The Glasgow Naturalist - Forgotten Books

THE J O URNAL O F THE

NATURAL HISTO RY S O C IETY O F GLASG O W

( includ ing th e Transa c tions a nd Proceeding s of

th e S oc iety , Th ird Series) .

Volume V.

EDIT ED BY

D. A. BO YD AND JO HN PATERSO N.

19 18

G LASG O W JO HN SM ITH S O N (G LASG O W ) LIMITED ,

OW

um

C O N T E N T S.

Ix MEMORIAM m e s

Rev . David Landsborough , LL .D . ,

Peter Cameron ,

Peter Ewing ,

PAPERSThe Flora of the Gulbin Sands. Peter Ewing , F .L.S. ,

Dytiscus lapponicus, Gyll. , in Arran . Anderson Fergusson,Notes on Yew Trees (Tamas ba cca ta ,

L ) in the Clyde Area

(Plate John Renwick , 19-33

Table of Measurements of Yew -Trees in Clyde Drainage Area .

John Renwick and Richard M ‘Kay ,

The Birds of Fossil Marsh (Plate 11) W illiam Rennie,Basking Shark (Cetorh inus max imus) stranded on the Little

C umbrae. Richd . Elmhirst, F .L.S. ,

Mosses from Vice-County 10 1 . James M ‘Andrew,

The Return of Summer Birds to the Clyde Area in 1913 . JohnPaterson, 81-89

Notes towards a Knowledge of Clyde Myriapoda. RichardS. Bagnall, 89-92

Some Additional Records of Micro -Fungi for the Clyde Area.

A . Boyd , 93-95

O bservations on two tame Ravens and other Birds . J O hnstoneMacfie , M .D. , 1 17 - 1 19

Some Recent Additions to the British Fungus -Flora. D. A

Bo'yd ,

PROCEED ING S O F THE SO CIETY

Septorz'

a, Chrysanthemella ,Sacc . ,

a Fungus new to Scotland ,

from G lengonnar ,

Psylla bux i, from Benmore,Annual G eneral Meeting , Report of Council, and Election of

O ffice -Bearers . 38-39

Sisym’

nchium a nceps , Bab . , from G arukirk , and Apera

Spica -venti , Beauv . , from Scotstoun. Exhibit by R . S.

W ishart, M .A. ,

v i 0 O NTENTS.

PAG E

PRO CEED INGS—Conti nued.

Flowering Plan ts from various localities. Exhibit by PeterEwing ,

f r'm ndim

'

a crnetosa , Fr . , on Polystictus versicolor ,a t Caldwell,

Fmger-and-Toe

”Disea se (Pla smodiophora bra ssicce , W or. )

on Cauliflower Roots. Exh ibit by R . S. W ishart, M .A . ,

The G rey Squirrel from Cardross and Luss, with Notes on itsspread in Dumbartonsh ire,

New Records of Hepaticae. Peter Ewing , F.L.S.,

Gromia dnja rdiniz’

fromMillport. Exhibit by R ichd . Elmhirst,

Bar -tailed Godwit in Summer -Plumage from Ayrshire inDecember,

Tetra bothr ium cylindra ceum,a Worm new to

“ Clyde fromPossilMarsh

,

A Hemipteron (Strongylocor is Zeucocephalus) new to Clyde.Exhibit by J . J . F. X . King ,

Egg of Sandwich Tern (Sterna ca ntia ca ) taken in Clyde in 1912.

Exhibit by T . Thornton Ma cKeith ,

A Fly ( J/erodon eonestr is) new to Clyde . Exhibit bv Alex.

Ross,

Rare Scottish Mosses . Exhibit b y James Stirton ,M .D. ,

Scrophula r ia ver nalis from Kilmacolm. Exhibit by L. \Vatt ,A Rare Freshwa ter Alga (Desmonema W rmmeh

’

i ) from LochLomond. Exhibit by G eo. Lunam

MeteorologicalNotes, &c .,for 1912. J ames t itton , 125 -6

Excnnsxoxs

Rawy a rds House and Rosemount,

Bla ntyre Priory,

Loudoun Castle Policies,

Swinlees G len , Dalry,

Lugton to Beith,O rchard Country, LanarkTarbet and Luss ,G len Douglas to W histlefield

,

Abington , Lanarkshire ,G len Masson (Lists of Tipulidae, Mosses,Balmaha ,

G len Falloch (Notes on G eology) ,Dunure to Ayr (Freshwater Algae) ,G a reloch (Trees , Mosses, Fungi , Birds ) .G alston

,

The O rchard Country (Flowering Plants , Trees,Douglas (Trees, Birds, Diptera , Fungi,

CONTENTS .

Cricket - batWillow in cultivation in Argyllshire . H . B . W'

at tBotanical Records , compiled by Peter Ewi ng ,

The American G rey Squirrel (Sc z'

urus c z'

nereus) . Hugh Boyd\Vatt,

G reenland W hea tear (Sau’

cola tena nt/re lcucorrhoa ) in Ayrshire .R . W. S. “

v

ilson,Blac k G uillemot ( Ur ia. grylrc) , Storm Petrel (Procella r ia

pdagica ) , and Manx Shearwater (Pufiinus a nglorum) O ff the

Ayrshire Coas t . J . M ‘Crindle in The Even ing Times

G rea t Skua (Mega leatr is cataw hucrcs) in Bute . Chas . Kirk,

Bewick’s Swan (Cg/nus B ewicki) in Ayrshire . R . “7 . S. \Vilson ,

W’ hite-headed Chafiinch (F r ingilla cwlebs) ,

A prolific Blackbird (Turdus meruia ) ,Death of a well-known Taxi dermist ,Larch Canker. D . A. BoydPhaeangella empetri (PhiL) Bond .

The Turtle Dove ( Ta rta r com-mum'

s) in Ren i rew . R .

Wood-Sandpiper ( Teta nus gla reola ) in Renf rew. JohnRobertson,

Spotted Redshank ( Tota nus fuscws) in E . c i rew . JohnRobertson,

REVIEWS

The Home-Life of the Terns or Sea Swallows,Bullet in of the British O rni thologists

’

Club,Vol. XXX

A Dictionary of English and Folk-names of Brit i sh Birds,

INDEX ,

vi i

PAG E

45

79-80

80

80

106-107

107 - 108

108- 109

132 - 142

YEVV- TREE AT LO UDO UN CAST LE .

Elie (Blasgow NaturalistThe Journal of the NATURAL HISTO RY Soc iETY

O F G LASG O W

(Including the Transactions and Proceedings of the Society, T hird Series) .

Vol. V. , No. l . ] [November , 1912.

In Memoriam.

R EV. DAVID LANDSBOROUGH,LL D.

THE announcement of the death of D r. Landsborough,which

took place on 22ud November, has been rec eived wi th deep

regret by a very wide c ircle of friends, both at home and abroad ,by whom he was held in the highes t esteem

,alik e for his scientific

atta inments, public services, professional labours, and personal

worth .

Born in 1826, at the Manse of Stem nston,in Ayrshire

,hi s

early years were spent under condit ions well fitted to foster and

develop the keen love of nature whi ch was one of his most

marked charac teristics throughout the whole cour se of a long and

ac tive life . His father—the Rev . David Landsborough,D .D .

,

parish minis ter of Stevenstonflattained cons iderable eminence

as a successful worker in various fields of research,part icularly

in z oology, botany, geology, palaeontology, and archaeology .

Among the best known of hi s numerous publications may be

mentioned the Popular History of B r itish Z oophytes, Popula rHistory of Bri tish Seaweeds, and Na twra l History of Ar ran .

He also contributed to the New Sta tistical Accoun t of Scotla ndan elaborate description of the Parish of Stevenston

,which

contains much valuable and interesting information regarding the

natura l history and antiqui ties of tha t district . Under such

home influences, it is not surprising that the development of

young Landsborough’

s tas tes should have been so directed as torender him an enthusiastic and helpful colleague to hi s father .

THE GLASG O W NATUR ALIST.

Together they made long excursions in search of rare plants and

fossil s,explored the wooded glens and rocky headlands of the

Ayrshire coast, cl imbed the lofty mounta in peaks of A rran , and

dredged many hidden treasures from the depths of the sea. This

loving companionsh ip was only broken by the death of the elder

Landsborough in the year 1854.

As an independent worker, young Landsborough bestowed

much attention on marine zoology, especially the nudibranch

mollusca and zoophytes . His discoveries were so numerous and

important as to bring him under the notice of the leading British

naturalists of the time, who gladly availed themselves of hi s

assistance,and repeatedly acknowledged their indebtedness for

services rendered by him. In further testimony of their

appreciation of his work,a nudibranch (Eolis Landsburgii) was

named after h im by Messrs . Forbes and Hanley. During the

course of a long ministry at Kilmarnock , begun in 1851 and

extending over half-a century, hi s intervals of leisure were largely

devoted to scientific pursuits. His great love for Arran—a

notable characteristic inherited from his father—led him to turnhis attention to the effects produced by the genial climate of that

island on foreign species O f trees, shrubs, and plants when grown

in the Open air. Under his direction many Australian and other

species were experimentally cultivated , and his observationsthereon formed the subj ect of a series of papers communicated tothe Botani cal Society of Edinburgh. For many years he was

accustomed frequently to contribute popular articles on botany,geology, local history, folk - lore

,and kindred subj ects, to the

columns of the Ki lmarnock Standa rd. These were largely

instrumental in creating among the people a taste for the

pursuits in which he himself found delight,and on which he

di scoursed so pleasantly. His interest in the moral and intel

lectual welfare of the working classes induced him to take aleading part in the institution of the Kilmarnock G lenfield

Ramblers’

Society, of which he was the first and only HonoraryPresident . The remarkable success of that Society has been duein great measure to his individual efforts and influence.Among the most important of his li teraryproductions was a

book entitled Arrafn its Topography, Na tur a l History, and

An tiquities, published in 1875. This consisted of a revised

IN MEMORIAM . 3

edition of his father ’s work on A rran . to whi ch was added a

memoir of Dr . Landsborough senior, and several ex tra chapte rs .

He also published in the Anna ls of the Glenf telcl Rambler s’

Societytwo notable papers on the Botany of Ayrshire, whi ch have

proved very helDful to loca l workers . His other published

papers ex tended over a wide range of subj ec ts, and are too

numerous to be ment ioned . Many of them appea red in the

Transac tions of the Botani cal Soc iety of Edinburgh,G eologica l

Soc iety of G lasgow, Soc iety of Antiquaries of Scotland,and

G lenfield Ramblers’ Soc iety . He was elected a Corresponding

Member of the Natural Histo ry Society of G lasgow in 1887 , and

several of his communications have appeared in the Society’s

Proceedings and Transac tions .

Dr . La ndsborough was predeceased by hi s wif e, but is survived

by a family of five sons and two daughters,to whom must be

tendered the sympathy of the Members of the Society in the

grea t loss which they have susta ined .

The figure in Plate 1. of thi s volume is the subj ect of this

notice.

PETER CAMERON.

WH ILE much regret at the death of this well-known entomologist

will be felt in scientific c ircles all over the world, the c lose O f his

di stinguished career must be especially lamented by his former

friends and associates in our own Societv wi th whi ch he was so

long and intimately conn ected .

Mr . Cameron was born in G lasgow about six ty-five yea rs ago .W hile a young man he entered the employment of Messrs . James

Black 6: CO .,ca lico printers , in whose G lasgow Ofli ce he remained

for a considerable period, but was a fterwards transferred to their

establishment in Manches ter . Wh ile resident in our c ity he

devoted h is spare time to the pur sui t of natural history, into

wh ich he entered wi th charac teristi c earnestness . Having a t

fir st been attracted to the study of plants, he became a member

of the Glas gow Botanica l Society , and made the acquaintance Of

the late Mr . R oger Hennedy, lecturer on botany in the Ander

sonian U niversity,and author of the Clydesda le Flora , with

4 THE GLASG O W NATURALIST.

whom he afterwards remained on terms of close friendship . At

this period he developed a taste for entomology, which ultimatelybecame his exclusive subj ect of study . After turning his

attention to various orders of insects, he finally concentrated his

work on the Hymenoptera, which up till that time had been

neglected by local natur ali sts. Through his influence the

Botanical Society was induced to extend the range of its

Operations so as to include entomology . It accordingly became

known as “ The G lasgow Society of F ield Naturalists,

un til

amalgamated with the Natural History Society in 1879. He

was admi tted a member of the latter institution in 1871, and

continued while resident in G lasgow to take an active interest in

the various departments of the Society’s work . As an othee

bearer he rendered many important services, which are gratefully

remembered by his former colleagues in the Council . He also

frequently took part in the business of the meetings as an

exhibitor of specimens or author of papers . Numerous com

munications from his pen have appeared in the Proceedings and

Transactions of the Society. He also contributed a List of

Hymenoptera (in two parts) to a series of publications on theFauna of Scotland, formerly issued by the Society . To the

Handbook on the Faun a and Flora O f the West of Scotland,

prepared in connection with the visit of the British Association

to G lasgow in 1876, be contributed an art icle on the Entomology

of Clydesdale, as well as lists of the species of Cynipidae and

Tenthredinidae occurring in the district .About the year 1873, he commenced to collect materials for

hi s great work on the British Phytophagous Hymenoptera .

This was published in four volumes by the R ay Soc iety, and

continues to be the standard British tex t-book on the subj ect towhich it relates . Many descriptions of species of Hymenoptera

from Japan and other foreign countries have also been written

by h im and published in various scientific j ournals andtransactions .

Besides his local connections,Mr. Cameron was a member Of

the Entomological Society of London,the Société Entomologique

de F rance, the Deutsche Entomologische G esellschaft, and many

other learn ed societies, as well as in constant correspondence with

the foremost entomologists throughout Europe.

EWING .— FLORA O F THE C O LB IN SANDS . 5

O n his removal to Manchester about twenty-five yea rs ago, he

was elected a Corresponding Member of our society . For a

considerable time, however, the impaired state of his hea lth has

gradually led to the abandonment of his more active pursui ts .

His death took place on 1st December, at New Mills, Derby

shire,where

, for some years he had been livi ng in retirement.

The Flora of the Gulbin Sands

By PETER EWING,E.L.S.

[Read 28th May,

No doubt to many the mythology of the Culbin Sands would

be much more interesting than its flora ; but although that is

not the side which appeals_to me, there are certain matters

connected more or less remotely therewith whi ch require to be

touched upon in any paper bearing on the subj ect .

Tradi tion sets forth that this enormous mass of sand was laid

down on very'

fine arable land by two fierce hurricanes, one in

the forenoon and the other in the afternoon Of an autumn day in

the year 1694, and so rapidly did the sand accumulate that the

workers in the fields had to fly for their lives . It is further

asserted that in quite recent times the mansion-house of Culbin ,

farming implements,and even the skeletons of human beings who

were overtaken by the storm,have been laid bare by the shi ftin g

sands .The house of Culbin was connected in far-away times with the

great houses of Sutherland, Atholl, and, through the marriage Of

one of its scions,

_

with the Old keep of Bothwell by the Clyde .”

For about two hundred years, or until the yea r 1400, the lands of

Culbin were in the possession of R ichard de Moravi a (otherwise

MOray) but upon the failure of the male line , they passed , by

the marriage Of Egidia de Moravia with Thomas Kinnaird of

Kinnaird,into the possession of the Kin naird family, with whom

they remained until the end of the seventeenth century . I t has

THE GLASG O W NATURALIST .

been said that the estate was for generations known as the

Garden and G ranary of Moray . The soil has been described

as a “ deep loam mixed with a fine silt, brought down by the

F indhorn for generations .” There were, it is stated, included in

the factor ’s inventory, sixteen good -sized farms as well as numerous

crofts and cottars’ houses . The annual rental was about

sterling,including crops, value Of salmon fishing, etc . In the

centre of this estate was the mansion-house of Gulbin,and

gathered around were the quarters of the Baron’s retainers, the

church dedicated to St. Ninian, and a meal-mill at a part of the

estate known as Dalpottie. This is the picture presented by

tradition of Gulbin in the year 1694, when , it is asserted, a

hurricane broke upon the doomed domain, rendering a tract of

three thousand six hundred acres Of arable land permanently

useless . The laird and tenantry were compelled to flee for their

lives 5and on their return a few days later , when the worst of the

storm was over, they found, instead O f the stately mansion-house,

trim cottages, and bein farms they had left, this waste of driving

and dr iven sand . Such is the legendary lore O f the district

In support of this account, we find, embodied in the archives of

the country, records to the effect that in 1695 an appeal was

made by the holder of the estate to the Scottish Parliament,pleading for the remission of certain taxes

,his plea being that

by an inevitable fatality which had no parallel in Scotland, the

best three parts of my estate, with the manor-house, yards,orchard, and mains . are quite destroyed by vast heaps of sand

which have over-blown the same,so that not a vestige is now to

be seen of that which within the past twenty years were as

considerable as many in the county of Moray . In witness whereof

this certificate produced under the hands of thirty of the most

worthy gentlemen of the shires of Moray, Nairn, and Inverness .”

Not only was this petition granted,but as a direct result an act

of parliament was passed prohibiting,under severe penalties, the

pulling or cutting of bent,juniper or broom at Gulbin, or else

where along any sandy seashore round the country.

”

That some such devastating calamity did occur at the time

referred to may probably be true, but that this desert was formed

as the result of one day’s storm is quite beyond reasonable belief.

That loose sand may be lying on ground that might be cultivated

EWING — FLORA or THE C O LB IN SANDS . 7

is possible, but that all the ground now covered was formerly

cultivated is just as absurd a belief as that Gulbin house was

exposed to view after having been buried . In the museums at

Na im and Forres, and also in the Antiquarian Museum in

Edi nburgh,there are many relics of the stone age which were

found among these sands . These clearly point to a time when

the ex tensive fiat patches of groun d among the surrounding dunes

formed site s for the huts of the ancient Britons whose means of

subsistance was confined to hunt ing and fishing . No more

desirable situation than thi s could be found for such tribes . Here

they would be hid from their enemies and sheltered from the

winds salt and fresh-water fish would be abundant and within

easy reach and as the immediately surrounding coun try was flat

and well watered,game would likewise occur in plenty .

“ Middens have also been di scovered, lending support to

thi s view .

The sands are of irregular shape,their gr eatest length being

about three miles by about one mile and—a—quarter broad, althoughthe land area rendered incapable of cultivation through the action

of the drif ting sand may be said to extend to about eight square

mi les. According to the O rdnance Survey Map,the highest

sand-hi ll, which is at th e western extremity, attains an altitude

of 99 feet above sea level ; and at the north -east corner another

reaches 62 feet above sea level 3 but changes are continually taking

place, and some lately measured were found to be about 120 fee t .

When we stand on one of the Gulbin heights near the shore,and try to form some idea regarding their formation , we see

clearly that the sand has been brought in from the sea,not in

one day, but during the course of countless y ears ; and that in

the shallow water in front there is as much sand left c lose to the

shore as would a ff ord material for making the dunes many times

over also that it has all been laid down or piled uphere by the

action of north-westerly gales . It is likewise quite apparent

that these winds are carrying it into the R iver F indh orn andF indhorn Bay, from whence it is carried out to sea

,just to be

brought back again to the shore by the action of the winds and

tides, and there to be dried and again blown over the dunes—and

so on ad infin itum . Its nutritive value when dry must be low 3but when moist, a considerable quantity of decaying matter, also

THE GLASG O W NATURALIST.

blown about by the wind, is superimposed or mixed with it and

so a humus is formed on which some plants grow well . It might

have been comparatively easy to accoun t for the formation of

heights where vegetation, however sparse existed, as that is

supposed to stop the drift of the sand and cause it to pile up.

The reverse,however

,seems to be the case here. The mounds

entirely destitute of vegetation are those whi ch rise to the

greatest heights, whereas, where there is any vegetation, the wind

seems to create the greatest destruction, because whenever the

surface is broken the wind hollows out the sand . To judge by

the statements of some experts, this is not usually the case . Here

the height of the white dunes seems to be entirely due to the

c liff or barachan formation . An ything may cause a beginning, but

thi s being accomplished, the dunes go on accumulating so long as

the sea shore supplies sand to the wind ; therefore if the sea

is receding the sand dunes must be rising, and this, according to

hi story,is what is taking place .

The Maviston Sand Hills—two large heaps of sand situatedabout two miles di stant—show the effect of wind action in covering upmore clearly than can be observed at Gulbin . They are

exposed to winds from a' westerly direction, but are to a great

extent sheltered from easterly winds by planted trees,so that the

sands are moving eastward and covering up the trees .

If, while standing on Gulbin heights, we turn our back towards

the sea and look landward,we can easily persuade ourselves that

an enormous tract of land in our vic inity has quite recently

geologically speaking) been reclaimed from the sea by blown sandforming dunes along the shore . This sand, drifting landward

over the old salt—marshes,has formed

,along with much land

suitable for cultivation,small fresh-water lakes, marshes, bogg

land , and sand-heath covered with planted pines . The heather,heath, and gorse, in great stretches by the sea-shore, suggest a

resemblance to an English chalk-down . All the vegetation is

psammophilous for many miles around,as appears from J un cus

ba lticus being found ten miles inland . Even among the CulbinSands proper we find the same mixed conditions prevailing—poolsof fresh water, patches of peaty-lookin g soil, and gravel beds,surrounded by enormous masses of blown sand mostly devoid of

vegetation . There are no rocks or hills near enough to account

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10 THE GLASG O W NATURALIST .

the flats among the dunes . Those of the kind usually observedelsewhere on the sandy sea-shore are not visible here, owing

doubtless to the absence of plants capable of forming them. An

attempt may be seen in the case of Carex arenaria,or better

perhaps in the case of a plant of J un cus ba lticus. These only

half stop the sand , and the streamers formed are never of.

any

grea t height. We should expect such plants as Atr iplex , Suceda ,

Sa lsola ,Poten tilla An ser in a , and Convolvulus a r t’ensis, to be

plentiful in these places, but they are entirely absent. The want

of salt may account for the absence of the three first mentioned,which are halophy tic in habit, but not for the last two, seeingthat Convolvulus arven sis especially is a common east—country plantand often found covering railway-banks .

The sand travels across a gravel-bed at the same speed as over

the stationary sand, only the stones seem to make it rise higher.

When the sand - stream comes into contact with water or solid

vegetation it appears to stop or change its course, thus creating

a confused impression which makes us feel that we would require

to cover the whole surface of the sand with small flags to

make sure that it was not movin g round in a circ le . The body

of sand seen in violent mot ion is so great,that one is apt to

conclude that a few days and nights of continuous westerly wind,aided by the action of the R iver Findhorn

,would suffice to put

the whole mass into th e sea.

Much is said about rich loam forming the agricultural land

under and around the sands, but of this there is little appearance.

What one does see in many places,however

,is the evidence of

former boggy land produced by fresh-water plants being decom

posed and blended with sand . Many acres of the same c lass

of soil, undergoing similar transition, are observable now.

A great amount of pine has been planted in the district

surrounding the sands, but what effect these trees have had on the

shifting sands it is difficult to determine . At Maviston the sand

has drifted up on the trees and killed them ; while at Gulbin

rather the reverse process seems to have taken place —the windblowing away the sand and causing the trees to fall. Among the

trees which are at all sheltered,even at the edge of the sand

,the

heather is 20 inches high,and often more . I t is worthy of note

that wire -netting screens about ten feet h igh are used to preven t

sand—drifting and seem to be eff ective .

EWING —FLORA or THE GULB IN SANDS . 11

Among the dunes themselves there are patches of fresh water,some of which at times must be comparatively large, and , as will

be seen from the lis t of plant s given, thi s water mus t be pretty

constant . G reat stre tches offlat sands with carices and junoi

scattered over them also occur . O ne fa irly large patch of sandy

peat has the appea rance of having been cultivated a t one time, at

least it has the apparent “ laz y bed markings qui te di stinct 3 but

as wi ll be seen from the lis t of plants found there,it must

formerly have stood not less than onefoot higher than its present

position in relation to the surrounding sand .

In the centre of the whi te dunes is an enormous gravel-bed that

must have been thr own up by the action of the sea , as the siz e

and variety of the stones and the height of the bed are too

cons iderable for the ma s s to have been deposited by the R iver

From an ecological point of vi ew these dunes are intens ely

interesting. They are so near the sea that a halophilous or sa line

flora might be expected to predominate 3 but although the orders

of plants belonging to that f ormation are represented , the spec ies

usual to such situations are rare. The shores of the F indhorn

yield a few 3 but the seashore all along the north side for mile s

is entirely barren,and consists of pure sand , the t ide coming right

up to the base of the whi te dunes .

Where so much dry sand is drift ing about, one would expect a

ma rked x erophy tic or dry-soil flora vet the sands are poor in

plants that may be said to belong to that formation , as is

apparent from the lis t submitted , but they are rich in mesophytic

plants,i .e.

,plant s whose requi rements are intermediate in

character as to soil and water .

O n the apparently stat ionary or grey dunes, as well as among

and around the whi te dunes,and on the dun e heath

,dry

,sand

fields, dune bush - land and dune plantations,we find hydrophytes,

helophyte s halophytes,psammophyte s

,and mesophy tes , but not

the species we might expect to meet with when the usual edaphic

factors are considered . The plants ac tually found , however, are

more interesting, as the law of adaptation is manif est on so large

a scale . Under the shelter of the pines,the halophytic influences

of the sea,combined with the dry nature of the climate , have

resulted in Ca lluna. vulga ris and Er ica cin erea growing profusely 5


but the maj ority of the plants are protected from rapid trans

pira tion by a dense covering of pubescence which sometimes

makes them appear quite lanate. All plants which are slightly

hairy under ordinary conditions become densely hairy here. This

is well seen in Veron ica ofi cina lis, which assumes what is

no doubt the state described by Hopkirk, in his“ F lora

G lottiana,”

(page 9) as V. hirsuta from Ayr . O n the outskirts of

the dunes the normal is the prevalent form,but the nearer the

plant approaches to the white dunes themore hirsute does it

become. Plants with large leaves are also common, markedly in

the case of Viola Rivin iana . Sedum acre was the only succulent

leaved plant noted 3 it was very vigorous with stems about six

inches high. The absence of the common sea -side plants - from

the Culbin list shows that something more than sand and.

sea

breezes is required for their ex istence andmaintenance . The entire

want of fragments of sea-weed and shells may accoun t for this to

some extent ; but there can be little doubt that the comparative

freedom from saline properties in the drifting sand from the shore

(as evidenced by the presence of fungi among the grey dunes) isnot the least important factor we have to consider in endeavour

ing to account for the absence of such plant s . I append a list of

species seen between Gulbin and Nairn to show that halophytes

are common in the neighbourhood .

The white dunes proper are great masses of dry sand , the

surface of which seems to be constant ly on the move . Any vege

tation that does exist on them appears to be entirely dependent

on the rains and dews for its moisture,and consequently it forms

a growth of so limited a nature that the colour of the sand can

be seen through it . The dominant plant is Ammophila arenar ia

Link,the closely- rolled leaves and hard cuticle of which apparently

enable it to withstand the eff ects of the wind 3while the softerand broader leaves of Agropyrum jun ceum Beauv . and Elymusarenarius L. are neither able to resist the force of the wind nor

withstand the action of the sand—grains impelled by it,and so are

prevented from gaining a foothold,with the result that they are

confined to the more shel tered places which have been hollowed

out by the wind . In the deeper hollows, Viola Curtisii Forst ,

Cerastium semidecana’rum L .

, Senecio J a cobaea L . ,F ilago min ima

Fr Sambucus n igra L. , Betula tomentosa Reith . ,and Ca rex

EWING .—FLORA or THE CULBIN SANDS . 13

arena fr ia L. , complete the flora of these dun es . Certain plants

are looked upon as dune -builders, and the sea-marram may possibly

assist in the process by preventing the lighter breezes from

moving the sand about , but this is not very obvious . O ne thing,however

,is certain : if the wind is supplied with dry sand , it i s

quite capable of building dunes without the help of plants .

As the land becomes more sheltered by the increased size and

number of the white dunes along the shore, general vegetation

begins to develop . F irst come Ammophila , Elymus, or Agropyrum

all attenuated in habit and sparse in numbers, but gradually

becoming stronger and denser ; then mosses, such as Tortula ,Polytrichum,

and Cera lodon ,seem to fill upthe bare spaces among

the grasses ; and finally theflowering-plant s creep in , till at last,by the law of the survival of the fittest (the origi nal grasses having

been choked out by the weaker- looking but more adaptable

festucas and other plants), the ground is carpeted by a varied

vegetation and a grey dune is formed .

Between the village of F indhorn and the town of Nairn—a

distance of about eleven miles—we have one of the best tracts ofland I know of in Scotland for the study of a psammophy te

formation . G rey sand -dune,Sand-h elds Dune-heath

,Dune bush

land , and Dune- forest are all to be found here on a verv

ex tensive scale, and to a large ex tent under natural conditions .

It is not my intention a t the present time to discuss this

formation : the subject is far toocomprehensive,however interesting

itmay be . I have touched on it merely in a general way, so as in

some measure to find a reason for the very extensive flora ex isting

among the Culbin Sands . I made a catalogue of the plants form

ing the grey-dune flora which creeps up on the white dunes 3but

I refrain from giving it,as I feel that it would be misleading,

and does not form a necessary adjunct to the subj ect which has

occupied my attention more particularlv . The following l ist of

plant s, as I have already stated, is compiled entirely from sand

fields completely surrounded by the white sand dunes .

Ranunculus a cr is L . Cerastium vulga tum L .

R . Flammula L . C'. semidecand’

rum L.

Viola -Rivin iana Reichb . C . tetrandrum Curt .

V. palustr is L . Arenaria peploides L .

Polyga la vulgar is L. Sagina subula ta Presl.

14 THE G LASG O W

S . procumbens L.

Radiola linoides R oth .

Ulex europceus L .

Cytisus scopar ius Link .

Trifolium repens L.

Lotus corn icula tus L .

Vicia angustifolia L.

Poten tilla erecta Hampe .

Rosa can in a L .

Sealam acre L.

Drosera rotundif olia L .

Peplis Por tula L.

Epilobium obscurum Schreber.

E . palustre L.

Hydrocotyle vulgaris L .

Ga lium hercyn icam Weig .

G . pa lustre L.

G . verum L.

B ellis perenn is L.

Filago min ima Fr .

Gnaphalium sylva ticum L.

Sen ecio J a cobcea L.

Cirsium lanceola tum Scop .

C'. a rvense Scop .

Crepis mollis Aschers .

C . pa ludosa Moench .

C . capillar is W allr.

Leontodon hispidus L .

Ca lluna vulgar is Hull .

Myosotis eoespitosa Schultz .

Veron ica scutella ta L .

V. Chamcealrys L.

V. ofiicina lis L .

NATURALIST .

Prun ella vulgaris L .

Plan tago Coronopus L.

Littorella uniflora A sch .

Rumex Acetosella L.

B etula tomen tosa R eith .

Sa lim aurita L.

S . repens L.

O rchis la tifolia L.

0 . macula ta L .

J un cus conglomera tus L.

ef usus L.

ba lticus Willd .

ar ticula tus L .

bulbosus L.

bujon ius L.

squarrosus L

Eleocharis pa lustr is Br.Scirpus ccespi tosus L.

S. setaceus L.

S. filiformis Savi .Er iophorum angustifolium

R oth .

Carex infla ta Huds .C . Goodenowi i Gav .

C . lepor ina L.

C . aren aria L.

Agrostis a lba L .

A. tenuis Sibth .

Aira pr cecoac L.

Holcus mollis L .

H. lana tus L.

Poa annua L.

Festuca rubra L.

s

a

s

s

a

s

The following halophytic plants were noted on'

the shore

between Gulbin and Nairn, in addition to those included in theforegoing list .

Cakile mar i tima Scop.

Silene mar itima With .

Arenar ia peploides L.

Rosa spinosissima L.

FERGUSSO N.—Dvr lscus LAPPO NICUS, GYLL.

,IN ARRAN . 15

Ma tr icar ia mari tima L . Atr iplex hasta ta L.

Sta tice ma ri tima M 11. A. B abington ii Woods .

Glaux mar itima L. Sa lsola Ka li L.

Pneuma r ia ma r itima Hill . Tr iglochin ma r itimum L .

Chen opodium rubrum L. Scirpus ruf us Schrad .

B IBL IOGRAPHY .

James Barclay Murdoch . Trans . G eol . Soc . G lasgow,

1888-92.

Fauna of the Moray Basin , Vol. I . p . 89.

Eng. Warmin g . O ecology of Plants . 1909.

R obert Thomson, in Lin. 1910 .

F . O . Bower . Plant Life on Land . 1911 .

Dytiscus lapponicus, Gy11. , in Arran.

By ANDERSON F ERGUSSON .

[Read 26th November,

Dytiscus lappon icus, one of our largecarnivorous water-beetles,has been recorded in the British Isles from Inverness E . (Strathglass) , Inverness W . (Ben Nevis) , North Ebudes (Rum,

Skye,

and E igg) , Mid Ebudes (Mull ), the Clyde faunal area, and

Donegal . The C lyde record is contained in D r. Sharp’s Coleoptera

of Scotland,

* but in conversation with him regard ing the

occurrence of the beetle in Clyde, he informed me that he had

certainly not taken it in the area himself, nor could he remember

from whom he had received the note of its capture .i

O wing to

the indefinite nature of the Clyde record , I have always been

part icularly anxious to turn up the insect in the area, and

having arranged to spend some time in Arran and Kintyre during

September of this year, an opportunity occurred of t ry ing for it

on ground which seemed likely to suit i t . As there are several

The Scottish Naturalist, II . p. 96.


interesting features in connection with the habits of lapporgicus

which have been dealt with by most of the writers who have

noted its occurrence in Britain it seems desirable for purposes of

comparison, to put on record the circumstances under which it

occurred in Arran, where after considerable work I was ultimately

successful in finding it .

During the few days I spent in Kintyre, in the begining of

September, the weather was so unfavourable that only one

potential Dytiscus loch was visited and I failed to find the insect

in it.In Arran I visited six lochs altogether . O f these I found that

two were practically dried upand the beetle did not occur in other

three . It was only on my last available collecting day on the

island,that I visited the six th and last loch in which I found

lappon icus. This loch is situated at an elevation of about 800

feet,on the top of a ridge, and the ground dips abruptly on either

side of it. It is only about 100 yards in length, with an extreme

breadth of about 60 yards, and I do not th ink that anywhere it will

exceed 25 feet in depth . No stream flows in to or out of it, a point

characteristic of all the lochs in which the insect has been taken in

Britain . The bottom is a hard one composed of fine granite sand

with stones of various siz es scattered all over it . The only vegetar

tion I could detect in it was a hepatic clinging to the s tones on the

bottom,which Mr . J . R . Lee has kindly identified for me as a

form of Alicularia compressa Nees b ut round the margins clumps

of Sphagnum descended here and there into the water from theadj oining ground . In almost all part iculars the loch Seems

identical with Lochan-na-Beinn Buidhe in E igg, in which Mr;Balfour-Browne* took the beetle in September, 1910, and

in regard to which he remarked that from hi sprevi ous experience

it was a most unlikely place in which to find the species .All the other recorded stat ions for the beetle are deep lochs,which perhaps become shallow towards one end .

The usual and most successful method of taking the beetle isto turn over the large stones lying on the bottom, under which

the creatures apparently lie,and secure them as they swim away.

The Aquatic Coleoptera of the North Ebudes. Arm. Scot. Na t. Hist. ,1911, p. 149.

18 THE GLASG O W NATURALIS'

I .

The commonest beetle in the loch was Agabus arcticus, which

swarmed in the net after every sweep .

With regard to the proportion of males to females in lappon icus,it is

,perhaps

,hardly right to take my result. working with the

net alone,as accurate , but so far as it goes it agrees with Mr .

Balfour-Browne ’s experience in Skye and E igg in September,1910, when he found in two cases that the females were more

common than the males .* Prior to that the collectors of the

insect in Scotland and Ireland had for the most part noted the

fact that the males were more plentiful than the females . In a

paper read before this Soc iety, the Rev . J . E . Somerville ? stated

that his experience of the insect in Mull and Donegal was that

the males were commoner than the females in the proportion of

rather more than five males to every female 3 and he suggested

as a possible explanation that th is might be due to the close

resemblance of the male while in the water to the leaf of Pot

amogeton when in a half-withered condition . He pointed

out that the females were not so favoured as the males in this

respect, and probably would be more liable to attack from their

natural enemies and consequent depletion of their numbers.

O ne would expect that the most successful Operation of this

protective resemblance in favour of the males would occur in

lochs in which Potamogeton grew,and Mr. Somerville noted

that the plant was present in the Donegal loch . No Pota

mogeton occurred in the Arran loch , and it also appears to have

been absent from Lochan-na-Beinn Buidhe in Eigg, where Mr .

Balfour-Browne found the females more frequent than the

males 3 but, on the other hand , in the loch in Skye, where the

same sex predominated,he notes that Potamogeton did occur

Mr. Balfour-Browne ’s suggestion,if it be right, that the

female is Shortlived,while the male survives more than a

season, is likely to explain why collectors in the early summer

months should find the males predominating . My experience in

Arran would appear to bear this out, as the only beetle

The Aquatic Coleoptera of the North Ebudes—Ami . Scot. Na t. Hist. ,191 1 , p. 149.

"tNotes on Dytiscus lapponicus collected in Ireland during the presentautumn .

—Proc. Na t. Hist. Soc. of Gla sgow,I . , p. 231.

RENWICK .—Y EW TREES IN THE CLYDE AREA. 19

which was fully mature was one of the males . All the

females and the male which I found upon the bank were

distinctly immature . The fact seems c learly established that

the imagines hatch out in the autumn , and the time of year

that the male was found to be more common was just in each

case before the emergence of the new brood,because it was

usually noted that full-grown larvae were numerous . In E igg

Mr. Balfour—Browne only noted one larva which was full-grown,and in Ar ran there were no larvae to be seen .

A point which still seems to be without adequate explanation

is that females should preponderate in some lochs in Skye and

E igg in 1910,and in A rran in 1912 3 but that this might

possibly have been abnormal is indicated by the fact that,in

September of this year, Professor Hudson Beare and Mr. Black

found the sexes practically equal and all quite immature in

Lochan-na-Beinn Buidh e in E igg .

Notes on YewTrees (Taxus ba ccata, L. ) in the Clyde Area.

By JO HN RENW I CK .

[Read 25th June, 1912 3 revised November,

RENFREw SH IRE YEW s .

THE largest yew tree—

in the Clyde Area , and probably inScotland , i s one at Cr a igends Castle , Renfrewshi re , on the si de

of the r iver G ryfe . The trunk is very short . It begins to

div i de at about 3 feet up,into 13 or 14 great l imbs , one of the

largest of which i s 8 feet 4 inches in gi rth at the base . At 10

feet from the ground there are about 30 stems . It i s not

possible to take the tape stra ight round the trunk , but at the

nar rowest p art the gi rth i s 22 feet 8 inches on an i r regular

l ine at an average of 2 feet up. The d i ameter of the sp read of

20 THE GLASGO W NATURALIST .

the branches i s 91 feet,on a line par allel to the r iver , and

82 feet at r ight angles thereto . The fol i age thus extends in

nearly a c i rc le,and covers an area of about square

feet,or over an eighth of an acre . The height of the tree is

44 feet . The gi rth has increased 17 7} inches since 1889, or atan average r ate of ‘

75 of an inch annually . This i s large for

a yew,but i s l ikely to be accounted for by the swell ing under

the divi sions of the trunk and by the swell ing of the roots .

The tree i s ev i dently very healthy and v igorous , and in 1896

we were told that it always p roduced plenty of pollen .

At the mansion - house of Duchal there i s a large yew . It

begins to divide at the base, the br anches going off almost

hor iz ontally , and lying on the ground . It is thus impossible

to measure it straight round , but at the narrowest point it

i s not less than 16 feet 6 inches in gi rth , height 42 feet .There are two very interesting yews at Cra igbet , a small

estate which at one t ime formed part of the l ands of Duch al.

They are said to have been planted to commemorate a mar r i age

in the Porterfield fami ly , about 1620 . If so,they are now

290 years old . O n 1st January,1912

,they measured

,

respectively , at 2 feet up—male tree , girth 8 feet 1% inches ,height 40 feet

,sp read 59 feet

,bole 13 feet 3 female tree , gi rth

7 feet 1 inch,height 43 feet

,spread 61 feet

,bole 7g. feet .

The male tree is thus a good bit greater in gi rth . Taking

the age as 290 years , the annual average inc rease in gi rth has

been,in the male tree

,

‘

33 inch , and in the female“

29. But

dur ing the last twelve year s the female tree has grown at amuch higher rate than the male , and than the average for thesupposed li fe

,namely

,

'

48 inch yearly,while the male tree

has grown much slower,say

,

‘

17 inch . The slow rate in thelatter Is probably owing to an l l

‘

oll band round its trunk .

The trees may, however , not be so old as 1620 . The estate at

that time does not seem to have been in the possession of thePorterfield fam i ly . In Mur ray ’ s K ilma colm

,a Pa rish

History it i s stated that in 1681 John Porterfield

of Duch al purchased the lands[

of Cra igba it and Carsemeadowfrom the Sinclai rs of Cra igba it . He died in 1690

,and was

succeeded by his grandson,Alexander

,who in 1694 mar r ied

Cather ine Boyd , daughter of the‘

Earl‘

of‘

Ki lmarnock , and

RENW ICK .—YEW TREES IN THE CLYDE AREA . 21

granddaughter of the n inth Ear l of G lencai rn . Such a sp lendi d

marr i age for an impover i shed la i r d may well have been com

memorated by marr i age trees,

” as these are called . If 1694

be the correct date,the aver age annual g i rth increase has

been—male tree,

“

45 inch ; fema le ,'

39 inch ; rates which

correspond with that of the former inch) dur ing the last12 years .At Finlaystone House, which formerly belonged to the E ar ls

Of G lencai rn , one of whom was a fr i end of John Knox , there

i s what rema ins of an old yew under which the Reformer i s

sai d to have p reached in 1556 . W hen the house was enlarged

by the late Mr . G eorge J . K idston , thi s tree was car efullymoved about 100 yards r ather than have it cut down . It i s

not in very good condit ion . The house stands on the top

of the old sea-cl iff which forms so consp icuous a featur e all

round the F i rth of Clyde . Lower down on the 25- foot ra i sed

beach i s a group of three fine yews , about 40 feet h igh ,and gi rth ing respectively in 1907 9 feet 73 inches, 9 feet5% inches , and 8 feet 5 inches , with holes of only 4 feet .

The largest and the smallest are male trees . The largest h as

grown dur ing the p receding fourteen year s at a much greater

rate than the others ,‘

64 inch annually ; smallest,‘

36 3

female,

‘

33 . They may , however , be of the same age . Com

par ing the smallest of the three with the smaller Cra igbet one,and assuming that 1620 was the actua l date of planting of the

latter , the age would come out as 345 years in 1907 , and

comp ar ing the largest with the larger Cra igbet tree, i t would

be 344 years . As 351 years had elapsed since 1556, one might

imagine that i f the custom had p revai led then,the Reformer

might have commemorated his v i sit by planting these trees .

But as the p lace where they grow i s called Par adise,

” i t

would be a more l ikely guess that they were planted by some

eccles iast i cal p redecessor s of Knox . If 1694 be the date of

planting the Cra igbet trees , and i f these at Finlayston have

grown at a s imilar r ate , they would not be more than 260 years

Old .

A tree which has obta ined some notice recently i s the

W allace Yew ,at the farmh ouse of E ldersl ie , which ,

according to John 0 . Mitchell , in The Two Elderslies


occupies the site of the old tower and manor-place, an old

decayed house early in the 18th century . He says : A

venerable yew grows in the garden , s ingular ly thr iving , with

soli d trunk , and thick and shapely head .

” In Apr i l of th is

year it had a spread of 50 feet, and a girth of 11 feet at

4 feet and at 1 foot up, an increase at the former height

of 8% inches since 1891 , or at the rate of‘

40 inch year ly . It

is popular ly supposed to be at least 600 years old , but i f it has

grown all its l i fe at the same rate as in the last 21 years

it i s only 330 years of age . As the yew grows faster when

young , it may be only about 300 years, and thus instead of

hav ing been planted by , or of commemor ating the execution

of , the Protector of Scotland in London , in 1305, i t may date

from the time,about three centur ies later , when the King of

Scotland entered the same c ity as monarch of the whole island .

Ramsay,in Views in Renfr ewshir e p . 124

, says

The name of W all ace ’ s Yew has been assigned to it

p robably for no other reason than because it stands at a. spot

hallowed by his name .

”

G lasgow, in its public park at the Rouken G len , possesses

a number of examples of the ordin ary form of yew, and about

fifty of the Ir ish or fastigi ate (var . fastigia ta ) . Many of

these th is year p roduced fruit in great abundance .

A once famous yew grew at Crookston Castle, under whose

shade Queen Mary and Darnley were popular ly, but ev i dently

er roneously , supposed to have spent p art of thei r courtship

or honeymoon . W. Semple, in 1782, wr ites The trunk,for

about seven feet h igh , i s about ten feet in c i rcumference . ”

It was also said to be a very high and wide - sp reading tree,

v is ible a long way off . Mr . Robert Guy, in h i s h istory of

Crookston gives two v iews of it, one as in 1 764,the

other as it appeared just before it was cut down in May, 1816 ,

and states There was planted in the garden at Pollok House

a descendant of the anc ient yew, reared from a cutting .

A tree from a cutting taken in 1789 was sent to the old

Botanic G ardens in G lasgow in 1817 , and removed to the

present G ardens in 1822. W hen the ra i lway was formed under

the G ardens , in 1896, i t had to be transplanted, and

unfortunately died . The one at Pollok House i s sti ll alive,

RENWICK .—YEw TREES IN CLYDE AREA . 23

but has recently been growing r ather more slowly than a

young t ree ought to grow . In 1904 i t had a gi rth of 3 feet

1 1 inches at 1 foot up,an increase dur ing the six p receding

years of one inch , an aver age of'

1 7 inch annually . I f it

date s from 1816 its average r ate to 1899 has been ‘

55 inch

y early,i f from 1 789 it has been '

42 inch .

Another yew at Pollok House seems to show a simi lar

slacken ing of growth in r ecent year s . It i s supposed to have

been plante d about 1 746 , had a gi rth of 6 f eet 171 inches

in 1892, 6 feet 24 inches in 1899, and the same in 1904. I f

1 746 i s the corr ect date, its average r ate for 146 year s to

1892 was exactly half - an - inch a year , but for the next seven

years only “

14 inch , and thereafte r the growth seems to have

stopped . NO doubt the recent slow r ates are owing to the

increasing amoun t of smoke in the ai r , as the c ity and the

neighbour ing town s,Pa i sley and Barrhead

,exp and . Mr .

W h itton , Super intendent of Parks , G lasgow, informs me that

the yews in the var ious p arks in the c ity are fai l ing . They

are very imp at ient of asmoky atmosphere .

LANARs IR E YEws .

The ‘ largest yew tree that I kn ow of in the Coun ty of

Lanark i s at Dalser f House . In May thi s year it measured

14 feet 1 1 inches in gi rth at the nar rowest p art of the trunk

at about 1 foot up. It d iv i des into five or six stems at about

2 feet from the groun d , and cannot be measured stra ight

round . It has a height of 38 feet , and a sp read of 665» feet .

In the G len at Dalz ell House are many yews much longer in

the trunk ( at least 20 to 25 feet) than trees which grow in the

open . There are a number of yews at Cr a ignethan Castle .

