not as yet 

 perfectly certain as to their occurrence, 1 should prefer leaving the list 

 as it is for the present, Amongst these I might mention the kite, 

 buzzard and golden eagle, as having been seen to pass overhead, 

 but the information and the somewhat rough descriptions given by the 

 people of tliese parts cannot with perfect safety be used as reliable 

 information. 



J. A. Harvie Brown. 



Duuipace, Falkirk, December 13, 1865. 



