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THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Captain Kirkwood saw a White Wagtail on Bartragh, and a few days 

 later a flock of ten birds arrived at their usual haunt — the marshy 

 pasture outside the garden (where, if any are on the island, they 

 are sure to be seen). This little flock remained there for nearly a 

 week, until one day, when the north-east wind moderated, they dis- 

 appeared, resuming their journey to Iceland. The weather continued 

 so stormy that I was unable to go to Bartragh until the 15th (the 

 only day since the first of the month when the tides suited, and calm 

 enough for my small boat to face the estuary), so I lost my chance of 

 seeing the Wagtails, as they had left before that date. The estuary 

 was very free from birds, and I only observed half a dozen Sandwich 

 Terns, and about as many Little Terns, but I saw a fair number of 

 the Arctic, among which there may have been a few of the Common 

 species, though I was unable to distinguish them. I got near a flock 

 of about fifty Arctic Terns resting on the sands, and was much 

 amused by the antics of the males trying to attract the females. On 

 the Bartragh sands there was a flock of about fifty Dunlins with black 

 breasts. — Eobeet Warren (Moy View, Ballina). 



Notes on the Birds of West Renfrewshire (Caldwell District), 1908. 



— The chief feature of interest during 1908 was the great scarcity of 

 the Sedge-Warbler. I am quite within the mark in saying that we had 

 not more than one-third of our usual number. On the other hand, 

 there was a marked increase in the number of Eedshanks and Lapwings. 

 Golden Plover, Snipe, and Dunlin nested in about the usual numbers. 

 The following are the details : — 



There were twenty-one degrees of frost on the night of Jan. 4th. 



January 12th. Forty-two "Grey Geese" (species unknown) on 

 Staneley Castle Loch. 21st. I heard the Song-Thrush in fine song as 

 we passed Pollokshaws Station. So far they have not returned to 

 Caldwell. 22nd. About one hundred Fieldfares flying about. The 

 wind was out of the west and piercing cold. 23rd. Six Goosanders 

 on Loch Libo. 24th. The Song-Thrush made its first public appear- 

 ance for the season, and in fine song. The weather very mild. The 

 six Goosanders still on the loch. 25th. A great fall in the tempera- 

 ture this morning, with several hail-showers. 27th. Five Goosanders 

 on the loch. 28th. About eight inches of snow. 31st. A solitary Pied 

 Wagtail. 



February 1st. The snow almost gone. Twenty Kedwings feeding 

 in adjacent field. 3rd. Twelve Goosanders on Loch Libo. 9th. 

 Blue Tits and Coal Tits plentiful ; heard the welcome song of the 

 Sky-Lark; also the "cooing" of the Eing-Dove. 11th. Four Goos- 



