IXTKODUCTIOIs*. 



in botanical and entomological specimens, it was not less remark- 

 able for its ornithological features. I know of no locality of tke 

 same limited area, where so many species of water-fowl were to 

 be found breeding, as bred yearly at Prestwick Car. 



Spynie Loch, near Elgin, is the only place that I could com- 

 pare with it in. this respect; but even in that rich breeding station 

 fewer species have been taken than at Prestwick Car. In many 

 respects these two localities were very similar, and they have both 

 shared the same fate ; they have both been recently drained and 

 their feathered denizens consequently dispersed. 



The nests of the following aquatic birds have been taken at 

 Prestwick Car, namely, the Black -headed Gull, Wild Duck, 

 Teal, Shoveller, Pintail Duck, Eedshank, Dunlin, Wood Sand- 

 piper, Snipe, Curlew, Enif, Peewit, "Water Hen, Water Crake, 

 and Coot, in all, fifteen ; besides which, there is reason to be- 

 lieve that the Gargany and Common Tern also bred there. As 

 Avell as the above, a number of Passeres nested at the Car. Of 

 these the following is a list : — the Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, 

 Brown Linnet, Skylark, Stone Chat, Whin Chat, Hedge Accen- 

 tor, Yellow Wagtail, Cuckoo, and probably some others. The 

 Black Grouse has also bred there. 



The following account of an excursion to Prestwick Car Avill 

 give some idea of what could be done in bird nesting in that lo- 

 cality in a single day : it was however an extraordinary day, and 

 was a very short one. I started, accompanied by the eldest son 

 of the late ~SLx. Charles St. John, on the morning of the 3rd of 

 June, 1853, rather for the purpose of showing my youthful fiiend 

 the Car, than in any expectation of obtaining eggs, as the season 

 was far advanced. Wc arrived at Berwick Hill, on the north 

 margin of the Car, about eleven o'clock, after a pleasant eight 

 miles walk. After receiving the hospitality of the late Mr. 

 Eichard Ecay wo commenced our ramble over the Car. That 

 gentleman informed us that we should see no eggs, as several 

 persons had recently been over the ground. This, however, did 

 not matter much, as we had not come for the purpose of collect* 

 ing eggs, but merely to look about us. 



It was one o'clock before we reached the heather; and here 