Doubtless Sir Walter Scott noted them when he v is ited theplace , hence it came that Goose G ibbie was smuggled out of

Tillietudlem Castle from a certain window be longing to a

certa in pantry and communicat ing with a certa in yew tree ,

and that Cuddie Headrigg got up into the yew tree and was

treated to a pot of hot ka i l-brose about h is lugs (O ldMor tality. )


AY'R SHIRE YEW s

The late Dr . D . Landsborough , in his Con tr ibutions to Local

History (Kilmarnock) , states that the most famous yew treein the enti re distr ict

,and in th i s case it may be sai d to include

all Ayrsh i re, i s the old yew tree of Loudoun (Plate and

quotes the (new) Statistical Account . which says it“ i s of

unknown antiquity . It i s sai d that one of the fami ly charters

was signed under it in the time of Will i am the L ion

( 1 165 O ne of the Articles of the Union with England ,it is also said , was subscr ibed by Lord Hugh , under its deep

shade . When Lord James went into voluntary banishment toHoll and (dur ing the times of persecution) , he addressed hisletters (being afr aid of detection) for h i s lady To the

Gudewife at the Auldton [ a few houses half - a -m i le di stant]at the old yew tree of Loudoun , Scotland ,

’ and they always

reached thei r intended destination in safety . In 1911 i t had

a girth of 13 feet 9—5 inches at the narrowest p art of the

trunk,2 feet up,

and in 1899 a height of 45 feet and a.

sp read

of 78 feet,which

,according to Mr . John G loag , had increased

to 81 feet in 1911 . The first large br anch goes off at 6 feet,

but the trunk may be said to be 20 feet high . The average

annual increase of girth for 22 years— 1890 - 1911—was “

36

inch . If it had steadily grown at this r ate its age would now

be 460 years . Dr . D . Chr isti son , in the Tran sa ctions of the

Botan ica l Society of Edin burgh , March , 1895 (Sess . L IX . ,

p , writes Measurements taken by Mr . Landsborough

in 1864 and 1894 show that the tree, dur ing that per iod , was

still increasing in gi rth at the annual rate of a thi rd of an

inch . Now,even i f no greater rate had been maintained for

its whole l i fe,the age would only be 510 years . But it i s well

ascertained that the r ate of yews , l ike that of other trees ,i s much greater in early l i fe than subsequently .

” He con

cludes four centur ies may be assumed as a very probable

age for the Loudoun Castle Yew .

” It may thus date from

between 1450 and 1490 , and the histor ical assoc i ations with

the kill ing times of the Covenanters (an te and the

Union of the two Kingdoms ( 1707) are l ikely quite reli able .

26 THE GLASGO W NATURALIST.

hav ing ev i dently been r aised 2 feet . They are about 33 feet

high . The eastern tree has a gi rth of 11 feet 8 inches at the

ground , and a di ameter of spread of 42 feet 5 the western tree

a gi rth of 1 1 feet 45 inches and a sp read of 45 feet . But these

girths would be less i f the trunk below the swell of the br anchescould be reached . Therefore the apparent girth- increase can

not be used for the purposes of compar ison . Loudon

p . 2066) says All the plants of thi s var iety in cult iva

tion are of the female sex .

” Dr . A. Henry, in Tr ees ofGrea t Br i ta in and Ireland, Vol. I . ,

p . 1 10 (E lwes and Henry)wr ites As the or iginal tree was a female, and the var ietyi s p ropagated by cuttings , all Ir i sh ‘Yews are of the same

sex . No true male Ir ish Yew has ever been met

with . As both of these yews are male trees , I sent to Dr .Henry specimens , and, later , photographs , and refer red tothe descr iption in Loudon

,p . 2067 . He points out that the

leaves are arr anged in pectinate fashion in one plane, as in

the ordinary form of yew, whereas in the Ir i sh yew the leaves

spread radi ally in all di rections round the vertical branchlets.

They are common yews, with more ascending branches than

usual , owing to the fact that they were pollarded . They were

er roneously called Ir i sh,” because being pollarded they shot

out a great number of stems that grew more or less vertically

or ascending , and assumed a pecul iar habit in consequence .

A fastig i ate tree i s one which has all the branches vertica l

naturally,and is a sport ; leaves , fruit, &c . , are all affected ,

in fact, the whole plant i s abnormal . These yews are

interesting cultur ally , but are not a var iety . Dr . D .

Landsborough (Con tr i butions to Local History) g ives the girthof Ir ish yew at Netherplace m 1879 as 9 feet 55 inches at base .

Refer r ing to the fact that the Ir ish yew was discovered in1780 he says The Netherplace yew is so large that it cannot

have sp rung from the ‘ Ir ish yew .

’ This Scottish Ir i sh

yew must have been before the Ir ish Ir i sh yew .

’ There

can be no doubt that yews which were 8 feet and 9 feet in gi rth

in 1837 or 1838 are much older than 1780 . The propr ietor

of Netherplace, Col. W . K . Hamilton -Campbell, writes me

I expect they would be planted in the garden subsequent to

RENW ICK .—‘

YEW TREES IN THE CLYDE AREA, 27

the old house being bui lt , which dates back to 1620 . A girth

increase of half an inch a year in the larger tree would br ing

it to about 1622, and in the smaller to 1646 . O pposite the

entrance to the old house i s a fine wide- sp read ing typ ical tree .

t was much damaged by the severe storm on 5th November ,1911

,and had to be rel i eved of three big l imbs on the south

si de,ha lf way up,

which were broken at the trunk . In August

thi s year it had a height of 38 feet , a d iameter of sp read of

fol iage of over 65 feet, and a gi rth of 8 feet 8 inches at

5 feet up,an increase of 4 inches s ince 1900 , or an aver age

of‘

32 inch annua lly . A ste ady growth all its l i fe at th i s r ate

would make it 325 year s old , but a llowing for faster growth

whenyoung , we may surmi se that its age i s about 250 year s ,or perhaps a l ittle more

,and that p robably a ll three trees are

about the same age .

There are a number of fine yews at Kelburne Castle , the

anc ient seat of the E ar ls of G lasgow . The largest are,thi s

year

G irth, 12 ft . 75 in. height,42 ft. spread

,55 ft.

12 ft. 45 in . 5 44 ft. 62-1 ft.

They show an exceptionally high rate of gi rth- increase dur ing

the last 3 years , n amely, one inch per annum .

O ther large yews in Ayrshi re ar % Thornton House , 13 feet

3 inches , and 10 feet 5 inches ; Rowallan Castle , 12 feet ;Rennox 10 feet 5 inches by 48 feet h igh and 57 feet sp read .

Near the ruins of the ivy-mantled Castle of Dalquharran ,

bear ing date 1679, in the G i rvan Valley , are two groups of

yews,three trees in each . The larger trees in the finer group

measured , in 1900 , 8 feet 3 inches and 7 feet 15 inches by48 feet high . The Rev . R . Lawson , wr iting in 1896 ; stated

that there was a yew on the lawn opposite the entrance toBla irquh an Castle , bel ieved to be the l argest in Ayrshi re ,but as he gave no figures, there are no means of compar ison .

He also stated that there i s an avenue of yews on the church

walk , ev i dently very old. This refers , I presume, to Stra iton

church .

THE GLASGO W NATURALIST .

DUMBARTO NSHIRE YEws .

Professor John Walker,in hi s Essays on Na tura l History,

publi shed 1812, but wr itten before 1803, records a yew at

Bonhill,Dumbartonshire . It stands between the house and

the r iver Leven,was about 30 feet high in September , 1 784,

and measured,9 feet 4 inches at 4 feet . In March , 1900 , it

measured 11 feet 05 inches at 4 feet , an increase of 205 inchesin 115 years , an average r ate of

‘

17 inch annually . In June,1911, i t was 37 feet high and 11 feet 3 inches in gi rth , an

i ncrease of 22 inches in a little over 11 years , a r ate of2 4 inch . It i s therefore growing faster now than it has done

in the p rev ious century of its l i fe . Mr . Turnbull , whose

fami ly l ived in Bonhill Place for many years , informed us in

1900 that the tree was decaying about 1784, that in 1806 i t

seemed to be dying , when about 6 feet was cut off the top , and

thereafter it slowly recovered .

Dr . Walker (loc . ci t. ) wr ites A yew in the island of Inch

Lonach , in Loch Lomond , measured , 3rd August , 1770 , 10 feet

7 inches , about 40 feet high , but another tree which was the

largest on the island , though not so tall , measured 13 feet in

gi rth . O n the i sland , he says , there i s an extensive natural

wood of yew, which consi sts enti rely of old trees,as the herd

of deer which has long been kept on it p revents any young

trees from getting up. Many of these yews,when they have

begun to dec ay , have sent up shoots from the root, c lose to theold trunk . A number of these coalesce, and form at last a

compleat (sic) new trunk , at the side of which the old treecontinues to decay . In this way the tree comes to be

regener ated from the root . He quotes from the Stati stical

Account a yew at the house of Rossdoe, in Dumbartonshi re ,1795, at 25 feet above ground , 12 feet 6 inches .The Rev . Dav id Ure, in Agr icultur e of Dumba r ton shire

p . 85, wr ites Amongst the n atural wood in the

county is the yew and the holly . They are mostly confined

to the woods of Luss and Arroquhar . Inch Lonachan ,an

island in Loch Lomond , contains several thousand large yewsa plantationof that kind of wood unequalled , perhaps, inEurope . It i s not known whether they are natural or planted

,

RENWICK .—Y EW TREES IN THE CLYDE AREA 29

but most probably the latter , and were intended for making

bows before the invention of gunpowder . The

largest yew i s at Rossdoe . It measures twelve and a - quarter

feet in c i rcumference,and i s very high .

”

W hite and Macfarlane,in a book on Agr iculture of the

Coun ty of Dumba r ton wr ite Yew trees are not

unfrequent in the woods on the banks of Loch Lomond . O n the

i sland of Inch Lon a ig there are said to be severa l thousands

of them , all of considerable siz e . A yew at Rossdoe measures

upwards of 12 feet in c i rcumference , and i s very high . A

sti lli

more extr ao rdin ary tree of the same kind grows at

Stuckentibbert, in the p ar i sh of Arroquh ar . The trunk ,though very short , i s no less than 28 feet in c i rcumference ,and the top sp reading in proport ion , but the whole i s in a

state of rap id and hopeless decay .

”

Joseph Irv ing , in The B ook of Dumbar ton shire, 1879,states Inch Lona ig i s thought to be i dentical with the

i sland granted about 1225 by Maldowen ,E arl of Lennox

,to

G ilmychel of Bandry . To furn i sh the Lennox men with trusty

bows,thi s i sland was planted with yew trees on the adv ice

i

of

King Robert Bruce .

”W hat foundation there i s for thi s state

ment 1 do not know . Sir Thomas D ick Lauder , in hi s ed itionof G i lp in ’ s For est Scenery wr ites The Yew Tree

Island in Loch Lomond , furn ished 300 yews for the'

axe at one

cutting some 15 or 20 year s ago , and there are st i ll a number

of fine spec imens of thi s tree on it . Mr . John Paterson

(Annals of the Andersonian Na tura lists’

Society, 1893) saysThe collectionsuffered from fire , but the western

'

end of the

i sland,which was bare of trees , was p arti ally replanted by

the late Sir James Colquhoun .

” Wh en thi s Soc iety v i s itedInch Lona ig i n 1909, the best yews which I saw measured

12 feet 3 inches , 11 feet 25 inches , and 10 feet 1 inch in gi rth .

There are not now several thousands on the i sland , but

enough remain to give a spec i al tone to the scenery: In few

places outside thechalk downs , I should imagine , do yews form

such a distinct ive feature in the aspect of the country as on

Inch Lonaig .

The yew tree at the old chapel near Rossdhu House , which

was erected about the 12th century , and i s now used as the


burying-place of the Colquhoun fami ly , girthed 13 feet

25 inches at 5 feet in 1905, an increase of 3 inches since 1890 ,an average of

‘

20 inch yearly . Unfortunately , our measure

ments were not taken at the same height as the one in 1795,otherwise an interesting compar i son could have been made .

The eponym of the Yew-tree Lodge, in G len E inlas ,had , in 1905

,a height of 38 feet and a gi rth of 13 feet

65 inches at 2 feet 8 inches from the top of a mound sur

rounding it , or 7 feet 8 inches from the ground , an increase

of 45 inches since 1893 , or at the annual r ate of‘

39 inch,

nearly double the one at the old chapel . It was , until last

June,the largest yew known to us 1n the County of Dum

barton , but I was then informed by Mr . John Moff at , forester

on the Luss estate , that there was sti ll a vew at Stuckentibbert,on the banks of Loch Lomond

,about two and a -half miles south

of Tarbet . It grows on a knoll at the north end of a cai rn

l ike heap of stones on the edge of a low cl iff . The roots clasp

huge blocks of schist , while smaller stones l i e on the ground

to the south . It divides into five stems about 2 feet from the

highest p art of the sur rounding cai rn . At the n ar rowest

p art o f the trunk , between the swell of the roots and the

offshoot of the stems , the girth i s fully 19 feet . It i s not high ,under 30 feet . There does not seem to be any imp robabil ity

in supposing that thi s 19 foot tree i s part of the old 28 foot

tree which was in a state of decay a century ago , regenerated

in the manner descr ibed by Prof . W alker .

* The n ame of the

place i s spelt in the O rdnance Survey Map Stuc an

t’iobairt,

” and has been translated as meaning the place, or

cl iff , where sacr ifice was made That human sacr ifices were

commonly offered by the ancestors of the c iv i li z ed races of

Northern Europe , Celts , Teutons , and Slavs , i s certa in,

”

writes Prof . J . G . F raz er (The Golden Bough . ) The yew isindigenous in Br itain and has been found in England in

pre-glaci al and in Scotland in Neolithic deposits (ClementRei d) . Thus it was known to the Neol ithic people and to

* The immense y ew at Fortingall, 52 feet in girth in 1769, is

perpetuated by a growth of branches 12 to 15 feet high when I saw them20 years ago, but I do not think there is any coalescence with part of theold stem.

RENW I CK .—YEW TREES IN THE CLYDE AR EA . 31

the Celts . The latter have n amed many p laces after it in

England , Scotland , and espec ia lly Ireland . Glenure, in

Argyllsh i re,

_

i s the y ew glen , and I have been info rmed that

there are still nat ive y ews in it . Loch Iubh a ir , the lower p art

of Loch Dochart , in Perthshi re , i s the y ew loch , and 1 under

stand that there are y ews on the i sland in Loch Dochart .

Cr aignure , in Mul l , i s the rock of the y ew ; Palnure , in

G alloway,the pool or pond of the y ew ; Dunure , i n Ay rsh i r e ,

the yew fort ; and Tomn ahur ich , at Inverness (G ael ic Tom na

h - Iubhra ich) knoll of the yew wood (W. J . W atson , LL .D . ,

in li t .I .

Th e y ew was a sacred tree among the Celts . Walter Johnson ,in By-u'

ays in Bri tish Ar chaeology ( 1912) wr ites (p . 406)The y ew appear s to have been held in supe rst it ious respect

dur ing the bronz e age , and , it i s poss ible , in the p receding

neol ithic per iod .

” The combinat ion of the yew on the cl iff,the i deas Connected with the tree , and the supposed cliff of

sacr ifice , suggested that thi s m ight have been a place of human

sacr ifice . I wr ote to D r . W . J . Watson , author of a work on

the p lace—names of Ross - sh ir e , ask ing whether the name wouldl ikely come from G ael ic Ioba r t, a sacr ifice , or from an old

G aelic word tioba r t, a well . He k indly rep li ed Stucken

t ibbert certa in ly means the height of the well. Iobart , a

sacr ifice, does occur in some place-names , but i t would beimpossible to account for the t of tibber t on the supposit ion

that the n ame comes from iobar t . Thus , unless the well

was a holy one , of which there does not seem to be any

ev i dence , the n ame does not car ry us back to p rehi stor ic times .

Ther e i s , however , a legend which takes us to the dark days

in Scotti sh history when Robert Bruce , crowned King at Scone ,in March , 1306, and disastrously defeated nea r Methven

,

19th June , was a wanderer with only about 200 followers .

O n the i r way to Canti r e they came,in the beginn ing of

winter , to the eastern shor es of Loch Lomond , and bivouacked

for the n ight in the caves of Craigrostan . Afte r long search

next day , says Barbour , James of Douglas at the last Fand

ane litill sonk in bot . Bot i t sa litill was that it Micht our thewatir bot threesum fl it . In thi s way

, by two at a time

(one rowing and two p assengers in the boat) and some


sw1mm1ng ,the company crossed the loch in a night and a day.

Dur ing thi s tedious fer ry , the King , who , with Douglas , had

crossed first,mer r i ly Red to them that war h im by

Romanis of worthy Ferambras .

” According to the legend ,the King slept under this yew tree . It i s not at all unlikely

that the bivouac on the'

western shore . and the romance

reading,took place at thi s local ity , and under the old yew

tree . A yew 28 feet in c i rcumference , and decaying in 1811 ,must have stopped growing for some time

,and i s quite l ikely

to have been of a

_

fa ir si z e in 1306 Mr . Johnson , to whom

I wrote on the subj ect,replies There i s nothing wildly

improbable in the story that Bruce (say 600 years ago roughly)slept under the tree —though it may not have been very old .

These tr aditions are not always without a sl ight basi s of

real ity,but I suspect that Bruce may have other such trees

dotted here and there .

The celebrated tr iple avenue at the Clachan House ,Rosneath

,contains 23 yews , the highest r i sing from 45 to

about 55 feet , and the largest‘gi rth ing 1 1 feet 1 15 inches

and 12 feet 4.

inches at the narrowest . The latter , which has

a trunk of 10 feet before giv ing off branches,shows an

increase of 12 inches dur ing the last 21 years , or an aver age

of '56 inch annually , r ather larger than usual in holes of thi s

si z e,a nd suggesting that these may have been fast growers and

consequently not so old as thei’

rfgirth'

would seem to indicate .

The house i s Said to have been bui lt and the trees planted

by the Hon .

”

John Campbell of Mamore , second son of the 9th

Earl of Argyll . I f so , they are about 200 years old . There

is a.

tradition that a monaste ry once exi sted on the spot,

and therefore it i s not improbable that they may be even

older,and that they may form part of a succession that dates

back to pagan times . Dr . W . J . Watson informs me that

Rosneath means the wood or point of the Nemeton .

” Mr .

W C . Maughan , in Rosnea th Pa st and Pr esen t,states

The park near which the new school -house stands i s Tom

a mhoid,’ the field of justice .

” The Nemeton ,

”or con

secrated place , the knoll or.

field of judgment near the yew tree

avenue , may ind icate that here the anc ient Celts and:thei r

Neol ithic p redecessors had one of their sacred places in the

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Proceeding s of the Society.

THE first meeting of the sixty-second session took place in the

Society ’s Rooms, on 2oth September, 1912, Mr . W. R . Bax ter,

Vice-president,in the chair .

R eports of the Society’s excursions to Abington, Mauchline,

Balmaha,and G len Massan were read. Mr . D . A . Boyd

reported that at the Abington excursion, while in Glengonnar

policies, he collected some 24 Species of micro-fungi, 12 of which

were new to Lanarkshire—the most notable being Septor ia

chrysan themella,Saoe .

,new to Scotland and only once previously

recorded for England . At the G len Massan excursion an

interesting capture was made by Mr . J . J . F . X . King,

a

'

number of specimens of Psylla busci, Lin .,being taken from

some box Shrubs growing near the entrance to Benmore Estate .In the British A ssociation Handbook on the Fauna

,&c ., of

Clyde, this insect is noted as got from various garden plants, butcertainly not from box .

Mr . Thos . Anderson exhibited a four-year-old branch of the

Black Wattle Tree (Aca cia pycn an tha ,bearing a large

excrescence weighing about 1 lb . 13 oz s. The specimen was from

Natal,where the tree is ex tensively grown for its bark .

Mr . Anderson also exhibited the mud nest of a Natal hornet.

Mr. Jas . Whitton sent a note on an abnormality in a Kitten

( see Vol. IV. ,pp . 136

Mr. John Paterson read a paper by Messrs . Matthew Barr (it

John Craig,on “ The Birds of the Parish of Beith

,di e.

"

(seeVol. IV., pp . 97

The sixty-first Annual G eneral Meeting took place on 29th

O ctober, 1912, Mr. J ohn R . Lee, president, in the chair. The

president,before beginning the business of the evening

,drew

attention to the death of Mr. Adrian K idston, who had been a

member Since 1895.

The R eport of the Council which was read showed that during

the year two Life and ten O rdinary Members were added to the

Society’s R oll . The obituary for the year contained the names

of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, who was an Honorary Member,and five O rdinary Members —Sir James King, Bart ,

Miss C.

PROCEED INGS . 39

Henderson,Dr. Thos . B . Henderson ( see Vol. IV.

,p .

Colonel Harington Stuart,and Colonel Mure of Caldwell. The

membership at the end of Session 1911- 1912 was as follows

Honorary Members ,Corresponding Members

,

Life Members,

O rdinary Members,

There were 4 Assoc iates .

The Hon . Treasurer’s R eport was adopted . A statement of

accounts appears on page

The following othee-bearers were elected —Mr. John R obertson,

as Vice -President and Messrs . J . R . Thomson,T . Thornton

Mackeith , J . G . R obertson,and Professor L . A . L . Ki ng , M .A .

,

as Members of Counc il .Mr. W m . Mure

,Hall of Caldwell

,R enfrewshire, was elected

as an O rdinary Member .Mr . John R enwick reported on an excursion to C rianlarich

and A rdlui.

Mr. R . Sf W ishart, M .A .,exhibited the following plants

Sisyr in chium an ceps, Bab . , found near G arnkirk by Mr. Hugh

A . Ai tken , Chryston ; Apera Spicamen ti , Beauv , found by a

G lasgow H igh School pupil at Scotstoun Impa tien s Noli

tangere, L ., Cerastium arvense, L .

,and the variety Andrewsii ,

Syme, of that species, all from Montrose .

Mr . Peter Ewing,

exhibited an interesting series of

plants , inc luding E rophila vulga ris, D .C . ,var . gla brescen s, Jord . ,

from Craig-an-Lochain Gn apha lium sylva ticum, L.,var . a lpestre,

Druce, from Ca irnwell ; Rhinan thus mon ticola (Stem ) Druce,from Beinn Laoigh ; B . stenophyllus (Stern . ) Druce, fromCanlochan and the following

,all from Ardrishaig z—Scutellaria

ga ler icula ta , L , a form ; Plan tago mar itima,L .

,var . pygmoea

(Kjellm. ) O rchis macula ta L .,var. er icetorum (Linton) ;

Habenaria bifolia , Br . ; Carex Horn schuchian a , Hoppe C .

Hornschuchiana lepidocarpa ; C .flaoa x Horn schuchian a

and C . remota,L . He also Showed Potamogeton pusillus, L. , var .


Sturrochii (G roves) L. E . Salmon, from Loch Schechernich , N.E .

Perthshire . A long with these were submi tted spec imens of alliedforms for comparison .

Mr. John Main, F .G .S. ,

showed some lantern slides of generalnatural h istory subj ects .

The third meeting of the Sixty-second session took place on

26th November, 1912, Mr . John R . Lee, president, in the chair .

Before the business commenced,Mr . D . A . Boyd made

appropriate reference to the loss the Society had sustained in the

death of the Rev . Dr . David Landsborough (see pp . 1 A

report on fungus-forays to Caldwell House and Craigton Woods

in the present autumn under Mr. R . B . Johnstone’s leadership

was submitted . The larger fungi,it appeared from the report

,

were very scarce, the most notable species obtained being

Grandin ia crustosa, Fr .

,which covered the porous side of a

small cluster of Polystictus versicolor found at Caldwell.

Mr. R . S. Wishart,M .A .

,Showed from Stepps cauliflower

roots attacked by “ finger- and - toe

” disease— due to a parasitic

fungus,Plasmodiophora brassicce, W or .

Specimens of the G rey Squirrel were exhibited by Mr . Chas.Kirk (from Cardross) and Mr . John R enwick (from Luss) .R eference may be made to the record of the first appearance or

introduction of th is species to C lyde (Vol. IV.,p . From

Mr. Kirk ’s records it appears that the first that reached h im from

this district were one from Arrochar and another from Tarbet,

both in 1903. The next came from Luss (Rossdhu Deer Park) ,in 1904, which i s earlier than the date of its first supposed

appearance there as indicated in our last number ( loc. cit ) .O thers that have reached h im came from the Muirland School ,Luss, in 1904, Inverbeg, 1906, G arelochhead , 1907 , Arnburn at

Luss, 1908,A lexa ndria (Tullichewan) , two in O ctober and

November respectively, 1912, Cardross, November, 1912, and

Camiseskan , between Cardross and Helensburgh also in

November, 1912. It may further be stated that accordingto Miss Wadsworth

, Ardenconnel, Row,it was first seen

there in the present autumn , three having been seen

together,and Mr . Dalgarno

,the gardener, tells her that five have

been killed in the neighbourhood of Row. A ltogether fifteen


New Records from the same source.-Polyga la

serpylla cea , Weihe, var . vincoides, Chodat.—Ben Lawers .

Sta tice (Armeria ) lin ear ifolia , Lat—Ben Lawers .

Botanical Notes from current Literature—Plan tagoa lpina , L .

, on Ben Voirlich , Dumbarton .—R . M . Cardew, E .L.S.

and E . G . Baker,

in J ourn a l of B otan y, February, 1912,page 59, where reference is made to F . B . W hite ’s record .

Ca reac helvola ,i

Blytt, on Ben Lawers .—A. Bennett, in

The Scottish Botan ica l Review,January

, 1912, page 41 .

Scottish Forms of Spa rgan ium.—A . Bennett, in The

Scottish Botan ica l Review, April, 1912, page 94.

Philonotis r igida , Brid. , at Aberfoyle . —R . H . Meldrum in The

Scottish Botanical Review, April, 1912, page 117 .

Records from the Report for 1912 of the MossExchange Club .

— Tr ichostomum tenuirostre var . Holtii ,

Braithw.—Arran .

Bryum erythrocarpum, Schwaeg.—Brodick .

Eurhyn chium rusciforme var. a tlan ticum, Brid .—Arran .

Hypnum cupressi/orme var . tectorum,Brid .

—Blackwaterfoot,Arran .

—P. Ewing .

The American Grey Squirrel (Sciurus cinereus) .—This isthe Species now at large in the R egent’s Park, London, and

elsewhere in England,and probably the specimens from Dumbar

tonshire reported and being shown to the Natural History Society

of G lasgow are the same . It would be interesting to learn if it

occurs wild elsewhere in Scodand. In a recent and well

informed article on “ Squirrels in Scotland ”

(Harwood Brierly,Glasgow W eekly Herald, 24th February, 1912) only the common

or brown species (S . vulgar is) i s mentioned .

The familiarity of the grey squirrels in the R egent’s Park

perhaps gives a false impression as to their abundance in the

L ondon district. Their introduction is due to the propinquity ofthe Z oological Gardens, where a number were purposely set at

liberty some six years ago,with a request from the Z oological

Society that visitors should not molest them. The plea was not

NOTES . 43

in vain,and the little animals now frequent the most crowded

part of the Park (the Broad Walk ) , and have become such pets withchildren and others as to come and take food at their hands . I

do not know that the species Occurs in other London Parks ;Squirrels which I have seen in St. James ’s Park and Kew

G ardens were the common kind . In Bushey Park five grey

squi rrels were turned out SO far back as 1890,but nothing seems

to have come of thi s,although it is conj ectured that one seen in

1909 on the other Side O f the Thames near there,may have been

their descendant (The Field—16th January, At Hamp

stead this summer,I found a solitary grey squirrel l iving in an

Old garden and in another garden walnuts were being destroy ed

by squirrels, which from the gardener’s description seemed to be

the grey kind . Beyond the London district, this spec ies i s

established in the woods of Woburn Abbey (Bedfordshire) ,whence the R egent’s Park S tock came and at Leonardslee

(Sussex ) , but altogether its distribution seems to be so

circumscribed as not to justify any apprehensions—a t present

anyway—Hugh Boyd Watt, 24th November , 1912.

'Greenland W h eatear (Saxicola oen an the leucor rhoa ) in

Ayrshire.—Cm 30th Sep tember, 1912, I Observed a con

spicuously large Wheatear on the shore at Hunterston ,F a i r l ie

,

and on shooting the bi r d 1 found it to be, as expected , anexample of the G reenland Wh eatear . It i s an adult male

,

just changing to the bufi plumage of autumn , and i s a very

large bi rd even for a G reenland ,” measur ing 165 mm . ,

with a wing of 109 mm . Thi s large form of W h eatear has not

hitherto been recorded for Ayrshi re . In Lan arksh i re one

was p rocured at Carmunnock by my fr iend Mr . H. Duncan

(Ann . of Scot . Na t . Hist . ,1911

, p . and Mr . Nicol

Hopkins, of Darvel , bel ieves he saw two at D rumclog on 24th

O ctober, 1908 (Kilmarnock G lenfield Ramblers’ Anna ls,

part 6,p . 68, where thi s record i s er roneously given as

pertain ing to Ayrshi re) . —Robert W . S . W i lson .

Black Guillemot (Ur ia grylle) , Storm-Petrel (Procella ria

pelagica ) , and Manx Shearwater (Pufitnus anglorum) , O ff the

Ayrsh ire Coast —O ne Of our members, Mr. John M‘Crindle,


Dunure,sends an interesting letter , dated 2lst November ,

1912,to the Even ing Times

,from wh ich we make the following

extracts z—W ould you al low me to dr aw the attention of your

readers to the presence in the Clyde area of certain bi rds thatare supposed to be r ather uncommon . Among these , in point

of numbers,I should place the Black Gui llemot first .

According to the author ities these b i rds are reported to be very

rare , though the late Charles Berry , of Lendal, cla imed it as

a breeding speci es on the Ayrshi re“

coast south O f Ballantr ae .

I may say, however , 1 know the coast l ine fai r ly well , and have

no knowledge of it b reeding there . Dur ing the sp r ing of this

year , with strong breezes of north-east wind,the b i r d was very

numerous from off the Heads of Ayr , through Ayr Bay, past

Lady Isle, and into Irv ine Bay . 1 saw at least 50 birds in

one day . Dur ing the month O f Apr il , while p assing Ai lsa

Craig , a pa i r rose at the foot Of the cl iff s at the Loups . Since

the bi rd is becoming very numerous, it might breed there at

some future date . The birds are beginning to appear for the

winter and sp r ing , and by compar ison Of thei r pretty pepper

and - salt plumage O f winter , look rather dingy with thei r sooty

black colour , with the consp icuous white wing bar of theb reeding season . I have heard the bi rd called Dr ink-a

Penny locally .

The Stormy Petrel, of more in terest to your readers because

of its name, may now be said to be fairly common . During

the whole Of the p ast summer this bi rd could be seen fl itting

about, wh i le one day we saw about twenty Sitting on the

water . It i s a fasc inating study to watch these seemingly

ti reless bir ds fl it h ither and thither in search Of food , and the

minute p articles of fatty matter from the herr ing pumped

from the boats seem to afford an app rec i ated banquet . They

are generally more numerous in the immedi ate local ity of

herr ing,and

,for the first time to my knowledge , i t was a

common custom Of the fishermen to watch for the Her r ing

Bird as an indication of her r ing .

Another bi rd c redited with be ing rare , but now better

known,i s the Manx Shearwater . This bird i s seldom seen

dur ing the winter , but i s very numerous dur ing the sp r ing

and early summer .

R EV IEWS . 45

Great Skua (Mega lestr is ca tarrha ctes) in Bute.-O n 13th

November,1912

,I received for p reservati on a G reat Skua

which had been secured in the neighbourhood of Rothesay , and

is destined for the museum of that town . Thi s occur rence i s

of interest , as I understand only one has been secured pre

v iously in Clyde ( at Inverar ay) , and sever al have beenseen O ff the coast O f Ayrshi re .

- Chas . Kirk .

Reviews .

The Home Life of the Terns or Sea Swallows—By W .

B I O KERTO N, W itherby CO .,London ( 6S .

net) . -This new number Of the Home -Li fe Ser ies published

by Messrs . W itherby i s quite up to the standar d set in

p rev ious volumes . Apart from its cl aims in . that way,how

ever , it can stand on its mer i ts,which are consider able .

In

some 88 pages of pr inted matter an engrossing n ar r ative i s

given Of the author ’ s exper iences in a ser ies O f br ief hol i days

in the haunts of the Sandwich , Common , Lesser , Roseate , and

Arctic Terns . Students will find set down her e exactly those

full p articulars fo r which in some cases they look in va in .

The author ’ s fountain pen must have been busy in the intervals

that his photogr aphic work allowed h im . Following the letter

p ress ar e 32 plates , which for interest and beauty leavenoth ing to be desi red . Terns , by v i rtue of the elegance of

thei r l ines and the pur ity of the masses of white in thei r

p lumage , are very spec i ally adapted for giv ing attract ive

p ictures to the photogr apher . To thi s extent the author ’ s

choice Of subj ect matter has given h im an advantage . Pr ai se

of some of the p ictures to be adequate would seem extr avagant .

Those of our reader s who are interested shoul d make a point

Of seeing them for themselves . All concerned in the p roduction

of this volume are to be congratul ated .


Bulletin of the British O rnithologists’

Club .Vol. XXX .

(W itherby CO . , London , Th i s volume contains the

report on the immigrations of summer residents in the

sp r ing O f 1911 , also notes on the migratory movements and

records received from l ighthouses and l ight vessels dur ing the

autumn O f 1910 . It i s by a committee appointed by the

Br iti sh O rn ithologi sts ’,Club , and Mr . W . R . O gilv i e G r ant

continues as editor . The report i s on l ines fami l iar fromour exper ience of p revious volumes . It grows v i sibly in size

from year to year,in sp ite O f the efforts which have been

made to condense the matter .

” Not all the data collected will

admit of correlation, but one may hope that when a digest

comes to be made even the chaff will be found to contain some

wheat . Attention i s again drawn to the extreme scarc ity

of the Land -Ra i l in the south - east of England . A few year s

ago it was comparatively common in many Of the eastern

counties , where it i s now no longer recorded or only noted

as a passing straggler .

”As the Land -Rai l i s one Of the three

spec ies O f summer residents ( its companions being the R ing

ouzel and Pied F lycatcher) arriving solely on the western half

of the south coast , we may hope that in south -west Scotland

we may - long escape the exper ience of the people Of south -east

England . The Land -Ra i l ’ s near relative , the W ater -Rail ,seems to have met with bad fortune in the sp r ing Of 1911 .

Thus at Bardsey Light (Carnarvon) three were k illed on27/28th March , s ixty seen and thi rty ki lled 29/30th ,

fifty

seen and thi rty killed 30/3lst, thi rty seen and twelve k illed1/2nd Apr il . Though well distr ibuted , we do not recogn isethe W ater -Rail as a common bi rd , and we are led to think

that i f the Bardsey Light exper iences were repeated in other

years in the same or other local iti es , the eff ect on its numbers

in this country‘

would be ser ious . There are, of course,

throughout the Report , many such pathetic details in the case

of other spec ies . The in formation from Scotland in thi s

Report i s meagre , and the conclusions based on it mi sleading .

For instance , we find it stated regarding the swallow that

first ar r ivals were noted from Scotland on the 18th and

19th ”

[April]. R eaders of this j ournal know that in 1911 it

appeared at Possil on the 7th ,Dalmui r 14th

,and in nine

R EVIEWS . 47

other local ities between the 17th and 22nd (Vol. III . ,p .

The ma in body of the common Sandp iper d id not begin to

ar r ive in England,according to the Report , unti l the 17th

Ap r il,but in our distr ict it was seen on the 18th at Dalmui r ,

Fossi l,and Carmyle, and on the 19th at Beith and on the

Endr ick and Clyde , being common by that date on the streams

mentioned (loc . cit . , pp . 93 , Such cases could be

mult ip li ed . Scotland might be better left out Of the p icture

altogether than come in to the Report as it does . W e notice

the Pied F lycatcher entered as appear ing in Argyll on the

16th Ap r i l . Thi s is the first we have hear d of that spec i es in

Argyll , and the fact , i f such it be , would be interesting could

we feel it to be rel i able.

THE GLASG O W NATURALIST .48

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SEDG E - W ARBLER‘

S HAUNT— FO SS IL MARSH.

c

( the (Blasgow NaturalistThe Journal of the NATURAL HISTO RY SO C IETY

O F G LASG O W

(Including the Transac tions and Proceedings of theSoc iety , T hird Series) .

Vol. V. , NO . [Februarv 1913.

The Birds of Fossil Marsh .

By W ILL IAM R ENNIE .


O n 30th May,187 1, Mr . James S. D ixon read a paper to thi s

Society on the birds frequent ing Possil Marsh,dealing chiefly

with the rarer and nesting species . 1 “ Th e Marsh,

” which is, it

must be remembered, wi thin three miles of the R oval Exchange,G lasgow, has certainly been much encroached upon

,but many

and varied though the changes have been Since D ixon ’s time,stil l the bird lif e seems to have remained pretty much the same .

The limited area ,to which for the present purpose I have

confin ed myself , is bounded on the south by the Canal, and on

the other ca rdinal points by Balmore R oad and the face Of the

field Of Lochfaulds. Here one has something more Drecise to

work on than Possil. a term which covers a much larger area .

In concluding his remarks “ O n the Birds of G lasgow and itsVic ini ty,

”R obert G ray

,in 1876 2 , referred to the great changes

that were comin g over the bird nurseries around the C ity, and

expressed the fea r that in another thirty years all would be gone .

Alas , it i s only too true wi th regard to some of them, but

fortunately for the naturalists of to—day,Fossil Marsh (Plate II . )

still remains their happy hunting ground as of yore,although it

has been encroached upon from time to time from the Canal side .

1 Proc . Nat. Hist . Soc . G lasgow, II . , p. 160 .

2 Fauna and Flora of W est of Scot. , 1876 .

D


The Marsh and the surrounding district as an Observation

station for migrants,well repays the observer . Many early

records O f arrivals Of our summer-migrants in “ C lyde ” have

come from the Marsh and district. A perusal of Mr . John

Paterson’s annual lists in this j ournal will confirm this statement .

When once the migrants begin to arrive there is a continuous

distribution of species around the district, some of them being

very partial to certain places . Again when the southward

j ourney commences,many interesting congregations may be met

with,some indeed lingering on till the middle O f O ctober. Nor

does the interest cease wi th the departure of the Swallow, for the

autumn migrants then begin to arrive . Although these may be

said to be somewhat late in becoming common about the district,their assoc iation is retained till well on in spring

,when we may

meet with both summer and winter migrants in the course of a

day ’s Observations . I look upon the Marsh as coming under one

of theflight-lines of the migrants . For some years,it has been

my good fortune time and again, under favourable climatic

conditions, to Observe not only fairly large flocks, but continuous

treks of small birds, going southwards, high up, their presence

only being revealed by the aid of a binocular or telescope . O n

other occasions autumn movements have been quite visible to the

naked eye . The wanton destruction among birds’ nests which is

wrought by children and grown -ups is increasing yearly . This

year ( 1912) the depredations during the nesting season werescandalous . The result has been that at a time when numbers of

young should have been populating the place, hardly any were to

be found . Th is is no new state of affairs, for I find that as far

back as 1874, this society was moved to do something for the pro

tection O f the Ma rsh l,but in the interval since, their labour has

been lost. Drastic steps must be taken if we want to retain the

association of the birds and plants of this classic place . I have

often thought that the Fathers of the City, seeing that they are

endeavouring to cater for the recreations Of all classes,should be

asked to secure the preservation of the Marsh for naturalists .

The following are the results Of several years’ observations. 1

take this opportunity O f thanking all those who have helped me.

1 Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc . , Glasgow, II. , p. 253.

RENNIE .—THE B IRDS or PO SSIL MARSH . 51

O f the five spec ies of thrushes formerly recorded,al l are still to

be found frequenting the Marsh . The SONG-THRUSH and

BLACKB IRD are Often seen and heard, whilst I have on several

occasions found nests of both , but it i s very questionable if any

O f the broods get c lear away,for if th e eggs are not taken

,

the nest is earmarked for a future dav . The M ISTLE -THRUSH has

ceased to breed here ; the Marsh now-a -day s is perhaps not to its

liking,but it still nests in the vicinity

,and is occasionally seen in

the autumn . During the ea rlv spring it is sometimes seen alongwith the R EDWINGS and F I ELDFARES which visit us regularly. It

is usually the F ieldfare that is first noted on arri val here in

autumn . This may at first seem a little strange,as the R edwing

arrives about a fortnight or three weeks before the F ieldfare,but

SO long as the weather'

rema in s mild,the R edwings continue

amongst the stubble fields . Seldom have I found them coming

into the Marsh to roost before the middle of November . Both

have been noted here at the end of April,whilst they are

occasionally seen in the distric t as late as the middle of May.

Being gregarious,they are usually found in greater or less

numbers foraging in the fields or amongst the willows. During

their stay here,one is almost sure to find them returning to the

willows just after sunset,or leaving again a t day break . I have

noticed within recent years that thev are deserting the Marsh as

a roosting plac e . Hundreds pass the night within Gadder\Vildern ess.

The WHEATEAR is still a regular visitor, and is usually amongst

the firs t of the summer-migrants seen . This bird,which arrives

about the first week in April,frequents the cultivated field along

side the Marsh for a few days , and is usually not seen again until

the return southwards in the autumn unless a pair should take

up their abode near the Marsh . In the second week of August

this year,I Observed a flock of at least thirty Wheatears scattered

over the fields at Lochfaulds from the Marsh to CadderWilderness .I never before witnessed as many at once in this district . I

have seen the Wheatear hear in the second week of O ctober .

Such late Wheatears would likely be G REENLAND WHEATEARS .

Some years the WHEATEAR is seen frequently in the district

nesting in the dry-stone dykes and old bings . The WH INCHAT

is occasionally seen during its season, as it nests in the district,

52 THE G LASG O W NATURALIST .

Fami ly groups are not uncommon at times in ' the;

autumn,but

it is usually about its time of arrival and departure, that is, about

the first week of May and again about the end of September,

that we see most of it an odd one has been seen in O ctober .The STONECHAT has never come under my notice yet,

'

although it

has been recorded from the district . Much should I like to see

this lovely bird again frequenting the Marsh .

Many years ago the R EDSTART was a regular nesting species,but like some others i t has deserted us here . It is still to be

found nesting in the district,where it arrives about the begining

of May . The only Redstarts I have seen on the Marsh were two

on the 11th of August this year. They were evidently from a small

flock which I noticed at three diff erent places on Lochfaulds,

there being about a dozen altogether . The R O BIN is frequently

seen from autumn to spring, but rarely in summer. . The

WHITETHROAT is a regular nesting Visitor. The number of birds

varies greatly each year . They are to be found from the middle

of May till the end of August . I only once saw a G OLDCREST (onthe 20th November amongst the Willows . The weather at

that time was very severe . The CHIFFCHAFF seems to have

completely deserted the place . Like the Wood-wren it is inserted

in the list appended on the strength of what Dixon says (loc . cit ) .The district is ill- suited for either. The WILLOW-WREN is very

common from the beginning of April till the end of August, being

amongst the first of the migrants to come and almost the last to

go . Very little of its song is heard after the beginning of July

till near the closing days of its stay . Several nests are seen each

season . I have never found the WOOD-WREN at the Marsh,but

it i s still found in the Gadder district. The SEDGE -WARBLER is

common, its numbers fluctuating greatly each season, but one

could scarcely visit the Marsh (Plate II . ) during its stay here,without at least hearing i t. The Sedge-Warbler usually arrives

about the beginning of May. I t begins to get scarce by the end of

July, but an occasional one may be met with into the opening days

of September . I saw two on the 15th September th is year . I

have already given fuller details of this species for this district,which need not be repeated here l .

1 Vol. 1 -6.

RENNIE.

—THE BIRDS or FOSS IL MARSH . 53

HEDGE-SPARR'

OWS are not uncommon from autumn to spring .

Seldom i s one seen during summer . They do not nest here now .

The Marsh is certainly not the most likely place to look for the

DIPPER, but I saw one here on the 2otb November, 1911, during

severe weather .The TITMOUSES form an interesting group of birds at all

seasons,but it i s chi efly from autumn to spring that they

frequent the Marsh . I have not yet met the Long- tailed Tit,but small groups have been seen frequently in the district, so

perhaps at a future date it may be recorded again from the

Marsh . The COAL-TIT is somewhat rare, although fairly common

at Gadder,where it is known to nest . The G REAT T ITMOUSE a t

times is fairly plentiful . Mr . Samuel M ‘O ulloch informs me that

many years ago the MARSH-TIT,no doubt the W ILLOW-TITMOU SE ,

used to be fairly common as a nesting species . The BLUE

T ITMOUSE is very common in winter. If the weather is at all

severe,one is almost sure to find Blue Titmouses amongst the

willows or reeds,especially on the flower heads of Typha. The

WREN is not uncommon . I have found several unlined nests,

but never any with eggs . Many years ago the TREE-CREEPER

used to be found nesting in the strip of t rees which formerly

grew alongside the Balmore R oad,on our boundary line . The

TREE -CREEPER is still seen occasionally in the near neighbourhood .

The PIED WAGTA IL is often seen,as it nests in the vicinity, but

it is during the winter and spring months that one sees it almost

daily . Numbers of them are usually seen passing during the

spring migration . The WH ITE WAGTAIL is occasionally seen in

the Spring whilst passing northwards to its summer quarters, and

again in the autumn . O nly since Mr . John Paterson drew

attention to i t in 1895,has it been distinguished in the district.

The G REY WAGTAIL being a bird of the running brook is but

seldom seen at the Marsh,although common enough in the

district. The YELLOW WAGTAIL is s till a regular visitor . From

early in May, it is frequently found in varying numbers . at and

around the Marsh . The largest number I have yet seen was

fourteen on the 25th May this y ear . For several years a pair

has nested in the adj oining field,and have always been success

ful in bringing off their brood,which adds interest to observation

at a time when bird liveliness here is somewhat at a di scount.


In the autumn they again congregate in the district before theirdeparture .

I have never found the TREE-PIP IT at the Marsh, although it is

not uncommon further east. The MEADOW-PIPIT is plentiful except

during winter. An occassional one is to be found all the year

round . O n the drier part several nests are found each year, but

they seem always to be destroyed .

SWALLOWS are very common at times during the season,especially in the fore part of the day or in the evening, when

they are to be seen gracefully skimming over the surface of the

Marsh, uttering that twitter which expresses their own delight,and is so delightful to those that hear it. If haymaking is going

on, then naturally, few will be seen till the evening. They are

to be found nesting at all the farms around the district. The

Swallows usually arrive about the middle of April, although an

occasional early bird may be seen at the beginning of the month .

but it is not until the beginning of June that they become

common . They begin to congregate during the early days of

August . Sometimes fair numbers are seen,bnt many small lots

are often observed migrating southwards, from the middle of

August till about the middle of September. After this only a

very few will be seen about the Marsh,although I have seen

birds in the second week of O ctober. I have seen many Swallows

here at dusk in the autumn,but never the Sights that have been

witnessed by others,years ago

,of hundreds c linging to the reeds,

&c ., to roost over the night, before taking their departure

southwards.

The HOUSE -MART IN is the scarcest of the Swallows visiting the

Marsh,which

,however

,in the matter of House-Martins , compares

very favourably with other places in the district. Seldom does

one find it at the Marsh before the beginning of May,although

it may be seen in the district for some days previously . Very

few are to be seen during some seasons . O wing to the un

certainty of its visits to the Marsh,its departure is not noticeable,

but it may be met with here and there in the district till the

beginning of September. The SAND-MART IN is common, although

not so plentiful as one would expect to find it,seeing that there

are several breeding places not so very far away, and that it nests

in fair numbers . It seems to prefer the Canal and K elvin to the


feeding on the seeds of the Knapweed (Centaurea m’

yra) . TheTWITE is another of our occasional visitors during winter . There

are several records from places around the district,whilst an odd

one has been taken at the Marsh . During the cold spell at the

beginning of this year,I came on aflock of between seventy and

eighty Twites on 3rd February in a field near the Marsh . I have

never met the BULLF INCH here,although some years ago I saw a

fine male captive that had been taken at the Marsh . It has also

been seen by others in the district .

Small flocks of CORN -BUNTINGS are to be met with durino'

autumn and spring, and sometimes an odd bird during winter.A flock of anything from fi fty to a hundred

,was seen at the

beginning of this year by Messrs . R . W . Baxter and Hill .

Being common in the district, they are often seen during summer .The Corn -Bunting was successful in bringing off broods both lastyear and this . Th e YELLOW-BUNT ING is fairly common at times

and occasionally nests . The R EED -BUNT ING as its name implies,

is a frequenter of marshy ground,and is here the commonest of

the buntings . It is to be met with all the year round . During

winter several are to be found coming and going between the

Marsh and Lochfaulds farm. In the breeding season several

nests are to be found built amongst the reeds and coarse grasses .

