456 REPORT OF FIELD MEETINGS. 



Before this period the remains of a number of trees were 

 found beneath the surface, consisting of the oak, Scotch pine, 

 birch, and hazel, from which it is evident that in former 

 times this district must have been well wooded. 



In June, 1814, a stratum of shell marl, seven feet in thick- 

 ness, was discovered at the east end of the Carr. It extended 

 about 230 yards from north to south, and about 90 yards 

 from east to west. The soil lying above it was of a peaty 

 nature, and about three feet in thickness. 



In this marl are to be found a number of shells of the Helix 

 and Turbo genera, and at the upper part of the stratum 

 quantities of bog moss and stems and leaves of other aquatic 

 plants. At the bottom layer the shells are incrustated hard 

 together. The bed upon which the marl lies is of a gravelly 

 nature. After the discovery of this deposit a quantity of it 

 was dug out by farmers in the neighbourhood and applied as 

 a manure to their lands, but not perceiving any beneficial 

 effects, they discontinued its use. 



In 1856 to 1859, whilst the Carr was being drained, Mr. 

 Marriott, who had charge of the drainage operations, informs 

 me that the drainers came across this deposit, which corres- 

 ponded closely with the foregoing account. 



From this description of the marshy surface of the Carr, we 

 can imagine it was formerly the natural haunt of numerous 

 wild fowl and other birds, and a suitable field for the 

 ornithologist, the botanist and other students of natural 

 history. 



The name of the late John Hancock will always be 

 associated with Prestwick Carr. It was one of his happy 

 hunting grounds, and the birds in his collection taken here 

 bear silent testimony to his labours in this district. Amongst 

 these are such interesting species as the Black-tailed Godwit, 

 the Little Stint and Temminck's Stint, the Ruff, male and 

 female, the Green, Spotted, and Common Redshank, and the 

 Wood Sandpiper. In the Catalogue it is mentioned that this 

 bird belonged to a nest taken by John Hancock in 1853. 

 The nest with four eggs was tlie tirst recorded nest taken in 



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