O ver ten years ago, two SNOW -BUNT INGS,were killed from a small

flock . At the beginning of this year, they were noted at different

places around G lasgow . In a note which I received from Mr.

John Paterson at the beginning of the year,he says A small

flock of Snow-Buntings,with their characteristic silver-bell tinkle,

passed overhead on Sunday (4th February) , just as we had leftLambhill bridge, going north . The birds were passing over the

field across the road from Possil, but high up. They were in

sunshine .”—This is just outside the limit of the Marsh .

STARLINGS are common 5 small flocks are often seen passing in

the early evening . O ver forty years ago they used to roost here

in hundreds, but they do not do so now .

The MAGP IE nests in Gadder and I have seen it a few times

within recent years at the Marsh . JACKDAWS are very scarce,but at occasional times odd ones are found congregating with the

B ooks in the field . They are more plentiful a little further east .

The fresh carcase of a CARR ION-O ROW was picked up on 17th

RENNIE .—THE BIRDS or PO SSIL MARSH . 57

April, 1910 . This bird doubtless had met its fate through being

driven into unwelcome quarters, during the severe wintry weather

that prevailed at the time . Thi s Species is not common in the

district. B O O KS are common, and many are to be seen during the

nesting period,passing to and fro . The nearest rookery is at

K enmuir House which is near by . O n the 23rd March this y ear,before the nesting season was at its height

,I counted 135 nests

there .

SKYLARKS are common all the year round, and smal l flocks are

often seen from autumn to spring . In winter they are to be

found in numbers on the fields of Lochfaulds and district. The

SWIFTS are not very plentiful on their arrival here about the

middle of May,which is usually a few days later than in other

districts, but during their Short stay, they become very common ,more especially towards their departure at the end of August .

Family groups have always been an interesting sight towards

sun'

set,when their labours seem to begin in earnest. I have

counted over fif ty flying about on the eve of their departure .

During the winter of 1864,the K INGF ISHER was seen several

times by Mr. D ix on. I have never seen nor heard of it at the

Marsh since then,but one may be fortunate at times to get a

glimpse of i t farther eastwards,where it is still able to hold its

own . A lthough I have never seen the CUCKOO here, i ts wellknown notes are often heard after its arrival in the district

,about

the beginning of May.

Many years ago the BARN-O W L used to be very common,but

it is now rarely seen in the district. The LONG-EARED O W L has

been seen a few times, but apparently not within recent years .

I have only heard of one bird having been shot . A SHORT-EARED

O W L was shot by Mr. F. Burnett D ick about seventeen years ago .

1

The TAWNY O W L, which nest s in Gadder, has been seen several

times, although not by myself. Mr . Ai tkenhead of Lochfaulds

tells me i t is often heard about the farm. The SPARROW 'HAWKis not uncommon, although the KESTREL is the spec ies we see

most of, especially during the early summer, and again in the

autumn, when the harvest-fields are ripe . During the cold snap

in the Spring of -1908, I saw a pair of PEREG R INE FALCONS on the

1 Vol. II . , page 51 .


29th April . The MERLIN was seen occasionally by Mr. D ixon.I have not heard of this Spec ies being seen at the Marsh sincethen . The CORMORANT was seen in 1894 by Mr. F . Burnett D ick , 1

The HERON, although very erratic in its Visits, is often seen

throughout the year, usually in the early part of the morning, asthey arrive after sunset . Sometimes they remain during the

whole day. I have noticed that there is one part of the Marsh

they seem very partial to. I t is usually solitary birds that grace

the margin but as many as four have been seen at one t ime .

Dr. Dewar exhibited to this Society, on January 26th , 1864, a

B ITTERN that had been shot at the Marsh, 2 whilst G ray in his

B irds of the W est of Scotland, mentions that it had been seen once

or twice of late years .

I am indebted to Mr. Paterson ’s G lasgow List 3 for a notice of

G REY G EESE , a gaggle of 75 passing northwards at a low eleva tion

over the Marsh on 3rd May, 1895, whilst they have been seen by

others about Possil. I am further indebted to the same list'

for

mention of B EW ICK ’

S SWAN, also to Mr. Hugh Wilson for infor

mation regarding four which he observed at the Marsh on

12th September, 1911 . We are

'

never without a pair of MUTE

SWANS . During the winter months the numbers of this species are

augmented by birds from other districts. A few winters ago as

many as twenty frequented the place for weeks . The non-resident

birds always depart on the approach of Spring. For some years

two pairs used to nest, but latterly this has been reduced to one

pair,which occasionally is successful in bringing off a brood

,

which varies in number. This year they brought forth five

cygnets . During the nesting season the Swan is the most

pugnacious bird on the Marsh . Should any of its own species

attempt a landing there is a battle royal immediately, and theintruder is forced to take wing again . The number of ducks

frequenting the Marsh of late years seems to be greatly reduced .

In winter they seldom arrive until after sunset,and are away

again by daybreak . If the weather be open,a few remain during

the day,lurking amongst the reeds, well beyond range, for there

are always gunners about to give them a warm reception. In the

1 Vol. IL , p. 52. Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc . Glasgow, I . , page 82.

3 Vol. II . , page 52.

RENNIE.—THE BIRDS or PO SSIL MARSH. 59

spring they become more conspicuous on the water . There is

always a coming and going amongst them so that there is great

uncerta inty of seeing them. A SHELD-DUCK was shot hereabout thirty y ears ago by a Mr . Cross . Th e MALLARD may

be sa id to be the only resident duck , although sometimes

it may not be seen for weeks on end . O ne or two pairs

occasionally nest. I have seen late broods the ducklings on

the first of August being only a few days old,disappear

under the cloak of sport ! The SHOVELER in some years is seen

pretty frequently during the summer months,often a pair.

They are occasionally shot in the winter, and are known to

the gunners as spoon-bills, from the formation of the mandibles .

AS it is now known to be a breeding species at Bishop Loch , we

may y et find it nesting a t the Marsh . The TEAL,perhaps from

its nature to keep under cover, is seldom seen on the open water,but i t is common enough for all that, and in the Spring, flocks of

twenty and upwards occasionally come into the Marsh after

sunset. Seldom have I seen the Teal during the summer months,nor have I yet found it nesting . W IGEON and POCHARD appear

in small groups towards the end of winter . A few hang on until

the spring is well advanced before going nor thwards . I have

seen a pair of Pochard at the end of May . At the time of Mr .

D ixon’s paper the TUFTED DUCK seems to have been a rare

visitor,as his authority was Mr . G ray, who informed h im that

a Tufted Duck had been shot there within a few years . I find

from Mr. Harvie Brown ’s paper on the Tufted Duck in Scotland l ,that the first hint of its nesting at Possil Marsh was obtained by

Mr. John Paterson, who had seen a pair on the Marsh , on the l 6th

May,1895, and suspected they would be breeding . This was

prac tically confi rmed by Mr. Robert Wilson who vi sited the

Marsh on 20th July,and saw a female with six young . The

Tufted Duck seems to have remained in small numbers,a

regular visitor from autumn till Spring,an occasional pair staying

to nest,until a few years ago when they dwindled away . O n

the evening of 4th May,this year, I saw four Tufted Ducks

(3 5—1 Q ) . They were gone the following morning . This is

the first I have seen or heard of it since 29th April,1909.

1 Annals Scot . Na t. Hist , vol. V. , page 7.


A G OLDENEYE was Shot about fifteen years ago by Mr . Cameron ,and the bird has also been seen by

‘ Mr . Samuel M ‘Gulloch .

R ING-DOVES are occasionally seen frequenting the stubble

fields, sometimes close down to the Marsh, and on the wing.

The PHEASANT has only come undermy notice once . A finemale

was seen early one morning in autumn, a few years ago , feeding

in the stubble field . O ne of the greatest changes in the vegeta

tion of the Marsh is to be seen at the north-east corner. Years

ago this used to be covered with heather . O nlv a very few plants

Of heather now remain,bents and cotton grasses having gradually

ousted the rest . Here the PARTR IDG E used to nest regularly.

It is still to be found to-day frequenting the same part of the

Marsh for feeding . Sometimes one flushes it during the day and

it is often heard at dusk . I have twice flushed a covey of

Six from this same corner,whilst I haveflushed them in

the field,where they are still found nesting, Mr. Aitkenhead

informs me. I have only found the CORN -CRAKE once at theMarsh

,although it is often enough heard from the surrounding

fields,from the beginning of May until about the end of August.

A flock of about thirty Corncrakes was seen one back-end many

years ago by Mr . C ross . The following rather interesting inc ident

took place four years ago - I was standing at sunset amongst

the coarse grasses that grow between the Marsh and the canal,when a Cornc rake landed a few feet from me

,and commenced to

c rake. I stepped forward with the intention of lifting the bird,but it took to the wing and crossed to the field on the other side

of the canal . I stood for a few minutes, when the bird again

returned to where I was standing, and it was not until it hadrepeated the coming and going four times that I lost trace of it

in the darkness . The SPOTTED CRAKE appeared at Possil inSeptember, Messrs . Robert and Hugh Wilson believe they

saw one here in a recent year . Mr. Dixon, in his notes, says,“ The WATER-RAIL bred here to my knowledge in the summer

of 1863, and I believe is to be found regularly every season .

”

A t a meeting of this Society on 27 th April, 1872, Mr. G ray

exh ibited two eggs of the Water-Rail taken from a nest of seven

1 The Scot. Jour. of Na t. Hist I . , p. 133 ; The Z oologist, 3rd Sen ,

Vol. XIII . O ct. , 1889.

RENNIE .—THE B IRDS or PO SSIL MARSH. 6 1

found the previous month , 1 and D r. Dewar exhibited eggs of theWater-Rail from Possil Marsh at the meeting on 28th April ,1874. It seems to have remained a breeding species for a

number of years following,as I find from the Anna ls of Scottish

Na tura l History that eggs and birds were obtained in 1889 and

1897 . The Water-Rail is now the rarest of the resident birds .

A few years ago,in conversation with one of the gunners, I was

told that it had often been Shot during winter . However,it was

not until the 1 7 th Ma r,1908, that I first became acquainted

with the Water-Rail here . From this time onwards I have often

seen it,at various times of the year

,either singly or a pair

,

usually in the quiet of the early morning. I have never yet

foun d young birds .The MOORHEN and O O OT are common in the spring , especially

the latter. I have seen as many as a dozen Moorhens during

summer. D ixon records as many as twen ty nests in a day .

What a contrast with the present time, as very few nest now.

In winter there is alway s an occasional one to be found lurking

amongst the reeds . The Coot are all but absent during winter ,but return again g radually from the beginning of March . Th e

numbers fluctuate greatly each year. There are usually about a

score in the spring,although in 1909 I saw about fifty. A fter

the pairing the numbers gradually decrease, and by July lots of

young Moorhens and Coots are to be seen , but with the arrival

of August, the Coot becomes almost a thing of the past. Both

birds suffer greatly during the breeding period , as several of their

nests are destroyed . The Marsh is not the most suitable place

for waders,as it lacks a t all seasons the mudfla ts sometimes seen

at other inland waters around the c ity,yet it is never without

waders of some description, although no rarity has turned up for

some years . The D OTTEREL was observed during D ixon ’s time ,whilst G ray, in B irds of the W est of Scotland (page says“ Mr . Struthers, of Larkhall, has mentioned to me that two

specimens were shot some years ago by Mr . G raham, on the farm

of High Possil.” This,again

,i s just on the other Side of our

boundary line . From autumn till early spring small flocks of

G OLDEN PLOVER are often seen on the wing, passing, sometimes

1 Prev. Nat . Hist. Soc . , G lasgow, IL , p. 186.


along with Lapwings . It is not often they rest here, but they

are found plent ifully in the fields beyond . I noted a very early flock

on the 16th July this year, when twenty-one passed over in asoutherly direction before 4 a m. Both the nesting and winter notes

were heard,as it was by their notes that my attention was attracted

to them. The LAPW ING is fairly common although not numerous,

from the early spring until they begin to flock about June,when fair

numbers are sometimes seen, for example on 15th and 20th Julythis year flocks of as many as 150 to 170 were noted . Their

usual line of flight is over High Possil. They are seen frequently

during autumn and winter. The Lapwing has nested several

times at the Marsh . They seem to be very partial to certain

spots for feeding and for preening themselves . The BLACKWINGED ST ILT was observed by Mr. R obert G ray in 1867 . It is

doubtless this bird he refers to in his Birds of the W est ofScotland (page 304)—

“ A Black-winged Stilt was seen a t Possil

Marsh,it frequented the place for three or four days and was

distinctly observed by diff erent persons . Notwithstanding

repeated attempts on its life the bird luckily escaped .

” The

COMMON SNIPE is often met with throughout the year, but never

in anything like its former numbers . From early Spring and

during the nesting period it is often heard drumming. I have

known four pairs bring off their broods in one season,but now I

think there is not more than one nest. The JACK SNIPE used

to be very plentiful during autumn and winter over forty years

ago . There seems to have been a regular dwindling away from

about this time for a number of years following,until it has

become a thing of the past. So far as I can learn none has been

seen or killed Since 1887 . The COMMON SANDPIPER used to be

regularly seen during the summer and has nested , but within

recent years I have only found it occasionally on its arrival here

about the third week of April, seldom during its stay, and it

appears again about the beginning of August when it is returning

southwards . Until recently one could scarcely visit the Marsh

without either seeing or hearing the R EDSHANK. It cannot be

called common, although I have seen up to about a dozen in the

Spring of the'

year . U sually at least one nest is brought ofl’,

although I have known of three broods being brought off in one

season . No flocks of Redshanks are seen here in winter


Mr. M ‘Culloch informs me that the PUFF IN has been Shot

here within the last forty years . The-R ED THROATED DIVER has

been recorded by Dixon . The GREAT CRESTED G REBE has been

seen within recent years, but never by myself. I have long

watched for it,and it has often been seen on the waters not far

from here. The SLAVONIAN G REB E was seen here in 1874, by

Mr. Samuel M 'Culloch . The LITTLE G REB E is still a resident ,

being oftener heard than seen. In the spring of 1909 seven

birds were seen at once . A lthough a regular nester,I have

never known of more than two pairs nest ing in the same season .

Things are a bit changed now from Mr. D ixon’s time,when he

was able to find about a dozen nests in one day. The following,from G ray ’s B irds of the W est of Scotla nd (page is of more

than passing interest ' “ In the neighbourhood of G lasgow the

Little G rebe is found nesting in Possil Marsh,and also at

Hogganfield Loch . Six teen nests were found in the first

mentioned locality in the breeding season of 1868, many of them

by my friends Messrs .'

W . Lorrain and J. S. D ixon, whose per

severing skill has been the means of revealing the comparative

number of birds breeding in that now rapidly-decreasing marsh .

”

The Spotted F lycatcher, Woodcock , G reat Snipe, and Smew are

said to have occurred, but upon no sure authority. Probably

the sand trippers, “ with black legs,” reported to me were

Dunlins,but I have not been fortunate enough to see this

species .

LIST O F THE B IRD S O F F OSS I L MARSH.

Mistle-Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) . W illow-W ren (P. trochilus) .

Song-Thrush (T. musicus) . Wood-W ren (P .

Redwing (T. ilia cus) . Sedge-warbler (Acrocepha lusphra gFieldfare ( T. pila r is) . mitis) .

Blackbird (T . merula ) . Hedge-Sparrow (Accentor modu

Wheatear (Sax icola cena nthe) . la ris) .

G reenland W heatear (S. cenanthe Dipper (Cinclus a qua ticus) .leucorrhoa ) . Long-Tailed Titmouse (Acredula

VVhinchat (Pra tincola rubetra . ) ca uda ta ) .

Stonechat (P . rubicola ) . G reat Titmouse (Pa rus major ) .

Redstart (Ruticilla phwnicurus) , Coal-Titmouse (P. a ter ) .

Redbreast (Er itha cus r ubecula ). W illow-Titmouse (P. a rtr icapilius

Whitethroat (Sylvia cinerea ) . kleinschmidti) .

Goldcrest (Regulus cr ista tus) . Blue -Titmouse (P. cceruleus) .

Chifl'chaff (Phylloscopus ruflts). W ren (Troglodytesparvulus) .

RENNIE .—THE B IRDS or FOSS IL MARSH. 65

Tree-Creeper (Certhia f amilia r is) .PiedWagtail (Mota cilla lugubr is) .

W'hiteWagtail (M . a lba ) .

G reyWagta il (M . mela nopc) .

YellowWagtail (M . r a ii ) .

Tree-Pipit (Anthus trivia lis) .Meadow-Pipit (A. pra tensis) .

Swallow (Hirundo rustica ) .

House-Martin (Chelidon urbica ) .Sand-Martin (Cotile ripa ria ) .G reenfinch (Ligur inus chlor as) .

Goldfinch (Ca rduelis elegans ) .Siskin (C. spinus) .

House~Sparrow (Pa sser domesticus) .

Chafiinch (Fring illa coelebs) .

Brambling (F . montifr ingilla ) .

Linnet (Linota canna bina ) .

Mealy Redpoll (L . lina r ia ) .

Lesser Redpoll ( L. ruf escens) .

Twite ( L. fia virostr is) .

Bullfinch (Pyrrhula europcea ) .

Corn -Bunting (Ember i z a milia ria ) .Yellow-Bunting (E . c itrinella ) .

Reed-Bunting (E. schceniclus) .

Snow-Bunting (Plectrophenax

n iva lis) .

Starling (Sturnus vulgar is) .Magpie (Pica rustica ) .

Jackdaw (Cor vus monedula ) .

Carrion -Crow (C. corone) .

Rook (C. f rugilegus) .

Skylark (Alauda a rvensis) .

Swift (Cy-pselus apus) .Kingfisher (Alcedo ispida ) .Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus ) .Barn-O wl (Str isrflammea ) .Long-eared O wl (Asio otus) .

Short-cared O wl (A . a ccipitr inus) .

Tawny O wl (Syrnium a luco) .

Sparrow-hawk (Accipiter nisus) .

Peregrine Falcon (Falcoperegr inus) .Merlin (F. cesalon ) .

Kestrel (F. tinnunculus) .

Cormorant (Pha la crocorax ca rbo) .

Heron (Ardea cinerea ) .

Bittern (Botaurus stellar is) .Grey G eese (spp.

Bewiek’s Swan (Cygnus bewicki) .

Mute Swan (0 . olor ) .

Common Sheld-Duck (Tadorna cornuta ) .

Mallard (Ana s boscas) .

Shoveler (Spa tula clypea ta ) .

Teal (Ncitian crocca ) .

Wigeon (Ma reca penelope) .

Pochard (Fuligula ferina ) .Tufted Duck (F . cr ista ta ) .

Goldeneye (Cla ngula glaucion ) .Ring -Dove (Columba pa lumbus ) .Pheasant (Phasia nus colch icus) .Partridge (Perdix cinerea ) .

Corn-Crake (Crest pra tensis) .Spotted Crake (P orz ana ma ruetta ) .

Water-Rail (Ra llus a qua ticus) .

Moor-Hen (Gallinula chloropus) .

Coot (Fulica a tra ) .

Dotterel (Eudromias mor inellus) .G oldenPlover (Cha radr iusplzwia lis) .Lapwing Va nellus vulgaris) .

Black-winged Stilt (H imantopus

ca ndidus) .

Common Snipe (Gallinago coelestis ‘

Jack Snipe (G . ga llinula ) .

Common Sandpiper (Totanus hypoleucus) .

Common Redshank ( T. calidris) .

G reenshank (T. canescens) .

Curlew (Numenius a rqua ta ) .Black Tern (Hydrochelidon nigra ) .

Common Tern (Sternafluvia tilisl.Black-headed G ull (La rus r idi

ba ndits) .

Common Gull (L . canus ) .

Herring-Gull (L. a rgenta tus) .

Lesser Black -backedGull L .f usca s) .

G reater Black -backed Gull (L .

ma rinas) .

Puffin (Fra tercula a rctica ) .

Red-throated Diver (Colymbus sep

tentriona lis) .

G reat-crested G rebe (Podic ipes

cr ista tus) .

Slavonian G rebe (P. aur itus) .

Little G rebe (P . fluvia tzlis).

E


Basking Shark—Cetorhinus max/mus (Gunn)

Stranded on the Little Cumbrae.

By R ICHARD ELMHIRST, F .L.S.

[Read 28th January,

Basking Sharks do not often visit the Clyde area, if we may

judge by the existing records. The Clyde Fauna and Flora ,

1901, records one 8-ft. Specimen from near Turnberry . But

th e numerous records of “ sail-fish ” received from yachtsmen

and others probably refer to this Species . The present specimen

is a large female whose tail has been cut ofi’

; the part stranded

on the Little Cumbrae was about 20 feet long, and I estimate

the total length to have been 28 feet . I have.

been unable to

ascertain definitely how this fish lost its tail . Its colour was

almost black, dorsally Shading down to a slatey grey below, with

an irregular mid-ventral white streak .

The following measurements were made

G irth,

Nose to posterior gill aperture,anterior origin“

of I. dorsal fin,posterior I .

anterior II.

pectoral fin,posterior

Anterior border of pectoral to anteri or border

of ventral, 10 1

Anterior border of pectoral to posterior border

of ventral,

1 1 8

Anterior border of pectoral to anterior border

of anal,

The five gill-slits measured—3 ft. 3 in . 3

Tip of nose to mouth , 1 ft. 1 in .

Length of lower jaw,2 ft.

M ‘ANDREW .—MOSSES FROM VICE-COUNTY 10 1 . 67

Day, in his Fishes of Great Britiam and Ireland, records a

Specimen,28 ft . 10 in .

,from the Isle of W ight . O ur fin measure

ments compare thus

Pectoral fin,

Ventral

Anal

I . dorsal

I I .

These marked diff erences

specimen being much frayed ,fins being worn off .

Mosses from Vice-County 101.

By JAMES M ‘ANDREW,Edinburgh .

[Read 27th December,

In addition to the Mosses from V.C . 10 1 (Cantire south of the

Crinan Canal ) recorded in the Census Catalogue of British

Mosses published in 1907 , during a holiday at Lochgilphead in

1911 I gathered the following, all immediately South of

Ardrishaig and the Crinan Canal —Polytr ichum a lpinum L . ;

Dicranowewi a ci rr a ta Lindb . ; Campy lopus pyr iformis Brid . ;

Grimmia apocarpa Hedw . ,var . r ivular is W . and M . ;

Rhacomitr ium can escens Brid .

,var . er icoides B . and S. Pottia

trun ca tula Lindb . Tor tula laévipila Schwaeg. B arbula topha cea

Mitt. Ba rbu la r igidula Lindb . ; Ba rbula cylindr ica Sehp .

B arbula revoluta Brid . ; B arbula convoluta Hedw. W eisia

vir idula Hedw . O r thotr ichum leiocarpum B . and S. ; O r th .

stramin eum Hornsch . O r th . tenellum’ Bruch Funaria er icetoruin

D ixon ; Bryum bimum Schreb . Mn ium subglobosum B . and S.

Fon tina lis an tipyretica L. Nechera complana ta H iibn . Nechera

crispa Hedw. ; Pterygophyllum lucens Brid . Heterocladium

heter Opterum B. and S. ; Bra chg/ fhecium r ivulare B . and S.

B rachytheciumpopuleum B . and S. B ra chythecium purum D ixon

Eurhyn chium str ia tum B . and S. Eurhyn ch ium conf ertum Milde

Isle ofWight. Little Cumbrae.

In .F t. In . F t.

5 6 3 10

2 9 2 2

1 3 0 11

4 0 3 3

1 4 0 1 1

are due to the Little Cumbrae

about quarter of the length of the


Plagiothecium den ticula tum B . and S. Amblystegium serpen s

B . and S. Hypnum stella tum Schreb ., var. protensum R Ohl ;

Hyp. revolvens Swartz ; H . in termedium Lindb . H. cupressif orme

L .

,var . er icetorum B . and S. H . gigan teum Sehp . H. sa rmentosum

Wahl . H . brevirostre B. and S.

In addition to the above, I gathered the following from the

neighbourhood of Tarbert, Loch Fyne, also in v . c . 101 z—Sphagnumr igidum Sehp .

,vars . compa ctum Sehp . and squa rrosum Russ .

S . subsecundum Nees, var . con tor tum Sehp . S. a cutifolium Ehrh

var . rubellum Russ . 3 S . Girgen sohn ii Russ var . xerophyllum

Russ . Campylopus breuipilus B . and S. Rha comitr ium

sudeticum B . and S. Barbula recurvif olia Sehp . B a rbula

uinea lis Brid . W eisia microstoma C . M . 5 Tr ichostomum

tenuirostre Lindb . O rthotr ichum Lyellii Hook . and Tayl.

Sola chnum ampulla ceum L ; Funar ia Templeton i Sm. ; B ryum

a tropurpureum W . and M . 3 An titr ichia cur tipendula Brid.

Thuidium recogn itum Lindb . B rachythecium a lbicans B . and S.

Eurhyn chium cra ssinervium B . and Eurhyn chium Swartz i i

Hobk . Hypnum ca llichroum Brid .

Though none of the above Mosses are rare, yet they may be ofinterest as new records for Vice-County 10 1 . I am sure that

Mr . P. Ewing could add a number more to the above list.

Proceeding s of the Society.

The fourth meeting of the sixty-second session took place in

the Society’s Rooms, Bath Street, on 27th December, 1912—Mr.

John R . Lee, president, in the chair.

Mr. J . R . Jack, gave a lantern exhibit of photo

graphs in colour, chiefly alpine and lowland plants and landscapes .Mr. R obert M . Fortune also showed some slides . The exhibition

was greatly admired . Mr. James M ‘Andrew contributed a

paper entit led Mosses from Vice-County, containing a

list of new records for that district.

The fifth meeting took place on 28th January, l913—Mr. John

R . Lee, president, in the chair .

Mr. Nicol Hopkins, 4 Campbell Street, Darvel, was elected an

ordinary member.

PROCEED INGS . 69

Mr . R obert W . S. W ilson exhibited a G reater Wheatea r

(Sax icola cenan the leucorrlwa ) from Fairli e (p .

Mr. Peter Ewing, exhibited the following hepatics,which are all new records for the Vice-Coun ties to which they

refer —R iccia bifur ca Hoffm Clova (v .c . 90) J/a rsupella

Sulliva n tii (De Not. ) Evans Canlochan (v . c . Lophoz ia

longifolia (Nees) Schi ffn .,C lova (v .c . R egarding the last

spec ies,Mr. S. M . Macvicar, in his handbook on Hepatics issued

last year,refers to this plant as not yet found in Brita in , but likely

to occur on some of our mountains . It was d iscovered in a wood

near Ki llin in April,1911, and Mr . Ewing picked it upon the Side

of a burn in Clova, in September. 1912. O ther spec ies exhibited

were Plagiochila puncta ta Tayl . , var . minuta Breb .,Ben Voirli ch

(v .c . 99) B a z z a nia tr icrena ta (Wahl . ) Pears var. tr i angular isSchl , Ben Voirlich (v . c . 99) 5 Lepidoz ia setacea ( IVeb . ) M itt ,

var . ser tular ioides (Huben . ) Cooke, Loch-naa mane (v . c .

Scapania suba lpin a (Nees) Dum. var . undulifolia Nees,Ben

Voirlich (v .c . 99) S. obliqua (Arnell ) Schi fiin,Canlochan

(v.c .

Mr. W m. M . Pettigrew exhibited some beautiful autochrome

slides of landscapes and plant studi es .

Mr . R obt. Brown,M .D .

, read a paper entit led “ Mont

Ceni s and its A lpine F lora, whi ch was illustrated by many

plants collected in July, 1912.

Mr . R ichard Elmhirst, gave an accoun t of a Basking

Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) , which was found stranded on the

Little Cumbrae (pp . 66 Mr . Elmh irst also Showed specimens

of Gromia duja rdin ii (Schaudinn), one of the foramenif era , whichhe had found fair ly abundant on rocks near the Biological

Station,Millport .

The Sixth meeting of the session, 1912- 1913, took place on

25th February, 1913—Mr . John R . Lee, president, in the chair.

Before the formal business, appropriate reference was made byMr. A . Hill to the loss to the Society through the dea th of

ex-Deacon-Convener James G oldie, who had been a member

since 1895.

Mr. Chas . A . Allan, B roekeridge, Irvine R oad, Kilmarnock

and Mr. Thos . W . W ilson, 31 Rannoch Street, Langside, were

elected ordinary members .


Mr. J . J. F . X. King, F . E.S.,exhibited a collection of British

Chrysididae. O n behalf of Mr . Chas . Kirk , Mr. John Paterson

exhibited a Bar—tailed G odwit (Limosa lappon ica ) , a male in full

summer plumage,wh ich Mr. Kirk had received in December

from G irvan (Ayr) for preservation .

Mr. T. Thornton Mackeith exhibited a series of beautiful Slides

of natural his tory subj ects, chiefly ornithological .Mr. G eo. Herriot showed some lantern Slides illustrating the

recent serious land -Slide at G lencroe.

The President, Mr . Lee, made some remarks on the moss-genus

Thuidium,Sehp .

,and exhibited examples of the Scottish species

of that genus .

Mr . R ichard Elmhirst, sent the following note on

Tetrabothr ium cylindra ceum,Rudolphi In O ctober

,1912,

Mr. W m. R ennie sent me some worms from a young Black-headed

Gull (Larus r idibundus) from Possil Marsh . The bird was‘ gorged with potatoes

,a this year’s bird .

’ The worms proved to

be T. cylindra ceum (r ide Diesing, Systema Helmin thum,vol I .

p . 600, which species is known as a parasite of the above

and several other species of gulls . The Specimens in question

were ripe,the eggs being extremely large, 0 3 mm.

” This worm

has not previously been recorded for the Clyde Area.

Excursions.

RAW YARDS HOUSE AND R OSEMOUNT,1st July

,1911—Con

ductor, Mr. A . B . Motherwell .—Detraining at A irdrie, the smallparty representing the Society on this occasion

,walked to Gartlea

Hill,from wh ich a great stretch of country was v isible, the

poin ts of interest in the landscape being pointed out by Mr .

Motherwell . A t Rawyards House (John Motherwell, Esq . )Esca llon ia macran tha was seen growing luxuriant ly

' on the

house front . The plant was upwards of five feet in height and

in full flower. Long regarded by some of those present as a

plant partial to the neighbourhood of the sea, it came as a

surprise to see it so healthy so far inland, at about 600 feet

above sea-level . At Mr. A . B .

’

Motherwell’

s own residence,Rosemount, very many indigenous phanerogams and many

exotics, arranged according to their Natural O rders, form'

a


Upon specimens of this tree being submitted to Dr. Henry, he

pronounced them undoubtedly Ulmus glabm Miller. Another

large Elm,of apparently the same species, stood in the Stony

causey Park but was blown down in the winter of 1909-10 .

Measured in 1908, it had a girth of 16 feet 4 inches at 6 feet,bole 20 feet

,height 105 feet. Details regarding the celebrated

Yew Tree at Loudoun Castle will be found in Mr. R enwick ’s

article on the Yew Trees of the C lyde Area (see page A

Poplar (Populus serotina ) , near the gate to the castle on the

G lasgow R oad, has a girth of 9 feet 5g inches at 5 feet. A

Beech at W aterside Farm, which was measured at the Society’s

excursion on 2oth May and found to have a c ircumference of

trunk of 16 feet 15 inches at 5 feet, with a much fluted and

partially decayed trunk has since then been blown down . It was

the largest beech on the Loudoun Estate . A Scots Fir at the old

Kirk of Loudoun had a girth of 11 feet 1 inch at 5 feet,bole

40 feet.SW INLEES G LEN

,DALRY, 2oth April, 1912.

—Conductor,Mr .

Archd . Shanks . The route taken on this occasionwas by Toftsand Ryesholm, crossing over the Rye Water . Drums of boulder

c lay are conspicuous in the landscape here, the town of

Dalry being buil t on the largest one,which is at least

eighty feet thick . Near Hagsthorn the main road was left and

the bed of the Pitcon Burn taken . This stream divides the

parishes of Dalry and Kilbirnie, and is stated by the writer of theNew Statistical Account of the latter parish to intersect a vein of

graphite or blacklead, but the place where this is said to occur is

still unknown to those interested in mineralogy . The G len has

been mostly formed out of sandstone and the blaes associated

with ironstone . Blackband ironstone was at one time worked

here, and the spot is stil l kept in memory by the flow of

water highly charged with iron . The Clayband ironstone, which

has been so extensively mined in the district, is very well exposed,and measures about thirteen inches, wh ich was the full thickness

of the bed . This section may probably have helped to

attract ironmasters to the loca lity. It is believed that theblackband ironstone was discovered in boring for the clay

band which occurs below it. Few flowers were observed, but

Chrysosplen ium a lternt’

folium was quite common and Senecio

ExcunsroNs. 73

sarmcén icus was seen in two places . Though a rare spec ies in

Britain the latter is common in the G arnock valley . The only

moss noticed worthy of mention was O rthotr ichum r iun lare. O f a

total of twenty- seven species of birds seen, perhaps most interest

attached to the newly-arrived summer visitors,which included

nine Willow-W rens (Phylloscopus trochilus) , two Common Sandpipers (Totanus hypoleucus) , and the Swallow (Hirundo rustica ) .

Swinlees G len was much admired . Prominent , a short

distance from the road,is Caerwinning Hill, once strongly

fortified, where Copper mining was carried on about the year 1846.

At Blairock Hill, a few hundred yards farther north , the trap rock

is quarried for repairing the roads . The mineral Pectolite occurs

in the form of amygdules several pounds in weight .

LUGTON TO BE ITH,4th May

, 1912.- Conductor, Mr . D . A .

Boyd .-Although not often visited at excursions of the Society,

the district around Beith presents features sufliciently attractiveand interesting to merit more frequent attention. Radiating

outwards from the town are many roads,bypaths

,and rights of

way,which intersect the neighbouring country, and stretch

towards Dalry, Ki lwinning , Dunlop, Neilston , Lochwinnoch , and

other adj acent parishes . Some of these roads pass along breezy

uplands, and command ex tensive v iews over many miles of

country, to where the line of v ision is bounded by ranges of blue

hills in the far distance . Looked at from a botanist ’s standpoint,

the roadsides around Beith are by no means destitute of interest.

The walls are often formed of limestone,on which grow in

unusual abundance various spec ies of O r thotr ickum and other

mosses that occur less frequently in neighbouring parishes where

the prevailing rocks are sandstone and trap . Another character

istic feature of the Beith district is the unusual number of alien

plants which grow on the roadsides . In the course of a six or

seven-mi le walk from Lugton to Beith , by way of B igfoot and

the Lochlands Road,one may observe patches of O rpine

,

Solomon ’s Seal,Masterwort, Tansy, Leopard

’s B ane,Heart- leaved

Valerian,and Yellow Moneywort or Creeping Jenny . It was

mainly with the view of exploring part of the eastern portion of

the parish,that an excursion from Beith to Lugton was arranged

for the afternoon of Saturday, 4th May . A fter leaving the

Lugton Station, the Beith R oad was followed, which skirted for


a short distance the Caldwell Woods,where the bright

'

tints of

the young foliage formed a picture at once pleasant and refreshing

to the eye. At this point attention was directed to patches ofO rpine and Solomon ’s Seal

,which grew on a roadside bank,

while, in an adj oining meadow, thousands of cups of the Marsh

Marigold spread their golden sepals to the sunshine . In a small

wayside copse were obtained the conspicuous whi te racemes of the

Hagberry or Bird Cherry . At Blaelochhead the leaves of theEarthwort were much affected with Puccin ia bum

’

i,a parasitic

fungus belonging to the U redin eae or rusts . Just beyond the

farm,a view was obtained of the Blae Loch

,a small sheet of

water situated a few hundred yards from the roadside . Accord

ing to Timothy Pont, who wrote in the beginning of the 17th

century,Blae Loch is so named “ because when the firmament i s

most serene and clear, then it is pallid and dead-coloured,con

trair to all other uncorrupt and sweet waters .” The dull-hued

waters of the little lake,however

,are relieved by a graceful

fringe of tall growing reeds, while the spotless blossoms of white

water- lilies glisten on its calm surface . The wet margin of the

loch is carpeted with a luxuriant growth of mosses,abundant in

quantity,and possibly sufficiently varied in quality to be worthy

of examination by our esteemed President .

About half-a-mile beyond Blaelochhead, the party turned into

a byway which led to the picturesquely situated Mill of

Hessilhead. O n the way thither, the abundance and variety

at the wild -flowers attracted notice . Pink blossoms of Wood

Sorrel, red bells of Blaeberry, blue flowers of Wood-Violet and

Wild Hyacinth,and white stars of Wood-Anemone

,occurred in

rich profusion . O n the banks of the stream at the Mill,tall

plants of Sweet C icely luxuriated in the prevail ing moisture.O n rising ground near by, surrounded with old trees

,stands the

ruined mansion of Hessilhead,long the residence of a branch of

the Mon tgomerie family , and the home in the latter part of the16th century of the poet A lexander Montgomerie, author of

The Cherrie and the Slae .” From this point onward,

particularly in the neighbourhood of the en trances to the modern

mansions of Trearne and Hessilhead, the road was pleasantly

wooded,and its margins were covered with a grassy carpet of

soft green. Having rej oined the main road, the party _ passed

p

ExcuRsroxs. 45

through the little village of G ateside, and reached Beith .

A lthough unproductive of any important results, the ex cursion

was nevertheless enj oy able on account of the fresh beauty of the

young foliage and ea rly flowers,and the rural attractions of the

district passed through in the cour se of the aftern oon ’s walk .

O RCHARD COUNTRY , LANARK , 18th May, 1912.—Conductor,

Mr. W . M . Pettigrew. F rom Dalserf,the route followed was

towards the C lyde, when G arrion Bridge was crossed and the

path through the orchards was taken . The C ly de was reached

again nea r Milton Lockhart and the right bank followed

till Crossford was reached . In an ordinary year,the orchard

trees in C lydesdale would have been in full blossom about this

date , but on this occasion the glory had departed . Some com

pensation was found, however, in the wea lth of blossom on the

Hawthorn and in the beauty of the Wild Hy acin ths . The

most inte resting plants noted were the Bird ’s-Nest O rchi s

(Neottia Nidus-avis) , observed in Jock’

s G ill and again nearer

the Clyde ; the Whi te Meadow-Saxif rage (Saxifi'

aga gra nula ta )and the Hairy R ock-Cress (Arabis hirsuta ) on the bank near

Crossford and the Broad- leaved G roundsel (Senecio sar rar en icus)and House-Leek (Semper zn

’

vum tectom m) , which were got on thej ourn ey from Crossford to Braidwood . Among other plants

seen were Ga lium bor ea le, F edia olitm'ia,Dor om

'

cum Pa r

da lianches,Epipactis la ttf olia, and Distera ova ta . Among the

fl ies captured were Dicm n omyia chorea,Mg , D . dumetorum

,

Mg ,Rhipidia macula ta

,Mg ,

An tocha opa li z ans, O -Sack ,Moloplz ilus bifila tus, Vern ,

E r ioptem tr ivialis Mg Tipula

varipenn is, Mg . ,T . verna lis

,Mg ,

B ibio ma rci,L , Pla ticherus

discimanus,Liv .

,P. a lbimanus

,F .

,Melanostomum mellinum

,

L . , Syrphus r ibesti,L. and S. cor ollaa, F . Some 34 species of

birds were noted,including the Blackcap (Sylvia a tr icapilla )

hea rd once, the G arden Warbler (S. hor ten sis) and Wood Wren

(Phylloscopus sibila trix) , both frequent, and the Yellow Wagtail

(Motacilla ra ii) . A blackbird ’s nest buil t on a plant of the

Purple Comfrey was regarded as a curiosity . No Gull was seen

during the day, which is very unusual in any part of“ Clyde . ”


TARB ET AND Luss,23rd May

,1912.—Conductor, Mr. John R.

Lee. A party of about 30 travelled by train from the CentralLow Level Station

,at a m

,to Balloch Pier , thence by

steamer to Tarbet,arriving shortly after mid—day. The weather

conditions were excellent, and, as at this season of the year the

Q ueen of the Scottish Lochs is perhaps a t its best, the beautyof the scenery was keenly enj oyed by the members of the party.

After leaving Balloch,and before passing into the channel to the

south of Inchmurrin, a grand view of the lake is obtained from

the steamer by looking directly northward . The grouping of the

hills around the upper end of the loch is especially fine as seen

from this point . O n the eastern side the imposing mass of BenLomond is seen to great advantage

,the great shoulders of the

mountain, formed by the Ptarmigan on the west and .Ben U rid

to the south-east,combining to lend a sense of sublimity to the

scene . The western side of the loch is flanked by the picturesque

group of the G len Luss Hills,from which a lofty ridge, with well

wooded sides, runs northwards to the Tarbet valley, where thelow hill of Cruach-Tarbet fills up the middle distance . Immedi

ately behind this the lofty ridges of Ben Vorlich form an

appropriate background to what is perhaps one of the best v iews

obtainable of this magnificent loch . The weather being very

clear, the View from this point also included the graceful cone of

Ben O ss filling up the gap in the centre behind G len Falloch .

A fter passing the Island of Inchmurrin, a view was also obtained

of the peak of Ben Laoigh , appearing over the eastern shoulder

of Ben Vorlieb , and patches of snow were observed on the

sides of both these more distant mountains .

O n arriving at Tarbet,a fine view of the rugged peaks of Ben

Narna in and Ben A rthur was obtained, the deep corries near

their summits being very distinctly visible in the clear atmos

phere.

The party nex t proceeded by road towards Luss, the route

lying along the western shore of the loch a distance of some 85miles . For about a mile below Tarbet the road lies through a

deeply wooded tract,emerging upon the edge of the lake below

the mansion house of Stuckgown . In front of the latter the

attention of the party was at tracted by two magnificent azalea

bushes in full bloom.

Excrmsroxs. 77

The house is beautifully situated at the foot of a deep glen ,the lower portion of which is thickly planted with a variety of

coni ferous trees, and from its sheltered position affords favourable

condi tions for a luxuriant growth of exotic shrubs . The wall in

front of Stuckgown is covered by a large quantity of the Black

Spleenwort fern (Asplen ium Tr ichoma fnes) and on the wall top

were found growing a number of stray plants of Saxifmga Geum .

The dominant tree in the woods along the side of the loch is

the O ak, but many other species are mixed with it, the principal

being Birch, A lder, Hazel, Ash, Rowan, and Holly . The Wild

Hyac inth (Scilla nutan s) was seen to perfection in the woods all

along Loch Lomond side . the glorious blue of this much - loved

member of our flora being part icularly well devel oped just at the

date of our visit.

F rom a point about four miles below Tarbet a detour wasmade

to visit the Fairies ’ Lake, a small pool in a hollow on the

mountain side , about three- quarters of a mile above the road , at

an altitude of 600 feet above . sea level . The spot is a very

beautiful secluded hollow, densely shaded with trees, and the

lake itself is rich in aquatic flowering plants and mosses . It is

very deep in the middle, various estimates of its depth being put

forward by members of the party, some of whom thought twelve

feet an exaggeration, whilst others were not satisfied with twice

that estimate . The water is remarkably clear, and an ex tra

ordinary colourati'

on appears in its deepest part,patches of the

bottom having a curious blue-green appearance, which also

extends to obj ects such as sticks, &c .,lying in the water .

Legend attributes this curious phenomenon to the action of a

race of beneficent fairies who formerly inhabited the spot ; butscience, whilst dec lining to accept the old—time explanation, has

not yet found another. O n leaving the Fairies ’ Lake the road

was continued to Inverbeg, at the foot of G len Douglas, where a

halt was made for tea, after which the remaining three miles to

Luss were leisurely traversed .

During the day thirty-two species of birds were noted

including half-a -dozen Tufted Ducks (Fuligula. cr ista ta ) , a pair ofRed-breasted Mergansers (Mergus serra tor) , two Guillemots (Ur iatrofle), and a Red-throated Diver (Colymbus septen tr iona lis) .


G LEN DOUGLAS to W HISTLEF IELD, 15th June , 1 912.—Conductor,

Mr. John R . Lee . A party, numbering nine members, left bytrain from Queen Street for G len Douglas, where by spec ial

arrangement,the train was stopped at the passing-place . From

that point the road was followed down to Gorten on Long Long,

where it j oins the main road from Arrochar to Helensburgh,which latter was then followed to W histlefield.

The weather was at first somewhat unsettled but with the ex

ception Of a smart shower lasting about ten minutes, the after

noon proved fine, and the walk was keenly enj oyed . F ine views

of the mountains of Arrochar and Ardgoil were’

obtained,and

the beauty of the roadway itself was sufficient to make the outing

an exceedingly pleasant one . Near the railway bank at the head

O f G len Douglas a remarkable hepatic drew the attention of the

botanists present. The plant was growing in several dense tufts,of a light glaucous green colour

,with thick but rather brittle

stems,and curious undulated and deeply- lobed leaves . The spec ies

proved on examination to be Lophoz ia in cisa Dum.= Junger

mann ia incisa Schrad . )The moors and banks above Loch Long are very rich in mosses

and hepatics,and some time was spent here by the members

interested in these plants . Among the principal species noted

were W eisia ver ticilla ta Brid .,Leptodon tiumflexifolium Hampe ,

W ebera annotin a Schwg .

,and Neckera pumila Hedw . A remark

ably Slender form Of the common Amblystegium filicinum,

De Not. was observed and spec imens were also gathered of

Hypnum callichroum Brid ., a species formerly thought to be

rather uncommon, but now known to be fairly frequent in this

part O f the dis trict . Near F innart House a large quantity of the

beautiful Mn ium undula tum L . was Observed growing at the

foot of the wall by the roadside, and a closer search revealed thesporogonia in fine condition, an unusual occurrence in Clydesdale.The freshwater algae were O f a varied and interesting nature.

Several members O f the Conjugatae, Spirogyras and Z ygnemas,were got

, but none showingzygospores. Tetra spora gela tinosa was

fairly abundant and Often associated with it was Drwparna ldia

glomera ta . A fine mass of B otrydina. vulgaris Bréb . was got.This is noted for area G . in the B rit. Assoc. Handbook ( 190 1)List of Fresh-water Algae

,but is really a very simple lichen with


I saw three Swans crossing Fairlie R oads, coming from the south

end of the Li ttle Cumbrae and flying in the teeth of a S trong

north -easterly breeze . They crossed Little Brigaird Point within

eighty yards of where I was concealed, and thus gave me a perfect

view of the coloration of their bills and I had no difliculty inmaking them out to be Bewick’

s Swans. They continued on

their way up the shore line towards Fairlie, evidently making for

one of the sheltered bays below that village but we failed to find

them there later on in . the day . Wild Swans are very infrequent

visitors to this part of the coast, and during the last twelve years

I only know O f one instance, namely, on lst January, 1907, when

three Swans were seen by others as well as myself, but not identi

fied (Trans. Na t. Hist. Soc G las . , Vol. VIII . ,new series

,page

1 78) and none of the local fowlers whom I have consulted on thesubj ect knows of any other occurrence . Previous to 1869 when

G rav and Anderson ’s paper On the B irds of Ayrshire and

W igtownshire was published , Bewick’

s Swan was known as an

occasional visitor, in severe weather, to lochs and ponds in these

counties (Proceedings Na t. H ist. Soc .,Glas. ,

Vol. I . ,page

Since then it has not been recorded as having actually been seen

in Ayrshire, although on 3 l st December, 1906

,Mr. T.

Thornton M ‘K eith Observed in R enfrewshire, twelve miles south

of G lasgow,thirteen birds of this species flying south-west into

Ayrshire (Ann . Scot. Na t. Hist. , 1907, page —R obert W.

S. Wilson, Cathcart .

W h ite-headed Chafiinch (Fr ingilla ccelebs) .—O n ChristmasDay

,1912

,at W illiamwood (E . R enfrew) , I saw a cock Chaflinch

with a pure white head and neck—a handsome bird—JohnPaterson .

A prolific Blackb ird (Turdus merula ) .—In 1912 I saw aBlackbird

'

s nest with young ones which were successfully reared .

The hen then laid a clutch of eggs in an old nest which was

robbed . She then went back to the first nest,and laid another

c lutch of eggs, and successfully reared the young ones. She then

laid a third clutch in the same nest,and again successfully reared

the y oung. That was four c lutches Of eggs the bird laid,and

three of these were hatched and the young ones successfullv

reared—John Craig, Beith .

( the C lasgow maturalistThe Journal of the NATURAL HISTO RY SO CIETY

O F G LASG O W

(Including the Transactions and Proceedings of the Society , T hird Series) .

Vol. V. , NO . [May, 1913.

Th e Return of Summer-Birds to the Clyde Area in 1913 .

By JOHN PATERSON .

DUR ING the spring of 1912 we were favoured with cont inuous

fine weather, and it was pointed out in the report on the return

of our summer-visitors for that year, that to that fact was

probably to be attributed the early appearances then recorded .

If there has been cause for complaint about the weather durin g

the same season in 1913,it has not been SO bad as to a ct as a

deterrent to the birds and in consequence the fir st arrivals,

on the whole, in thi s year’s li st, will be found to be rather earli er

than in 1912. The present year, indeed, to judge by the returns,had the advantage of a better start . The annual immigration O f

WHEATEARS was very widely observed in A rran, R enfrew,and

Lanark on the 29th of March, whi le among hi rundines SAND

MARTENS and SWALLOWS were well in advance of their usual time

Of appearance, being seen in many loca li ties in the first and

second weeks of April . The most striking event,however

,at

any rate that one most easily Observ ed,i s the appearance of the

W ILLOW-WREN,as it comes in vast numbers

,and makes the air

vocal with its song for a few days wherever there are trees . In

1913 the main body of thi s spec ies appeared a few days later

than in the previous vea r .

LIST O F ARR IVALS O F SUMMER-B IRDS IN THE O RDER O F

THE IR APPEARANCE IN 1913 .

LESSER BLACK-BACKRD G ULL (Larus f uscus)—three,Dalmuir

(W . Renn ie) , also E rskine Ferry (T . Malloch ) , 19th March ;Broomielaw (W . R . Baxter) , 22nd Pollok Castle (D . M ‘Donald)

F


23rd G reenock, many (Malloch) , 24th ; Erskine, eleven (Malloch) ,28th ; flocks on ploughed fields between O ld Kilpatrick andDalmuir (R enni e) , 28th .

WH ITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla a lba )—Gadder, one (A . R oss), 2 l st

March ; Stepps MOSS, one 5 (Ross) , 28th ; Caldercuilt on Kelvin ,one 27th G iff

'

nock, one (J . R obertson) , 30thSummerston, three (R ennie) , 6th April ; Possil, three (Rennie),14th .

WHEATEAR (Saxicola oen an the)—Kildonan , two (Dr. Fullarton),24th March ; Kilmacolm, three (T. Thornton M ‘Keith) , Monie

more, Lamlash , numerous (Fullarton) , Possil to Cadder, fourteen

(R ennie) , Mearns, one (J . R obertson) , Foxbar (C . S. Bine

R enshaw) , JO hnstone to G reenock , seven (Malloch )—all on 29th .

Mr. R enni e makes the Observation that on the ground which

yielded him fourteen on 29th he could see but two on 30th .

SAND -MART IN (Cotile ripar ia )—Kelvin, two 27th

March ; same locality, eight l st April ; Summer

ston,half-a -dozen (R ennie and W ilsons) , 6th Rouken G len

,two

(Robertson) , 6th ; Summerston, thirty 13th ; Beith

(J . Craig) , 17th ; G ryfe, five (Malloch ), 19th .

R ING—O UZ EL (Turdus torqua tus)—Mistylaw,one 3 (Malloch) ,

29th March ; Cart at C larkston, one (H. W. and R . W. S.

Wilson) , 13th April .

SWALLOW (Hir i mdo rustica )—Rouken G len, three, evidently 3

(Robertson), 6th April, and Cadder , three (Rennie), same date ;Darnley G len (T . W. W ilson) , 12th Possil

,two (R ennie), 13th ,

and Summerston ,two with forty Sand-Martins

,

same date ; Whiting Bay, numerous (Fullarton) , Endrick Water,

(W . L . Chadwick) , and Rouken, three (R obertson)—all on 19thDarvel (Hopkins ) , 20th Craigends, three (Malloch) , 22nd

Netherlee, one (W ilsons) , 23rd ; Possil Marsh , arrived

sunset 25th . Mr . R ennie writes regarding this movement as

follows z—“ About sunset my attention was attracted to what

appeared a wriggling mass high in the clouds . O n fixing the

glass on them I saw they were small birds . They gradually

began to descend,when I saw they were swallows . W hen they

had descended to a height at which they could be distinguishedindividually with the naked eye, their antics were very interesting .

PATERSO N.—THE R ETURN O F SUMMER-B IRDS . 83

F irst, they seemed to gather themselves into one bunch , then

Open out into a wi de crescent . gradually lowering themselves, and

then coming together would pass like a flash and ri se up into a

mass again . I watched them for about twenty minutes, when

I lost them in the darkness . Thev seemed to me to be all females,with the exception of a few males . SO promi nen t were they in

the sky,and their behaviour so ex traordinary

,that the men at

the R ows ’ Opposite the Marsh seemed to become thoroughly

engrossed in following them .

”

O n the 3rd of April,in the

evening,Mr . R enni e saw,

again at F oss il , aflock Of over twohundred which appeared suddenly, and after flying aroun d and

over the surface of the Marsh . went O ff in a northerly direction .

W ILLOW-WREN (Phylloscopus troch ilzts)—Lagg, several (Fullarton) , 7 th April ; E ldersli e, one (Malloch) , 15th April, but not

again noticed there till 24th Rouken G len (T. W. Wilson) , l 6thBeith

,one (3

‘

(Craig) , 1 7th W illiamwood,one

,Muirend

,one

(R obertson) 20th Kilmacolm Darvel (Hopkins) ,G arscadden (Baxter)— all on 2oth ; Possil (R ennie) , satisfied not

more than two Possil (Rennie) , several, 2lst . and Cadder, com

mon ,22nd April—the first appearance of numbers ; Cadder

Bridge and Wilderness,four 23rd ful l numbers

,

evening of 25th , at Merrylee Wood , accordin g to Mr. J . R obert

son , who foun d a nest of this species with seven eggs there on

20th May .

COMMON SANDP IPER (Totanus hypoleuczts)—Summerston , one

8th April ; Kelvin, one (Renni e) , 13th ; Muirend.

one heard on 15th at pm. while half a gale was blowing

from S.W . accompani ed by very heavy rain (Robertson) ; John

stone, two (Malloch) , 16th ; Beith (Craig) , and Kilmacolm,one

17th ; Endr ick Water (Chadwick) , 19th Darvel

(Hopkins ) , 20th G ifl'n ock, between 9pm. and pm ,heard

passing three times, 22nd (R obertson) Foxbar (Bine R enshaw) ,24th .

CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus r zgfus)—Whiting Bay and Lamlash(Fullarton) 9th , 17th , and 22nd April ; Rouken G len (T . W.

Wilson) , 16th ; Beith (Craig) , one 6 , 19th ; Darvel (Hopkins) ,25th .

TREE-PIP IT (An thus trivialis)—O bserved and heard by Nicol


Hopkins at Darvel on 13th April, the day on which it was heard

at Craigends last year by Mr. Malloch Garscadden (Bax ter) ,2oth Milliken (Malloch) , 22nd W illiamwood, one (R obertson ),27th very common at all usual haunts in Cadder on 3rd May

,

and widely reported throughout Ayr, Renfrew,Lanark

,and

Dumbarton on 4th and 5th .

HOUSE-MART IN (Chelidon urbica ) —Fossil (R ennie) , two, 17thApril ; Endrick (Chadwick) , 19th G arscadden (Bax ter) , 20th ;Cra igends, two (Malloch) , 22nd Beith (Craig), one 5 , 27th

Kilmacolm 3oth ; Darvel (Hopkins) , 4th May.

YELLOW WAGTAIL (Motacilla ra ii )—Beith (Craig) , two, 20thApril ; Summerston, six 23rd Milliken

, one

(Malloch), 23rd ; Possil, about Six passed over (Rennie) , 25th ;Muirend (Robertson) , one, same date ; Kirkton Dam,

Neilston

(Wilsons and R obertson) , 26th ; Darvel (Hopkins) , 27th . At

Possil Marsh , on l st May, Mr . R ennie Observed thirty- two

( 5 and 9 and immediately after, he writes, “ a flock of

anything from forty to Six ty were to be seen flying about for a

few minutes, but they suddenly disappeared , and I was unable

to see more than half-a—dozen in the reeds.” At Kilmacolm on

3rd May, Mr. M‘K eith Observed three . Yellow Wagtails have

been pretty much “ in the picture ” during this year ’s spring

migration, and I was gratified to see a dozen on haughs on the

right bank of the C lyde between Milton Lockhart and Waygate

shaw,on the 17th O f May. I have no recollection Of seeing this

species further up the river than Crossford, which is just a mile

above the place here referred to.

CUCKOO (Cuculus canora s)—Dullatur 20th April

Lagg,seen and calling (Fullarton) , 22nd Beith, one (3

‘

(Craig) ,22nd W h istlefield, Gareloch 23rd Darvel (Hopkins ),28th ; Howwood, one (Malloch) , 30th Inchtavannach , two

(W ilsons) , 4th May .

CORNCRAKE (Urea: pra tensis)—Muirend (Robertson) , 23rd

April ; Lochfaulds, Possil (R ennie) , 25th Beith , one 3 (Craig) ,28th ; Darvel (Hopkins) , 29th ; Muirend (Wilsons), 30th ; Craigends

,one (Malloch) , l st May ; in East R enfrew, from Cathcart

to Darnley, quite up to average numbers of recent years by 4th

May (R obertson) .

PATERSO N.—THE R ETURN O F SUMMER-BIRDS .

WH INCHAT (Pra tincola ra betra )—Bardowie, one (Macdonald ) ,25th April ; Linwood, two (Malloch) , 3oth on 3rd May, at

Beith (Craig) , Possil and Gadder, two pairs and two single birds

(Rennie, G alloway, and Cumming) , and Darvel (Hopkins) on

4th May,on Mearns Moor

,three (Wilsons) , and Muirend and

Gifl'nock,several (R obertson ) .

R EDSTART (Ra ticillaphaen icurus) —Cra igends (Malloch ) , one 525th April ; Cadder (Renn ie) , 27 th G arscadden (Bax ter) ,27th Inchtavanna ch (Wilsons), a pair, 3rd Ma y ; Cochno, one

5th .

SWIFT (Cypselus apus)—.

Beith (Craig), one, 27th April ; Kilma

colm,three 3rd May ; G ifl'nock (R obertson) , l0th ;

Possil,two (R ennie) , and Rouken G len, three (R obertson) , 11th

K ih acolm,eight (Malloch) , 12th ; JO hns tone (Malloch) , none

seen till 2 l st Darvel (Hopkins) , 23rd,“ very late .

”

SEDGE-WARBLER (Acrocepha lusphragmitis)—G ryfeWater, one,

(Malloch ) , 30th April ; Possil, one (Rennie) , same date ; Possilagain (R ennie) , on lst May, five ; Beith (Craig) , one 5 ,

2nd ;

on same date not less than ten at Fossil,

“ lots O f song ”

(R enni e)again on same date at Caldercuilt-on -Kelvin

,two (M

‘Dona ld)Darvel (Hopk ins) , 3rd ; New ton Mearns (M

‘Donald) , Rouken

G len, one, and Darnley G len , one (Robertson)—all on 4th .

COMMON WH ITETHROAT (Sylvia cin erea ) - F irst Observed at

Clippens on 3oth April,by Mr . Malloch

,it was widely observed

between 3rd and 5th May, as the following will make plain

Cathcart, one (Robertson) , 3rd G iflnock, three (R obertson) ,Darvel (Hopkins) , Beith (Craig) , on 4th ; Cochno (Macdonald ) ,Inchtavannach , one (Wilsons) , on 5th , being heard before sunrise

in latter case and not being traceable in the island the previous

day. Mr. Matthew Barr, formerly of Beith , used to declare that

this species began buildin g immediately upon arrival , as he could

usually find the beginnings O f a nest as soon as he saw the bird .

In the present year Mr . J ohn R obertson found,at Merrylee

Wood,a nest with four eggs on 2oth May

,which illustrates the

haste w i th whi ch the Common W hi tethroat plunges into domesticbusiness upon its arrival .

WOOD -WREN (Phylloscopus sibila tr ix)— Inchtavannach , three 5(Wilsons) , 3rd May ; Rouken G len , one (R obertson) , 4th G are

lochhead (A . Douglas M‘Call) , 4th ; Darvel (Hopkins) , 6th .


GARDEN W ARBLER ( Sylvia hortensis)—Rouken G len,two

(Robertson) , 4th May ; Darvel (Hopkins) 12th .

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (fif uscicapa grisola ) - O ld Mearns,one

(Wilson) , 1 1th May ; Darvel (Hopkins), 12th ; Rouken G len,

three (Robertson) , 20th .

COMMON TERN ( Stern afluoiatilis)—FO SSII one (Rennie), 11thMay .

Mr. John R obertson writes that “on 4th May, between

Muirend and Rouken G len, I noted fifteen species of summer

birds. I think I have never had as big a number on one day at

a similar date before, showing that the species were well repre

sented though they were not all in force .”

From what precedes, it will be seen that the compiler of this

report has received very cordial support from many observers,to

all of whom he gives hearty thanks .

This j ournal now contains detailed reports on the appearance

of our summer bird-visitors for the y ears 1908- 1913 inclusive,and I have prepared a Table, based on the information con

tained therein, which is appended . In addition to the dates

of earliest appearance, I have added , in another column,the

average date,in the case of all species widely distributed and

regularly observed and reported on at the vernal migration . For

the usual March arrivals the average dates are based on the six

years’ Observations,but it may be remembered tha t migration

was almost at a standstill during April, 1908, and the un

precedentedly late dates in that month that year are consequently

excluded for the Swallow and following species .

To test the accuracy O f the average dates, I have gone over a

like period anterior to 1908- 1913, for which I have data in my

possession , and have found that, speaking roughly, in the case

of half the species the average dates have come out exactly the

same ; for the third quarter of the species one day either earlier

or later and the exceptions worth drawing attention to are the

Willow-Wren, which came out two to three days earlier, Whinchat

six days later, Swift a week later. Leaving untouched those

average dates which have been completely confirmed and those

showing a negligible variation as a result of extending the

comparison to an earlier period, and splitting the diff erences

emerging-

in the cases of the Willow-W ren,Whinchat, and Swift,


Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla ra ii) ,Tree-Pipit (An thus tr ivia lis) ,Cuckoo ( Cuculus -canora s) ,Corncrake ( Crewpra ten sis) ,Whinchat (Pra tin cola rubetra ) ,Sedge-Warbler (Acrocepha lus phragmilis) ,Swift ( Cypselus apus) ,Whitethroat ( Sylvia cinerea ) ,Spotted F lycatcher (Muscicapa gr isola ),Garden W arbler (Sylvia hor tensis) ,

TABLE O F F IRST APPEARANCES O F SUMMER-B IRDS IN THE CLYDE

AREA,1908- 1913 .

1908 1909 1910 1911 1912

Lesser B lack-backed Gull,W hite W agtail,W h eatear, 18/3 27/3 23/3Sand-Martin ,

Ring- O uz el,

Chiff chaff , 20/4 3/4

Swallow,

Common Sandpiper,W illow-W

’

ren ,

House-Martin,

Tree- l’ipit,Yellow W agtail,Cuckoo,Corncrake,

Redstart,

W h inchat,Swift,Sedge

-W arbler,

W hitethroat,G rasshopper

-W arbler,

W ood-W ren ,

Blackcap,

1 Main body end of month .

2 Main bodyfirst days of May.

3 Nowhere common

till 21st. 4 Common days later.

5 Not common till 26th .

6 Abundant, 2oth .

7 Main body, 24th/25th .

8 Average date of main body, 23rd/24th April. 9 For

four years:1 0 For four years.

1 1 l 4th May before several appeared.

‘ 2 Common ,

12th/l4th May.

1 “ Increased steadily for twelve days.

1 4 Not in force till 10th

May. An exceptiona l appearance excluded in calculating average.

18th/19th April20th

20th

2lst

27th

l st May

l st

lst

8th/9thl0th

1913 1908-13

Average

BAGNALL.—NOTES O N CLYDE MYR IAPODA. 89

1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1908-13Avera g eFive

Garden -W a rbler, years

Nightjar,Five

Spotted Flycatcher, 1 l/5{ years8

Common Tern ,

In the above table it h as not been though t of any interest to work out the

averages in th e case of species whi ch a re not common ,or whi ch are not so

dis tributed a s to be easily O bserved by those upon whose work th e figures in the

table are based.

Notes towards a Knowledg e of the Clyde Myriapoda .

By R ICHARD S. BAGNALL , F .E .S.

(Hope Department of Z oology, Un iversity Museum, O xford) .

[READ 25th March,

I HAVE never made any systematic attempt to collect the

Myriapods in the C lyde area ,but as only thirteen species are

recorded in the British Association Handbook of the Faun a of

that A rea, I th ink my few records should be published, and

perhaps others will tak e up the special study of these creatures .

Most of my material was taken dur ing a short holiday

at R othesay, including a day a t O rmidale and another a t

Brodick, and in the spring of 1912, a week-end at Ardlui added

some interesting species, notably Lithobius borea lis Mein .,and a

recently described species O f Scolopen a’rella . That much work

remains to be done in the Myriapods of thi s coun try is beyond

doubt . In litt le more than a sea son ’s collecting in the North

umberland and Durham district, I brought to light over s ix ty

species, including more than twenty additions to the Bri tish

fauna . These results were largely due to a special study of the

two Obscure groups, the Pauropoda and the Symphyla , but a t the

same t ime, notable captures amongst the larger forms were also

made, such as B ra chychceleum'

a bagna lli Verhoefl', the type of a


new family,Titanosoma jura ssicum Verh .

,in numbers ;

Cra spedosoma simile Isoba tes va r icorn is C .L .K . Poly

desma s cor ia ceus Porat,&c .

,&c . I have received much help in

the identification of the Ch ilopoda and Diplopoda proper (groups

that I cannot pretend to have studied c losely) , from Mr . Ed .

Ellingsen,of K ragerO , and Professor Verhoeff, of Munich .

Thirty - four forms are noted below . Those marked with an

asterisk are not recorded in Mr. Boyd ’s Clyde list,whilst his list

includes J ulus pusillus Leach , Cr a spea’osoma rawlinsii Leach

,

Atr a ctosoma polydesmoides Leach (perhaps the Polymicrodon

recorded below, ) and Sligma logaster sublerraneus Leach,not

recorded by me.

O rder Chilopoda .

LITHO B IIDJE .

Li thobius f orfica tus, L .—O rmidale, one young ; R othesay

,

common Lochgoilhead , A rdlui, &c .

Lithobius var iega tus, Leach —O ne 5 and one 9 Rothesay .

*Lithobius glabra tus, C .L.K . (L. melanops Newp.) —Underloose bark of fir stumps, O rmidale and Lochgoilhead .

*Lithobius cra ssipes, C .L .K .—Common

,two 5 8 one 52, one

young,R othesay ; four 5 s

,two 9S, one young, Ardlui ;

Lochgoilhead .

*Lithobius borea lis, Meinert. —O ne 9 near summit of Ben

Vorlieb .

*Hen icops1"a lvicorn is, Meinert.—O ne young, R othesay .

SCO LO PENDRIDZE .

*Cryptops horten sis, Leach — In the Botanic G ardens, G lasgow.

G E O PHILIDZE .

Geophilus longicorn is, Leach . (G .flavus De. G ) . -NO doubt

common , R othesay and A rdlui .*Geophilusprox imus, C .L.K .

—Near O rmidale, a few examples .*Geophilus carpophaga s, Leach —Several examples from


O rder Diplopoda .

G LO MER IDJE .

Glomer is margina ta , Vill .—I have noticed this species in manyClyde localities .

*Glomer is margin a ta var . perplexa .—O ne example

,O rmidale.

This distinct little form,recently recorded by myself from

Durham,is referred bv Verhoefl' to the var . perplexa of G .

ma rgin a ta ,whilst another authority refers it to G . connexa C .L .K .

It agrees very well in colour pattern with connexa,but is only

about one-third the size of examples in my collection . It is also

very much smaller than typical ma rg ina ta .

PO LYDESMIDZE .

Polydesmus complana tus, L .—Not uncommon . Though I have

only bottled a few specimens ( 2 5 S from R othesay), I have seenthe spec ies in many localities .

*Polydesmus den ticula tus, C .L .K Two 5 S and young,R othesay ; one 5 one 9 and young, Ben Vorlich .

*0 r thomorpha gra cilis, C .L .K .—In hothouses very common,

G lasgow .

a"B ra chyolesmus superus, Latz el.—Ardlui

,several examples

under holly bark two 5 S, two 9s, and young, R othesay .

CHO RDEUMIDZE .

*Polymicroclon la tz eli , Verh .— O ne example from R othesay .

J UL IDE .

J ulus sabulosus, L .—Near Ayr, R othesay, Ardlui . &c.

J ulus a lbipes, C .L .K .—Common .

J ulus pun cla tus, Leach (J . silva ram Mein . ) —Also common .

*J ulusf a llax, Meinert. —O ne 9, Rothesay .

B lanjulus guttula tus, (Bosc . )—Common , Shandon, R othesay,G lasgow

,Ayr, !Si c .

*B lanjulusj uscus, Am. Stein—Seven 9s, Ardlui.*Bla njulus pulchellus, Koch —S everal specimens from the

Botanic G ardens,G lasgow

,are almost certainly referable to

this form .

BO YD—RECORDS or M ICROFUNG I F O R THE CLYDE AREA. 93

Some Additional Records of Microfung i for the

Clyde Area .

By D . A . BOYD .

[Read 25th March,

DUR ING the summer and autumn of 1912 the amoun t Of

sunshine experienced in the W est of Scotland was considerably

below the average,and for many weeks the temperature remained

abnormally low for that period of the year . A s a result of the

unfavourable weather,the larger fungi were reported in most

locali ties to be ve ry scarce,even in pla ces where in autumn they

are usually to be found in abundance . The m inute forms,

however are in general much less readilv aff ected by varying

degrees of warmth and moisture . and it can scarcel y be said that

in the Clyde A rea any corresponding dimi nution in their

numbers was perceptible . Since 25th J une, 1912, when my last

report was submi tted,

* 56 species have been added to the li st for

that regi on . O f that number,27 are known to have already

occurred in o ther parts of Britain ; whi l e other 22 spec ies have

not been previously reported for Britain , and 7 others are

beli eved to be new to science . As a description of the various

species new to science or to Britain will appear in the forthcoming

part of the Tran sa ctions of the B r itish Mycologica l Society for

1912,further reference to them may be postponed until a later

period in the session .

The following 27 British species have been added to the list

for the Clyde Ar ea during the period mentioned, and have a llcome under my own notice . The sign i

“ is prefix ed to namesof localities where records were Obtained at ex cursions of the

An dersonian Naturali st s ’ Society ; and thanks are due to Mr .R . B . Johnstone

,Hon . Secretary Of that Society, for permission

to include these records in this report . I have also to express

my grateful thanks to Miss A . Lorrain Smith,

and

Mr. J . Ramsbottom , B .A .

,for kind aid in the identification of

many of the above-mentioned species . The sign“

1”is prefixed to

names of localities where specimens certified by them were obtained.

G la sgowNa tura list, iv. , 124.


Protomyces menyan this De Bary.—Forming small

,scattered ,

slightly convex patches of a reddish colour,on living leaves of

Menyan thes tr ifolia ta A shgrove Loch, near Stevenston , and at

Blae Loch , parish of Beith (Avrshire) .

En torrhi z a Ascherson iana De Toni—Forming white gall- likegrowths attached to living roots of J un cus bufon ius ; locally

abundant on shores of TLoch Fad (Kirk Dam) , R othesay .

Mollisia epitha llin a Phil . (SE Plow—O u thallus of Peltigera

(Jan ina ; Kilwinning .

Dasyscypha hyalina (Pers . ) Mass — Common on damp fir-wood,

inner surface of loose bark , !he . Stevenston , West Kilbride , &c .

Hercospora tilice (Fr .) Tul. —O n dead bark of Ti lia ; Beith

(Ayrshire ) , and near Abington (Lanarkshire) .

Eutypa Za ta (Pers . ) Tul. —Forming a thin black crust, often

many inches in extent, on dead branches of Acer,&c . West

Kilbride,Kilbirnie

,!lac .

Leptospora spermoides Fckl. —Common on rottenstumps , where the crowded perithecia often form a broad crust ;\Vest Kilbride, Dalry, (Ste .

Didymella superflua (Eckl ) Sacc .—O n dead stems of

Campanula la tifolia ,

‘

lDalry.

Phyllosticta ulmi West—O n living leaves of Ulmus ; W estKilbride

,Dalry

, IBeith ,Lochwinnoch .

Ph . destructiva Desm.—Tn withered spots on living leaves of

Menyan thes tr ifolia ta ; West Kilbride, and near iBeith.

Ph . scrophular ice Saco .—O u fading leaves of Scrophular ia

nodosa ; near tStevenston .

Ascochyta armora cioe Fckl. —O u living leaves of Cochlearia

Armora cia ; West Kilbride .

Septor ia menyan this Desm.—O n living leaves of Menyan thes

trif olia ta ; W est Kilbride, Stevenston, iBeith (Ayrshire) , and at

IJ ohnstone Loch , G artcosh (Lanarkshire )S. cercosporoia

’es Trail . l iving leaves of Chrysan themum

maximum ; iHunterston, near West Kilbride.

S. calystegioe W est .—O n fading leaves of Calystegia sepium ;

fDalry.


attended by a party fairly representative of our most active

workers, i t would enable much information to be obtained

regarding a part of our di strict which has as yet been only very

imperfectly investigated .

G LEN MASSON, 14th September, 1912.—Conductor, Mr. Alex

ander Ross—The weather,which began badly

,was still

unfavourable as the steamer sailed up the Holy Loch . The hills

around were clad in a mantle of mist,which was apparently

rolling downward and making the outlook rather gloomy .

However, even under these conditions the beauty of the scenery

could not be hidden,and occasional gleams of sunshine

brought out a play of colour that only our Highland glens can

show . By the time the party arrived at the G len Masson road

all fear of a drenching had passed, and during the remainder of

the day the conditions gradually grew better, till blue sky and

bright sunshine prevailed .

Landing at Ardanadam the party proceeded along the shore of

the Holy Loch , turned in to the G len Masson road, and followed

this as far as the falls . O n the homeward j ourney the road past

the Cot House was taken , the bridge over the Echa ig crossed,

and the shores of the Holy Loch traversed to Kilmun,where the

steamer was caught for home.

The ground covered is familiar to most members of the society,and the physical features of the district are well known and

already recorded in our transactions,so that there is no need for

any description here .

The entomologists were fairly successful for the time of the

year,and among the captures were the following Tipulidae °

Dixa macula ta,Mg ,

1 5 Limnobia n ebeculosa,Mg ,

a few ;D icranomyia modesta , Mg ,

several ; D. stigma tica , Mg ,1 5 ;

Rhipidia ma cula ta , Mg , 5 and 9 Goniomyia sp.

,dark variety

,

I 5 ; Molophilus appendicula ta s, Staeg ,several ; Rhypholophus

linea tus, Mg ,several ; R .

fva’r ius

,Mg ,

in c louds ; Er i Optera

tcen ionota , Mg ,several ; E . tr ivia lis, Mg ,

several ; Limnophi la

f er ruginea , Mg , 1 9; L . n emor a lis, Mg ,several ; Trichocera

annula ta , Mg ,1 9 T . hiema lis Mg ,

several ; T.

fregela tion is,

L .

,2 5 5 Ama lopis imma cula ta

,Mg ,

3 5 5 and 2 9 Q and

Tipula conf usa , V. dc W ulp. , 5 and S2

Excus srons. 97

Hovering fl ies were scarce , only a female Pla tuchirus

discima nus,Fah .

,and a male and female Syrphus ba ltea tus

,

Deg,being taken .

Mr . King collected a fine series of Phi laenus spuma rius, L inn

showing almost endless variations . In the B r itish Associa tion

Handbook,1901

,this species i s recorded as “ abundant in many

parts of R enf rew ,

”I t can be taken abundantly almost

anywhere in the Clyde area .

An interesting capture in Psylla f usci, Linn ,was made near

the entrance to Benmore Estate . where the insect was taken

from some shrubs of box . In the Brit ish Association Handbook,

it is nored as being got from‘ various garden plants, but

certainly not box,

The ground passed over has on former occasions yielded quite

a number of Tipul idae which have rarely been cap tured elsewhere

in the’ Clyde area,but during this excursion none of these w ere

seen .

Among the plants noted were the gipsy -wort,Lycopus europceus,

L,and the great yellow loosestrife

,Lysima chia vu lga r is L .

Both of these were growing in a swampy bottom off the G len

Masson road,about half-a -mile from the shore of the Holy Loch .

Mr. J . G . R obertson reports that the district should be a good

one for mosses and other cryptogamic plants, but that time was

too limited to make a thorough search in the G len,where by far

the best ground is . The list,therefore

,is not really a represem

ta tive one . Perhaps the best species noted are O rthotr icham

diaphanum ,Schrad .

,at Sandbank on old walls

,and Hyocomiumflagella re B . d: S.

,in G len Masson .

The following is the list —Polytr ichum a loides,Hedw .

,P .

piliferum,Schreb . ,

Ditrichum homoma llum,Hampe D icra nella

varia,Schp. ,

D . squar i'

osa,Sehp .

,D icra num majus, Turn .

,

Rha com itr ium protensum,Braun , R . a cicula re

,Brid .

,R . lanugin

osum,Brid .

,Gr immia apocarpa ,

Hedw .,var . r ivula r is

,W . M .

,

G’. pulvina ta , Sm.

, O rthotr ichium Luellii,H . d: T .

, 0 . diaphanum ,

Schrad 0 . leioca rpum,B . S. Ulota cr ispa , Brid .

,U. phyliau tha ,

Brid . , En ca lypta streptoca rpa , Hedw.

,W ehera elonga ta ,

Schwgr .

,

W . nutans,Hedw. ,

B ryum a lpinum,Huds .

,a ium hornum

,L .

,

M . pun cta tum,L. , Hyocomiumflagella re, B . d: S.

,JVeclazra

complana ta ,Hiibn .

,P terogophyllum lucen s

,Brid .

,Bra chg/thecium

G


plumosum, B . S.,B . r ivula re, B . S.

,B . rutabulum

,B . (St S.

,

E uryn chium myosuroides, Sehp .,E . p

fr cetongum,B . S. , E .

Swar tz ii,Hob .

,Amblystegium filicinum,

De Not ,Hypnum

stella tum, Schreb . , H. revolvens, SW . ,H. Schreber i

,Willd . , E yio

comium squa rrosum,B . !St S.

,H . loreum

,B . At S. , H. splenden s,

B . !St S. , H. brevi'rostre,B . (St S.

,Thuidium tama r iscinum,

B . dz S. ,

T. recogn itum,Lindb .

BALMAHA,24th August

,1912.

—Conductor,Mr . J . R . Jack

,

—Tu the narrow road from the pier to the Pass ofBalmaha

,where the way had been blocked b v the trees blown

down in the great gale of November last,one of the oak -trunks

showed a fine crop of Bulgar ia polymorpha (CEd. ) Wett. The

commoner fungi, such as Russula cyanoxan tha (Schaeff . ) Fr .,

Paxillus involutus (Batsch) F r. ,&c .

,were fairly numerous

,and

one specimen was observed of I thypha llus impudica s (Linn . )F isch . It was remarked that on the oak trees the younger leaves

were badly attacked by mildew . In the Pass itself,a plentiful

crop of seasonable W ild flowers was noticed,but none of special

rarity. Few mosses were seen ; and no trace could be found of

the beautiful B ryum roseum although its former station

was thoroughly searched . A fine mass of Coryda lis olavicula ta

DC . attracted attention , its delicate flowers and foliage con

trasting gracefully with the brambles over which it ran . Having

followed the road towards R owardennan,the party reached

Cashell , where measurements of a large yew- tree were taken .

The tree, which is well situated in an open field,girthed over

12 feet at a height of 5 feet from the ground . The only

noteworthy plant observed on the way back was the G reater

Loosestrife (Lysima chia vulgar is found on the shore of

Loch Lomond .

G LEN FALLO CH, 30th September,1912.

—Conductor,Mr. John

R enwick—The village of Crianlarich is in Strath F illan, in theTay Area ; but in less than a mile the valley of the R iver Falloch

is reached, which runs into the head of Loch Lomond, and is

consequently in “ Clyde .

”The head waters of the Falloch come

from a fine glen surrounded by hills,rising in Cruach Ardran

to feet,in Ben-a

’-Chroin to and to in

An Ca isteal three-quarters of a mile north-west of the latter


largest having a girth of 1 1 feet 6 inches at 5 feet 3 inches , a

height of 88 feet, and a bole of 40 feet .At Inverarnan the stream has almost reached the level of

Loch Lomond . and instead of deepening i ts channel is now filling

it up. It has brought down material that has cut off a small

sheet of water known as the G eal or Wh ite Loch . All along the

valley from Inverarnan to Ardlui are great heaps of sand , gravel,and boulders large and small, the terminal moraines of the

glacier that once filled G lenfalloch , laid down on its gradual

retreat as the climate moderated .

A stream comes in on the west,about a mile above Ardlui .

The ascent to its upper valley is at first very steep,up the side

of the main glen among moraine mounds,till a height of about

800 feet is reached . Thereafter, for nearly two miles, the valley

a comparatively broad one,as is indicated by the name of Stra th

(Strath Dubhuisge,“ the strath of the Black water —rises in

a south-westerly direction , very gently to a little over feet .

The tributaries on the southern side,come from the northern

slopes of Ben Voirlich . The main stream comes from Ben

Damhain on the north,through Loch G arabal

,draining part of a

locality well known to geologists as the site of a varied display

of plutonic rocks . O ne of these—a granite with largefleshcoloured crystals—is easily recognisable . Boulders of it have

been found as far away as G lasgow and Bridge-of—W eir, carriedthither by the ice during the period of its great extension .

Looking from the hillside below Loch G arabal,within 31 mile of

the head of Strath Dubhuisge, one cannot definitely distinguish

where the ground begins to fall into the Inveruglas or Loch Sloyvalley

,so nearly level is it . But one knows that after th is

plateau is left,and the valley has begun to curve to the south

east round the base of Ben Voirlich ,it i s of a different character

,

being narrower and much more fully worn down . The ideas

suggested are that the Inveruglas (or Douglas ) water was at one

time part of an east -flowing drainage . wh ich continued by G len

Arklet and Loch Katrine to the Forth Va llev ; and that it was

captured by the south -flowing stream whose course is indicated

by the Falloch , Loch Lomond , the Vale of Leven , the Loch

winnoch valley, and the G arnock, to the F irth of C lyde, where

i t was j oined by other aggressive rivers from Loch Long and

EXCURS IONS . 10 1

Loch Fyn e, and c ontinued away southwards by St. G eorge’s

Channel,or perhaps westwards to the North of Ireland . The

level of the land while these changes were in progress was very

diff erent from what it is now—probably from 800 to feet

higher, and perhaps more .

CALDWELL HOUSE,12th O ctober . 1912 and CRAIGTON WOOD,

lgth O ctober,1912.

—Conductor, Mr. R . B . JO hnstone.— O f

these two fungus forays,arranged j ointly wi th the Anderson ian

Naturalists ’ Society, there is nothing spec ial to be reported ,excep t that fungi were very scarce and it is surprising to recall

the amount of labour that was entailed in ge tting together even

the short lis t of fifty- four species . Probablv the coldness of the

ground,owing to the somewhat sunless season , may have had

a large share in retarding the growth . But although better

weather conditions have prevailed during the previous four or

five years,the quantity of fungi then seen was not much larger .

This may perhaps be explained by the suggestion that themycelium

germinates in cyc les of fat and lean years and that we are at

present passing through the lat ter series . The rarest spec ies

on the list i s Grandin ia crustosa Fr .,which covered with its

small granular papillae the porous side of a small c luster of

Polystictus versicolor in the Caldwell woods . Among the other

species found at Caldwell were Tr icholoma resplenden s Fr .

,hlyoen a

rubro-ma rgin a ta Fr . ,P leurotus serotinus Schrad .

,Hypholoma

dispersam R 0 . B r .,Pan ceolus campa nula tus (Linn ) Fr .

,Russula

rubra (DC . ) Fr ., B . a luta cea (Pers . ) Fr .

,Phlebia vaga Fr .

,and

Ph . mer ismoides Fr. ; and at Craigton , Clitocybe bruma lis Fr . ,

rlfycena capilla r is Schum.,Claudopus va riabilis (Pers . ) “

7. G . Sm .

,

Inocybe mutabilis Schaeff . . Hebeloma glutin osum (Lindg. ) Fr .,&c .

DUNURE TO AYR ,24th March

,1913—Conductor

,Mr . William

R ennie—This excursion was made j ointly with the Anderson ian

Naturalists’ Society , was attended by a party of eighteen, and

took place during very favourable weather . O n arrival at

Dunure the party were met by Mr . John M ‘Crindle who a ccom

panied them for some distance along the shore and pointed out

many of the most interesting h istorical and physical features of

the district . O n one of the c liff s a pair of R avens had taken

up their abode and both parent birds were seen leaving the


nest, while they uttered their characteristic croak , and awaited

the W ithdrawal of the unwelcome intruders . O wing to the backwardness of the season

,and the comparatively early date of the

visit, only a few flowering plants were seen in b loom,and these

included the moschatel and primrose . The beautiful blossoms of

the latter, however, were very scarce even in the more sheltered

spots where they are usually abundant at this period of the year .

During the early part of the walk few shore birds were noted ,and the species seen included the O yster-catcher, Turnstone, aRed-breasted Merganser

,and a pair of Stonechats. By the time

G reenan Castle had been reached,however

,the ebbing tide had

laid bare the flats at the mouth of the R iver Doon, and bird life

appeared to be fairly plentiful . The spec ies observed consistedchiefly of Gulls

,with several O yster-catchers, a few R ing Plovers ,

and some Dunlins and R edshanks,all busily feeding on the

shore, while over a score Of Mallards were disporting themselves

in the water further out. Throughout the day thirty -seven spec ies

of birds were noted, but the number included none of our summer

migrants . Some attention was devoted by Mr . G eorge Lunam to

the fresh water Algae seen in the course of the walk . He has

reported that several filamentous Conjugatae were collected ,but none showing zygospores

,while only one small species of

E dogon ium was Obtained . In a dark moist Opening in the rocks ,a large bed of Chan transia showing monospore formation was

found . In the following record of species, those marked with an

asterisk are not included in the 1901 l ist z—Vaucher ia sessilis

(Vauch . ) DC .,in fruit ; V. gemin a ta (Vauch . ) DC . , in fruit ;

Closterium a cerosum (Schrank ) Ehrenb . , Cosmarium pa chy

dermum Lund . , Pediastrum B orya num Turp .,Scenedesmus quad

r icauda Cooke, O ocystis solita r ia W ittr.

,Tr ibonema bombycinum

forma minor (Wille) W . G . S. W .

,

*Dichothr ix orsin iana (K ii tz . )Born . et F lah .

GARELO CH,l0th May

,1913—Conductor, Mr. W . R . Bax ter .

The party left the steamer at Rahane Ferry, and Visited Aiken

shaw,where they were received by Mr . Turnbull and conduc ted

over the grounds . Thev afterwards visited the house, and were

kindly afforded an opportunity of inspecting Mr . Turnbull ’s

extensive collection of antiquities,curiosit ies, &c . Among the

many interesting obj ects shown was a c inerary urn—one of a


comiam loreum B . (St S.

, and H. squarrosum B . d: S. (fertile) . As

regards the fungi noted at the excursion, Mr. D . A . Boyd has

reported that the only Hymenomycete recorded was Polyporusbruma lis (Pers . ) Fr .

,of which several specimens were Obtained

on a fallen trunk of Ash at Mambeg Among the D iscomycetes

observed was Mitrula pha lloides (Bull ) Saco. , the beautiful yellowclubs of which occurred in hundreds on decaying vegetation in

roadside ditches near Mambeg. In the same locality some fin especimens of Vibrissea truneorum Fr .

,attached to fallen twigs ,

were Obtained in the moist woods between the road and the loch .

A considerable amount of other material was Obtained,but has

not yet been examined microscopically .

GALSTON, 20th May, l9l3 .- Conductor, Mr . John G loag .

This excursion was arranged j ointly with the Anderson ian

Naturalists’ Society, and took place during rather broken

weather. O n arrival at G alston,a visit was paid to the “ Boss

Tree,a venerable E lm

,which

,according to tradition

,once gave

shelter to Wallace when pursued by his enemies . O n the way to

Polba ith G len the small hamlet of Loudoun Kirk,with its O ld

graveyard in which stand the ruins of the original Kirk of

Loudoun ( founded was passed ; after wh ich the path lay

through grassy meadows , with successive views O f beds of boulde r

clay, an upthrow of limestone, and the site of a supposed British

fort. In the G len itself, the walk proved somewhat trying but

the rich woodland scenery , profusion of wild -flowers. and musicof feathered songsters, made ample amends for any discomfort

suffered . In the shelving rocks wh ich form the bed of the

stream near the head O f the glen are many remarkable pot-holes .

O n reaching the G lasgow R oad, the course was directed to A lton, ,

where the site of a prehistoric fort was examined, and afterwards

to Loudoun Castle and its polic ies . Attention was given to the

old and historic Yew- tree growing on the south side of the Castle .

The age of this tree has been supposed to be from 800 to

years ; but Mr . John Renwick , judging from its average growth

for a period of 22 years , has computed it to be only 460 years old .

*

Thirty-eight spec ies of birds were noted, including eleven

migrants,viz . , the Wh itethroat, Willow-Wren, Wood-Wren,

G la sgow Naturalist, v. , 24 .

EXCURS IONS . 105

Sedge-Warbler,Tree-Pipit

,Swallow

,Sand-Martin

,Sw ift

,House

Mart in, Cuckoo, and Corncrake . O wing to the want of sunshine

and prevalence of moisture, no important entomological captures

were reported . A notable fea ture during the ex cursion was the

profusion of bloom on the Marsh Marigold (Ca ltha pa lustr is

Linn . ) and Primrose (Pr imula vulga r is, Among the

other F lowering-plant s Observed,the most important were

Acon itum Napellus Linn. , Chrysosplen ium a ltern if olium L inn .,

Arum ma cula tum Linn .

,Habenar ia bif olia Br . ,

and Polygona tum

multiflorum All.

THE O RCHARD COUNTRY,24th May

,1913 —Conductor

,Mr .

W . M . Pettigrew.—Th is excursion was attended by a company

of six t een,including four members of the Ai rdrieNatural H istory

Soc iety . Having detrained at Tillietudlem . the party took the

path leading to Cra ignethan Castle,where the botani sts spent

some t ime searching for the numerous floral treasures for whi ch

the locality has long been famous . O n the ruined walls of the

Castle, the bright flowers of Cheiran thus cheir i Linn . made a

brilliant display ; while Che lidon ium majus Linn .

, O riganum

vulga re Linn .,Verbascum thapsus Linn .

,and Arum ma cula tum

Linn . , were found to be stil l growing in their old sites . An

unsuccessful s earch , however, was made for Pa r ietar ia ofi cina lis

Linn .

, formerly known to grow on these ruins . The largest of

the three Y ew-trees a t the Castle was measured by Mr R enwick

and found to girth 10 feet 62 inches a t 5 feet,with a bole of

7 feet . From the Castle, the path along the R iver Nethan was

followed to Crossford . O ur vi sit to the district was rather late

in the season to enable the blossom in the O rchards to be seen at

its best, but the apple and plum trees were still in bloom A

‘

Poplar tree a t'

Crossford was measured , wh ich girthed 7 feet

75 inches at a height of about 5 feet . A fter c ross ing the C ly de

at C rossford,the party divided . The orni thologists chose the

main road through Cosy G len,in the hope of hearing the notes

of the Black -cap (Sylvia a tr icapilla ) , and were rewarded by

listening to its song in the woods at G ills Burn . The remainder

of the party took the path through the O rchards along the righ tbank of the C lyde, where the great profusion of Sisymbr iumAllia r ia Scop . exc ited comment. Beside this path grows three


Poplars (Populus n igra ) , of which the following measurements

were made

( 1) Bole, 35 feet ; girth, 9 feet at 5 feet on side next river,being an increase of 2 inches in three years .

(2) Bole, 45 feet ; girth , 1 1 feet 2 inches at 4 feet 3 incheson side down river

,say 5 feet on side next river, being

an increase of 25 inches in three years .

(3) Bole, 45 feet ; girth , 13 feet 912» inches at 5 feet on side

nex t field , being an increase of 3 inches in three years .

Mr . R enwick remarks that “ these trees had their leaves much

more fully developed on 7th May, 1910 than they were on 24th

May, 1913 . They have all lost branches during the last three

years, and in this respect there are other Poplars along the river

side that are even in a worse state . In May, 1910 , there was a

fine Lombardy Poplar further up the road to Cosy G len , on

O rchard estate,with a height of 93 feet

,and a girth of 10 feet

6 inches at 5 feet but it was blown down in the severe storm ofNovember

,191 1—the same storm which blew down the large

O riental Plane at G arrion Tower,and damaged the large G rey

Poplars at Mauldslie Castle. Both sections of the par ty having

again met at G ills,east of W ayga teshaw House

,the main road

was followed to Carluke Railway Station .

With reference to the ornithology of the locality, Mr . John

Paterson reports that the district is a good one for sylvan birds .

Several G arden-Warblers were heard in song,and the Blackcap

only once,as before stated . No Gulls were seen during the day

,

which is rather an unusual experience in any part of “ C lyde .

”

In addition to the F lowering-plants already noticed,reference

may be made to B erberis vulga ris Linn ., Ca rdamine amara Linn .

,

Drabis hirsuta B r . ,and La thyrus ma crorrhiz us Wimm . ,

as also

observed during the course of the day .

Notes.

Death of a well-known Taxidermist. —O u 23rd January,1913

,the death occurred, at the age of sixty- four, of Henry

M ‘Culloch , the proprietor for about forty years of the business of

M ‘Culloch Son ,Sauch iehall Street, G lasgow . Mr. M ‘Culloch


as the mycelium spreads in the tissues,and starts new wounds at

some distance from the original points of infection . O wing tothe greater thickness and toughness O f their bark , older trees are

not so liable to infection as are young ones .* For information

regarding the best methods of prevention and cure, referencemay be made to the two sources c ited . It may suffice to say

that every care should be taken to avoid injury to the bark eitherof larch seedlings or of Older trees ; that the plantation wherethe young trees grow should as far as possible be kept free from

rank—growing weeds whi ch tend to keep the bark in a state of

moisture ; that during winter the trees should be sprayed with

paraffin emulsion,so as to destroy the aph ides when in their

resting state ; and that t rees badly diseased should be removed

and destroyed . It may further be Observed that Dasgscypha

oa lycin a has been known to attack not only Larch , but Scots Fir,Silver Fir

,and Japanese Larch . The fungus is a very pret ty

one. producing little orange or yellow- centered caps, which

externally are pure wh ite and minutely downy, and vary ln S iz e

from 2 to 5 mm. Besides this species, there are several others

which are scarcely to be distinguished from it by external

characteristics . These are respectively D . resin ar ia parasitic on

Spruce,Larch , and Bhotan Pine, with very minute subglobose

sporesmeasuring '003 x '002 0 025 mm . D . subtilissima parasitic

on Silver Fir and Larch , with spores measuring°008 0 10 x 0 02

mm . ; and D . abietis parasitic on bark Of Spruce, wit-h spores

measuring °0 12 0 14 x 00 3 mm . The spores of D . ca lgcin a

measure °0 18 ‘025x‘005 0 06 mm . ; and those of Mr . R oss’s

specimens which I examined averaged about '023 mm . in length .

—D . A . Boyd .

Phaeangella empetri (Phil ) Bond— Tu the summer of 1908

I gathered on fading leaves of C rowberry (Empetrum n igrum) ,on the hi lls above Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, some specimens of a

minute Discomvcete unknown to me. A fter various transmis

sions,the spec imens were finally submi tted to M . Emile Boudier,

the eminent French my cologist, who pronounced the species

apparently new to sc ience . and described it under the name of

See Leaflet No. 155 issued by the Board of Agriculture and F isheriesalso Massee

’

s Disea ses of Cultiva ted Plants and Trees pp. 280 -284.

R EV IEW . 109

Pseudophac ia’ium Smithia num .

* The fungus was afterwards

reported from many other localities throughout Scot land, ranging

from Dumf riesshi re,Lanarkshire, and Midlothian, to lVest R oss

shire . From addi tional specimens subsequently sent to him bv

Mr. Crossland,in which the fully -matured spores were seen to be

coloured blacki sh -olive and distinct ly uniseptate, M . Boudier found

it necessary to transfer the species from Pseudopha ciclium to the

genus Phoeangella of Sa cca rdofi It has now been pointed out,

however,that the original descript ion of the fungus corresponds

very closely to the diagnosis of a D iscomy cete which was found

by Professor Trail in O rkney in 1888,and was described by the

late Mr . William Phillips , under the name of “ Cenangium

empetr i n . sp.

”

1‘

As has been remarked by Miss A . Lorrain

Smith,

the specimens on which Phillips based his de

t ermination seem to have been immature . as he placed the species

in a genus wi th colourless and simple spores . An examination

of the original spec imens,however

,as preserved in Phillips

’

s

herbarium in the British Museum has revealed the existence

amongst them of examples wi th the brown septate spores

characte ristic of Phreangella ; and these facts havin g been

brought under M . Boudi er’

s notice . he has authorised the altera

tion of the name O f the species to Phreangella empetr i, § under

which local records will in future be reported —D . A . Boyd .

Review.

A Dictionary of Eng lish and Folk-Names of BritishBirds. —H . K IRKE SWANN

,W itherb y A: Co.

,London ( 10/ net ) .

This compilation must have involved much labour,and students O f

bi rd—l i fe wi ll examine its contents with avid ity . A d icti onarymay not appeal to a big public as a means of enterta inment

,

but the orn ithologi st wil l fin d few dul l p ages in thi s one . The

identificati on of sp ec i es with popula r names i s Often beset with

difli culties, which are not l ikely , in all cases,at any t ime

,to be

completely overcome,but they have been wrestled with in thi s

Transac timis of the B r itish Alycological Soc iety,iii . , p. 81 , pl. 4.

1' O p. c it, p. 324.

1 Scottish Na turalis t, April 1891 , p. 91 .

Transa ctio ns of the B r it ish Mycologica l Society,vol. iv .

, p. 74.


work with great success . Such a comp i lation is in a sense a

h istory of orn ithology. Progress could not be made without

names , and these have sp rung up in detached areas in thecountry , at a time when inter - communication was very d ithcult. The colours , forms , acti ons , songs , call- notes , or what

ever else seemed to mark out one bi rd from another,have been

used at d ifferent times and places to enable bi rds to be d istinguished from each other and to be recogn ised . In some

cases one feature has been fixed upon with surp r i sing

uniformity , wh i le in others quite a puz z l ing var iety of features

has been the basi s O f popular selecti on . Mistakes have been

made in fasten ing upon an aspect supposed to be particular to

a bi rd,which a wider acquaintance shows to be shared by

others , and it i s p art of the business of the comp i ler of such a

publication as th i s to d isentangle the confusion which has

ar isen .

A valuable feature of thi s work i s that it inc ludes the

English book-names from past authors,giving the hi story

and first usage of the accepted names of species . ” Manv book

names have achieved deserved popularity, but they have not all

been successful,as

,for example

,M ‘G illivray

’

s“ G reen -headed

Quake—tail,” for Ray’s Wagtail

,which I have heard an Ayrshire

game-keeper call the “ yellow shepherdess . ” This work is, by

the way,by no means confined to English names desp ite its

t itle,as very many W elsh , Gael ic and lowland Scotti sh names

are included . Some of the W elsh and G ael ic names are just

as attractive as one would expect f rom the imaginative peoples

using those id ioms . For example , one learns on page 2 (to go

no farther) that in Welsh the Lapwing is the horned c reature

of the rushes,” the Linnet “ the hemp-bird , the Bittern

“ the

boom bi rd,

” and the Nightj ar the sp inn ing -wheel bi rd .

In the matter of popula r names cur rent , or that have been

in use in Scotland , the author , perforce , has had to be con

tent with the mater i al he has found ready to hand in the

l iterature of the subj ect , and i s not to blame i f he has not been

able to extend the range of the use of names beyond the areas

for wh ich he has found author ity in books . O ne result of th i s

lack O f personal kn owledge i s that the Scotti sh Borders , and

1 12 THE GLASG O W NATURALIST .

explanation i s added that gleg sign ifies quick - eyed .

This i s cor rect as far as it goes,but i t should be borne in mind

that gleg applies to all the senses and even a blind person

may be gey gleg in the uptak,

” which being rendered in

Engli sh i s very apt in taking matters up.

”The name

wheetie-why -bi rd which was well known in Ayrshi re for

the Wh itethroat,i s

,according to the work under notice

,the

“ W heety Wheybeard” because “ its light-coloured head and

neck feathers stand out so thickly .

” Th i s i s set down as a

matter of course,but smells to us of the lamp . We always

understood the wheetie-why-bi rd to be the bi rd that in

querulous and scold ing fashion goes on saying wheetie-why .

”

Hav ing said so much about matters of Scotti sh interest , we

will conclude with a suggesti on relating to a common Engli sh

b i rd -name . W e have consulted many English d iction ar ies

besides this one and Newton ’ s Dictionary of Birds, without

having seen a meaning for the word thrush . We suggest that

thrush i s an onomatopoetic word,der ived from the cal l of

the large and noi sy Mistle-Th rush . Surely those who know

this bi rd in the field wi ll admit that it says thrush (A.S.

thrysce) , as plainly as a Pi p it says p ip it ,” or a Curlew says

curlew.

” That the larger spec ies with thi s call - note should

impose its name on its lesser relative , i s not a matter for sur

p r ise. The wr iter drew attention to this in an article entitled

WhyThrush l” published in the Even ing Times,G lasgow

,on 27th

January,1912

,and did not then know that Turner ( 1544) gives

Thrushe as the p articular name of the Mistle-Thrush , and

Turner ’ s work may be said to contain the earliest ser ies of

Eng l i sh names of Br itish bi rds

The work i s remarkably free f rom er rors , but B eccafigo

of the Italians (p . 87 ) will not pass muster for beccafico.

Che Chlasgow Maturalist

The Journal of the NATURAL HISTO RY SO CIETY

O F G LASG O W

VO L V. , No. [September, 1913.

Peter Ewing .

THE death of Mr. Peter Ewing, which took place on 3rd August,removes from our midst one of the best known figures amon g st

Scottish botani sts and one whose loss will be felt throughout

the country . Amongst his many friends and associates in our

Soc iety he was held in high esteem, not only for his extensive

kn owledge and large experience as a field botanist . but more

especially because of his readiness at all times to impart the

results of that experience to others, and of the valuable con

tributions which he made to the Society ’s work .

Born at K inr oss in 1849,of humble parentage

,and accustomed

to hard work from an early age , Mr. Ewing had few advantages

with whi ch to embark upon the career of a scientific botani st

but his passionate love for his subj ect,and his determination to

overcome obstacles—at all t imes a characteristic of the man

enabled him to rise to an eminence attained by few amateur

workers in modern science . He left school a t the age of nine,

and was at that early period accustomed to walk regularly to

Rumbling Bridge—a distance of s ix teen miles—to sell photo

graphs for his father, who carried on a stat ionery business in

Kinross . Later on, a branch business was opened in Callander,where young Peter got his first sight

,as he himself phrased it

, of

a.“ real mountain .

”

F rom that time onwards to the end of his

l ife, his passion for the hills never abated, and it is perhaps in

connection with his int imate knowledge of the Scottish A lpine

H


F lora that he will best be remembered . The whole range of theBreadalbane Mountains was familiar ground to him,

and he was

fond of referring to the remote habitats of some of the rarer

plants of that favoured locality,as places which had become as

well -known to him as his own home .

It was during his first visit to Callander that the accidental

finding of a collection of ferns,apparently dropped by some

person from a passing coach , led him to take up the study of

that attractive group, and by this means his life-long interest in

plants was begun .

In his eighteenth year he was apprenticed to the j oiner trade,

and it was while engaged in making himself proficient in his

calling by attendance at evening classes in G lasgow,that he

took up the study of botany as a relaxation . A chance meeting

with a party of naturalists in Inverkip G len, while engaged in

searching for ferns, led to the beginning of his connection with

the G lasgow F ield Naturalists’ Society, which was afterwards

incorporated with this Socie ty. At a later date he entered the fire

insurance profession. becoming a surveyor of the Phoenix F ire

A ssurance Company, of which he was afterwards appointed thelocal secretary, a position he held until a few months before his

death . During his whole business career, his not too ex tensive

leisure was devoted to the study of botany, all classes of plants

with the exception of the fungi—occupying his attention . He

possessed,in an eminent degree, the critical faculty which

enables a scientific observer to detect differences of importance,and to distinguish these from mere superficial divergences

,and

hence was able to attack with success many of the more difficult

groups—such as the willows, grasses, and sedges . His work in

these,and other branches, brought him into c lose touch with

many of the best known authorities, both in Britain and on the

Continent . The subj ect of topographical botany, too, was one in

which he took a great interest, and his knowledge of plant

distribution- especially as regards the alpine forms—was bothcomprehensive and wonderfully intimate. He was greatly

interested in the new science of oecology, his accurate knowledge of

plant habitats enabling h im to see and appreciate the difficulties

of the subj ect, as well as the importance of finding a solution of

those difficulties ,


6 . A Contribution to the Topographical Botany of the W est of

10 .

11 .

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17 .

18.

19.

20.

21 .

Scotland—Mid,pp . 309-321 .

Second and third Contributions to the Topographical Botany

of the West of Scotland—0p. cit , III ., 1889-90, pp . 159

165.

O n J uncus tenn is, W illdenow,as a Scottish Plant.—Ibid, pp .

166- 169.

Alchemilla vulgar is, Linn ., and A l lied Forms—0p. cit , IV.,

1892-94, pp. 40-43.

O n some Forms of Ranun culus F lammula,Linn—Anna ls of

Scot. Na t. Hist , 1894, p . 235.

Contribution to the Topograph ical Botany of the W est of

Scotland—Trans. Na t. Hist. Soc. of Glasgow,IV. (New

Series) 1894-95, pp. 199-214.

R emarks on “ The London Catalogue of British Plants,Ninth Edition

,1895.

—Mid,pp . 324-330 .

R eport on the State of the A lpine F lora in Breadalbane

during the last week of July, 1892—0p. cit , VI . (New

Series) , 1901-2, pp . 330 -332.

Sagina n ivalis (Lindbl. ) Fr.—Annals of Scot. Na t Hist ,

l902, p. 29.

Hepat icae of the Breadalbane R ange—0p. cit , 1903, p . 235,

and 1904,p . 181.

Remarks on a list of Hepatics of the Clyde Area —Trans.

Na t. Hist. Soc. of Glasgow,VI I . (New Series) , 1902-3

,

pp . 52-58.

An ( Ecological Problem.—Ibid, 1904-5

,pp . 225-235.

O n two new forms of Caren—Op cit , VIII . (New Series) ,1906-8, pp . 237 -238.

O n some Scottish A lpine forms of Carex .—Annals of Scot

Na t. Hist , 1910 , p . 174.

The Summit F lora of the Breadalbane R ange—The GlasgowNa turalist, IV. , 1911-12, pp . 48-62.

The F lora of the Culbin Sands—0p cit,V.

,1912-13

,

pp. 5-15.

MACFIE .-O BSERVAT IONS O N Two TAME RAVENS, (Ste . 117

O bservations on two Tame Ravens and other Birds .

By JO HNSTO NE MACF IE , M.D .

[Read 27th May,

Since my boyhood I have been specially interested in birds,and tame specimens have been my pets at di fferent times. A

pair of Bantams were my first love, but although having more

charac ter,and being, therefore, more int eresting than the ordin ary

barndoor fowl, still when compared with other birds they seem

to lack what we might call the intelligence that is quite

observable in ducks and geese . Indeed, if we exclude the dog,geese have the most character and smartness of the living

crea tures aroun d a farm. The alertness of geese has of course

been proverbial, at least since the early R oman days and it was

long ago drawn attent ion to by C . St. John ( in his W ild Sports ofthe Highlan ds) that one might drive over a dog, a cat, or an oldwoman, but he defies anyone to drive over a goose . It seems

strange and worthy of remark that man,in his unwisdom

,has

picked out the donk ey and the goose as typical examples of

stupidity and foolishn es s, while in rea lity, if well treated , these

and the dog are the most intell igent of domest ic creatures .With regard to the G oldfinch , when a boy in the Highlands

where the goldie was formerly qui te a common bird,I took a

very young nestling and placed it in a nest of young Canaries,with the remarkable result that the G oldfin ch , in all probability

being a day or so older than the rightful occupants, acted very

much as the young Cuckoo does in s imilar circumstances . Very

soon the young Canaries without exception were crowded out of

the nest and found dead or dying on the outside, the inte rloper

securing the full and devoted attention of the old birds . The

young G oldfinch rear ed in thi s way became a very handsome bird ;and

,curiously enough, turned out to be what the bird-ca tchers

call a Chuffier ,” and prize very highly .

The “ Chuffler is distinguished from an ordinary cock G oldfinchby having a pure white band passing downward just below the

lower mandible . The men say that these “ Chutfiers” are usually

good singers ; but that was not the case with the one the Canaries


reared . He never became a fin e singer,probably because he had

not an older bird to teach h im .

Perhaps of the many birds kept the two Ravens have been the

most interesting,firstly, because of their cleverness and powers of

speech ; secondly , because from the difficulty of getting a young

bird and their thieving propensities they are seldom tamed and

seen about a house . They are easily f ed, eating almost any

scraps in the way of food, and, if pinioned or one wing clipped to

keep them from wandering, are easily tamed and taught like a

parrot to say all kinds of Short phrases . They, however, are

superior to the parrot in this way, that while you can generally

tell from the tone that a parrot is Speaking, the Raven gets the

exact tone of voice of the person that has taught h im the phrase .

Thus these Ravens not only barked like a dog, but so exactly

was the bark reproduced, that you could name the dog he was

imitating. In thi s way he has deceived the gamekeeper and

others many times . The first R aven I had , died when about two

years old, and in looking back I am inc lined to think we gave

him too little flesh-meat. He was called “ Jock , and was just

as good at talking as his successor Corax . Their own names,and the names of the dogs about the house, and such phrases as“ Poor boy ! ” " Come away ! ” were in constant use. In this

connection it is of interest to note that the larynx is, as might

be expected, a very specialized organ , and has a distinct affinity

to that of the Nightingale . The gular pouch is large, and is

constantly made use of in carrying food , as well as all sorts of

odds and ends that take the fancy of the bird . As with the

other crows—the Jackdaw for instance—the Raven is attracted bybright obj ects, and will carry about and play for hours with a

glass bead or even a white or peculiarly coloured stone. If he

has several of those at one time, he will often arrange them in

rows and talk, using such phrases as Hey ! Hey ! Come away,come away.

” I have known Corax hide a blue glass bead for

months,and then bring it forth and lay it on the doorstep

,as if

to show you that he had it still .

In a recent article in The Glasgow Herald on Rocks, the

writer seemed to have some doubt as to the peculiar misshapen

appearance of a Rock’

s head at this season of the year . R eally

that appearance is caused by the bulging of the throat below the


Some Recent Additions to the British Fungus-Flora .

By D . A . BOYD .

[Read 24th June,

IN supplement of a paper read at a meeting of the Society on25th March last,* I have now to submit the following list of 29species of Microfungi which have occurred in various localities

within the C lyde Area,as after mentioned . Prior to the time of

occurrence within our bounds, none of these spec ies had been

reported from any other part of Britain . The specimens on

which the first records are based were all submitted to Miss ALorrain Smi th

,and Mr. J . R amsbottom

,B .A .

,British

Museum (Natural History) , London, who identified them,and

have recently published a description of each species in a paper

entitled “ New or Rare Microfungi.”T My warmest thanks are

due to Miss Smith and Mr. Ramsbottom for their kind aid,

whi ch has enabled me to submi t to the Society the in formation

embodied in the present communication .

NEW To SC IENCE .

O rbilia Bogoli i A .L .Sm. (it Ramsb .—O n dead twigs of

Va ccin ium Myr tillus ; near Beith, Ayrshire ; J uly, 1912. This

species has also occurred in G len Falloch , and in Birkhead G len,near Dalry .

Phyllosticta a cetosellce A .L .Sm. (it R amsh .—In spots on fading

leaves of Ramex Acetosella G lengonnar, near Abington, Lanark

shi re,at an Excursion of the Natural History Society of

G lasgow ; June, 1912.

Ascochyta ar icola A .L .Sm. Ramsh .—In fading leaves of

Arum macula tum ; near G len foot, West Kilbride, Ayrshire ;June, 1912.

A. deutz ice A .L.Sm. R amsh .—In fallen leaves of Deutz ia

gra cilis Saltcoats, Ayrshire ; November, 1910 .

A. va lerianoe A .L .Sm. dz Ramsb .—In withered spots on living

leaves of Va leriana pyrena ica near Beith July, 1912.

GlasgowNaturalist, v . , 93.

"

l Transa ctions of the B r itish 111geologicalSociety, iv. , 165-185.

BO YD .—RECENT ADD IT IONS To BR IT ISH FUNGUS-FLORA. 121

Marsson ia oegopoa’ii A .L .Sm. !S: Ramsh.

—In wi thered spots onfading leaves of E gopoa

’ium Podagra r ia Burnside,near Largs,

Ayrshi re ; July, 191 1 . A lso near Rothesay,Bute

,at an

Excursion of the Andersoni an Naturalists’ Society July,1912.

AI . Zapper A LS m. Ramsb .—In spots on the upper surface

of living leaves of Arctium minus near Carradale,Can tyre

July,1911 .

NEW T O BR ITA IN .

Doassansia Ma rtianofi'

iana Sch roet .—Cm l iving leaves of

Potamogeton ,in a shallow ditch on peaty soil Knockewart Hill,

near A rdrossan , Ayrshire August,191 1 .

Gnomon ia lugubr is Karst—O n dead leaves of Poten tilla

pa lustr is ; in marshy ground at Loch Libo, parish of Neil ston ,R enf r ewshire August , 1912.

—Thi s species was originally

described by Karsten (Mycolog ia Fenn ica,ii ,

121) as havingsimple spores

,and was

,therefore . transferred by Saccardo

(Sylloge Fungorum,i . 415) to the new genus Gnomon iella ,

founded by him for the reception of species in which the spores

are undi vided . This arrangement was afterwards accepted by

Karsten (Revisio Monographica a tque Synopsis, In myspecimens

,however

,the spores are verv distinctly uniseptat e

but Mi ss Smi th and Mr . R amsbottom regard it as evidentlv the

same as that described by Karsten which may have been

immM ure at the time of collecting .

”They have

,accordingly,

withdrawn the spec ies from Gnomon iella . and restored it to the

genus Gn omon ia , as having uni septat e spores .

Phyllosticta cegopodii Allesch .—In spot s on living leaves of

£ g0podium Podagrar ia ; in a wood on the banks of the Rowbank

Burn , in the parish of Lochwinnoch,R enfrewshire July, 1912 .

Ph. carpa thica Allesch . Syd—In spots on l ivin g leaves of

Campanula persicif olia° Saltcoats August . 191 1 .

Ph . eupa tor ii Allesch .—In spots on l iving leaves of Eupator ium

Canna binum G ourockburn G len , near West Kilbride ; August ,191 1 .

Ph . ea‘imia Bubak .

—In dark spots on fading leaves of Cr epis

pa ludosa ; parish of Neilston ; July, 1912. I also found this

species on the same host-plant in Gourockburn G len , West

Kilbride,in August.


Pk. umbilici B runaud.—O n faded leaves and stalks of

Cotyledon Umbilicus near Largs July, 1910 .

Ascochyta oloron ici Allesch .—In Spots on fading leaves of

Doron icum Perceton ,Ayrshire ; June, 1912 .

Septor ia a cetosoe O udem.—In spots on fading leaves of Rumex

Acetosa ; Loch Fad (Kirk Dam) near R othesay, at an Excursionof the Andersonian Naturalists Society ; July, 1912.

S. a sperulce Baumle r.—In fading leaves of Asperula odora ta

Gourockburn G len . West Kilbride ; September, 191 1. I have

also gathered this species in Hyndog G len,near Dalry ; and at

Excursions of the Andersonian Naturalists ’ Society to CampsieG len and Lanark .

S. bromi Sacc. var. bra cligpodii Sacc.- In elongated whitish

spots on leaves of Agrostis a lba ; near Corsenkell, Stevenston,Ayrshire ; August, 191 1.

S. crepidis Vestergren .—In brown spots on fading leaves of

Crepispa ludosa ; Blae Loch , near Beith ; August, 1912.

S. poeon ioe Westend . var . berolinen sis Allesch.—In yellowish

spots on living leaves of Paeon ia ; Burnside, Largs July, 1911 .

S. guevillensis. Sacc .—In small blackish-red spots on living

leaves of Spiraea Ulmar ia ; near Wes t Kilbride ; August, 1912.

Stagonospora tr ifolii Fautrey.—In dry whitish spots on living

leaves of Trifolium repens Gourockburn G len,West Kilbride

summer,191 1 .

Gloeospor ium curva tum Q adem .—O n living leaves of R ibes

n igrum ; Hunterston, near West Kilbride July, 1912.—When

examined under the m icroscope,this species is readily

dist inguishable from G . r ibis Lib . by the longer Spores

0 05-0 07 which are bent or curved,and are blunt at the

ends . O wing, however, to the superficial resemb lance betweenthe pustules produced by the two Species, it is probable that some

of the existing records of G . r ibis Should have been referred to

G . curva tum.

G . pruinosum Baumler.—O n fading leaves of Veron ica

B eccabunga ; near Nor th Biggart, Beith May, 1912. This hasalso occurred on the same host-plant in Gourockburn G len, W est

Kilbride. A remarkable species, notable for the thick pustules,resembling small brownish-grey warts, which are produced on the

the lower surface of the leaf. These have a somewhat pruinose

appearance, owing to the spores emerging in masses.


Mr. W m. R ennie read a report on an excursion to Dunure

( see pp . 101

Mr. A lex . R oss exhibited a fly, Merodon eguestr is Fab .,

which he had captured in the Botanic G ardens,G lasgow,

in June, 1912. The fly belongs to the group of hovering

fl ies, and has not been taken before in the W est of Scotland .

Mr . R oss traced the history of this fly from the time it was first

captured in the south O f England in 1869, when it is said to have

been introduced from the Continent of Europe with some Dutch

bulbs. At various periods the larvae have caused great destruo

tion in gardens where the Narcissus and allied plants were being

cultivated .

Mr . J . J . F . X . King, exhibited a series of lantern

slides by Mr. A . H . Hamm,Hope Museum

,O x ford, showing

various Lepidoptera at rest . Mr . King also read a paper, entitled“ A R eview of the O rders of Insects,

” which was illus trated by

many diagrams of high technical and artistic merit. The

diagrams had been prepared by Mr . King himself.

The ninth meeting of the sixty-second session took place on

27th May, 1913, Mr. John R . Lee, President, in the chair.

Mr. W m . B . Hamilton , 25 Highburgh Road,Dowanhill, was

elected as an O rdinary Member.

R eports on excursions made by the Society to the Ga reloch ,G alston, and the O rchard Country O f Lanark Were communicated

by Messrs . W . R . Baxter,John G loag

,and W . M . Pettigrew

respectively (see pp . 102

M r. James Stirton, M .D . , exhibited a number O f rare European

mosses. The Scottish specimens included Leucobryum a lbidum

Brid . ,from the O rkneys and from Plockton, R oss-shire

L . pumilum Mich .,from G airloch, Ross -shire B ryum a tlan ticum

Solms . , from Plockton and Amblgstegiumjura tz kanum Sch ., from

the Botanic G ardens, G lasgow .

Mr . D . A . Boyd exhibited specimens O f Dasyscypha calgcina

(Schum. ) Fckl. , which was found infesting Larches at Loudoun

Castle (see pp . 107 Mr . Boyd also showed specimens of

root-swellings on A lders from near Callander,and gave an

account of recent investigations of such root-nodules .

Mr . Laurence W att sent for exhibition specimens of Sara

phular ia verna lis L.,from near Kilmacolm and Mr. A lex.

PROCEED INGS. 1 25

G ilchrist sent specimens of a Poly anthus with markedly foliaceous

ca lyx from a garden at Newmiln s.

Mr. T . Thornton M ‘Keith exh ibit ed a number of fine lantern

slides, chi efly of birds’ nests and eggs Including a particularly

fine series of the Capercaillie .

Mr. JO hnstone Macfie,M .D .

,read some Observat ions on two

tame ravens and other birds (see pp . 1 17

Mr. John Paterson read a paper on “ The R eturn Of Summer

birds to the Clyde Ar ea in 1913 (see pp . 81

The tenth meeting of the six ty-second session took place on

24th June, 1913, Mr . John R . Lee ,President, in the chair . Mr .

D . A. Boyd read a report on the Soc iety ’s vi sit to Douglas,Lanarkshi re (see p .

Mr Thomas Anderson showed some West Indi an frui ts and

seeds .

Mr . G eorge Lunam exhibited specimens of the very rare

British fresh water-alga Desmonema W rangeli i (Ag . ) Bor . et Flah . ,

which had been found growing on the rocks near Rowardennan,

on the occasion of the Society ’s visit to that part of Loch

Lomond.

Mr . D . A . Boyd read a paper entitled “ Some R ecent Add itions

to the British Fungus-F lora ( see pp . 120

Dr . Jas . F . G emmill gave some “ Further Laboratory

Aquarium Notes,” dealing chiefly with the metamorphoses of

ova Of Solaster papposus Fab and Asterias Mulleri Sars . and

with attempts at rearing larvae of F or an ia pulvi llus C .L.M .

Mr. Ronald J . G rant read a paper on the brachiopod Cran iaanoma la (Miill ) .Mr . James W h itton ’

s paper, entitled “Meteorological Notes and

Remarks upon the Weather during 1912,with its general effects

upon Vegetation,

” was held as read. Comparing the rainfall for

the year with that of previous years, 1912 had a “ full average,

”

amounting to 38 98 inches . The wettest month was December

with the abnormally heavy rain fal l of 7 0 3 inches . June

followed with 46 4 inches, and August, November. March , and

O ctober were nex t in order in a descending series from 388

inches in the first named to in O ctober. The driest months

were April and May,with 15 8 and 1 1 4 inches respectively.


Atmospheric pressure was somewhat low and narrow in range .

The highest reading of the barometer was 304 0 inches , this

occurring on 23rd April and 4th O ctober . The lowest

reading was 286 0 inches on 26th November The

easterly group of winds prevailed on 132 days ,and the westerly group on 230 days . With regard to

temperature while there were no prolonged periods of severe frost,there were no long periods of bright sunshine, and the averages

were somewhat low each month . The highest temperature in the

shade registered during the year was which was on 14th ,

15th,and l 6th July . Consequent on the well-ripened condition

of the growth on trees and shrubs,vegetation suff ering no check

developed rapidly,and growth was fully ten days earlier than

usual by the middle O f May . The development of growth and

flower afterwards was very satisfac tory. The blossom on most

of the ordinary hardy plants was above the average, Plums ,Cherries, Pears, Apples, Laburnums, Lilacs, Hawthorns , Flowering

Currants, Rhododendrons,&c . ,

being specially fine, though

somewhat short-lived on account of the dryness of the atmosphere

during the period Of bloom.

EXCURSIO N.

DOUGLAS, 14th June, 1913—Conductor, Mr . John Cairns .This excurs ion, which was arranged j ointly with the Edinburgh

F ield Naturalists’ and Microscopical Society, was attended by a

party numbering thirty—four, and took place during very fine

weather. O n arrival at Douglas railway station,the party

proceeded to the Castle policies, access to which had been kindly

granted by the Earl of Home. There they were met by the

gardener, who conducted them through the grounds,gardens,

and plant -houses, and pointed out the various objects of interest.It was Observed that several bushes of Rhododendron hirsutum

Linn ., in the grounds, had their leaves infected with Chrysomgxa

rhododendr i (DC . ) De Bary, a rare parasitic fungus which W asnot known to occur in this country when Plowright published

his Monograph of the B r itish Uredinece and Ustilagineoe in 1889,and does not appear to have since been recorded for Britain.


recovery of the Castle from the hands of the English have been

immortalised in history . Near the site of the old stronghold is

the modern Castle of Douglas,erected in the year 1762.

After leaving the castle and passing along the edge of a small

lake,the party reached the village O f Douglas . In the church

yard they inspected the remains O i the ancient kirk of St . Bride,founded in the thirteenth cen tury. The building is now repre

sented by a small Spire and by the choir, which latter was always

til l 1761 the burial-place O f the Douglas fami ly . Af ter having

long remained in a neglected condition,it underwent extensive

restoration about thirty- five years ago . Among the changes

then made were the removal and enlargement of the vault below

the High A ltar, and the removal of the old coflin s. In the new

vault are interred the remains of the late Earl and Countess.

The former is commemorated by a window of stained glass on the

east side O f the building, and his countess by a beautiful white

marble and alabaster monument which occupies the centre of the

floor of the choir. The main interest of the building, however ,l ies in the ancient monuments, which represent recumbent

figures of knights carved in relief, and mark the last resting

places of the eminent members O f the noble house O f Douglas,to whose memory they were raised . The sculptured memorial

of the good Sir James, a portion of which has unfortunately been

broken away, represents h im as having his legs crossed . Sir

W alter Scott has remarked that this monument, in its origina l

state,must have been in no way inferior to the best of the

same period in W estminster Abbey . The storv of Sir James’s

mission to the Holy Sepulchre with the heart of Bruce ; his

death when fighting aga ins t the Saracens in Spain ; and the

bringing to Scotland of his body, along with the casket containing

the heart O f his revered monarch , is too well known to need

repetition here. The partial demoli t ion O f the monuments has

been variously ascribed to the misguided zeal of sixteenth century

reformers ; the wanton desecrat ion of the church and its con

tents by a troop of Cromwell ’s soldiers , who are said to have

used the building as a stable for their horses ; and thoughtless

mischief perpetrated by school-boys more than a century ago,when the school was situated at the churchyard

,and the choir

of the old kirk was unprotected by a door.

EXCU RS ION . 129

Additiona l reports have been submitted by Messrs . A lexander

Ross and D . A . Boyd, who visited the district by an early train .

Mr . Ro ss sta tes that the following thi rty -seven species of birds

( includi ng seven summer migrants) were Observed durin g the

Course of the day , viz . , Mi stle Thrush, Song-Thrush , Blackbird ,Redbreast, Willow-Wren, Wood -Wren

,Hedge-Sparrow,

G reat

Tit,Blue Tit

,Wren . Pied Wagtail, G rey Wagta il , Tree-Pipit,

Mead ow-Pipit,Spot ted Flycatcher, Swallow

,House-Martin ,

G reenfinch , House-Sparrow, Cha ffinch , Starling, Jackdaw, R ook,Skylark

, Sparrow -Hawk,Common Heron

,Malla rd

,Tufted Duck ,

Pheasant, Moorhen, Lapwing, Common Snipe, Common Sand

piper, Redshank , Curlew, Black-headed Gull. Herring-Gull,and

Li ttle G rebe . The Heronry on an island in one of the smal l

sheets of water on the esta te was visited . According to the

gardener,the nests are fewer this season than usual but at least

half-a-dozen were not iced . The Mallard and Tufted Duck were

seen

'

on‘

one O f the lochs followed by youn g broods. In a patch

of planted heather in the garden in front of the Castle,"

a

pheasant ’s nest with eggs was pointed out . Notable omi ssions

from the list are the G oldcrest ,* Whitethroat

,and Yellow

Bunting, which , however, must certa inly occur about the estate .

As regards insect l ife, Mr . _

Ro ss remarks that the di strict

worked over during the excursion should prove entomologica lly

interest ing when thoroughly investigated . The followin g is a

1st of the D iptera taken, so far as identified z—Dilophusfemor a tus Mg ,

I/ imnobia nebeculosa Mg , L . jflwipes F .,L.

trigouncta ta F . ,Dicr anomyia modesta Mg ,

D . mor io F ., Bhipidia

maculam Mg ,Empeda nubila Schum.

,Gon iomg ia tenella Mg ,

Molophilus pr opinguus Egg ,M . bifila tus Verr. , B hgpholophus

nodulosus Mcq . , E rioptera tr ivialis Mg ,Limnophila lineolella

Vern ,L . nemora lis Mg , Ula pi losa Schum.

,Ama lopis immacula ta

Mg ,Tipula hortulana Mg ,

T. la teralis Mg T . mon tium Egg ,

B er is chalybea ta Forst .,Leptis scolopa cea Linn .

, Rhamphomyia

s ulca ta Empis stercor ea Linn . , E . tr igramma Mg , E .

bilinea ta Lw . , E . borea lis Hila ra maura F . , P ipunculus

3p ? Pla tychirus man ica tus Mg ,P. peltatus Mg , P . albimanus

F .,I’J scambus Staeg ,

P . clypea tus Mg , Mela nostoma mellinum

Linn .,

111 . sca la rs F Bor borus n iger Mg , B . gen icula tus Meq .


As regards the botany of the district, Mr. Boyd reports that

no F lowering-plants of any importance were observed . The

G ermander Speedwell (Veron ica chamcedrgs however,was

remarkable for the uncommonly large size and brilliant colour of

its blossoms, which were produced in great abundance . Among

the Mosses collected were O r thotrichum rupestre Schl,0 .

anomalum Hedw . var. saxa tile Milde,0 . Lyellii H. (St T.

, 0 . afi ne

Schrad ., Bryum in clina tum Bland , Nechera pumila Hedw. , and

Eurhyn chium mura le Milde, specimens of all which have been

identified by Mr. J ohn R . Lee. Besides Chrysomgxa rhodo

dendri , already referred to,the most interest ing Microfungi

Obtained were Peronospora rumicis Corda,on Rumex Acetosa

Puccin ia a egopodii (Schum. ) Mart ,on E gopodium Podagraria ,

Synchytr ium taraxaci De Bary Jr W or. , Protomyces pachydermus

Thiim. ,and Ramular ia taraacaci Karst. , all on Taraocacum

ofiicin a le ; Exoascus prun i Fckl. , on young fruit of Prunus

Padus ; and Ramularia heraclei Sacc . ,

“

on Heracleum

Sphondylium.

Notes.

The Turtle-Dove (Tur tur communis) in Renfrewsh ire.O n three occasions between the 5th and 18th June, 1913, I saw

a Turtle -Dove at W illiamwood, but I did not Obtain any evidence

Of its nesting, although the time of the year and the length of

its stay would suggest such a possibility . This species has once

before been recorded for the county,a bird having been shot at

Foxbar in June, 1911 (Glasgow Na tura list,Vol. II I , page 97R . W . S. W ilson

,Cathcart.

W ood-Sandpiper (Totanus glareola ) in East RenfrewO u 7th September, 1913, I saw a W ood-Sandpiper at BalgrayDam,

and on 14th September I saw it again atW aulkmill G len Dam.

O n 3lst August, Mr. Hugh W ilson had seen what was probably

the same bird at Balgray. It was a bird Of the year, and, in the

fine light in which I Observed it on 7th September, it appeared

quite light on the upper parts, owing to the size and number Of

Abies Douglasi , 127excelsa , 127

Acacia pycnantha, 38Accentor modularis, 64Accipiter nisus, 65ACCOUNTS , ABSTRACT O F, 48

Acer, 94Pseudo-platanus, 123, 127

Aconitum Napellus, 105

Acredula caudata , 64Acrocephalus phragmitis, 64, 85, 88Aegopodium Podagraria, 121, 130Agabus arc ticus, 17 , 18Agropyrum, 13

junceum, 12

Agrostis alba, 14, 122tenuis, 14

Aira praecox, 14Alauda arvensis , 65AlcedO iSpida , 65

Alchemilla vulgaris, 1 16var . acutidens, 41

ALDER, 77 , 99

ALGE,FRESHWATER , 102

Alicularia compressa, 16ALIEN PLANTS, 73ALLAN

, CHAS . A . , 69

Allopauropus gracilis, 191Alternaria brassiere, 95Amalopis immaculata, 96, 129Amblystegium filicinum, 78, 98

juratz kanum, 124

serpens, 68Ammophila, 31arenaria , 12

Anacsena globulus, 17Anas boscas, 65ANDERSON, THOMAS , 38ANEMONE

,WOOD , 74

Anthuspratensis, 65

trivialis, 65, 83, 88Antitrich ia curtipendula, 68

Antocha O paliz ans, 75

Apera Spica -venti, 39APPLES, 126AQUARIUM NOTES , FUR THER LABORATO RY ,

125

Arabis hirsuta , 75Arctium minus, 121

Ardea cinerea, 65Arenaria peploides, 13, 14ARRAN, DYT ISCUS LAPPO NICUS IN, 15-19

Arum maculatum,103, 105, 120 , 123

Ascochyta aricola , 120

armoracise, 94deutzias, 120doronici, 122valerianas, 120

ASH , 77 , 99, 120Asio accipitrinus, 65

otus, 65Asperula O dorata , 122Asplenium Trichomane s, 77Asterias Mulleri , 125Atractosoma polydesmoides, 90Atriplex Babingtonii, 15

hastata , 15AZ ALEA , 76

BACNALL , RICHD. S. , 89, 123

BANE , LEOPARD’S , 73Barbula convoluta , 67 , 103

cylindraca , 67recurvifolia, 67revoluta , 67rigidula , 67vinealis , 68

viridula, 67BARR, MATTHEW , 38

BAxTE R , W . R . , 38, 81 , 83, 84, 85, 102,123, 124

Buz z an ia tricrenata va r . triangularis, 69BEAM ,WHI TE, 127BEECH , 72, 95

Bellis perennis , 14Berberis vulgaris, 106Beris chalybeata ,

129

Betula alba, 123tomentosa, 12, 14

Bibio marci , 75B IRCH, 77 , 99B IRDS or BEITH, 38

O F PO SSIL MARSH, 41, 49-65

Bispora monilioides, 95BITTERN

, 58, 65, 1 10 , 1 11

BLACHB IRD , 51 , 64, 75, 80, 129

BLAEBERRY, 74

Blanjulus fusons , 92g uttulatus, 92

pulchellus, 92Borborus geniculatus, 129niger, 129

BOTANICAL EXCHANGE CLUB , NOTESFROM , 41 , 42

Bota '

urus stellaris, 65

Botrydina vulgaris , 78BOYD , D. A .

, 38, 40 , 73, 79. 93, 104 , 108,109, 120 , 123, 124, 125, 129, 130

Brachychaeteuma bagna lli , 89

B rachydesmus superus , 92Brachythec ium albicans , 68

plumosum, 98

purum, 67rivulare , 67 , 98

rutabulum , 98

BRAMBLING , 55, 65BROW N

,Dr. ROBT .

,69

Bryum atlanticum, 124

atropurpureum, 68

bimum, 67

inclina tum 130

erythroca rpum, 42

roseum, 98

Buddleia globosa , 7 1Bulgaria polymorpha , 98BULLH NCH , 56 , 65

BUNTING, CORN , 56 , 65

REE D , 56 , 65SNOW, 56 , 65

YELLOW, 56, 65, 129

CAIRNS,JOHN , 126

Cakile maritima, 14Calluna vulgaris, 11 , 14

va r . Erikae ,41

Caltha palustris, 105Calystegia sepium, 94

CAMERON, PETER , 3-5,Campanula latif olia , 94

persicif olia, 121Campylopus brevipilus, 68

pyriformis, 68CANARIES , 117CANKER , LARCH , 107Cardamine amara, 106Carduelis elegans , 65

Spinus , 65Carex arenaria, 12 , 14flava x Hornschuchiana , 39

G oodenowi i , 14

G rahami x saxa tilis z C Ewingii, 41

helvola , 42

Hornschuch iana, 39

lepidocarpa , 39

Carex inflata ,14

leporina, 14remota , 39

spiralis, 115Cas tanea sa t iva , 123

Cenang ium, 109

Ce rasti um alpinum x vulgatumSmyei . 41

arvense, 39,va r . Andrewsn , 39

semidecandrum, 12, 13

tetrandrum,13

triviale , 79vulgatum ,

13

Centaurea nigra , 56 , 79Ceratodon

,13

Certhia familiaris, 65Cetorhinus maximus , 66 -7 , 68

CHADWICK ,W . L. , 82 , 84

CHAE FINCH 55, 65 129

W H ITE -HEADED,80

Chantransia,102

Charadrius pluvialis 65

Cheiranthus cheir i, 105Chelidon urbica, 65, 84, 87Chelidonium majus , 105Chenopodium rubrum ,

15

Chermes lar iCIS 107CHERRIES , 126CHI PPCHAPP, 52, 64, 83, 88

Chilopoda , 90 , 91Choisya tern a ta , 7 1

Chormudidse , 92Chroococ cus turg idus, 79Chrysan themum Leucanthemum, 79

maximum , 94

Chrysomyxa rhododendri , 126 , 130

Chrysosplenium alternif olium, 72 . l

C ICELY , SW EET , 74Cinclus aqua t icus , 64Cirsium arvense, 14

lanceolatum, 14

palus tre, va r . ferox, 41Cladophora (glomerata 79

Cladosporium epiphyllum, 79

Clangula glauc ion , 65

Claudopus variab ilis , 10 1Claytonia ,

alsinoides , 103Clematis Vita lba, 99Clitocybe brumali s, 10 1Closterium acerosum, 102

Cni cus heterophyllus , 79

Cochlearia Armorac ia, 94, 95Columba palumbus, 65Colymbus septentrionalis, 60 , uCOMFREY , PURPLE , 75

COOT , 6 1 , 63, 65

CORMORANT, 58, 65, 103

Corvus corone, 65frugilegus, 65

monedula , 65Corydalis claviculata , 90Coryneum Kunz ei va r . castanesa

,123

Cosmarium pachydermum, 102

Cotile riparia , 65, 82, 87Cotoneaster, 7 1Cotyledon Umbilicus, 122CRAIG , JOHN, 38, 80CRAK E, CORN 60 , 65, 84, 88, 105

SPOTTED , 60 , 65Crania anomala, 125Craspedosma rawlinsii, 90

Simile, 90Crepis capillaris, 14

mollis, 14

paludosa, 14, 121 , 122CRESS , HAIRY ROCK , 75

Crex pratensis, 65, 84, 88CROWBERRY , 108CROW, CARRION , 56 , 65C ryptops hortensis, 90CUCKOO, 57 , 65, 84, 88, 103 , 105, 1 1Cuculus canoras, 65, 84, 88GULB IN SANDS , FLORA O F , 5-15

CURLEW , 63 , 65, 112, 129

CURRANTS , 126Cygnus bewicki , 65, 79

olor, 65Cypselus apus, 65, 85, 88Cytisus scoparius, 14

Dasyscypha abietis, 108

calyc ina , 107 , 108, 124

hyalina , 94resinaria , 108subtilissima , 108

Deronectes griseo-striatus, 17

Desmonema W rangelii, 125

Deutz ia gracxlis, 120Dichothrix orsiniana , 103

Dicranella varia ,Dicranomyia chorea, 75

dumetorum, 75modesta , 96 , 129morio, 129stigmatica, 96

Dicranoweisia cirrata, 67Dicranum majus, 97Didymella superflua , 94Dilophus femoratus, 129

Dinemasporium graminum, 95

Diplopoda, 92DIPPER, 53 , 64Ditrichum homomallum, 97DIVER, RED-THROATED , 64, 65

Dixa maculata, 96

Doassansia Martianofli ana , 121Doronicum, 122

Pardalianches , 75DOTTEREL, 61 , 65DOVE , R ING 60, 65

TURTLE IN E . RENPREw, 130Drabis hirsuta , 106Draparnaldia glomerata, 78Drosera rotundifolia

, 14

DUCK , SHELD 59, 65

TUFTED , 59, 65, 77 , 129DUNLINS , 64, 102Dytiscus lappon icus IN ARRAN , 15 -19,

EARTHW O RT, 74ELM , 7 1 , 72

ELMHIRST , RICHARD , 66 , 69. 70Eleocharis palustris, 14Elymus, 13

arenarius , 12Emberiz a c itrinella , 65

europoea , 65

miliaria, 65Empeda nubila, 129Empetrum n igrum, 108

Empis bilineata , 129

borealis , 129stercorea , 129

trigramma, 129Encalypta streptocarpa , 97Entorrh iz a Aschersoniana, 94Eolis Landsburgii, 2Epicoccum equiseti, 95Epilobium obscurum, 14

palustre, 14Epipactis latlfolia , 75Equisetum, 95

hyemale , 79limosum, 95

Erica cinerea , 11Eriophorum angustifolium, 14

Erioptera tmn ionota , 96trivialis, 75, 96 , 129

Erithacus rubecula , 64Erophila vulgaris, var . glabrescens, 39Escallonia macrantha , 70Eudromia s morinellus, 65Eupatorium Cannabinum

,121

Eurhynchium confertum, 67crassinervium, 68

murale,130

myosuroides, 98

praelongum, 98

rusciforme , va r . atlanticum, 42

striatum, 67Swartz ii , 68, 98

Gyrinus natator, 17 Ithyphallus impudicus, 98Ivv, 71

Habenaria bifolia, 39, 105HAMILTON

,W. B .

, 124

Hanseniella caldaria . 91

HAW K , SPARROW , 57 , 1 11 , 129HAWTHORN, 75HAZ EL , 77Hebeloma glutinosum, 101

HENDERSON, M ISS C . , 39

DR . THOS. B . , 39

ROBERT , 63Henicops fulvicornis , 90Heracleum Sphondylium, 130

HEPAT ICS , 69HerO O Spora tiliae, 94

HERRIOT , G E O . , 70HERON, 58, 65, 129

Heterocladium heteropterum, 67Hieracium orithales, 41

Hilara maura, 129HILL , A . , 69

Himantopus candidus, 65Hirundo rustica , 65, 72, 82, 87Holcus lanatus, 14

mollis, 14HOLLY , 77HOOKER, SIR JOSEPH D. , 38

HOPKINS , NICOL, 43 , 68, 82 -86

HYACINTH ,W ILD , 74, 75, 77

Hydrochelidon nigra , 65Hydrocotyle vulgaris, 14Hydroporus melanarius, 17

morio, 17pubescens , 17

Hylocomium brevirostre, 98loreum, 98, 103 -4flagellare , 97splendens, 98squarrosum, 98, 104

Hypholoma dispersum, 101

Hypnum brevirostre, 68callichroum, 68, 78

cupressiforme var . ericetorumvar . tectorum, 42

giganteum, 68

intermedium, 68

sarmentosum , 68

stellatum, 98

va r . protensum, 68

Schreberi, 98revolvens, 68, 98

Impatiens NO li-tangere, 39Inocybe mutabilis, 101Isobatea varicornis , 90

JACK , JAS. , 48

J. R . , 68, 98 .

J ACKDAw , 56 , 65, 118, 129

JENNY, CREEPING 73Julus albipes, 92

fallax, 92puncta tus, 92

pusillus, 92sabulosus

,92

Silvarum, 92

Juncus articulatus, 14balticus, 14bufonius, 14, 94bulbosus , 14conglomeratus, -14efl'usus , 14squarrosus , 14tennis, 116

Jungermannia incisa, 78

KESTREL , 57, 65K IDSTO N, ADRIAN , 38KINGF ISHER , 57 , 65KING , J . J . F. X . , 38, 70 , 97 ,

PROF . L. A . L. , 39

SIR JAS. , BART . , 38

KIRK , CHAS. , 40 , 41 , 45, 70KNAPWEED

, 56

KNOT,1 11

LABURNUM,126

Lamium album, 95

LANDSB O ROUGH , REV. DD . INMEM O RIAM ,

1 -3, 40

LAPWING , 62, 65, 110 , 129, 131

LARCH, 103, 107 , 108, 124APH IS , 107JAPANESE , 108 .

Larus argentatus, 65canus, 65

fuscus, 65, 81 , 87 -88

marinus , 65ridibundus, 65, 70

Lathyrus'

macrorrhiz us, 10 6

Laurus nobilis, 7 1

LEE, JOHN R . , 16 , 38, 40, 68, 70 , 76 , 78,

LEEK , HOUSE , 75Leontodon h ispidus, 14Lepidium Smithii, 79Lepidoz ia setacea var . sertularioides, 69

Leptis scolopacea , 129

Leptodontiumflexifolium, 78Leptospora Spermoides, 94Leucobryum albidum, 124

pumilum, 124

Libertella uhni suberosae, 123Ligurinus chloris, 65Lilacs, 126Limnobiaflav ipes, 129

nebeculosa , 96 , 129tripun ctata , 129

Limnophila ferruginea , 96lineolella , 129

nemoralis, 96 , 129Limosa lapponica, 70LINNET , 55, 65, 110Linota cannab ina, 65

fia virostris, 65

linaria, 65ruf escens, 65

Listera ‘ovata , 75Lithobiidae, 90Lithobius borealis, 89, 90

crassipes, 90forficatus, 90

glabratus, 90variegatus , 90

Littorella uniflora , 14LOOSESTRIFE, GREATER, 98Lophoz ia incisa, 78

longifolia, 69Lotus corniculatus, 14LUNAM , G EORGE , 102, 125Lutra vulgaris, 7 1Lychnis dioica, 95

Flos-cuculi, 95Lycopus europaeus, 97Lysimachia vulgaris, 97, 98

Macrosporium ignobile, 123MAGPIE , 56 , 65MAIN, JOHN, 40MALLARD , 59, 65, 102, 129Mareca penelope, 65MARIGOLD , MARSH , 74, 105Marsson ia aegopodi i , 121

betulae, 123

delastrei , 95

lappae , 121

Marsupella Sulliv antn , 69

MARTIN , HOUSE , 54, 65, 84, 87 ,105, 129

SAND , 54, 65, 81, 82MASTERWORT, 73Matricaria maritima , 15

Mecistocephalus carniolensis, 91

MEETING , ANNUAL , 38-39 O AK , 77 , 98, 99, 127Megalestris catar

'

rhactes, 45 TURKEY , 127

elampsora cerastu, 79Melanostoma mellinum

, 75, 129scalare, 129

Menyanthes trifoliata,MERGANSER, RED -BR EASTED , 77 , 10‘Mergus serrator, 77MERL IN , 58-65

Merodon equestris, 124

METEOROLOG ICAL NOTES FO R 1912 , 1Mitrula phalloides, 104Mnium hornum

, 97

pun ctatum, 97subglobosum, 67undulatum. 78

Mollisia epith allina , 94

Moloph Ilus appendiculatus, 96 , 129bifilatus

, 75, 129

propinquus , 129MoNEY W O RT

, YELLOW , 73MONT CENIS AND ITS ALPINE FLORAMOORHEN, 6 1 , 65, 129MOSSES FROM VICE -CO UNTY 101 , 67Motacilla alba, 65, 82 , 87 , 88

lugubris, 65

melanO pe, 65

ran, 65, 75, 84, 88

MOTHERWELL , A. B 70MUR E , COLONEL , 39

A . M . , 39

Muscicapa grisola . 86 , 88

Mycena capillaris, 101rubro-marginata 101

Myosotis caespitosa, 14MYRIAPODA , NOTES O N CLYDE , 89-9M ‘ANDREW

,JAMES , 67 , 68

M ‘CR INDLE ,JOHN

,43 , 101

M ‘CULLO CH , HENRY, 106-7MACDONALD , D. , 63 , 81-85

MACF IE , JO HNSTO NE , M .D. , 117 , 12;MACKE ITH , T . THORNTON , 39, 70 , 8'

84, 85, 123, 125

MACVICAR, S. M . , 69

Neckera complanata, 67 , 97crispa, 67pumila, 78, 130

Neottia Nidus-avis, 75

Nettion crecca , 65

NIGHT INGALE , 118NIGHTJ AR, 1 10Nostoc macrosporum, 79

microscopicum, 79

Numenius arquata, 65

( Edogonium, 102

O ocystis solitaria , 102O rbilia Boydii , 120O RCHIS , BIRD ’

s -NEST, 75

O rchis latifolia, 14maculata , 14

var . ericetorum, 39

O riganum vulgare, 105O RPINE , 73 , 74O rthomorpha gracilis, 92O rthotrichum affine, 130

anomalum va r . saxatile, 130diaphanum, 97leiocarpum, 67 , 97Lyelli, 68. 97 , 130rivulare , 73rupestre , 130stramineum , 67tenellum, 67 , 103

O TTER, 7 1O UZ EL, RING 82 , 88

O vularia decipiens, 95O W L , BARN, 57 , 65, 1 19

LONG -EARED, 57 , 65, 119SHORT-EARED, 57 , 65TAWNY, 57 , 65, 118-119

O YSTER CATCHER , 102

Paeonia , 122Panaeolus campanulatus, 101Parietaria officmalis, 105

PARTRIDGE, 60 , 65Parus ater, 64

atricapillus Kleinschmidti, 64cmruleus, 64

major , 64Passer domesticus, 65PATERSON,

JOHN, 38, 50, 53 , 56, 58, 59,

70 , 80 , 81, 106 , 125

Pauropoda , 91

Pauropodidae, 91

Paxillus involutus, 98PEARS , 126Pediastrum Boryanum,

102

Peltigera can ina , 94

Peplis Portula, 14Perdix cinerea, 65Peronospora rumic is 130

PETREL , STORM 43 , 44

PETTIG REw,WM . M. , 69, 75, 105, 124

Pheeangella , 109

empetri , 108. 109

Phalacrocorax carbo, 65, 103Phasianus, colch icus, 65PHEASANT , 60 , 65, 129Philadelphus, 7 1Philaenus spumarius, 97

Ph ilonotis rigida, 42Phlebia merismoides, 10 1vaga, 101

Phylloscopus rufus, 64, 83sibilatrix, 64, 75, 85trochilus , 64, 73, 83, 87

Phyllostic ta acetosellae, 120aegopodii, 121

carpathica , 121destructiva , 94eupatorii , 121

eximia , 121

scrophulariw, 94

ulmi, 94

umbilici, 122Pica rustica, 65PINE , BR OTAN, 108PIPIT , 1 12

MEADOW , 54, 65, 129

TREE, 54, 65, 83, 88, 103, 105, 129Pipunculus, 129

Plagiochila punctata var . minuta , 69Plagiothecium denticulatum, 68

PLANE , O RIENTAL, 106Plantago alpina , 42

Coronopus, 14maritima va r . pygmaea , 39

Plasmod iophora brassxcae , 40

Platychirus albimanus, 75, 129clypeatus, 129

di sc imanus, 75, 97man icatus , 129

peltatus, 129scambus, 129

Plectrophenax nivalis, 65Pleurotus serotinus, 101PLOVER, G OLDEN, 61 , 65, 111

G REY, 111R INGED , 102

PLUMS , 126Pneumaria marit ima, 15Poa annua , 14POCHARD , 59, 65Podicipes auritus, 65

cristatus, 65fluviatilis, 65Polyanthus , 125Polydesmidae, 92Polydesmus complanatus, 92

coriaceus, 90denticulatus, 92

Polygala vulgaris, 13serpyllacea va r . vincoides, 42

Polygonatum multiflorum, 105

Polygonum alpinum, 41

Polymicrodon latz eli, 92Polyporus brumalis, 104

Polystictus versicolor, 40 , 101

Salix caprea, 99repens, 14

Salsola Kali, 15Sambucus nigra. 12

SANDPIPER, COMMON, 62, 65, 73, 83,88, 103 , 129, 131

GREEN , 130WO OD , IN EAST RENFREW, 130 - 1

Saxicola oenan the, 64, 82, 87leucorrhoa , 43 , 64, 69

Saxifraga G eum , 77

granulata , 75SAX IFRAGE , WHITE MEADOW , 75

Scapania O bliqua , 69subalpina va r . undulifolia , 69

Scenedesmus quadricauda ,102

Schendyla nemorensis, 91Scilla nutans , 77Scirpus caespitosus, 14

filiformis, 14rufus, 15setaceus , 14

Sciurus cinereus, 42Scolecotrichum sticticum, 95

Scolioplanes maritima , 91

Scolopendrella , 89Scolopendrellidae, 91SCO IO pendrellopsis subnuda , 91

Scolopendridae, 90Scrophularia nodosa , 94vernalis , 124

Scutellaria galericulata , 39

Scutigerella biscutata , 91immaculata, 91

Sedum acre , 12, 14Sempervivum tectorum, 75

Sene’

c io Jacobaea, 12, 14, 79sarracenicus, 72 , 75v iscosus, 99

Septomyxa negundin is , 123

Septoria calystegiae, 94

cercosporoides, 94

chrysanthemella, 38, 79

menyanth is , 94acetosae, 122

asperulae, 122

bomi i ha r brachypodii , 12'

crepidls , 122

pseoniae va r . berolinenSIS 122

quev illensis , 122

torment lllee , 79

SHANKS, ARCHD ., 72

SHARK , BASKING , 66 -68

SHEARWATER , MANx,43 , 44

SHOVELER , 59, 65

Silene maritima ,14

Sisymbrium alliaria, 105Sisyrinchium anceps, 39

SISKIN , 55, 65

Skimmia japonica, 7 1SKUA , GREAT , 45SKYLARK , 57 , 64, 129SMEW , 64

SNIPE , COMMON , 62. 65 ,129

GREAT , 64

JACK , 62, 65

Solaster papposus, 125

SOLOMON’S SEAL , 73 , 74SOMMERVILLE , J OSEPH ,

48

SO RREI.,WOOD 74Sparoan ium, 42

SPARROW , HEDG E , 53 , 64, 129HOUSE , 55 , 65, 129

Spatula clypeata, 65SPEEDWELL , GERMANDER, 130Sphagnum acutifolium va r . rubellun

G irgensohni i , va r . xerophyllum,

rigidum va r . compactum, 68

va r . squarrosum, 68

subsecundum va r . contortum 62

Spiraea ulmaria,122

Splachnum ampullaceum, 68

SPLEENWORT , BLACK , 77SPRUCE , 108SQU IRREL , GREY , 40 , 42-3

Staganospora trifolii , 122

STARLING , 56, 65, 119, 129BLACK

, 111

GREY , 111Statice maritima, 15

linearifolia , 42Sterna cantia ca , 123fluviatilis, 65, 86Stigmatogaster subterraneus, 90

Stigonema turfaceum, 79

STILT , BLACK -WINGED , 62, 65STONECHAT , 52 , 64, 102Strix fiammea

, 65

Strongylocoris leucocephalus, 123

STUART , COLONEL HARINGTON , 39

Sturnus vulgaris, 65SUMMER -B IRDS’ , RETURN T O

“ CLYIN 1913, 81 -89, 125

SWALLOW , 54, 65, 73 , 81 , 82-3, 87 ,103, 105, 129

BROWN , 111

SWAN , BE W ICK’S , 58, 65, 79, 80

MUTE , 58, 65SWIFT , 57 , 65, 85, 88, 103SYCAMORE , 127Sylvia atricapilla , 75

cinerea , 64, 85, 88hortensis, 75, 86

Symphyla, 91Symphylella delicatula , 91vulgaris, 91

Turdus iliacus, 64merula

, 64musicus, 64

pilaris, 64torquatus , 82viscivorus, 64

TURNSTONE, 102

Turtur communis, 130TWITE, 56, 65

Ula pilosa, 129Ulex europaeus, 14Ulmus

, 94, 123campestris, 7 1glabra , 72major, 71montana, 7 1

Ulota crispa, 97phyllantha , 97

Uria grylle, 43troile

, 77

Vaccinium Myrtillus, 120VALERIAN , HEART -LEAVE DValeriana pyrenaica, 120Vanellus vulgaris, 65Vaucheria geminata, 102

sessilis, 102Verbascum thapsus, 105Veronica beccabunga, 122

chamaedrys, 14, 130hirsuta

, 12

ofli cinalis, 12, 14scutellata, 14

Vibrissea truncorum, 104

Vicia angustifolia, 14Viola curtisii

, 12

palustris, 13, 103R iviniana , 12, 13

VIOLET , MARSH 103

WOOD 74

WAGTAIL, GREY, 53, 65, 129PIED , 53 , 65, 129WHITE, 53 , 65, 82, 88YELLOW , 53, 65, 75 , 84, 88, 110

WARBLER, BLACKCAP , 75, 88, 105, 106GARDEN , 75, 86 -89

,106

SEDGE , 52, 64, 85, 88, 105WATT

, H. B . , 41 , 43LAURENCE , 124

Wehera annotina, 78

elongata, 97nutans

, 97Weigela , 7 1

W eisia microstoma , 68verticillata , 78viridula , 67

W HEATEAR, 51 , 64, 81 , 82, 87 , 88GREENLAND , 43, 51 , 64, 69

WHINCHAT , 51 , 64, 85, 88WH ITETHROAT , 52, 64, 85, 88, 103, 104,112, 129 .

W HITTON , J AS. , 38, 125

WIGEON, 59, 65W ILLOW, 79, 99

CRICKET-BAT , 41

WILSON, HUGH, 58, 60, 82 , 84, 85, 86

R . W . S. , 55, 59, 60 , 69, 82, 84, 85,86 , 130

THOS . W . , 69

W ISHART , R . S. , 39, 40

WOODCOCK , 64

W REN, 53, 64, 129

W ILLOW , 52 , 64, 73 , 81 , 83 , 87 ,103, 104, 129

WOOD , 52, 64, 75, 103, 104, 129

YEws, AYRSHIR E, 24 -27DUMBARTONSHIRE , 28-33LANARKSH IRE

,23

LOUDOUN,104

RENFREWSHIRE,19-23

ST IRLINGSHIRE, 33YEW -TREES

, 98, 105, 127in the Clyde area , 19-33, 72

measurements of, 34-37

Z ygodon viridissimus, 103

0 0

0 0

THE J O URNAL O F THE

NATURAL HISTO RY SO C IETY O F G LASG O W

( In c luding th e Transa c tions a nd Proceeding s of

th e Soc iety , Th ird Se ries) .

Volume VI .

EDIT ED BY

D. A. BO YD AND JO HN PATERSO N.

19 14 .

G LASG O W : JO HN SM ITH S O N (G LASG O W ) L IM ITED ,

19 R ENFIELD STR EET .

PR INTED Er

Rommel ANDERSO N,142 W EST N ILE STRE ET ,

G LASG O W

vi CONTENTS .

PROCEEDINGS—Continued. PAG E

Hypnum J ura tzkanum from Botanic G ardens, G lasgow, and

B arbula obtusula from Bridge of Allan (hitherto only foundin Sweden)—James Stirton , M .D

W e’

oera proligera from Drumchapel, new to Clyde and otherMosses—J . R . Lee,

MeteorologicalNotes for 1913—JamesWhitton ,

EXCURSIONSRowardennan (Birds, Microfungi , Fresh -water Algae) ,Rosemount (Microfungi) ,Colintraive (Microfungi) ,Duntreath (Microfungi) ,Dougalston (Fungus Foray) ,Kilkerran (see also pp. 48

Duntreath (Trees) ,Mauchline ,Cambusnethan (Trees andflowers, includingSquama r z

'

a ) ,

Millport Marine Biological StationNorth Bute,Tyndrum (Alpine plants ) ,Fullarton House (Trees) ,

NOTES

G reenland Wheatear on St. Andrew’s Day at Fossil—W m.

Rennie,Invasion ofWood-

pigeons,Podosphaera myrtillina .

—D. A . Boyd ,G reen Sandpiper in West Stirlingsh ire,

REVIEWSBulletin of the British O rnithologists Club .

The British Rust Fungi (Uredinales) ,Mildews, Rusts, Smuts,

ABSTRACT STATEMENT O F ACCOUNTS ,

INDEX ,1 13- 120

Gbe (Blasgcw Maturalist


O F G LASG O W

VO LVI , NO . l . ] [November, 1913 .

Autumn Notes on the Birds of the Gareloch .

By W . PERC IVAL W ESTELL,

I spent the month of August, 1913 on the G areloch and I

devoted almost the whole of my attention to the bird l ife of the

district. I was staying with my friend the R ev . Charles A .

Hall,

at Clynder, on the west side of the Loch , and

fortunately he had among hi s papers a copy of thi s Journal for

May, 1910, in which Mr . W . R . Baxter contributed some

Summer Notes for 1908 and 1909 on the birds of G arelochh ead .

This excellent list was of considerable interest to an entire

stranger such as myself and formed the basis of my work .

I cannot do better than follow Mr. Bax ter ’s list and will point

out later those species seen by him whi ch did not come under myown observation .

The following is my complete list

1 . M ISTLE THRUSH (Turdus viscivorous) .—I did not see thisbird until towards the end of the month when several little

parties attracted attention, but i t was not at all common .

2. SONG THRUSH (T. musicus) .—Common but not nearly soabundant as at home in Hertfordshir e .

3 . BLACKB IRD (T . merulct) .—Common but not nearly soabundant as at home in Hertfordshi re.

4. WHEATEAR (Saxicola oman the) .—Several solitary specimens were seen along the shore , particularly at R osneath .


5. WHINCHAT (Pra tin cola rubetra ) . —I saw one or two

examples in Campsail Bay, between the Head and Shandon , on

the east side, and in G len Fruin this species was hardly out of

sight the whole length of the G len .

R EDSTART (Ruticilla phoen icurus) .—Unfo'

rtunately I did

not see this bird ac tually on the Gareloch but I Observed both

it and the DIPPER further north between Arrochar and Ardlui .

I do not append a number as it was not recorded by me for

the G areloch .

6 . R OB IN (Er itha cus rubecula ) .—Common , and youngbirds exceptionally tame .

7 . G REATER WH ITETHROAT (Sylvia cinerea ) .—Several pairswere observed

,particularly among the bushes

,along the shore

near Rahane.

8. LESSER WHITETHROAT (S. curruca ).—I saw’ one spec i

men O f this spec ies in Mr. Hall ’s garden at Woodburn ” and

watched it for some little time . A t home it is one of our

commonest summer migrants , and I am very conversant w ith

it both by sight and sound . This species is unrecorded in

Baxter ’s list .

9. G OLDCREST (Regulus crista tus) .—In view of the increase

of this charming little bird all over the country I was

prepared for its abundance on the G areloch in those parts

which are wooded . I t was very common at Clynder and

R osneath .

10 . CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus ruf us) .—I tried hard to seethis spec ies but failed . Hall tells me it is common in Spring

and he heard it on 20th September, 1913 .

1 1 . WILLOW-WARBLER (P. trochilus) .—Exceedingly abundantand What struck me also was the ex tremely bright plumage of

so many specimens.

12. WOOD-WARBLER (P. sibila trix ) .—I can confirm Mr.

Baxter’s remarks as to this species being almost, if not quite ,as common as the last.


SAND-MART IN (Cotile r iparia ) .—Curiously enough I onlysaw this species in G len Fruin which Mr . Baxter states is the

only nesting place near to the G areloch . Hence it is not

entitled to a place in my list.

29. G REENF INCH (Ligu'rinus chlor is) .—Common .

30. HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) .—Very common .

31 . CHAFF INCH (Fr ingilla caelebs) .—Common .

32. LINNET (Li now cannabina ) .—Uncommon .

33. TWITE (L .fla virostris) .—I had a good sight of two ofthese birds on the moors above C lynder near a small pool

beloved by Dragon F lies. This species is unrecorded in

Bax ter’s“

l ist .

34. LESSER R EDPOLL (L . ruf esceus) . -Exceedingly common .

They could be heard singing on the wing all day long, but

about the middle of August they became less conspicuous.

35. BULLF INCH (Pyrrhula europaea ) .—Some bird catchers

had two or three freshly caught specimens at Rosneath . I also

heard the bird there .

36 . YELLOW-BUNT ING (Embe'r i z a citrinella ) .—Fairly common .

37 . STARL ING (Sturnus vulgar is) .—Common .

38. CARR ION -CROW (Corvus corone) . -I saw two or three of

these birds.

39. B O O K (0 . f rugilegus) . - Common, and associates with

Gulls and Lapwings on open fields . I was very surprised at

the absence O f the J ackdaw.

40 . SKYLARK (Alauda arven sis) .—I only Observed compara

tively few Skylarks and although August is an inconspicuous

month for this favourite songster, I was hardly prepared for it

being so uncommon .

41 . CUCKOO (Cuculus canorus) .—Very prominent in Springaccording to Hall and on his authority it is included here .

42. SWIFT (Cypselus apus) .—Not very common.

W ESTELL.

—AUTUMN NOTES O N B IRDS O F THE GAR ELO CH. 5

43 . KESTREL (Falco tinnuuculus) .—I only saw one specimenof this species putting it up from the old slate quarry above

Stroul. It was the only bird of prey observed .

44. HERON (Ardea cinerea ) . -Very common of an eveni ng in

Campsail Bay, nea r R osneath Cast le G rounds. where I under

stand there is a heronry I also saw a fine specimen hanging

on the telegraph wires by the railway line between Shandon

and Row,evidently recently killed .

45. R ING-DOVE (Columba palumbus) . -Common,especially in

the woods at R osneath .

46. BLACK G ROUSE .-I saw a few of these handsome G rouse

on the moors between Rabane and Loch Long,but it was not

nearly so plentiful as the nex t species. I also saw a covey on

the .moors above Campsa il Bay .

47 . RED G ROUSE (Lagopus scoticus) . —Very abundant, coveyafte r covey being put upwhen tramping over the moors on the

west side of the Gareloch . At the time of my vi sit, Lord

Inverclyde and ni ne other guns shot 270 brace of grouse in

three days over the moors near Clynder.

48. PHEASANT (Pha sianus colchicus) .—I picked up a few

stray feathers of thi s species, saw one or two birds,and heard

others . I t was strange to me, coming from a Partridge

country to find this last-named bird entirely absent.

49.—R INGED PLOVER (E gia litis hia ticula ) . —Rare . This

surprised me.

50 . LAPWING (Van ellus vulgar is) .—Common, and regularly

frequents the turnip field near the new sawmills at R osneath.

51 . O YSTER CATCHER .—(Hcema topus ostra legus) . —I saw one

solitary bird in Campsail Bay .

52. COMMON SANDPIPER (Totanus hypoleucus) .—Commonalong the shore early in August, but became rare later .

53 . R EDSHANK (T. calidr is) .—Quite common, especially at

low tide.


54. CURLEW (Numen ius a rqua ta ) . —Common, but one must

be careful as one of the Gulls imi tates its well-known cry to

a nicety .

55. COMMON TERN (Sterna,fluvia tilis) . —Hall reports seeingthis species on the G areloch in spring

,and again on September

19th , after I had left.

56 . BLACK-B EADED GULL (Larus r idibundus) . —Common .

57 . COMMON GULL (L . camus) .—Common .

58. HERRING GULL (L. a rgen ta tus) .—Common , Hall tellsme that L . r idibundus and L . cauus nest on a Loch above

Ki lcreggan .

59. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (L . fusca s) .—Fairly

common .

60 . G REAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (L . ma r inus).—I sawseveral examples of this fine species .

61. FORK-TAILED PETREL (Procellar ia leucorrhoa ) .—O neday when Hall and I were eating our lunch nea r the

Shepherd ’s hut on the moors above the road to Cove,a bird

shot past us at a tremendous rate, coming from due north .

At first I thought it was a large Swallow,which , attracted by

the insect -haunted pool in front of us was about to swoop over

the water. But as it got past I at once saw the very prominent

white patch on the rump, the forked-tail and sickle- shaped

wings. There is little doubt that the bird in question belonged

to this species, though what such an oceanic wanderer was

doing over the moors in August is difficult to determine. It

was lovely weather, and had been settled for some considerable

time.

62. G U ILLEMOT (Ur id trotle) . -Towards the end of August

I saw on two or three occasions a little party of these birds

swimming about the G areloch , part icularly between Rahane

and Shandon .


Its highest h ills lie to the east,where Beinn Bh ioga ir attains

a height of feet . Fully half of the surface,however , i s

below the 250 - foot level,and the ferti le low- lying ground is

as well cult ivated as any part of Scotland . Border ing on the

seashore and in some of the narrow glens,marshy land is

p lentiful . Scattered throughout the island are numerous

small f resh-water lochs,the waters of a few of which are

car r ied to the sea by fa i r - siz ed streams .

W oodland distr icts are not wanting , though much might be

done in the way of p lanting . The most noteworthy timbered

parts are those of Kildalton and Br idgend , where fai r - siz ed

well- grown trees are to be found . Small woods occur at

var ious parts,while over the island in the glens are l ittle

stretches with natural haz el,bi rch , &c.

A goodly portion of the coast i s rockbound , and rugged and

p reci p itous cl iffs are met with at Sana ig in the west , and

sur rounding the peninsula of O a in the south . Beauti ful

sandy beaches—the most notable,the Big Strand at

Laggan Bay,stretches for seven miles—occur here and there

round the i sland .

W ith a surface as d iversified as this,and a cl imate mi ld

enough to prevent snow from lying dur ing most winters , Islay

ought to be, and is , suffi c i ently attractive to bi rds of all

orders.

The l ist which follows is the result of several years ’ observa

ti ons,main ly in K ildalton and O a

,with sporadic v is its to

other parts of the island , dur ing the months of July and

August,and two v i s its at Chr i stmas and New Year in 1907 -8

and 1909- 10 . Dur ing a part of the summer v is its I had the

pleasure of the company of Mr . John Paterson and Mr . Angus

MacLeO d,while in winter Mr . Will iam Renn ie accompanied

me. To each of these gentlemen my thanks are due.

I am also indebted to Mr . John M‘Donald

,gamekeeper on

Kildalton estate , for much information , espec i ally regard ing

the distr ibution of owls , hawks , and game-bi rds to be found

on the Kildalton estates.

RO SS—B IRDS or ISLAY. 9

I have used the rec ords in Thompson ’ s Natural Histo ry

of Ireland,

” the papers by Mr . Scot -Skirving in the

Proceedings of the Royal Physical Soci ety of Edinburgh ,A F auna of Argyll and the Inner Hebr ides

,

” and notes in

the volumes of The Annals of Scotti sh Natural Hi story.

”

MI S TLE THRU SH (Turdus viscivorus) .—F requent . Late in

summer small flocks gather in p reparation for migration . O n

24th July,1907 I saw between thi rty and forty together , south

of Port E llen l ighthouse . In the winter months it i s usua lly

seen in ones or twos,though on 26th December , 1907 , a large

flock was feed ing in the fields behind Port E llen .

SO NG -THR U SH (T . musicus) .—Common . In the winter

months observed ma in ly along the shore , and there in numbers .

REDWING (T . ilia cus) .—A winter v i s itor , and never seen ingreat numbers . The largest flock observed was on 29th

December,when over forty were in the Ard, Port E llen .

F IELDFARE (T . pilaris) .—A winter v i s ito r , which was only

seen at G r ianan ,Leor in ,

and Cornabus, six bi rds being the

greatest number observed . Mr . Scot -Skirving (Proc. R. Ph . S. ,

Ed.,Vol. IV. ,

p . 72) says Every var iety of the

thrush was found in extraordinary numbers,with the

single exception of the R ing- O usel (T . torgua tus) , which was

totally absent .” Thi s may point to the fact that Redwing and

F i eldfare vary in number in d ifferent years. Mr . Renn ie and

I searched c losely the par ish of K ildalton and 0 a for these

bi rds dur ing our two winter v i s its,and the bi rds were as

scarce as I have mentioned .

BLACKB IRD (T . nierula ) .—Abundant both in summer andwinter.

R ING- O USEL (T . torgua tus) .—O ne bi rd , a female , was seen atStr imn ish on 22nd July , 1907 , by Mr . MacLeod and myself .

W HEATEAR (Saccicola. cenan the) .—Common on both the hi llyand low ground near the shore. Young bi rds are p lenti ful on

the rocky coast near Port Ellen , and on the sandy dunes a longthe Laggan Bay dur ing the summer months .


WHINCHAT (Pra tin cola rubetm ) .—G enerally di str ibuted and

abundant in certain local ities dur ing summer . After the

nesting season parti es of O ld and young may be seen dai ly on

the fences and dykes on the roads to K ildalton , the O a ,

Bridgend,and Portnahaven .

STONECHAT (P. rubicola ) .—O bserved both in summer and

winter . A few pai rs nest in Borra ich ill, and on the hills

extending towards Ardbeg . Young broods are met with on

the Ga and on the moor land between Port E llen and Br idgend .

REDBREAST (Er i tha cus rubecula ) . —Common in the woodeddistr icts summer and winter .

WHITETHRO AT (Syh ia cin er ea ) . —F requent in the woods atKildalton , Carnmore , Tor ra , and Br idgend , and in many of

the glens where it can fin d shelter . I have seen it near

K ilnaughton Cemetery,where for cover it has only a few

stunted bushes and a bracken -c lad hillside.

G O LDEN-CRESTED WREN (Regubus crista tus) .—Common in the

wooden regions,espec ially where firs are grown . Mr .

M‘Donald informs me that in winter he has seen hundreds of

them collected about hi s house in Kildalton .

W ILLO W -W REN (Phylloscopus trochibus) .—An abundant

summer v i sitor over the island wherever cover can be Obta ined .

WO OD -WREN (P. sibila tfr ix) . —O h two occasions only can I

be sure I have seen this spec ies . Mr . MacLeod and I saw

several in a plantation near the Li ly Loch,K ildalton , on 25th

July, and again near Lagavul in , on 3rd August,1907 . Mr .

MacLeod saw several in the wood near Loch Knock, on 15th

July of the same year . I have a doubtful record near

Callumkill in July thi s year .

SEDGE -W ARB LER (Acrocepkahrs pkm gmi tis) .—Not common .

1 have seen it at the following stations Frequenting a

d itch on the roadside near Laphroag , a long the banks of

which a few dwarf wi llows grow. The bi rd has nested here,to

my knowledge, s ince 1906 . (2) At the s ide of a burn near


PIED W AGTAIL (Motocz'

lla lugubr is) .—Common summer and

winter . Many young bi rds are seen everywhere about the

shores after the nesting season .

GREY W AGTAI L (M. melanope) .—O ne Observed on 23rd

August thi s year in K ilnaughton Burn .

TREE -PIP IT (An thus trivia lis) .—Not a“

common spec ies .

Seen twice in 1906,at Kildalton pol icies and at Carnmore .

Since then it was neither seen nor heard ti ll 14th , 15th , and

17th July of this year , when it was in full song near Lagavul in .

The bi rds haunted a meadow in which were a few scattered

tree-clumps , and to the east of which there was a r ising r idge,clad ma inly with haz el.

MEADO W -PIP IT (A. pr a ten sis) .—Abundant in summer fromthe hilly moorlands to the low- lying shores. In winter not so

common , though it was seen on a lmost every day of our v is it .

RO O K-PIP IT (A. obscurus) .—Common summer and winter onthe rocky coasts.

GREAT GREY SHRIKE (Lan ius excubitor ) .—O ne was shot atKildalton , in O ctober , 1909, and was i dentified by Mr .

M‘Donald.

SP O TTED FLY- CATCHER (Muscicapa grisola ) .—Seen only inthe wooded parts of K ildalton ,

Ardmore, Carnmore, and

Br idgend dur ing summer , and then spar ingly.

SWALLO W (Hirundo rustica ) .—Nests in many of the farmsteadings about the island , and in some of the small town

ships . I have seen a flock of over thi rty on the telegraph wi res

at Laphroag—the greatest number seen together .

HO USE -MART IN (Chelidon urbi ca ) .—A scarce summer v i sitor ,nesting only , as far as I have seen , at Newton , nea r Br idgend ,Laphroag ,

and Lagavul in .

SAND -MART IN (Cotile r iparia ) .—I know three nesting-placesof thi s summer migrant . A few pai rs inhabit the banks of the

Machrie R iver , near the entrance of the stream to Laggan

R O SS—B IRDS O F ‘ ISLAY . 13

Bay. Two considerable colon ies nest on the banks of the Buich

River—one near Duich Farm,and the other in the sandy

banks at the wa r ren nearer the sea .

GREENF INCH (Ligur inus chlor is) . - Common in suitable

loca l it i es .

HO U S E -SPARRO W (Passer domesticus) .—Abundant . A cream

coloured bi rd flew about the hotel grounds at Machr ie dur ing

the summer of 1907 . O n the 27th December of the same year

I saw this bi rd,in company with a hedge- sp arrow and a reed

bunting,feed ing at a trough in the hotel yard .

CHAFF INCH (Fr ingilla coelebs) .—Common in sui table

local ities . O n 5th January , 1910 , Mr . Renn i e and I watched ,flying eastward s through a sma ll glen stretching from Callum

kill Burn towards Ardbeg , a mixed flock of chaffinches and

greenfinches—chiefly the former—which took fully ten minutesto pass .

BRAMB L ING (F . mon tifringilla ) .—A sca rce winter v i s ito r .

Near Brahun isary two males and two females were observed

on 31st December , 1909; on 5th January , 1910 , at least half

a -doz en were noted among Chaflinches at Callumkill ; and on7th January six were seen in a field below Park ins . There

was no trace of them in the winter p receding.

LINNET (Linota canna bina ) .—Nests in the rough ground

between K ildalton and Ardbeg,near Lagavul in

,and along the

whin -covered hi lls ide on the road by Cornabus to Kintra .

F a i r numbers may be seen at all these p laces . O n our winter

v i sits small flocks were frequent at var i ous p laces f rom

Kildalton to O a .

LE S S ER REDPO LL (L. rufesceus) . —This spec i es i s common

both summer and winter f rom Lagavul in to Clagga in Bay , and

at Br idgend . O utside of these d i str icts it has not been

observed by me.

TWITE (L.flavirostris) .—A d istinctive feature of the Ard,

Port E llen , where it i s by far the commonest spec ies , i ts shr i ll

and cheery notes being heard among the rocks a ll day long .


It is abundant throughout the O a ,and is common in many

parts of the par ish of K ildalton . In the winter months flocks

of thi rty to forty were of frequent occur rence , and near

Cragabus a flock of over a hundred was observed on 31st

December,1907 .

BULLF INCH (Pyrrhula europcea ) . -Has been noted at Bridgend and Kildalton polic i es , and in the latter is common . O n

22nd December , 1907 , a few were seen in the Ard.

CO RN-BUNT ING (Emberi z a miliaria ) .—A common resident

spec ies in the cultivated portions of the par i shes of Kildalton

and O a ,and Kila row and K ilmeny. Its unmelod ious song , i f

one can call it a song , i s heard da i ly in these d istr icts dur ing

the summer . F locks numbering up to twenty were observed

in winter resting in the trees at Cragabus farm-steading , and

a flock of twenty-five on 28th December at Leor in Farm.

YELLO W BUNT ING (E . ci triuella ) .—Generally d istr ibutedover suitable local iti es . In winter it was seen in parties,some of them number ing about fifty.

REED -BUNT ING (E . schosm'

chts) .—A resident spec ies not

uncommon in particular local iti es . W hen seen on the moors

it i s usually not far f rom a small str eam . It has been observed

at Kildalton ,Ardbeg

,Brahun isary,

Parkins, Cornabus

,

Cragabus, and Mach rie. In winter it i s generally in company

with Chaffinches, Yellow and Corn -Buntings.

SNO W -BUNT ING (Plectrophenax niva lis) .—Mr . M‘Donald

informs me that this is a regular v isitor at Ardmore and

Ardta lla . I have not seen it.

STAR L ING (Sturnus vulgaris) .—Abundant everywhere on the

low- lying grounds . In winter great flocks feed at the shore.

Thompson N.H. of II ., p . 11) speaks of the great bodies

of Starl ings he saw in the stubble fields in January,1849.

CHO UGH (Pyrrhocorax gra cuhcs) .—This interesting spec ies,

which h as disappeared from nearly all its old haunts on the

ma inland of Scotland , sti ll ma intains its positi on as a nesting

spec ies in Islay. In“A Fauna of Argyll and the Inner


It is gratifying to know that the p ropr ietor of this part

of the island—Mr . Ian Ramsay—takes an interest in thebi rds

,and has given instructions for thei r str ict p reservation .

JACKDAW (Corvus mon edula ) .—Nests in the c l iffs and inland

hi lls,and is very abundant. Dur ing the time I have been

taking an interest in the bi rds of Islay it has increased in

the K ildalton d istr ict , and seems to be sp reading into the

O a,where I had not or iginally observed it .

CARR I O N-CRO W (C . corone) . —An exceed ingly rare spec ies.

I have seen single bi rds on the shore near the disti llery , Port

E llen, on 14th July

,1906 ; at the Ard,

on 9th August , 1907 ;on the shore below Fa rkins, on 29th Dec ember , 1907 ; near

Kintra,on 4th January

,1910 . O n 2md January , 1908, we

p icked up a dead bi rd at the W hite Pool , below Farkins. In

1875 a Carr ion Crow was shot off her nest , which conta ined

eggs,at Foreland Vol. IV.

,p .

RAVEN (C . corax) . Common in many of the isles , Islay ,Jura , and Mull ,

” say the authors of “A Fauna of Argyll

,

&c .

”

(p . I p refer the word frequent as far as Islay is

concerned . Although there are numerous bi rds sp read over

the i sland it i s by no means common there. It nests on the

cl iffs round the coast , and on Texa .

O n 6th January,1910 , I di sturbed a pai r on the island of

Texa . They flew off over Tarrskeir , and then made stra ight

for the Mull of Cantyre. I watched them ti ll they were mere

specks and got lost in the dark background of the Mull .

HO O DED CRO W (C . cornix) .—Nests on the sea cl iffs,and is

more numerous than the Raven , in sp ite of being kept down

by the gamekeepers . My notes show that it was observed on

almost every day of our Winter v i s its. A few pa i rs nested

thi s season on the cl iff s at the O a , and got off safely.

B O O K (0 . frugilegus) .—Common . The great rookery at

K innabus, I regret to say , I have not v i sited, so I am unable

to say whether it i s sti ll as populous as it was at the end of

last century (vide A Fauna of Argyll , p .

R O SS—B IRDS or ISLAY . 17

SKYLARK (Alauda a rvensis) .—Common . Large flocks were

seen dur ing the winter v i s its .

NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus europaeus) .—F requent on the hi ll

s ides on Kildalton polic i es , and known at Bridgend . O n the

15th July,1907

,I heard it reeling faintly not far f rom

Kildalton ,about 8 pm.

GREAT SPOTTED W O ODPECKER (Dendrocopus major ) .—Mrs .

Ramsay , of Kildalton ,wrote to the authors of A F auna of

A rgyll,&c . p . 94

,a letter

,bearing the date 25th November,

1891,asking i f they were aware that we got a G reat Spotted

W oodpecker here (Islay) a few years ago .”

KINGF I SHER (Alcedo i spida ) .—A stufled spec imen of thi s

bi rd,said to be from Laggan R iver

,i s at Kildalton House .

Mr . James Lumsden , in (Vol. XII .,p . reco rds

the s pec ies as on the Sorn R iver in 1901 ; on a burn at Dun

lossit , in November , 1902 and on Loch Allan , Dunlossit , on

20th July,1903. It is sa i d to be seen frequently on th e

Laggan R iver .

CUCKO O (Cuculus canorus) .—A summer v i s ito r . The young

may be seen dur ing late July and August being fed by the

foster -parents,who are generally Meadow Pi p its . O n the 1 l th

July,1907

,Mr . Paterson d iscovered

,nea r Loch An - t- Sa ilein

,

a nest which he took to be a Reed Bunting ’ s , with a young

Cuckoo . The site was v i s ited a week after,and the nest was

found to be destroyed .

BARN -O W L (Str ixflammea ) .—Nests at Kildalton . I saw

one near the d i sti llery,Port E llen

,on 1 1th August

,1907 .

Mr . Scot Skirv ing in Vol. IX.

,p . 184

,says that

he has only seen one Barn - O wl in Islay,and that an albino .

Mr . John Paterson received one from Dr . G i lmour,Port

E llen,about fifteen years ago .

LONG -EARED O W L (Asio otus) . —Nests at Kildalton . Young

bi rds,of thi s spec ies p robably , were heard mewing like cats

in Carnmore W ood on several even ings dur ing July,1907 .

Dr . G ilmour records one found in a trap at Duich Lots,on

B


‘

14th O ctober , 1899 Vol. IX. ,p . In the

same volume,page 184

,

°

Mr . Scot Skirv ing remarks that“ they are of almost dai ly occur rence in the forest of

Kilchoman .

SHORT -EARED O W L (A. a ccipi trinus) . The Short- cared

O wl ar r ives about the end of O ctober very regularly and in

considerable numbers Vol. IX.,p .

In the Proc . Vol. V.,p . 40

,Mr . Scot Skirving

writes : In former years both Long and Short- eared O wls

were occasionally met with . This season I have seen neither . ”

TAWNY O W L (Syrm’

um a luco) .— I believe I heard thi s speci eshooting near Lagavul in in August of this year . As in the

case of the Barn O wl, Mr . Scot Skirving ,who had a home in

Islay for twenty - three years only saw one Brown O wl

dur ing all that per iod .

SNO WY O W L (Nyctea scandia ca ) .—In A F auna of

Argyll,&c. (p . mention is made of one trapped on the

top Of San a ig rocks in Ap r il , 1870 Probably thi s i s account

able for plac ing thi s spec ies among the bi rds wh ich

occasionally occur Proc . R . Ph . S.,

Vol. IV

p .

HEN-HARR IER (Cir cus cyan eus) .—It came in considerable

numbers in August as a migrant—the males appear ing inAugust

,and the females September ( 1875) Proc . R . Ph .

S.,Ed.

,Vol. IV. , p .

G O LDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysa etus) .—The G olden E agle

nests in Islay,and is seen occasionally in different parts of the

i sland . In G len Leor , not more than ten or eleven mi les f rom

Port E llen , a pai r nested last year . In Vol. IV. ,

p . 54, there i s a record of one caught alive in a trap some

weeks prev i ous to January , 1895.

WHITE -TAILED EAGLE (Ha lz’

a‘

etus a lbicilla ) .—Mr . Scot

Skirving writes : Dur ing n ineteen summers in Islay I have

only seen three Sea E agles (H. a lbicilla ) , and these were not

residents Vol. IV., p.


in ignorance on 23rd -May,1899, at Loch Knock , Kildalton ,

and was set up by M‘

Culloch Sons , Sauch iehall Street . It

measured 24 inches f rom beak to tai l,and 67 inches from tip

to tip of outstretched wings . Its weight was 3 lbs . 7 oz .

CORMORANT (Pha la crocorax carbo) .—Thompson of I .,

III .,p . 241) says it breeds at the Mull O f O a . It is an abundant

bi rd about the rocky coasts . A nesting colony occup ies the

cl iffs in the v ic in ity of Slochd Mhaol—Dora idh ,Mul l of O a .

Many of the small rocky islets lying ofi the shore form“ resting rocks

,

” and from two to thirty and forty Cormorants

may be seen at all t imes squatting on them .

SHAG (P. gra culus) .—Abundant as a nesting species at theMull of O a

,and seldom seen far from th is dur ing the breed ing

season . In winter they are to be met with all round the

coast .

GANNET (Sula ba ssana ) .—A f requent visitor along the coasts

in summer and winter .

COMMON HERON (Ardea cin erea ) . —F requently seen fishing

along the shore and by the side of'

inland streams . Three

small heronr ies are establ ished on the Kildalton policies .

Thompson N.H. of II.,pp . 146

,147) visited a heronry

three mi les from Ardimersy,in 1849. The nests were on the

ground,but he does not say how many bi rds might be nesting .

He says thi s was the only heron ry in the east side of the

island . He v i sited another heronry at Islay house,where

there were perhaps a dozen nests on l arch , ash , &c . , the trees

about twenty feet high,the nests twelve to fourteen feet above

the ground .

B ITTERN (Botaurus stella r is) . —Mr . Scot-Skirv ing speaks of

thi s spec ies as being among the bi rds which occasionallv

occur in Islay Proc . R . Ph . S.,

Vol. IV. ,p .

G LO S SY IB I S (Plegadis fa lcin ellus) .—An immature female

was shot in a field near Port E llen on 30th O ctober,1903 , and

i s now in the collection at K ildalton House

Vol. XII. , p .

R O SS—B IRDS O F ISLAY . 21

GREY LAG—G OO S E (Anser cin ereus) .—This G oose i s stated to

have bred in one loch in Islay , and there i s a record of the

actua l date of the last taken nest , in 1825, at another loca l ity

not far removed f rom this one A Fauna of Argyll , &c .,

p .

WHITE - FRONTED G OO S E (A. a lbifrons) .—This i s the only

G rey Goose of which I have any personal knowledge. In

winter it feeds over the low- ly ing ground to the west of the

road between Port E llen and Br idgend,and seems to be con

fined to the stretch from Laggan R iver to about B allyv icar

Farm . O ver thi s area numerous flocks of f rom ten to seventy

were observed . The bi rds were exceedingly wary ,and it was

difficult to app roach within two hundred y ards O f them ,and

to do thi s advantage had to be taken of any roughness in the

ground . W h en disturbed they rose in a disorder ly fashion,

but soon ar ranged themselves in a V- shaped wedge,and flew

strongly out Of what they evidently considered dangerous

quart ers . Hundreds of them f requent thi s d i str ict in winte r .

BEAN -GOO S E (A. segetum) . The Bean -Goose was the only

one known to the gamekeeper at Ardimersy,Islay

,in January

,

1849, as f requenting that i sland , which it does regula r ly in

winter . It does not breed there . ”—Thompson,N.H. of I .

p . 41 .

BARNACLE -G OO S E (Bernicla leucopsis) . — Large flocks

frequent Loch indaal dur ing the winter . In the neighbourhood

of Port E ll en I have only seen them on thr ee occ asions,few

in number on each , though I am told they are plent i ful there .

Mr Scot -Skirv ing remarks on a la rge flock which app rop r iates

a small i sland to the north of Islay,close to the shore

,

” and

says It i s only when the season i s advanced that it ventures

to take up its abode on the adj acent coast of Islay itself ”

Proc . R . Ph . Vol. IV. , p . See also acc ount of

next spec ies .

BRENT G OO S E (B . br en ta ) .—Thompson N.H. of I .

,III .

,

p . 50) say s that , when vi sit ing Islay in January ,1849

,

“A flock

of about two hundred Brent G ee se was seen standing by the

edge of the ret i r ing t i de . I was grat ified to lea rn f rom Mr .

22 THE GLASGO W NATUR ALIST.

Mur ray,formerly gamekeeper at Islay House

,that the loch i s

frequented by both species . The A. Leucopsis i s called there ,‘ land barnacle it has been becoming scarcer of lateyears . Mr . Scot-Skirving classes it with the Wh ite- f ronted

and Barnacle Goose as very common Proc . R. Ph . S.,

Vol. IV.,p . O n the other hand , in Islay it appears to be

of sufficient rar ity to be included in a case of a few rare

spec ies shot at K ildalton ,as there is a spec imen in the house

collection there A F auna of Argyll,

p .

BEW ICK’

s SWAN (Cygnus bewi cki ) .—Mentioned in A

Fauna of Argyll,&c.

”

(p . as occur r ing in Islay . I have

seen a note on the appearance of this species in great numbers

on Ardnave Loch in winter .

VVHO O PER (Cygnus musicus) .—Thompson N.H. of I.,III. ,

pp . 11- 12) says it comes to Islay every winter . O n Loch - in

daal a flock of fifteen W i ld Swans appeared early in the winter

of 1848- 49. Mr . Scot- Skirving refers to flocks of seven to

seventy as having been seen dur ing the winter of 1875.

Proc . R. Ph . S.,

Vol. IV. , p .

MUTE SWAN (Cygnus olor) . —A few pai rs , sometimes with

cygnets , may be seen off the shore between Port E llen and

Kildalton .

CO MM O N SHELD-DUCK (Tadorna cornuta ) .—Nests on Texa,

and p robably on other parts of the i sland,as I have seen

parent bi rds,followed by young

,at Lochindaal

,Laggan Bay

,

Kilnaughton Bay , and several places towards Loch Knock . I

was told in Islay (January , 1849) that the Shelld rake i s

common and breeds there , but leaves the i sland (or part known

to my informant) in autumn , and returns aga in about thelast week of December . ” Thompson ,

“ N.H. of III.,

p . 7 1 .

MALLARD (Ana s basca s) .—Common on suitable lochs as a

nesting species . In winter large flocks frequent the fresh

water lochs in K ildalton , and O a par i sh , espec i ally the low

lying distr ict east of Laggan Bay .


of Texa . After the nesting season three or four flocks of

females and young,number ing from fifty to one hundred and

fif ty , are usually to be seen in Laggan Bay,while smaller

parties are met with round the shore as far as Clagga in Bay .

Th i s season,however

,E ider Ducks were scarce , a few parties

of females— not over a dozen in each—being all that I saw at

any time I visited Laggan Bay . O ccasionally a few males

may be seen oflTexa,but they evidently gather together

further north . The only males I saw th i s year were in flocks

off G igha ,where parties of th i rty

,seventy

,and over one

hundred were passed .

KING E IDER (S . specta bz'

lis) .—O n the 25th July , 1906 , I

had the good fortune to see one of these bi rds f rom the c l iffs

near Kintra,to the south of Laggan Bay.

RED-BREASTED MERGAN S ER (Mergus serra tor ) .—A common

species r ound the coast,where it may be seen followed by

young broods after the middle of July . Pennant mentions

hav ing seen them and thei r young in The Isle of Ilay ”

British Z oology,

” II .,p . 215

,Ed.

R INGDOVE (Columba pa lumbus) .— Gonimon in the wooded

distr icts . Thompson N.H. of I.,II .

,p . 8) saw not less than

a hundred together in January ,1849

,near Islay House. Those

that he shot in the wi lder part of the island had thei r crops

filled with the perfect and full - siz ed nuts of the haz el .

ROCK-DOVE (C . liv ia ) . -A common nesting species in the

caves round the rocky coasts . Thompson ( i bid , II ., p . 1 1)

writes of the great numbers of Rock—Doves that came under

hi s notice in Islay in January , 1849. He speaks offlocksseventy or eighty together— occur r ing in winter many mi les

from the Mull of O a ,where they breed in great numbers .

Pennant wr ites I have seen in Ilay the bottoms of the

great chasms covered with thei r dung for many feet in thick

ness,which is drawn up in buckets and successfully used as

a manure Br itish Z oology ,”

I., p . 384, Ed.


BLACK GROUS E (Tetra o la r is ) .—Comm on on the K ildaltonestates . Thompson (ibid ,

II .,p . 246) speaks of great numbers

of black-game being seen,when he was woodcock shooting in

1849.

RED GRO US E (La gopus scoticus) .—Common throughout theisland .

PTARMIGAN (L. mutus) .—F requent in the hilly regions aboveKildalton . O ccasionally it comes down towards the shore , and

one was caught recently which had flown into a house in Port

E llen .

PHEA SANT (Phasianus colch icus) .—Common , and reared bv

the shooting p rop r ietors . Thompson NH. of II . , pp .

22 23,who resided at Ardimersy in January , 1849

, say s

Pheasants were abundant there,the r ing - necked var iety , too,

being common . He says the bi rds in the outer or wi lder

cover s feed almost wholly on hazel—nuts . The first bi rd

remarked to contain them had twenty- four,all of ful l s i z e

and per fect—in add ition were many large in sect la rvae .

PARTR IDGE (Perdix cin erea ) .—Said to be common , but not

observed by me so f requently as the Pheasant or Red G rouse .

QUAIL (Co turn ix communis) . W h en in the i sland of Islay ,

in January 1849,I learned that quai ls a re very scarce there ;

the keeper at Ardimersy had seen but three dur ing n ine year s ;all in the autumn . Another person

,who had been keeper at

Islay House,and has s ince had a fa rm

,met with only three

of these bi rds dur ing a much longer per iod , and of these , two

were seen together in the month of January or February

(Thompson , i bid ,II .

,pp . 67 ,

CORNCRAKE (Crex pr a tensz'

s) .—Common in the cult ivated

distr icts . It was heard up to the n ight of the 9th August ,1907 , when it was p articular ly noi sy at Port E llen . Thi s

season I d id not hear it after 5th August . Thompson ( i bid ,

II . , p . 313) says he was told thi s speci es wa s numerous there

every summer . ”

SPOTTED CRAK E (Po rz a na ma ruetta ) .— O ne was shot at Fore

land, O n 29th September , 1896 . Mr . Scot-Ski rving bel ieves

26 THE GLASG O W NATURALlST.

the bi rd nests in a marsh c lose to Foreland,but as W ater

Rai ls are abundant in the marsh,he doubts not that the

Crakes have , in consequence,escaped observation

Vol. VI.,p .

WATER -RAIL (Ra llus aqua ticus) .—Is said to be frequent in

the marshy ground about Kildalton ,where Mr . M ‘

Donald has

shot it . I have not seen it in Islay .

MO O RHEN (Ga llinula chloropus) .—F requent in the d itches

and small streams in K ildalton and O a ,and on the River

Sorn .

CO O T (Fulica a tra ) .—Rare in all the parts of Islay I have

v i s ited . A pai r nested this year at the disti llery pond, Port

E llen,and brought off a brood of four . O ne was seen at Loch

an - t-Sa ilein ,on 29th December , 1907 ; one on Lagavul in Dam ,

on 5th January,1910 ; and one was shot in August thi s year

near Mach r ie.

R INGED PLO VER (E g ia li ti s h ia ticola ) . —Th i s i s a fai r lycommon spec ies on all the sandy beaches

,such as are met with

at Kilnaughton ,Laggan Bay

,and Lochindaal. It also nests

in some of the creeks in the Ard Two or three pai rs are

regularly seen in Port E llen Bay . They breed commonlv in

the island N.H. of II.,p .

G OLDEN PL O VER (Cha radr ius pluvia lis) .—F locks are to be

met with in winter about the flat ground near Laggan Bay .

A l iv ing bi rd was brought to me in July,1907 , which had

completely smashed its bi ll by flying against a wall .

LAPWING (Vanellus vulgari s) .— Common . After the nesting

season great flocks gather near the shore . O n 18th July,1907

,

Mr . MacLeod and I saw a flock number ing between 400 and

500 in a field about a mi le and a -half south of Bridgend .

TURN STONE (Strepsila s in terpr es) .—An autumn v i s itor whichin some seasons ar r ives very early in Islay . O n 1st August ,1907

,six bi rds , in fine summer plumage

,were seen at Knock

angle,a rocky p romontory which inter rupts the long sandy

bay of Laggan , near the centre. This year a flock of over


DUNL IN (Tr inga a lpina ) .—Small flocks are to be found in

the summer months on Laggan sands,at Ardmore and Lochin

daal,and one or two pai rs at var ious p arts of the Shore . The

greatest number I have seen together was between fifty and

sixty. They are not so frequent in the winter , as we only came

across one small flock at the d istillery , Port E llen , on 4th

January,1910 .

PURPLE SANDP IPER (T . str ia ta ) .—This winter v i s itor we have

only seen on two occasi ons . O ne was shot in the Ard, on 3rd

January , 1910 , and a few were seen on the rocks at the

di sti llery , Port E llen , on the 4th .

SANDERL ING (Ca lidris a rena r ia ) .—This spec ies came under

my notice for the first t ime this year . O n the 4th August

there were seven on the Laggan sands,and on the 26th thi rteen

were feeding among the turned -up sea -weed .

CO MM O N SANDP IPER (To tanus hypoleucus) .—A common

summer v i s ito r . It may be seen all along the shore, and by

the side of burns where they app roach the sea . Its p ip ing

call i s heard up to the m iddle of August in the Ard ,Port

E llen .

CO MMON RED SHANK (T . ca lialr z'

s) . —Very abundant after the

breed ing season and in winter all along the shores .

Numbers , annually , form thei r nests on the gravel , l ike the

Ring -Plover,along the shores of Islay and the neighbour ing

i slets as I have been assured by those who have gathered thei r

eggs (Thompson , N.H. of I.,II . , p .

GREEN SHANK (T . can escens) . As may be expected , i t v i sits

the i sland of Islay . I have seen specimens which were shot

there (Thompson , i bid ,II .

,p .

COMMON CURLEW (Numen ius a rqua ta ) .—Abundant on the

shores and marshy glens near the shore after the breeding

season .

W HIMBREL (N. phcsopus) . In the i sland of Islay, Scot

land,the Whimbrel i s annually seen on its sp r ing passage

northward ; but has not been observed at any other season by

mv informant . ” —Thompson , ibid , II . , p . 198.


CO MM O N TERN (Sternafluvia tilis) .—Thi s spec ies nests onmany small i slets

,f rom Ardmore round the coast to Lochin

daal . O n Tarrskeir , a small rocky islet to the south of Texa ,and about two mi les f rom Port E llen , a colony numbering

from 400 to 500 bi rds nested in 1906 and 1907 . I first v i s ited

the rock on 7th July , 1906 , and found that every avai lable

spot was a nesting - place . A few young bi rds were about on

this occasion , but on a v i s it shortly after there were many .

Since 1907 thi s colony has gradually shrunk in si z e t i ll , dur ing

this season,not a bi rd has nested on the rock . I attr ibute

thi s to the ruthless manner in which the eggs were l i fted for

foodstuff. The ternery was large and easy of access , and the

quantity of eggs gained with little trouble would better rep ay

a v i s it than would be the case in travell ing among the smaller

terner ies. These dep redati ons are , it would seem ,an old story ,

as Thompson N.H. of III .,p . 355) says that in 1849,

in two days , eight hundred and fifty eggs of the Common Gull

and Common Tern were collected on K in revock and a neigh

bour ing i slet . By far the greater number were those of the

gull,as i t was early in the season .

In A Fauna of Argyll , p . 186 , the authors wr ite

In Islay,Terns have taken p r inc i pally to the fresh -water

lochs hav ing deserted the shore - l ine greatly , owing to perse

cution ,as we a re cred ibly informed .

”At p resent it i s

hardly as bad as th is,as there are numerous small nesting

colon ies on the smaller rocks .

ARCT IC TERN (S. ma crura ) .—It i s p ract ica lly imposs ible tod ist ingui sh thi s spec ies f rom the foregoing while they are on

the wing,but I have f requently seen the Arctic Tern at rest

on the rocks . I have never observed more than seven together

and thi s number were resting at Knockangle ,on 26th August

thi s year . They are not anything l ike so numerous as the

Common Tern in Islay . I have not managed to locate any of

thei r nesting - places.

BLACK -HEADED GULL (Larus r id ib andus) .—Common .

T hompson N.H. of I.,III .

,p . 334) remarked la rge flocks

of them about Loch- in -daa l in January,1849. It breeds

spar ingly in Loch Gorm.


COMMON GULL (L. canus) .—This is the most numerous Gul lin Islay . Hundreds of them gather together in July

,August ,

and the winter months . They nest on several of the i slets on

the coast,and p robably by the s ide of some f resh -water lochs

,

where I have seen very young bi rds . Thompson (ibid ,p . 354)

says he vi sited what is apparently one of thei r finest

breed ing haunts on the Br iti sh coast . This was on Kinre

vock,mentioned under Common Tern above.

HERR ING GULL (L. a rgen ta tus) .—Common and generally d is

tr ibuted . It nests on the c l iff s to the south Of the O a .

LE S S ER BLACK-BACKED GULL (L. fuscus) . —Not so numerous

as the foregoing,but met with all round the i sland . It nested .

and p robably st i ll nests,in Loch Gorm. I have seen very

young bi rds on Leor in Lochs , by the side of which I believe

the parents must nest . Dur ing th i s season the Lesser Black

backs were less numerous than usual .

GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL (L. mar inus) .—Nests on the

stacks at the O a . It i s by no means a numerous spec ies , but i s

fai rly well d istr ibuted over the coast .

KITT I WAKE (Rissa tr ida ctyla ) .—A d istinctly scarce spec ies

in Islay. O ne or two occasionally follow the steamer into Port

E llen . The only other occur rences I have noted are of one

seen at Kintra, on 12th July , 1907 , and another seen at Slochd

Mhaol-Dora idh , on 8th July thi s year .

IVORY GULL (Pagophila eburn ea ) .—G ray records one

Obtained in Islay in February,1867 .

RICHARDS O N ’ S SKUA (Ster cora r ius crepida tus) .—I had the

pleasure of seeing th i s spec ies for the first t ime in company

with Mr . J. Paterson , near Knockangle, on 1 1th July this

year . It was a dark - coloured bi rd . O n the 28th of the month

I saw another bi rd south of Knockangle. This one had the

cheek , neck , and underparts d ingy white. O n inqui r ing at

Port E llen , I found the bi rd was known to the fishermen,who

have a Gael ic name for it ,the nearest render ing of which , in

Engli sh,i s the squeez er . ” F rom the description

,I believe

the bi rd they are acquainted with i s thi s spec ies.


RED-THRO ATED DIVER (C . septen tr ion alis) .—Nests in a

number of fresh-water lochs in K ildalton . Mr . MacLeod and I

watched one for some time in Leor in Loch When it rose f rom

the loch it uttered a harsh kara-kara . It flew up in a

sp i ral , call ing all the time,and when at a suffic ient height

made straight in the di rection of Laggan Bay . It i s f re

quently seen in the waters off K ildalton and the O a dur ing

winter,and six were observed in Port E llen Bay on 2nd

January,1908.

LITTLE GREB E (Podi cipesfluvia tilis) .—Said to be a common

breeding spec ies , but I have on ly seen it on th ree occasions

one at Loch ah -t—Sa ilein ,on 3l st December

,1909; a pai r on

the same loch,on 5th January , 1910 ; a pai r on Clagga in Bay ,

on 2nd August this year .

STORM PETREL (Procella r ia pelag ica ) . —Dur ing a severe

storm,with the wind from the south - east

, one was d r iven on

the sands at Kilnaughton Bay , and brought to me al ive . In

the same storm that delayed the G rey Phalaropes , many Storm

Petrels sought shelter in Loch indaal Vol. I.,

p .

Note .

Greenland W heatear (Sax icola wnantke leucorrhoa ) on

St. Andrew’s Day at Fossil.—Mr William R ennie writes

that on 30th November, 1913, he saw a G reenland Wheatear at

Possil Marsh . This is a doubly interesting event—this largeform just beginning to get the notice it deserves locally and the

date being quite notably late even for that race . We see in the

British O rnithologists ’ Union’s Report, not iced above, the latest

occurrences in 1911 were on three dates in November, the latest

on the 18th . In the R eport on O rnithology in Scotland, in 1912again, the latest date is 14th O ctober, at Fair Isle .

( the G lasgow MaturalistThe Journal of the NATURAL HISTO RY SO CIETY

O F G LASGO W

VO LVI No. [February, 1914.

O n some Mosses from the W est Highlands, & c.

By JAMES STIRTO N,M .D.

[R ead 27th January,

SINCE recording in the Scotti sh Botanica l Rev i ew for

Ap r i l , 1912, the finding of Leucobryum pumilum near

G a i r loch , I have succeeded in finding,amongst my rather

bulky collections of thi s moss , some spec imens of L . a lbidum

from O rkney , near Loch B ar r ay . I am gratified at

this d iscovery , more espec i ally as all the three spec ies hitherto

reckoned l ikely to be found in Europe are n at ives of the Br iti sh

Islands .

In thi s collection extending over many years , were also

found two tufts , on a l arger sca le than usual , where the stems

var ied in length from 1% to 3 inches . The more interest ing

of the two was f rom Loch Tay , nea r Kill in . Notes of an

examinat ion of this , taken a short t ime after gather ing it ,have reminded me of a pecul iar ity such as I had never

prev iously observed in any spec ies of th is cur ious and interest

ing genus . After mak ing thin c ross- sections of the leaves , I

happened to have pressed - the microscope down inadvertently

on the cover ; thereafter I saw , i ssuing through the pores of

'the larger quadrate cells of the so-ca lled broad nerve , numerous

globular , hyal ine cells not much less in diameter than the pores

themselves , which extend nearly - continuously throughout the

larger or middle quadr ate cell s . Such cell s var ied in si z e

0


from ‘

0 16 to ‘

O 25 mm . across , and had perfectly homogeneous ,non granular contents . These contents were very probably

gelati'

noi d , from the appearances presented in two instances

where the rather thick hyal ine cell W all had been ruptured .

E leven years thereafter th in sections of the leaves of the same

stem were again made,when no such cells were detected , but

merely i r regularly shaped , almost shr ivelled -up bodies , con

tain ing numerous very minute cells , each showing a br ight

lustrous point . As i s well known , such minute cells genera lly

constitute the first p art of germination of spores, &c . IS it

poss ible that such hyaline cells act the p art of spores , or

r ather of propagula'

.l If so , the first act of germination had

been c learly arrested from want of moisture , &c ., in the

herbar ium . This moss i s nearly related to L . a lbidum, i f not

i dentical with it . I shall certainly make another attempt to

arr ive at a definite conclusion concerning its i dentity . As i s

well known , L . glaucum i s nearly as common as any moss on

our hills and vall ies , and yet it very seldom produces fruit .

1 have only met with it ferti le in one instance , viz . , on Ben

Lawers .

As it i s not likely that I shall make further researches in

the di rection indicated above , I have thought it r ight to state

honestly and without reserve what I saw , more espec i ally as

such a mode of propagation ( i f it be so) amongst the many

and var ied kinds presented by mosses has not hitherto come

under my observation .

The Rev . John Fergusson on one occasion wrote to me with

reference to his di sc r imination of two mosses found by himself ,viz . ,

Andr easa obova ta (Thed . ) and Gr immia robusta

His determin ation had been challenged by others ; and the first

of the mosses in question had been refer red to Andr ema a lpina ,

as merely a stunted form ; while the second had been referred

to Gr immia Schultz i l, as merely a var iety . Thi s deci si on

happened to tell rather heav i ly on h im, unti l he was reminded

of the fate attending Wilson ’ s later determinations, viz . ,

that

5 out of 12 mosses had shared the same or a worse fate

than his.


Prosen , not many miles distant from where we were . F rom

thi s time commenced a long intercourse with him,which

extended to within a few years of his death . A more

courageous and enthus i astic botanist I have never met,nor

a more trustworthy fr iend .

As Fergusson there and then exp ressed a wish to commence

the study of mosses, I soon put into hi s hands , in such a

region , more than 30 spec ies . From G len Callater he sent

me from time to time several r are and valuable spec ies ; and

amongst them was one collected there in 1868,bear ing , on

the bit of newsp aper which enclosed it, the name Andreasa

obova ta It i s on this moss,and another collected

by myself near the summit of Ben Nev is in 1864, that I wish

to make some remarks ; and at this stage I am again tempted

to tell the cur ious c i rcumstances attending the finding of the

second of these Andrewaz , v iz .,A . a lpina var . compa cta

(Hook ) .

My chief obj ect in Vi siting Ben Nev is was to secure A.

n iva lis Hav ing got this i n consider able abundance ,I turned and renewed my search for other mosses , but was

soon inter rupted by the approach of a party , who were

ev i dently under the gui dance of an old man . The p arty

settled not far from me, but the gui de soon detached himself

from his charge , and walked slowly and hesitatingly in my

di rection . I continued my researches , while he sti ll watched

me ; and on my plumping down to examine another Andr ema ,

he approached and said , Aye, you have got it, I see .

”

Got what ? I asked . O h ! the wee plantie got there by

Mr . Hooker and Mr . Bore , saxty years back , when I was with

them—the plantie they were so prood A Mr . Bore ,”

I said ; was not h is name Borrer ‘

! Na , n a ! just Bore ,he hadna sic a tai l to his name as that .

” I did not con

trovert h im ,but gave him a dram and left . O n my return

to the hotel I was told that he was nearly 80 years Old , and

that he came from G len Isla , where no G ael ic had been spoken

for centur ies . I have no doubt the gentleman in question

was Mr . Borrer , the l ichenologi st , and that the other was

STIRTO N.—MO SSES FRO M THE W EST HIGHLANDS

,Arc. 37

Sir Will iam Hooker , then or afterwards Professor of Botany

in the Un ivers ity of G lasgow.

Besides A. a lpina var . compa cta from Ben Nev is , I

possess two spec imens of A . obova ta from Sneehattan ,

in Norway—the one from the base , and the other from a

considerable height up the mountain . Now, these two bear a

close resemblance to the spec imen from Ben Nev i s , as well as

to Fergusson’

s plant . Those from Prof . Z etterstedt are

identical in appearance with the Scotti sh plant , more espec ial ly

in the cur i ous rope- l ike aspect of the stems , closely clasped

by the minute , hollow leaves . Again,so far as I have ascer

ta ined, one half of the stems in Fergusson’

s moss have leaves

with either no ser ratures on the lower margin ( just as inA . obova ta ) , or so faint as merely to show as very sl ight

undulat ions ; whi le in such cases the upper margin i s near ly

str aight , although slightly shorter , as a rule , than in the

Norwegi an moss . Lastly,the upper cells of the leaf are

certainly var i able throughout the three mosses , and the out

l ines O f these cells are also i r r egular throughout ; but

Fergusson’

s moss , with enti re marg ins below ,has the upper

cells also with i r regularly O utl ined walls , a lmost of the same

length , although somewhat th inner than in the Norwegi an

pl ant .

I infer from all these c i rcumstances that Fergusson’

s

Andrema from G len Callater has closer a ffiniti es to A. obova ta

than to A. a lpina , and i s very p robably merging gradually

into the latter .

Gr immia r obusta (Ferg . ) has by some been refer red to G .

Schultz ’li (Sch ) as a mere var i ety , but differ s i n the cells of

the leaves in the upper thi r d , or even in the upper hal f, of

the stem , being inter ruptedly bistratose throughout thei r

enti re extent,even to the point of attachment to the stem ;

while in G . Schultz ii only one or , occasi on ally , two couples of

marginal cells in the same region are bi stratose . It also

differs in the areolation throughout the leaf being only

sl ightly sinuose just above the basa l elongated cells , in many

instances scarcely any sinuosit ies being seen at all ; while ,


in the other,the cells in p art of the lower and whole of the

middle third of the leaf are more or less sinuose, and this

sinuosity is not infrequently to be seen far up towards the

apex . A thi rd point of d ifference consi sts in the ha i r at apex

being only very sl ightly sp inulose, with the Sp ines mostly

attached ; while the corresponding hai r in G'. Schultz ii i s much

longer , as well as stronger , with the sp ines closely arr anged

and nearly al l f ree . The yellow colour of the leaf in lowest

fourth in G’ . robusta i s a lso char acter i stic , even although in

a small p roportion of instances it i s scarcely perceptible .

Accordingly , I consider Gr . robusta (Ferg . ) to be a well

defined spec i es . This moss i s plenti ful in the more western

p arts of Scotland , as well as in the Western Islands .

In rather close assoc iat ion with B ryum elegan tulum,

descr ibed in the number of the Scotti sh Botanical Rev i ew

for Apr il,1912, I have detected in my gather ings at G a i r loch

a tuft of another minute Bryum,perhaps the most minute of

all . These minute mosses are now five in number , and con

stitute a well-defined group , secured at var ious t imes and in

as var ied local ities . They are as follows

1st . Bryum Stir ton i ba rba tum This

i s first in s ize as well as in p r ior ity of gather ing , hav ing been

obtained 50 year s ago.

2nd . B . lepta leum Annals of Scot . Nat . Hi st . , 1903 .

3rd . B . ten err imum Annals of Scot . Nat . Hist . ,

1907 .

4th . B . elegan tulum Scot . Bot . Rev iew,

’

1912 .

5th . B . perpusillum Scot . Bot . Rev iew,1912 .

As I may have another opportunity of trac ing more closely

the relationships of these m inute speci es of Bryum to one

another , I shall content myself meanwhile by descr ibing the

most delicate of the group .

BRYUM PERPUSILLUM .

—In dense , nearly flat tufts, of a dark

or di rty blui sh colour above, brown below ; stems’

slender,

fragi le (about 1 5 mm . thick) , s imple or div i ded in upper

thi rd , from hal f-an- inch to one inch long ; leaves very minute ,about ‘

8mm . in length , laxly disposed in lower part of stem ,


Fourteen species have been recorded as British (Harding,O f these, one, the Medic inal Leech (Hirudo medicina lvs,

is sa id to be now ex tinct.The Clyde Area List (Scott E lliott, Laurie and Murdoch, 1901,

page names two Leeches,in the section on Marine Worms,

edited by Dr. J . F . G emmill. These are the Skate Leech

(Pontobalella murica ta , and another referred to as (l) Piscicolamar ina

,taken in Loch G oil, 24-40 fms.

,by the S. Y. Medusa.

”

Under th is name Johnston ( 1845) described a leech parasitic on

the fish Aspialophorus ca taphractus from the coast of Northumber

land . Harding ( 1910 , page 138) refers Johnston’s species,

provi sionally, to Trachelobdella lubrica , G rube.Classification (after Harding,

O RDER HIRUD INEA.

Sub-O rder I . Snouted Leeches (Rhynchobdellae) , withcolourless blood, with protrusible proboscis, without j aws , marine

and fresh-water.

Fam. 1 .—“ F ish Leeches (Ichthyobdellidae), with body

divided into a “ neck ” and an “ abdomen both suckers

permanent, cup-shaped or disc- like .

Fam. 2 . Siphoned Tongue-Leeches (Glossosiphonidae) ,with body tongue -like

,flattened ; anterior sucker, only

slightly,if at all, differentiated from the rest of the body .

Sub- O rder I I .-“ Snoutless Leeches (Arhynchobdellae) , with

red blood,without protrusible proboscis, generally with j aws ;

anterior sucker not distinct from the body ; fresh—water andterrestrial.

Ea rn . 1 —“J awed Leeches (Gnathobdellidae) , with j aws,as a rule finely toothed

,and with usually five pairs of eyes.

F am. 2 . Serpent- like Leeches (Herpobdellidae) , with

out j aws with four pairs of eyes arranged in two transverse

rows.

In these notes only the more obvious ex ternal features are

considered, but in the work of identification use has been made

of the details of ex ternal segmentation and of the form and

arrangement of internal organs. An account of these details,

KING .—SOME LEECHES O F THE G LASGOW DISTR ICT 41

with figures, will be found in Harding loc . cit. Identifica tion

should be ca rried out if possible while the specimens are alive .

L ist of the Spec ies referred to below

RHYNCHO BDELLAE .

Ichthyobdellidae

(2) Tra chelobdella Sp.

Pon tobdella mur ica ta (L . )

G lossosiphonidae

Protoclepsis tessella ta (O . F . Miiller . )Glossosiphon ia complana ta (L . )Heloba’ella stagna lis (L . )

ARHYNCHO BDELLAE .

G nathobdellidae

Haemopis sanguisuga (L. )Herpobdellidae

Herpobdella octocula ta (L. )

ICHTHYO BDELL1DAE .

Trachelobdella so. (See Not e a t end of paper, p .

Three preserved specimens of a small marine leech found on

the skin of the Spur Dogfish (Acan thia s vulga ris) were sent tothe writer by Mr . R . Elmhirst

,Superin tendent of the Millport

Biological Station . The largest i s about 15 mm . in length,the

others about 10 mm. each . The body is vermif orm and two

suckers are present . The anterior sucker is expanded , disc - lik e

and thin . Its diameter is approximately 15 mm . in the largest

Specimen . The poste rior sucker is also discoidal but larger,approx imately 2 mm . in di ameter in its prese nt state of partial

contrac tion .

Pontobdella muricata (L.)=Hirudo murica ta , Linnaeus, 17 54.

P . murica ta,de Blainville

,1818 etc .

The common marine leech of the C lyde A rea,found as a

parasite upon the body of various species of Skate (B a ia

locally known as the “ Skate Leech ” or “ Sucker . Its egg

capsules, of which dried spec imens are exhibited, are attached in


groups‘

by separate stalks to stones,pieces of coal shells, Are.

They are so brought up by the dredge from stony ground in the

neighbourhood of the Millport Station , at depths of from 5 to 15

fathoms or more . Each capsule, when dried, has the size and

appearance of a dried c love .

In the case of several specimens of this leech in captivity at

Millport during the past Summer, the method of attack in

feeding upon a Skate, was Observed . D irectly the Skate,placed

in a tank in which the leeches were resting attached to the walls,brushed against a leech , the animal planted i ts anterior sucker

rapidly on the skin of the fish , let go its hold of the tank with

its posterior sucker, curled its body into a coil, leaving the

posterior sucker free, and was carried along by the Skate . It

must have inserted its proboscis at once, as the Skate showed

signs of discomfort and dashed excitedly about the tank .

G LO SSO SIPHO NIDAE .

1. With four pairs of eyes . (G enus Protoclepsis,Livanow,

1902)

Protoclepsis tessellata (O . F . Muller . )Hirudo tessula ta , O . F . M iiller, 1774.

Nephelv'

s tessela ta , Savigny, 1822, etc .

Clepsine tessula ta , Fr . Muller, 1844.

Glossiphon ia tessella ta , Moquin-Tandon,1846 .

Hirudo vitr ina—the G lassy Leech,Dalyell, 1853.

Hemiclepsis tessella ta , Vejdovsky, 1883 ; e tc .

Three specimens of this interesting leech were found by thewriter

,on 30th May last, on the under side of a stone near the

mouth of the outflow channel from Possil Loch to the canal

They were large gelatinous- looking leeches,translucent

,greyish

green . Two of them wereflecked W ith black pigment the third,

more flattened and leaf- like in form,was almost devoid of this

pigment,and almost transparent . The length of the specimens,

when moderately contracted, was approx imately 20 mm. ; and

the width about 4 mm.

Papillae,visible by reflected light, occu

'

rred dorsally on the first

ring of each somite or complete segment (here consisting of three


3 . With one pair of eyes . Body smooth . (G enus

Helobdella , R . Blanchard,

Helobdella stagnalis (L. )=Hirudo stagn alis, Linnaeus, 1758, Dalyell, 1853, etc .

Clepsine biocula ta , Savigny, 1822.

Helobdella stagna lis, R . Blanchard, 1896 ; etc .

A small,almost transparent, and very active leech found by

the writer in an aquarium containing weeds from Fossil Marsh,

and also from Anniesland . The locality is therefore uncertain

as between these two grounds . The single specimen,of which a

c leared preparation is exhibited, shows distinctly the small,rounded

,brown horny plate in the dorsal middle line between

rings 12 and 13.

The length of the specimen, moderately extended . was 13 mm.,

and the greatest width about 2 mm . When alive it swam and

crawled acti vely,and was palefleshy-brown in colour, finely

speckled With black . It is said to be parasitic,mainly upon

water -snails and Chironomus larvae . Lymnea trun ca tulus and

bloodworms were both present in the tank in which it was found .

G NATHOBDELL IDAE .

Haemopis sanguisuga (L . )Horseleech , Mouffet, 1634, etc .

Hirudo sanguisuga , Linnaeus, 176 1 , Dalyell, 1853, etc.

—Aula stoma n igrescen s, Moquin-Tandon, 1826.

Aulostomum gulo, Diesing, 1850 ; etc .

This is the SO -called Horse-Leech of several authors. It is

carnivorous . not parasitic , and feeds upon Earthworms, which it

cats and does not merely suck , as” the write r has Observed on

several occasions . It is also said to eat Molluscs, aquatic larvae,tadpoles

,and small fish and frogs. It is almost of the size Of the

Medicinal Leech (Hirudo medicin a lis, which it resembles in

general form,and in being usually of a dark green hue above ;

but it is without the characteristic brown , orange, and black

pattern -marking of that animal . The ventral surface is usually

green or greenish grey, with black specks and streaks . This

leech is common amongst the mud of small streams running out

KING .—~SOME LEECHES O F THE G LASGOW DISTR ICT. 45

of the marsh at Possil, and has also been found at Anniesland .

In captivity it shows a great tendency to leave the water in

in which it is confined,and to efl'ect its escape. or, if this is

prevented,to attach itself to the sides of the vessel at or above

the surface of the water.

HERPO BDELLIDAE .

Herpobdella octoculata (L . )- Hiru0lo octocula ta

,Linnaeus ( in part) , 1761 .

Nephelis vulgar is, Moquin -Tandon ( in part) , 1826,and many other authors .

Herpobdella octoculata,R . Blanchard, 1894 ; etc .

This leech is common in Possil Marsh amongst the sheath

leaves of bulrushes . It is ribbon -like in form,usually reddish

brown, or pink when young, and about 20 to 25 mm. long in thespecimens examined by the writer. In May

,its flatt ened horny

cocoons, containing usually 2 to 3 eggs each , are found attached

to the submerged sheath leaves,particularly the dead leav es of

bulrushes around the margin of the loch or in the outflow

channels.

Specimens kept in captivity were supplied with small aquaticworms (Tubifex) , and also with insect larvae, and with pondsnails . The process Of feeding was not observed .

Up to the present, then without any systematic search having

been made for leeches in this district, Six , possibly seven . of the

thirteen known British Spec ies,have been found to occur around

G lasgow or in the Clyde Sea Area. It is possible that most of the

remainderwill be discovered if proper attention is given to the study

of this group . Identification is not difficul t owing to the complete

ness of description and of illust ration afforded by the paper Of

Harding,to which the writer is largely indebted for the possibility

of supplying these notes .

A convenient pocket -book of leeches, written in G erman, is“ D ie Siisswasserfauna Deutschlands of Dr. Brauer, Heft 13 .

O ligochaeta 11nd Hirudinea,” by Dr . L . Johansson (F ischer,

Jena,


NOTE O N (2) Trachelobdclla sp.

Two living leeches taken from the sides of a Cod have been

sent to me (January from Millport,by Mr. Elmhirst.

There is l ittle doubt that they belong to the same Species as the

preserved Specimens mentioned above (p . A brief descriptionis as follows —Body vermiform

,tapering gradually towards the

front. Colour, whitish with a pale fleshy tinge due to flecks of

orange pigment. Some of this pigment is superficial, as in the

suckers , some apparently situated in the tissues surrounding the

gut, and most markedlydeveloped in the clitellum. The appearance

to the naked eye, agrees with Dalyell’s ( 1853)

“ supposed ” Hirudo

vitta ta , in his Pl. I . fig. 21 . Length—ex tended , 26 mm.

contracted, 15 mm. Breadth—0 5 mm. to 0 8 mm. Suckers

occur at both ends . The posterior is discoidal diameter 2 mm .

The anterior is discoidal when attached ; diameter, 1 5 mm.

when free,has its lateral margins approx imated so as to enclose

ventrally a longitudinal groove. Paired lateral vesicles proj ect

in the hinder half of the body . The male genital opening,with

ex sertile penis, occurs in the clitellum, and at a distance of 5 to6 mm. from the anterior end . N0 eyes are present

In general the specimens agree with the O Iagnosis of

Tra chelobdella , Diesing, as condensed by Harding ( 1910 , p .

but as they do not agree in colour and markings wi th

the description (loc. cit. ) of the species T. lubr ica , G rube,I record them here, provisionally, as (l) Trachelobolclla sp. They

are possibly young individuals .

LITERATURE .

HARD ING,W .A . ,

1910

“ A R evision of the British Leeches,Pa ra sitology, Vol. III . , NO . 2, July 14, 1910, pp . 130-201,

Pll. XIII-XV.

SCOTT ELLI OTT, G . F. ,LAUR IE, M . , and MURDOCH, J . BARCLAY,

190 1

Fauna, Flora and G eology of the Clyde Area, G lasgow

,

Published by the Local Committee of the British

Association .


The following Hepaticse were also gathered in the same

district, and are new records for Vice-County 87 . The numbers

are those of the Census Ca ta logue of Br itish Hepa tics, 1913.

11 . Riccia sorocarpa Bisch .

1 1 1 . Lophoz ia bicren a ta (Schmid ) Dum.

152. Harpan thus scuta tus (W. (St M .) Spruce.250 . Madotheca Thuja (Dicks ) Dum .

—This Hepatic is veryrarely found inland .

274. Frullan ia f ragilif olia Tayl .

Kilkerran and its Trees .

By JO HN R ENWICK .


KILKERRAN,an estate belonging to Major-G eneral Sir Charles

Fergusson, Bart .,

is situated in the valley of the R iver

G irvan . and in the parish of Dailly, Ayrshire .

The name commemora tes St. C iaran , who lived in the seventh

century. Chalmers states that the parish was anciently called

Dalmakeran [the field of the dea r Kieran], or Dalmaolkeran [thefield of the tonsured Kieran].The Old tower of Kilkerran had been, say s Paterson in the

History of Ayrsh ire, a place of great strength at one time. It

stood on the margin of a deep ravine among the hills.The modern mansion occupies the site of the strong-house of

Barmaclanachan or Barclanachan The old part was built about

1650 , an addition in 1800,and the third part in 1870 . About

1686,when Abercrombie wrote

,it was surrounded by a thick

wood . He says : “ Upon the south side [of the valley], and atsome distance from the river, stands the house of Barclanachan,with its gardens and orchards, all which are surrounded by a

wood. All the water from this downward, till near Daillie,being so covered with wood that it looks like a forest .

”

Water ” here means the ground on the side of the river. In

RENW ICK .—K ILKERRAN AND ITS TREES . 49

the Border ballad of “ Jamie Telfer, the bauld Buccleuch gave

orders to “ warn the water , braid and wide”: that is, to alarm

those who lived along its side.

The writer of the Statistical Account of the parish

states “ It is computed that acres are under wood, natural

or planted . The trees planted are generally oak,ash

,plane

[sycamore], and elm, with such proportion of Scotch, larch , and

spruce firs,as fills the ground for an early crop . The indigenous

trees are chiefly oak,ash , and birch .

” Mr . James Maxwell, the

overseer and forester on the estate, to whom I am much indebted

for information and for attention on my visits, writes“ During

the last eighteen years about one million and a -half of trees havebeen planted in Kilkerran

,about the half of them larch . O f

late years we have not planted as many larch as formerly. O n

27th April, 1903, there was a very severe frost which injured

the ’ young larch trees badly, more especially in damp ground,where there was too much moisture hanging on the foliage . As

all the side branches were frosted many of the trees died . After

ten years some are just beginning to recuperate . The hardwoods

planted were mostly oak, ash, sycamore, elm,and beech ; with

Scots fir and spruce of diff erent kinds suited to the various soils .

W e planted about Sitka spruce last season . It is a

quick -growing tree,but grows rather rough in the side branches

when not checked .

Proceeding now to deal with some of the more notable trees,

we observe that near Mr . Maxwell ’s house, which bears a name

familiar to G lasgow people—Buglen—are two fair- sized G rey

Poplars (Populus canescens Sm.) Lower down the road is a

somewhat dilapidated Silver Fir (Abies pectina ta Mr.

Maxwell states that it was frosted about the middle of June,1911

,

and again on 14th June , 1912, and that it will hardly recover, as

the side branches are nearly all dead . O n the Opposite side ofthe road is a Noble Silver Fir (Abies nobilis Lindley) , which wasblown down in December, 1909, but was raised and is growing

well : its height is now 60 feet . Within the policies is an Ash

tree which has always had a diff eren t appearance from the

Common Ash . It has pale yellowish foliage and yellowish twigs.Part of the stem near the ground has been broken , and much of

of the bark eaten by rabbits . Prof. A . Henry,Dublin

,to whom

D


I sent a Specimen,replied that it looked like Francinn s excelsior

L. var. aurea , the G olden -edged A sh . There is,I think , a

specimen in the Queen’s Park , G lasgow .

Near the foot of the road to the garden is a fine English Elm

(Ulmus campestr is with a bole of 32 feet a girth in July of

this year of 10 feet 64 inches ; and a height in 1904 of 75 feet.Close to i t is a large Elder or Boortree (Sambucus n igra L . )which rises to a height of 35 feet. I t divides at 6 inches from

the ground into two stems the thickest one has a girth of 3 feet6 inches a t 3 feet up, and 1 foot 11% inches at 5 feet. Not far

from this is a Douglas F ir (Pseudotsuga Douglasi i Carriere) ;girth last July

,1 1 feet 73£ inch height in 1899, according to Mr.

Maxwell,102 feet .

*

A Noble Silver Fir here had a girth in 1909 of 3 feet 1% inchesa t 5 feet up. In this neighbourhood

,on the side of the garden

walk , is a remarkably fine A lder (Alnus glutinosa G aertner) ,7 feet 10 inches in girth last September ; bole, 16 feet ; height in

1899, 74 feet.

Entering the ex tensive park called the “ pleasure ground,a

small enclosure recently planted may be noticed . It marks the

site of a very large Beech tree which was blown down in O ctober,1909. We measured this Beech in April , 1909, when it had the

great Spread of 120 feet in one way, and 1 16 feet at about right

angles thereto,and a girth of 21 feet at the narrowest part of

the short bole of 5 feet . In 1904 we made its height to be 68

feet. Mr. Maxwell states that when it was cut up there were

fully forty tons of wood in it, most of which went to the chemical

works . From the rings of growth, he estimated that it would be

about 220 years old . The average annual rate of girth increase

would thus be inch—a very high rate for the whole life,and

undoubtedly largely accounted for by the fact that the short

trunk included both the swell of the branches and that of the

roots.A Beech tree near the house was cut down in 1909. It had a

long bole of 32 feet,with a girth of 12 feet 1 14, inches at 5 feet

up, quite free from the swel l of the root. The age was about

200 years,the average increase in girth being thus, 78 inch

annually . Loudon,in Vol. III .

,p . 1979, of his Arboretum et

For any height given as in 1899, I am indebted to Mr. Maxwell.


(Carpinus Betulus It girths 1 1 feet 7 inches at 4 feet,the

narrowest part of a short bole of 7 feet. I t has a great spread

of foliage, no less than 96 feet, and a height of 60 feet. With

th e exception of one at Eglinton Castle, Ayrshire, which divides

into three stems at 1 foot from the ground, and girths 15 feet

6 inches straight round , or 14 feet 3 inches at the narrowest

on an irregular line, this is the largest Hornbeam we know in the

Clyde area. The next is a t Househi ll,R enfrewshire ; girth ,

10 feet at the narrowest part of the hole of 5 feet,with a spread

of 72 feet in 1903.

There are a number of young E lms in the park, one of which ,according to Prof. Henry , is Ulmus m

’

iens,Moench, the smooth

leaved Elm ; and another, with a height of 65 feet is U. m'

tens

var str icta , A iton , “ so far as the foliage goes . ” He wrote“ I t should be rather a narrow tree,

” which is quite correct.

U. n iten s of Moench is the same as U. glabra of Miller, of Smith,and of Loudon ; while var . stricta of A iton is the Cornish Elm

,

which Loudon calls a variety of U. campestr is L . Dr. Henry,

from ten lot s of seeds sent to h im from different localities in

Cornwall, raised in 1909 thirty-eight seedlings,all of which bore

opposite leaves . The plants, two or three years later, were all

uniform in appearance ; and, he says, in all probability the

Cornish Elm is a pure species . He states that U. n itens is

unknown in Scotland except as a planted tree ; while Mr. E lwes

writes : “ In Scotland I have not noticed any large tree of this

species, but Mr . R enwick measured a tree at Loudoun Castle

107 feet by 15 feet 4 This tree is now 15 feet 7 inches,with a height of 1 12 feet ; and near it is another, 15 feet

45 inches by 108 feet ; while one blown down in the winter ofwas 16 feet 4 inches by 104 feet.

Near Kilkerran House are several Wellingtonias (Sequoia

gigantea Decaisne) , one of wh ich is 90 feet high , with a girth of

9 feet 6% inches ; while another is 85 feet high , girth 14 feet5 inches, both at 5 feet up A very fine Horse Chestnut

(E sculus Hippocastanum L . ) behind the house has a girth of

14 feet 5 inches at 5 feet up, a bole of 22 feet, and a height in

1899 of 84 feet. O ther large trees of this species in Ayrshire

See Elwes and Henry,Trees of Grea t Br ita in and Irela nd,

VII . 1887 , et seq .

RENW ICK .—K ILKERRAN AND ITS TREES . 53

are : at St. Quivox ,14 feet 10 inches ; hole, 12 feet ; sprea d

100 feet a t Loudoun Castle,14 feet 55 inches ; hole,

4 feet ; height, 60 feet A litt le further from the house

is a splendid Sweet Chestnut (Ca stanea sa liva Miller) girth in1913 14 feet 9 inches at 5 feet ; bole, 36 feet ; height in 1899,7 6 fee t . It increased in gir th , between September, 1904, and

April,1900

,a t the average rate of 11 9 inch yearly, and from

April,1909, to July , 1913, at the rate of inch yearly . A

Sweet Chestnut below the Lady Chapel increased during the same

periods at the rates of 8 7 and 88 of an inch, and has now a

gir th of 13 feet 15inches at 5 feet ; bole, 25 feet height in 1899,78 feet . A Scots Pine (Pinus syivestr is on the opposite side

of the walk from the larger Sweet Chestnut, has a girth ( 1913) of

12 feet a t 5 feet ; bole, 38 feet ; height in 1899, 87 feet .

O n the slope of a hil l in the back wood , or Cockston Wood , is

a very fine Silver Fir, which Mr . Maxwell considers is the largest

on the estate, so far as the girth i s concerned, though not the

tallest. W e made it to be 95 feet hi gh girth at 5 feet,14 feet

1 15 inches .In the Chapel Wood

,to the Eas t of the house

,are a number

of Cedars, Spruce s, (Ste . Two Sitka Spruces (Picea sitchensis

Carriers) measure 10 feet 1 inch and 9 feet 4 in ches respectively

at 5 feet. An O ak (Quercus Robur L . ) here has a girth of

10 feet 85 inches at 5 feet . An Araucar ia at the back of the

garden was broken through the middle by a storm on 22nd

December, 1894. Three small tops came up in the following

year . Two were cut off . The tree has since made good growth

and is now very shapely. At the other,or North

,side of the

garden a large Copper Beech (Ferg us sylva tica L . var . cupr ea ) has

a girth ( 1913) of 13 feet 25 inches at 3 feet, the bole being only5 feet. In 1909Mr . Maxwell found the diamete r of the head to

be 7 35 feet. Nea r it are a number of Turkey O aks (Quercus

Cerr is one of the largest hav ing a girth of 7 feet 6 inches

with a hole of 23 feet . The most beautiful part of theestate is the Lady G len, a romantic ravine which the Shiel Burn

has,in the course of ages worn out of the sandstones

,shales

, &c .

The characte ristic tree is the Silver Fir,towering far overhead .

Two of them were found by Mr. Maxwell in 1899 to rise to a

height of 1 12 feet and 126 feet. They have now the girths of


13 feet 5 inch, and 12 feet 35 inches respectively ; while othertwo are larger, being 13 feet 85 inches and 14 feet 75 inches .

This glen gets its name from the circumstance that in it there was

a Chapel dedicated to “ O ur Lady ”

; hence also the name of

the Chapel Wood . Trees,

flowers,ferns

,and mosses make it a

desirable resort in the leafy summer months.

Notes .

Invasion O f W ood-Pigeons (Columba pa lumbus) . -An

interesting note by the Duchess of Bedford on a remarkable

irruption of Wood-Pigeons in Kirkcudbrightshire in the first

days of November appears in the December ( 1913) number of theScottish Na tura list. Mr . W m . R ennie having observed larger

numbers of this species about Possil in November than on any

previous occasion,saw Mr . Aitkenhead, of Lochfaulds Farm,

in

that neighbourhood,regarding h is experience this winter, and

was informed by him that about the third week of November

he noticed an unusual number about on his field , and in others

round about. The numbers quickly increased till there were

thousands about,and provided excellent sport for many gunners

in the district, who kept them going from one farm land to

another. By the 7th of December there were few about that

neighbourhood . Mr. Aitkenhead has never witnessed anything

like this irruption in his thirty -five years ’ experience . The

fields the birds seeme d most partial to were those that had been

potato fields and are now sown with wheat . In the Glasgow

E ven ing Citiz en of 20th December appeared a note on this

subj ec t from who some weeks earlier had'

seen

myriads on a field near Ardencaple Castle , Helensburgh , and later

considerable numbers at O ld Kilpatrick .

Podosphaera myrtillina (Schub ) Kunze . -In a former

communication to the Soc iety , I refer red to the occur rence of

th i s fungus in local ities within the Areas of Moray , Forth ,and Solway , and suggested the probabi lity of its future dis

covery in the wooded distr ict around Loch Lomond .

* This

surmi se has proved correct , and I am now glad to be able to

GlasgowNa tura list, IV. , 86.


coast of Britain ,and of this some interesting details are given .

The birds began to appear in great numbers in the Pentland

Firth early in November,1911

,and before the end of that mon th

the firs t stragglers in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire were reported .

Early in December they began to be driven south,considerable

numbers arriving between Scarborough and Filey during the

latter part of December. G ales on the 8th and 15th of January

drove many hundreds ashore,but few were reported from

Scottish localities after the end of that month . February opened

with a fierce blizzard on the l st and 2nd,which swept “ enor

mous numbers ” on to the east coast of England, and during

the following ten days many stragglers were found scattered

throughout England “ to the east and north of a line through

Sussex , Surrey , Buckinghamshire, G loucestershire, Worcester

shire, Shropsh ire , and Cheshire, while stragglers reached Counties

Dublin , Wicklow,and Carlow in Ireland.

”So much for waste

and pain in nature . Per con tra , the weather during the spring

passage was on the whole very favourable . The following list

of first appearances during the month of March makes curious

reading to Scottish observers z—Wheatear, 6th ; R ing- O uzel

7 th Willow-Warbler,10th Chifi‘chafi

‘

,14th Yellow Wagtail,

l 6th Wryneck,17th ; Sand-Martin

,18th ; Swallow,

2 l st

Blackcap , 24th White-W agtail and House—Martin . 25th

Cuckoo, 26th R edstart and Whitethroat,27th Common

Sandpiper, 29th . We always feel that in the case at least of

all the occurrences of rare birds or the rare appearances of more

familiar species, under the heading, Isolated records and single

observations,

” the sources of the information should be indicated .

Were a series of numbers assigned to the chief sources of

information,the addition of the volume and the page would not

be a very heavy matter. We feel that this is an improvement

that must surely come with time .

The British Rust Fung i (Uredinales) : their Biologyand Classification—By W. B . G ROVE , M .A . 8vo. x .

,412

pp . With 290 figs . Cambridge University Press . Price 145 . net .

Since the publ ication in 1889 of Plowright ’ s Monograph

of the Br itish Uredineae and Usti lagineae, an increasing

amount of attention has been devoted to the investigation

REV IEW S. 57

of these groups of parasitic fungi . The importance of many

spec ies , in thei r relat ion to var ious diseases of field and

garden p lants and forest trees,has kept the subj ect under

the notice of students of economic botany ; while the remark

ably interest ing phenomen a of heteroec i sm exhibited in the

course of the l i fe-histor ies of many of the rust- fungi , and the

comparat ive ease with which Spec imens of most of the spec ies

can be collected and p reserved , have a lso tended to render

these organisms common obj ects of study . W hile Plowr ight ’ s

book has continued to ma inta in up ti ll the present time a

deservedly high position in popular esteem , the rap i d advance

made by Continental mycologists towards a better under

standing of p roblems which Plowr ight fa i led to solve has

rendered a rev i s ion of the Br it ish Spec ies of rust- fungi

eminently desi r able . This work has now been accompl ished

by Pro fessor G rove in a manner certa in to el ici t the warm

approva l of students both at home and abroad . In the first

five chapters , extending to 84 p ages , an account i s given of

the l i fe-histor ies of v ar ious typ ical spec ies , while the most

important biological features of the group are also fully

descr ibed and explained . In the systematic portion of the

work,extending from p . 85 to p . 390

,a desc r ipti on i s g iven

of the famil ies,gener a , and spec ies ascertained to occur in

G reat Br ita in or I reland . An important feature of the book

is the i llustrat ion of near ly every spec ies by a figure placed

in the desc r iptive text , and usually showing the shape and

structure of the teleutospo res . Another notable feature i s that

the spec ies in the respect ive gener a are not grouped under sub

gener a ( such as Leptopuccin ia , Micr Opuccin ia , or in

accor danc e with thei r heteroec i sm or autoec i sm, but are

ar ranged according to thei r host-plants . As afiording an

indication of the p rogress made since Plowr ight ’ s book was

publ ished , it may be stated that the Sp ec ies of Puccin ia now

claimed as Br iti sh has been increased from 97 to 137 , partly

by the addition of novelti es to the l i st, and p artly by the

separation of v ar ious fo rms which were included by Plowr ight

under such comprehensive Spec ies as P . pimpin ellce, P . h iera c ii ,


P . rubigo -vera ,&c . Most of the changes introduced by

Professo r G rove will doubtless meet with approval and accept

ance by the maj or ity of Br itish mycologists . It is possible ,however

,that some mi sg iv ings may be felt regarding an

obvious tendency at the p resent time to accept implic itly the

results of cultural exper iments conducted on the Continent ,but not yet ver ified by simi lar exper iments successfully made

in this country . When we consider that certain c losely all ied

spec ies of Puccin ia differ in thei r l i fe-histor ies, but yet so

c losely resemble each other in their spore- fo rms as to be

practically indi stingui shable , the necessity for caution i s

suffic iently obv i ous . The alleged heteroec i sm of var ious

common Br itish spec i es of Melampsora , for example , would be

more satisfactor i ly establi shed i f spec imens of the aec i d i a could

a lso be found to occur commonly in Britain on the host- plant s

sai d to be affected by them on the Continent .

Mildews, Rusts, and Smuts a Synopsis of the FamiliesPeronosporaceae, Erysiphaceae, U redinaceae, and U stilaginaceae.

By G EORGE MASSEE,F .L.S. Svc . 23 1 pp . With 4 plain and 1

coloured plates (73 figs) . Dulau (it Company,Limited

,London .

Price 7S. 6d. net .

The conven ient s ize of this book , and the wide scope of its

contents , Should insure its popular ityas a handy gui de to theimportant groups of par asitic fungi with which it deals . In

addition to descr iptions of the Briti sh genera and spec ies of

Peronosporaceae , &c . ,Mr . Massee gives useful keys to the

gener a included in the var ious o rders , and to the spec ies

included in var i ous genera ; as well as descr iptions of certain

spec ies which have not yet been detected in Britain,although

occur r ing on the Cont inent on host-plants which grow in this

countrv . In the Uredin acere , the species of Pucc in ia are

ar ranged in accordance with the natural o rders of the host

plants ; but i t i s to be regretted that in the treatment of th i s

p articular group Mr . Massee falls Short of the high level

reached in Professor G rove ’ s work . In a book professedly

deal ing with Mildews ,” too , we should have expected to

find a descr iption of the parasitic Hyphomycetes , such as


perused with profit by more advanced students . We have

doubts , however , as to the uti l ity of bestowing upon fungi

such English names as Cock-of -the-W oods ,” Dev i l ’ s-own

Boletus,”

Lawyer ’ s Wig ,” and the l ike ; but ind iv i dual

tastes may'

possibly differ with regard to that particular

point .

Excursions.

R OWARDENNAN. 21st June, 1913—Conductor, Mr . J . R . Jack

—Most of the party travelled by the steamer due toarrive at R owardennan at but it was nearly 5 o’clock before

a landing was effected . The Balmaha R oad was followed for

about a mile, after which the party separated into small groups.

Common wild -flowers occurred in considerable variety and

among the more conspicuous Species seen were the Broom, in fine

condition on the roadside banks, and O rchis macula ta in the

marshes . Nothing,however, of special importance falls to be

recorded among the flowering -plants . Like other parts of the

Loch Lomond district, the neighbourhood of Rowardennan suffers

from an overgrowth of bracken , which has much increased within

living memory. Though itself a graceful plant, it tends to choke

out better things, and in some places efforts are now being made

to keep its wanderings within convenien t bounds .

Mr . William R ennie reported that only 31 species of Birds

were observed,among which were included the following 12

summer visitors z—Whinchat , Whitethroat, G arden Warbler,

Blackcap, Willow W ren,Wood Wren

,Tree Pipit

,Swallow

,

House Martin , Cuckoo, Sandpiper, and Lesser Black -backed Gul l .

Among the other species Seen, the Stonechat and Lesser Redpoll

deserve mention . The occurrence of the Blackcap (Sylvia

a tricapilla ) i s very interesting. Mr . W . R . Bax ter saw a pair in

a little planting near the hotel at Rowardennan,and Mr . R ennie

,

working independently,saw the male of this pair. Later, at the

Lochan, Mr. Bax ter saw another male . Very litt le is known

about the Blackcap on Loch Lomond , where its congener, the

G arden Warbler, is well known to be common on the west Side

of the Loch and some of the islands.

EXCURS IONS . 61

Mr. D . A . Boyd reported that among the Microfungi observed ,the most notable Species were Pseudopez iz a repanda (Fr . ) Karst .,found on Ga lium Aparine ascophores of Sclerotin ia Gurreyan a

(Berk ) Karst., on dead culms of J uncus conglomera tus ;

Dasyscgpha crucif era (Phil ) Saco . , on dead branches of .l[ yr ica

Ga le ; D . gr isella (R ehm) Sacc .,on the under surface of the

pinnules,and D . pter idis (A . S. ) Mass ,

on the stipites, of

dead fronds of Pteris agui lin a Diaporthe W ibbei Ntke.,on dead

branches of Myr ica Ga le Septomyxa n egundin is Allesch . , on

recently dead bark of Acer Pseudo-

pla tanus Ramula ria taraxaci

Karst. , on Taraoca cum ofi cinale ; and R . variabilis Fckl. , on

D igita lispurpurea .

Mr . G eorge Lunam reported that a general examination of the

material collected at the excursion showed that a number of

interesting species of F resh-water A lgae had been secured .

Among these,the following may be mentioned

Hormospora mutabilis Breb . was found in the Dubh Lochan in

small quantity . This form had been prev iously obtained by Mr .

Lunam at Loch Ardinning, and on the West Coast of Bute .

Ca lothriac epiphytica W . & G . S. W . , unrecorded for the Clyde

Area, but recentlv obtained by Mr. Lunam at G len Falloch . In

both instances , it occurred as an epiphyte on a form of B a tra

chospermum ragum (Roth ) Ag., itself a rare alga in the C lyde

Area.

Hapa losiphon hibern icus W . !St G . S. W . , c ton ema mir abile

(Dillw. ) Thur. , Dichothr iac orsin iana (Kli tz . ) Born . 6: Flah . ,

Rivularia heema tites (DC . ) Ag. ,and Stigonema mami llosum

(Lyngb .) Ag .

, have been recorded previously from a few stat ions ,and are certainly common at R owardennan .

c tonema varium Kutz. has not been recorded for the Clyde

A rea . A large patch of it was found on damp earth near the

loch .

Desmonema W r angelii (Ag ) Born . F lah .

,a rare spec ies,

occurred near R owardennan Pier.

Mer ismopedia pun cta ta Meyen , found in the Dubh Lochan , i s

another addition to the C lyde list.

THE GLASGO W NATURALIST.

R OSEMOUNT, 9th August, 1913 —Conductor, Mr. D . A . Boyd .

—After leaving the railway station at Prestwick . the party pro

ceeded b y way of Monk ton to R osemount, where they were met

by Mr. Pet-er Melville,gardener

,who conducted them through the

grounds and gardens, where there was a brilliant display of

herbaceous perennials,roses , (to. Prior to the m iddle of the

eighteenth century,this property was known as G oldring

,and is

referred to under that name in numerous charters and other

documents . The residential portion of the estate lies chiefly in

the Parish of Symingt—on ,but a par t is situated in the Parish of

Monk ton . The boundary between the two parishes at this point is

a small stream,and where it passes through the R osemount grounds

its banks are pleasantly wooded and traversed by walks . The party

afterwards returned to Prestwick by a road which passed the

entrance to Adamton policies . During the af ternoon’s walk , few

noteworthyflowering-plants or mosses were observed; In the

woods at R osemount,Saxifraga umbrosa Linn . had become

naturalized,and occurred in great abundance ; while a corn field

near Prestw’

ick yielded Specimens of Lychn isGithago Scop .,and

Lycopsis a rven sis Linn . , in bright blossom. About 42 spec ies of

Microfungi were identified, of wh ich the most notable were

Syn chytr ium aureum Schrot . , observed on leaves of Plan tagolan ceola ta ; Ascochyta phila clelphi Sacc . !St Speg.

,on leaves of

Phi ladelphus coron a r ius ; and Ramular ia Tula snei (R ab ) Sacc .,

on leaves of Fragar ia .

C-O LINTRAIVE,23rdAugust, 1913 — Conductor, Mr . John R .Lee.

Two members of the party (Messrs. D . A . Boyd and

Thomas Anderson ) travelled by forenoon steamer, and reached

Colintraive shor tly after mid-day . Thev devoted some time to

the exploration of part of the moist woods and Shore between

Colintraive Pier and South Hall . These proved rich in Micro

fungi,of which over 70 Species were obtained . Among the more

important forms secured were Syn chytrium succisce De Bary (it

Wor. , on Scabiosa succisa ; Peronospora a lta Eckl .,on Plan tago

major ; i ll ilesi na blechn i Syd.

,on Blechnum Spican t; Dasyscypha

crucifera (Ph il ) Sacc .,on dead bark of l r ica Ga le Leptosphaer ia

agn ita (Desm. ) Ces. dz ‘De Not.,on dead stems of Eupa torium

cannabinum ; Phyllosticta ajugce Sacc . (it R oum on Ajuga


able abundance all through the woods . The 57 Hymenomycetes

observed in the course of the afternoon included Clitocybe

candican s (Pers . ) Fr. , 0 . dea lba ta (Sow . ) Fr . ,Mycena rosella Fr .

,

M la ctea (Pers . ) Fr . , Russula cutej ra cta Cke. , and other well

known species . 26 Microfungi were also reported , among which

the most notable were M ilesin a blechn i Syd , Can angium abietis

(Pers . ) R ehm., Gnomon ia lugubr is Karst. ,

and Stilbum erythro

cepha lum Ditm. The sclerotia of Sclerotin ia baccarum R ehm,

and of S . Gurreyan a (Berk ) Karst. , were also obtained .

K ILKERRAN,29th September

,l913 .

—Conductor Mr . JohnR enwick—This estate is Situated in the valley of the G irvan ,about three miles below Maybole . It belongs to Maj or G eneral

Sir Charles Dalrymple, Bart. , and is let to Mr. Edward

Wormald, both of whom kindly granted permission to visit. O n

arrival at K ilkerran railway station, the six members who formed

the party were met by Mr. James Maxwell , overseer and forester,who kindly accompanied them during the day . W hen approach

ing the entrance to the policies, it was noticed that the hedges onthe roadsides on the estate were unusually well-grown

,thick

,and

square-cut on the t0p, so as to form a prominent and ornamental

feature which always attracts the attention of visitors to the

district. The poucies contain many very fine trees,measure

ments of some of which were taken, and form the subj ect of a

separate communication to the Society. O nly 23 species of Birds

were observed during the day, the most notable of which were a

few examples of the Swallow and House-Martin, still lingering in

their summer haunts . Among the Plants seen were the Yellow

Balsam ( Impa tiens Noli -tangere which had become

naturalized in a part of the woods, where it occurred in some

abundance ; and Wall-rue (Asplen ium Ruta -murar ia

which grew on a bridge over the river. About 50 species ofMicrofungi were collected, among which were Peronospora a lta

Fckl. , Puccin ia circcece Pers . , P . chrysosplen ii G rev. , P. buxi DC . ,

Phyllosticta syringes West ,Ph . ajugas Saco. Jr R oum.

,Ascochyta

phi ladelphi Sacc . (it Speg. , A. armora cice Fckl., Septoria quevillensis

Sacc . ,Botryti

-

s deprceolans Cke. , Ramular ia armora cice Eckl. , R .

heraclei Sacc . , R . taraxaci Karst. , R . ajugce Niessl. , and R .

plan taginea Sacc. dz Berl .

(The (Blasgow Maturalist


O F G LASG O W.

Vol. VI . , Nos. 3 and [November, 1914.

O bservations on some London Trees.

By HUGH BOYD W ATT .

[Read 27th O ctober,

THE PLANE .

THE most abundant and v igorous tree in the Metropolis i s

undoubtedly the plane , which was introduced f rom Eastern

lands in the sixteenth century , and , finding a congen ial hom

has established a race of its own ,called the London Plane . 1

i s n ow so numerous that p robably there ar e in and around

the c ity more plane trees than in any other part of the world

of equa l s iz e. Many of the trees are grand spec imens,such

as those in the west-central and western squares—Bedford ,Mecklenburgh ,

and Berkeley may be named . The trees tower

up higher than the b ig houses which sur round them ,and in

the suburbs there a re even ta ller trees , exceed ing one hundred

feet in height . The pendulous d roop of the ends of the great

branches,sometimes sweep ing down to the ground

,add an

a i r of elegance and grace to the s iz e and v igour of such tree

O ne of the most attractive tree -p rospects in the c ity i s at th

north - east corner of St. Paul ’ s Churchya rd (nea r Cheapside) ,where a group of well -grown planes stand guard ians in front of

the recently re- erec ted Paul ’ s Cross , and above them the great

dome of the Cathed ra l r i ses hund reds of feet into the heaven s .


Further along Cheapside , at the corner of Wood Street , th

plane immortal iz ed in Wordsworth ’ s l ines (or a successor to

it) sti ll stands , but the narrow l imi ts of the s ituation have

brought down on i t the hard fate of severe lopp i ng and dis

figurement . Th i s foreign speci es seems likely to extend its

peaceful conquest , judging by the number of young trees that

are being planted throughout the distr ict . Those growing on

the Thames Embankment are well known and flouri shing , and

the half-mile- long double avenue lining The Mall , from the

Admi ra lty Arch at Trafalgar Square to the Queen Victo r i a

Memor i al at Buckingham Palace,consi sts of trees which are

being carefully tr ained and looked after , and although on ly a

few years planted have already atta ined a fai r height,and

give p romi se of a truly magnificent leafy way . It may be

necessary to remark that the tree spoken of i s not the one

known in the North Country under the name of plane or

pl an,

” which is correctly the sycamore or great maple .

THE TREE or HEAVEN .

In one of London ’ s new streets—Kingsway—an exper iment

ha s been made in planting the Chinese ai lanthus , or tree of

heaven , altern ate ly with the plane, but the first -named are

hav ing a struggle for exi stence,and have not made nearly so

much growth in height as the young planes . The ai lanthus ,however , i s quite at home in London , and does well , holding

its own even in adverse sur roundings,for one of the finest

trees of the kind I know is growing in a stonemason ’ s y ard

in the dinginess of Euston Road . None,however

,equals in

siz e the great tree which stands in the garden next

Shakespeare ’ s old home,New Place , Stratford -on -Avon ; this

i s the largest ailanthus that I have seen . In New Square ,Lincoln ’ s Inn , there is a flour i shing set of six symmetr ical well

grown trees,and the neighbouring Lincoln ’ s Inn F i elds (the

rural name for an attractive town - square) have several . A.

v i s it to Hyde Park will show this tree growing in another

style,a short avenue being on the south side of the Serpentine ,

near the b r idge . It is a late leafer , contemporaneous with the


grows in the place named , and is the first of the poplars to

break into leaf .

THE LIME .

Th i s fragrant tree i s frequent in town,and in its sp r ing

foli age i s even more lovely than the trees al ready named,its

greenery being of the brightest and softest tint—only,h

ever , too read i ly soiled by smoke and d i rt. It grows in the

very heart of the c ity,and an anc i ent tree stands in th

garden - plot of the Bank of Englan d . F insbury C i rcus has

quite a grove , and many town squares and gardens are

screened by lime trees .

NAT IVE AND FO RE IGN TREES .

R ichard Jefferies considered it deplorable that exotic trees

and shrubs were p refer red for planting in and around

London,and asked that the p roducts of Engl ish woods and

hedgerows should be more generally used . His text was

Trees about Town but i f i t were not for the foreigners

we would have rather a treeless London , as our native tree-s

do not take k indly to town l i fe,and even in the parks most

of the sylvan favour ites are aliens or deniz ens . The so- called

English or common elm i s i tself an introduced spec ies and

not native in the land of its adoption,but one of its strong

holds is Kensington G ardens . O f native English trees in the

c ity p roper neither oak , beech , aspen , nor yew occur , and

very few examples are found of the common ash,wych -elm

,

rowan,elder

,bi rch

,and willow , and these but poo r and

struggl ing spec imens.

Amidst the tree wealth of Lincoln ’ s Inn F ields it i s grati

fying to Scottish eyes to see the bi rch flouri shing,but it i s not

less pleasing to find some of the less usual foreign trees . A

small Judas tree bears its rosy flowers by the middle of Apr i l ,preced ing the leaves ; and the American catalpa

,or Indian

bean -tree,occurs there and in other places , flower ing profusely

in a good summer , such as thi s year The fine trusses

of bloom are sometimes carried as late as September,and if

it fruits, a s it has done this Autumn, the long seed-pods are

WATT .—LONDON TREES . 69

consp icuous hanging from the branches through the winter .

The oldest tree of thi s k ind in London i s in G ray ’ s Inn

G arden,and the garden of another of the Inns of Court

Lincoln ’ s Inn—supplies the Chinese g inkgo or ma i denha i r

t ree,a link between the coni fers and the dec iduous trees . The

neighbour ing Staple Inn has two whitebeams‘

, which flower

and frui t each season . These a re not , however , the typ ica l

wi ld spec ies , but are the pinnatifid fo rm . A fine example of

an all i ed and much rarer spec ies , the true serv ice o r sorb ,grows in Hyde Park

,near Victor i a G ate . The old Charte r

house (near the centre of the c ity) boasts several fine mulber ry

trees , leafing late and , i f the season i s favourable , bea r ing a

c rop of lusc i ous berr ies,some of which are generously

dropped over the wall on to the pavement outs ide . Two trees

of the less-known paper mulber ry have grown to a good s i

i n Lansdowne Place , on the west s ide of the Foundling

Hosp ital grounds . Tav i stock Square i s glo r ified ea rly each

sp r ing by the flower ing of its avenue of sma ll almond trees,

and it also possesses two or three flower ing or manna ashes .

blooming early in summer . F ig- trees may be seen in man y

places , including the ve ry heart or the c ity,where in the

l ittle woodland oasis at All Hallows Sta in ing , near Fenchurch

Street Stat ion , a fine standard tree sp reads its shade . This

spec ies i s put to a d ifferent use at the National G allery,

Trafalgar Square, where i t i s tr a ined all along the ra i l ings in

front of the bui ld ing,with a very delightful effect .

Without attempting any comp rehensive survey,the above

notes a re some ind icati on of what the lover of t rees may see

in the streets and squares of the greatest c i ty the world h asever known . Leigh Hunt ’ s old challenge to anybody to name

a street in the Metropol is out of some pa rt of which a t ree ortrees might not be seen sti ll holds good .

Lrsr or SPEC IES NAMED .

Ailanthus glandulosa Desf.—Tree of Heaven,Betula alba L.

—Common Birch,

Broussonetia papyrifera Vent . -Paper Mulberrv


Catalpa bignonioides Walt .—Indian Bean,

Cercis Siliquastrum L .-Judas Tree

,

F icus Carica L .—Fig Tree,

F raxinus excelsior L .— Common Ash

,

F raxinus O rnus L .— Manna Ash

,

G inkgo biloba L .—Maidenhair Tree

,

Morus nigra L .— Black Mulberry

Platanus orientalis va r . acerifolia A iton .- London Plane,

Populus balsamifera L .— Balsam Poplar

,

Populus nigra L .—Black Poplar

,

Populus nigra var . pyramidalis Spach .—Lombardy Poplar ,

Populus serotina Hartig .—Black Italian Poplar,

Prunus Amy gdalus Stokes—Almond Tree ,Pyrus Aucuparia G aertn .

—R owan Tree,

Py rus pinnatifida Ehrha rt.—Whitebeam (pinnatifid),Pyrus Sorbus G aertn .

—Service Tree or Sorb ,Sainbucus nigra L.

—Common E lder.Tilia vulgaris Hayne.—Common Lime,U lmus campestris L .

-Engli sh Elm,

U lmus montana Stokes .—Wych Elm,

Dante and Burns and their use of Trees and Birds

a Parallel.

By JOHN PATER S ON .

[Read 27th O ctober ,

IT may seem extreme l iter ary hardihood to br ing i nto con

junction ,in any connection , two such poets as Dante and

Burns . The former has embodied in his great work a tr ans

mutation of all the learning of the ancients and of mediaeval

times

in my noble book doth every kindO f earthly lore and heavenly doctrine dwell,

”

as Boccacc io says of h im in his fine sonnet Inscr iption for a


respect to bi rds, then , Burns need fear no compar ison with

any predec essor , contemporary or successor .

Turn ing now to Dante,the subj ect o f h i s relation to nature

and his use of natural obj ects, has been carefully and fully

examined in a work entitled The Trea tmen t of Na ture in

Dan te’

s Divina Commedia , by L . O scar Kuhns , a professor

in Wesleyan University , Middletown , U .S .A. As one l ikes

a work of this k ind well done,it i s p leasant to see in the

preface that the most d istingui shed o f Amer ican Dante

scholars,Professor Chas . E l iot Norton , read the author

’ s

manuscr ipt , and in the light of suggestions and cor rect ions

received from Professor Norton the author rewrote parts of

the book and rev i sed the rest .

A reference i s here necessary to the second chapter of

Professor Kuhns’ s work , which contains a discussion of Dante’ s

conventional treatment of Nature . There i t i s p roperly laid

down that to obtain any clear idea of our poet ’ s feeling

towards the world of Nature only those references must be

considered which reveal consc ious observation and personal

interest on the part of the poet The task set himse lf then

by the author in this chapter is the el imination of all those

passages descr iptive of Nature which are more or less

conventional . ’

Call ing up recollections of a sojourn in Italy , one br ings to

mind the oleanders , tama r i sks,and planes in the streets of the

c ities , the gleditsch ias and glor ious cypresses in the cemeter ies,

the great numbers of the stone p ine in the Tuscan l andscapes ,umbrella- topped and of the tenderest green even in September

and the slopes of the hills round Car rara covered all

over with grey ol ives , trees which , as Mrs . Leigh Hunt said ,seem to have grown up in moonl ight . But

, as Professor Kuhns

decl ares , the number of different trees mentioned in the

Divina Commedia i s surp r isingly small , and forms a str iking

contrast with Vergil , and even O v id . The palm and laurel

are alluded to conventionally , the p ine forest of Chi ass i i s

mentioned , and there i s reference to the twenty years it takes

for an acorn to become an oak . But this i s practically all.

”

It may be mentioned al so that the ivy is casually mentioned

PATERSO N.—DANTE AND BURNS. 73

in the Inferno , the apple symbolica lly in the Purga to rio , where

it rep resents the Roman Empire , and its flowers are del icately

a lluded to as putting forth a hue more faint than rose ,

and deeper than the v i olet ,” and the plum, metapho rically , in

the Pa radiso . Now this i s p retty l iterally all the use made

of trees in the Divine Comedy, so it i s clear that Dante , l ike

Burns , and both of them unlike some at least of the i r

p redecessors and succ esso rs , found p ractic a lly no insp i rat ion

in tr ees .

W ith hi s customary wealth of illustr at ion and ingenuity ,Mr . Ruskin in Modern Pa in ter s (ch . has examined the

attitude of mediaeval wr iters to deep forest , enlarging on thei r

dread of thick fol i age,but no convi nc i ng argument i s put

forward to explain the lack of response in Dante to the

imp ress ions which tr ees in varying degrees have made on

Hebrew , G reek , Lat in , and modern wr ite rs . Dante found no

tongues in trees indiv i dually , and in mass they seem chiefly

to have affected h im with dread , as the selua oscura that sele ct

selc aggia eel a spra e fo rte in the open ing l ines of the Inferno

c learly Show .

Turn ing now to bi rds , we find,a s we found in Burns ’s case ,

that they are treated with ev i dent knowledge,and the illustr a

tions taken fr om thei r behav iour express the consc i ous observa

tions of the poet . Aga in , the two poets agree in mak ing a

much more l iberal use of them than they did of trees .

Early in the Inferno we find , within lines numbers 40 - 49*

of the fifth canto,two examples of Dante ’ s i llustrations dr awn

from bi rd - l i fe . In Carlyle ’ s tr anslation they read as follows

( 1 ) And as thei r wings bear a long the sta r l ings , at the

cold season , in large and crowded troop : so tha t blast [bears

E come gli stornei , ne portan l’ali

,

nel freddo tempo , a schiera larga e pienacosi quel fiato gli spiriti mali [Lines 404 "

E come i gru van can tando lor lai,facendo i n aer di Selunga r ioacosi vid’io venir, traendo guai ,

O mbre portate dalla detta briga [Lines 46-49.


a long ] the evi l sp i r its 3 and (2) And as the cranes go

chanting thei r l ays, making a long streak of themselves in the

a ir so I saw the shadows come , utter ing wails , borne by that

str i fe of winds . ”

In the opening of the twenty-thi rd canto of the Pa radise

occurs this feel ing descr iption of a brooding bi rd

Just as a bi rd among the loved leaves

Broods o ’ er the nest where sleep her tender young ,When night ’ s dark shadows h i de all th ings from view ,

W ho yearns to see again thei r longed - for looks,

And sally forth to seek thei r food , —a task

In which all heavy labour seems a j oy,

And who upon the open branch foresta lls

The day, and wa its with ardent love the sun,

Gazing with steady eves to see the dawn .

”

—Kuli ns ’s tra nsla ti on .

In Dante ’ s time , and , indeed , ti ll much later , hawking wasone of the great d iversions of the r ich and noble

,hence ,

in

the works of Dante ’ s p redecesso rs and his own ,this sport and

the bi rds employed therein figure p rominently . There i s an

attractive p icture in the Inferno of the disappointed falcon ,afte r being long upon the wing without result

,descending

wear ily in answer to the falconer ’ s call,but, p iqued at his

non - success , on second thoughts swiftly moves himself with

many a c i rcle,and far from his master sets himself , disdainful

and sullen . Again , in the Pa radise , there i s an intimatedescr iption of the way in which a falcon , just released from

the hood , expresses sati sfaction at the freedom , moving his

head about,c lapp ing himself with his wings

,showing desi re

and making himself be auteous . Such illustr ations need not

be multipl ied , others will occur to students of D ante , but it i s

interesting to notice that one of his p redecessors , Folgore da

San G emin i ano , distingui shes , in one of his sonnets , Falcons

and astors, merl ins , sp arrow-hawks ,” and Dante refers to the

a store,the spa rv ier e, and the fa lcone—ev i dently the goshawk ,

the spar row e hawk , and the fa lcon . In Shakespeare ’ s time ,Mr . Harting te lls us, whoever could aflord it kept a hawk ,the rank of the indiv i dual be ing indicated by the spec ies ,

1

76 THE GLASGO W’

NATURALIST .

obtained in the previous y ear, was collected from many localities

in the West of Sco t land . Part of that material was gathered

a t excursions of the Society , and has already been reported on

but the remainder consists of spec imens of many species of

Microfungi apparently as yet unrecorded for our district, and

has been reserved for further examination . This,it is expected ,

w ill afford a considerable number of new records, and will

form the subj ect of a report to be submitted to the Society

at a future meeting .

In the meantime the f ollowing may be noted as recent

additions to the l ist for the Clvde Area :

Peronospor a afi n is Rossm .—Parasitic on leaves of Fumar ia

in a garden near Millport,Island of Cumbrae ; 19th August ,

1913 .

Synchytrium cupula tum Thomas—New to Britain . Parasiticon Poten tilla palustr is a t Blae Loch , near Beith , Ayrshire, where

it formed small, rounded , gall—like warts of a reddish colour

on the affected leaves . W hen older the warts become dark red,

and are then somewhat collapsed or cupulate at the apex . The

resting - spores have a thick,brown, smooth epispore and

usually occur singly, rarely in pairs In each wart . July,1913 .

Doassan sia a lisma tis Cornu.—This species appears to be rare

in the West of Scotland, as I have searched for it unsuccessfullyin many localities where the host-plant is abundant . Last

September, however, I obtained a good many specimens on

Alisma Pla n tago-aqua tica at Loch Fad, near R othesay. The

spore-clusters occurred in very numerous groups on rounded

y ellowish spots on the affec ted leaves, and were easily detected.

I t may be noted that D . Ma rtianofiian a SchrO t. , an allied species

recently added to the British fungus -flora ,* was also obtained onthe same occasion in marshy ground adj oining the Kirk Dam,

at

the lower end of Loch Fad, where it affected living leaves

of Potamogeton .

Hamaria jungermann ice (Nees) Sacc . Amongst living

Hepaticae on a moist bank beside the G ourock Burn,West

Kilbride,Ayrshire ; 27th March, 1914.

See G lasgowNa tura list, V. 121.

BO YD .—ADD ITIONAL R ECORDS or M ICROFUNG I . 7 7

Cer iosvorella polygon i A .L.Sm. and Ramsh .—New to science .

Abundan t on dead stems of“

Polygonum amphibium var . terrestre

a t Burnfoot, Ardrossan February, 1913 .

Gnomon iella vulgaris (Ces. and De Not . ) Sacc .—O u fallen

leaves of Corylus Avellana at Linn Spout, Dalry , Ay rshire ;l6th March

,1914.

O rphiobolus herpotr ichus (Fr. ) Sacc .—O u dead leaf- sheaths

and culms of Holcus mollis, G ourock Burn , West Kilbride ;27th May, 1914 .

Phyllosticta erysimi West—In spots on fading leaves of

Sisymbr ium. Alliar ia ,near Garrionhaugh , Cambusnethan , Lanark

shire,at an excursion of the Andersonian Naturalists’ Societv

17 th May,1913 .

Phoma orthotr ichi A .L.Sm. and R amsh .—New to sc ience .

O n dead capsules of O r thotr ichum anoma lum var. saxa tile,on a

bridge near South Biggart,Beith

, Ayrshire ; July, 1912. The

pycni dia appear as scattered black dots on the surface of the

dead capsules of the moss,and the sporidia are remarkable for

their minute size ( 003 x 0 0 1 mm . )

Aposphcer ia populea A .L .Sm . and R amsh .—New to sc ience .

O n decorticated poplar-wood . Corsinkell G len Stevenston

Ayrshire February, 1913 .

Coniotliyrium peplis, A .L .Sm. and R amsh .-New to science .

I observed this intere sting spec ies during several successive

seasons . It occurred as a parasite on Peplis Portula in a smal l

marshy hollow among the sandhills at A rdeer, near Stevenston .

The aff ected plants did not immediately lose their colour, but

became soft and flaccid , as though boiling water had been

poured upon them. A t that stage the pycnidia began to make

their appea rance on the stems and leaves , and gradually matured

while the latter were becoming dead and withered . When fully

developed the pycnidia were rather prominent and verv

numerous . O n visiting the place last autumn , I found thatoperations in connection with the sinking of a new coal -pit inthe neighbourhood had led to the marsh becoming dried up, and

that the Peplis was much reduced in quantity ,while no trace of

i ts parasite could be detected .


R amula r ia a renar ioe A .L.Sm . and R amsh —New to science .

O n Arena r ia tr in ervia near Lochwinnoch , R enfrewshire ; July,1912 . Also in Noddsdale G len

,near Largs . This spec ies

forms dry,yellowish spots on living leaves of the host-plant.

The conidiophores are produced abundantly on the under

surface of the wa s

R . adoxae Fckl.—Parasitic on leaves of Adoxa Moscha tellina .

Banks of Mouse Water, near Lockhart Mill, Lanark , a t an

excursion of the Anderson ian Naturalist s ’ Soc iety,2nd May

,

1914 ; also near West Kilbride on 27 th May .

I have to express my indebtedness to Miss A . Lorrain Smith

and Mr. J . Ramsbottom. M .A .

,for kindly determining

the species above referred to as new to Britain or new to science .

A full description of these spec ies,with particulars as to

spore-measurements,&c .

,will be found in the Transa ctions of the

B r i tish Mycologica l Society, Vol. IV.,pp . 318

,325

,326 . 327 .

Some Additions to the Clyde Marine Fauna .

By RICH ARD ELMHIRST,F .L. S.

,

Super intendent of the M a r ine B iologica l Sta tion, Al z'

llport.

[Read 26th May,

INFUSORIA.

Vor ticella pa tellina , Mullen—Saville Kent, “ Manual of Infu

soria,1880 - 2

,Vol. II .

, p . 679, fig . O n stones from shallow

water and in aquaria .

Vor ticella n ebulif era ,Mifllen—Kent, op. cit

,Vol II . ,

p . 673, fig.

O ccasionally amongst the above species—already recordedfrom fresh water in “ Clvde Fauna and Flora

,as

V. nebulifera , Ehr .

Amphileptus clapa redii , Stein — Kent, op. ci t.

,Vol. II .

,p . 526

,fig.

(A . meleagris ) Entz , M ittheilungen aus der Z oologischen

Station z uNeapel,” Vol. V.

,1884

,p . 320

,fig . Lives amongst

and is parasitic on Z oothamin ium marinum. May 1914.


we see in some cool rock-pool a beautifully sculptured shell,a

geometrical echinoderm,a starry sea-anemone

,a graceful hydroid

,

or even an odd stone crusted over with all sorts of animal and

vegetable growths . We want, if we can , to provide an equivalent

for the rock -pool,where the specimens can be studied at leisure

,

with the assis tance, perhaps, of microscopes and books of reference .

F rom experience we know that, even when animals are killed and

preserved by the best methods,they lose just those elements

which add beauty to form and colour. We may still study their

st ructure , but the magic of life has gone . We can neither gain

the knowledge nor enj oy the pleasure which are open to the

naturalist who watches his living things from day to day , and

feels that they are responding to his care by healthful continuance

of l ife and growth .

Probably with most of us the results of first experiments in

keeping marine animals spelt disaster and disappointment . We

brought home a fine assortment,but our specimens became

unhealthy and died off,till in the end the contents of an ill ~

smelling and unsavoury aquarium had to be cast forth , and we

probably resolved tomake nomore ventures of the kind . However,one need not be above profi t ing by mistakes, and experience

shows that the first and worst mistake is to keep too big or too

many animals in a small quantitv of water . Be content with a

modest beginning . Don ’t crowd your aquaria , If you can you

should have two or three small aquaria,rather than a single one

the size of all combined . These are golden max ims, and it is to

be remembered that small animals are just as interesting as big

ones . In many ways they are more suitable for observation , since,by employ ing the microscope , we may gain an insight not only

into their outward form, but also into the details of their

structure,and watch such processes as the c irculation of blood .

the contrac tion of musc les, and the taking of food . Besides we

can keep ever so many more of them.

Suppose we have started our aquaria, the next thing is to see

that the water is kept sweet by being s tirred up regularly or by

having bubbles of air passed through it. Surprisingly good

results may be got by the vigorous use of an ordinary glass syringe

twice a day or thereby . The writer remembers with pleasure a

verv interesting set of small aquaria which the late Mr. G eorge

GEMM ILL . KEEPING SMALL MAR INE AQUAR IA . 81

M ‘Crie, the first chairman of the Mil lport Marine Station

Committee . used thus to keep “ going ’in his studv . But it i s

better,i f we can ,

to employ some device which will save trouble

wi thout sacrific ing efii ciencv. If one can secure the use of a

water-tap there are various means* whereby it can be made to

provide a regular supplv of air which may be led to the difi’

erent

aquaria . But a spare water- tap may not be available, and the

obj ect of the present paper is to describe a different kind of

arrangement which the writer fitted up in his own study , and

which proved very helpful during the period it was in use. Th e

arrangement i s i llustrated in Fig. 1 . Two bottles of equal siz e

are hung up in such a way that when one descends the other

rises . We put in just so much water into the two as one of them

would comfortably hold by i tself . Both bot t les have tightly

fitting corks with holes for two glass tubes (g- inch bore) . O ne of

these tubes,the air tube (D in the fig ) , jus t goes through the

cork,whi le the other or siphon tube (C) dips down to the bottom

of the bottle. The two siphon tubes are connected by rubber

piping (E) (é-inch bore) , long enough to sag a little when one

bottle is up and the other down . A piece of rubber tubing (H) ,easily slipped on or ofi

’

,conn ects theair tube of the lowest bottle

wi th a distributing tube (G ) leading to the noz zles in the aquaria .

Suppose to begin wi th all the water is in the right-hand bottle

(bottle A) . We raise it upas far as it can go by pul ling B down,

and we then start siphon action between A and B . The water

passes from A to B,displac ing the air contained in the latter

,

and,if one has meant ime connected the distribut ing tube to the

air tube of B , the air in question wil l bubble up through the

aquaria . By and by A will be empty and B full . We then

detach the distributing connection from the air tube of B,and

,

after pulling B up and A down , we slip thi s connection on to the

air tube of A , and the process of aeration proceeds again withoutfurther trouble since siphoning from B to A will begin

automat ically through the agency of the water always left in thesagging part of the long connecting tube (E) . We must, of course .

have some arrangement such as the cord (F ) and the catch (H)in the fig. ,

for holding down the empty bottle when it is firstlowered .

See p. 85, and also papers by the author in J ourn. Roy . M icr . Soc . ,

1910 , p. 10 - 13 ; and 191 1 , p. 24425 .


FIG . 1 .


without saying tha t every a tten tion should be given to secur ity in

fixing up the appa ra tus .

(5) U sing suitable nozzles one can keep five or six small aquaria

in health with the apparatus described above,by pulling up the

full bottle morning and evening . Very little air is actually

required for such aquaria, so long as the supply is used econom

ically and is constant or,at any rat e

,regularly intermittent .

To illustrate what mav be kept in a single small aquar ium holding

not more than half a gallon,a list is given of the principal

contents of one which remained healthy with me during the four

months in which it received attention of the kind described above,and also afterwards when

,on account of the increasing number of

my aquaria, amore wholesale method of aeration was installed

the sea -anemone Stomphia two Terebellids four or five

Serpulids a group of Potamilla ; a number of Ophryotrocha ;two Chitons some small Ascidians, Copepods , and Turbellarians,and various Foraminifers .

Another small aquarium contained about forty examples of the

attached stage of the j ellyfish , Aurelia aurita four or five small

specimens of the feathery anemone, Actinoloba dian thus ; many

Serpulids plenty of Ophryotrocha ; and several examples of a

species of Cirra tulus not yet, I think , recorded from the F irth of

C lyde . Allwere attached to or hiding within the c revices of one

or two pieces of c linker which had been dredged upnear Millport

and had remained for a considerable time in one of the tanks at

the Marine Station . Some baby Serpulids and an Ascidian

attached themselves to the side of this aquarium in the end of

December last. O ne or two of the Ophryotrocha also produced

eggs . However,for the benefit of those who are specially

interested in development , it should be stated that , if the keeping

alive and rearing of delicate eggs or larvae are the ends desired,

no kind of air-bubble aeration in my experience gives as good

results as the gentle aeration and c irculation which may be

effected by the use of convection currents ( see J ourn . Roy.

Micr . Soc. ,1913, pp. 247 It is a rule

,well known but not

without exceptions that, in general, those animals can best be

kept in sma ll aquaria which obtain their food by the agency of

c iliary currents .

GEMMILL.—O N KEEP ING SMALL MAR INE AQUAR IA . 85

II .

The suggestion has been sent to

that I should publish an account of

another form of aerator, perhaps

the easiest of all to fit up, and need

ing the least attention once it is in

working order. Th is is a kind

which I set agoing two or three

years ago at the G lasgow Corpora

tion Tollcross Branch Museum , and ,more recently, a t the Millport

Marine Biological Station , and else

where . The principle is the well

known one that water falling within

a tube of narrow calibre tend s to

suck air down with it if an air - inlet

i s provided . The principle has long

been applied for aeration purposes

at the Stazione Z oologica , but the

Naples apparatus (of which the

D irector has very kindly sent me a

drawing) is not quite so simple as

the one I shall now describe, which

I have found entirely reliable and

efficient so long as a water supply

of even moderate uniformity is avail

able . The arrangement will be

understood from a glance at the

accompanying illustration (Fig.

Water,led from a tap a t ordinary

level or from a source higher up, is

allowed to flow over the bend at A

which has an air -inlet at B . An

ordinary Y tube inverted will pro

vide the bend and inlet required .

The water falls down the tube C

carrying air wi th it,and accordingly

air and water mixed enter the

sorting-out tube D . From the

bottom of D the waste-water tube E

bends upwards to escape at F on a

various workers

F IG .

2


level three or four inches lower than the upper end of D .

I f the waste tube E is lengthened beyond F in a downward

direction , it must be provided with an air- inlet at F (a Ytube again does very well ) in order to prevent siphon action .

The air supply is led away by the tube G which , like C ,passes

through a tight cork in the upper end of D . The air supply will

be under as much pressure as the height of the column of water

in the tube E permi ts,and the height of D should always be less

than half the length of C . It is an advantage that 0 should be

as long as possible,since the veloc ity of the column of falling

water increases with the height of the column,and accordingly a

greater quantity of air is sucked down . Unless the calibre of C

is relatively small,the falling water is apt to flow down the inside

wall of the tube without filling the lumen by a succession of

“ water bullets,

” as ought to occur . For C ,tubing of { g - inch to

i - inch internal diameter and six or seven feet in length,will be

found to meet ordinary requirements . A suitable calibre for D

is g-inch internal measurement,and if C is six feet high , D may

be two feet nine inches . This height will not put sufii cien t

pressure on the air to enable us to break it up into very fine

bubbles by using the kinds of nozzles described earlier in this

paper, but a suffi cient supply of air will be provided to permit

the unstinted use of bubbles of ordinary size . Starting and

continuance of the water-bullet ” action in C with the smallest

practicable usage of water will be facilitated if at B we insert a

short length of rod or tubing (rather narrower than the calibre ofthe Y tube) , which will just enter the descending limb of the forkand serve to break up the downward stream of water at its

commencement. If the supply tap is over a sink, the whole

apparatus may be set above the sink and thereby the risk of

flooding in case of accidents reduced to a minimum. It is an

advantage that we can st0 p or start the aeration at any time

simply by turning the tap off or on .


LI ST or ARR IVAL S or SUMMER-B IRDS IN THE O RDER or i HEIR

APPEARANCE IN 1914 .

LE S S ER BLACK-BACKED GULL ( La r '

as fuscusj—one , Ersk ine

Fer ry (T . Malloch) , 14th March ; one , Lennoxtown (D.

M ‘

Donald) , 15th ; Harbour of G lasgow (W . Rennie) , 19th ;Fossi l (2) (Rennie) , 21st .

WHEATEAR ( Sax icola tenan thej—two, Gadder , one with an

in jured wing which dro-oped badly , 29th March (Rennie) ;one, G reenock (T . Malloch ) , 31st two ( 5 ) singing, one 9,

Kilmacolm (T . Thornton MacKeith) , 3rd Apr i l ; two ,Summerston (Rennie) , 5th . Mr . M‘

Donald writes , on

seeing one on l0th at B ardowie, that they are not common

this season along the Kelv in Valley ; and Mr . Robt . W .

Wilson , in reporting one observed at G len Afton on 18th ,

that they have been very scarce all Sp r ing . Mr . John

Robertson had not seen it nor had I when the 10th of May

was reached .

SAND -MART IN ( Cotile r ipa ria )— Endr ich (Chadwick) , l st

Apr i l ; Summerston , three on 3rd, none again ti ll l4th

Bothwell , 4th ( 1) (Rhodes) ; Rouken , two

with Swallows , 13th (John Robertson) .

W HITE WAGTAIL ( illota cilla alba )—W illiamwood ( l 4th

Apr i l (R . Wilson) , and Kelvin (3) (Renn ie) , same date ;Summerston (2) 5th (Renn ie) ; Summerston , one, 10th

Apr i l , and common on and after 15th 17th (3)Ca rt below Cla rkston ( 1) (Hugh W . W i lson

and Robertson) , 12th seventeen at Kilmacolm (MacKeith) ,l4th ; near Ball-och (Ross) , 15th .

CHIFF CIIAFF ( Phylloscopus r i tfi tsj—Blai r , Dalry (Wm . Mair ) ,5th Apr i l ; same place (Archd . Shanks) , 13th .

SWALLO W (Hirundo rustica )—Fossi l 8th Apr i l (Rennie) ;Beith (3) (J. Cra ig) 11th ,

and (2) Bonhen (Robertson)same date ; Rouken , about eight , 13th (Robertson) , and

( 10) the Knapps (T . Malloch) , same date ; Summerston (2)and Caldercuilt 14th ; also two at C-owal

PATERSO N.—R ETURN or SUMMER-B IRDS . 89

G olf Course (A. M ‘

Leod) on the 15th , one at the Rouken

(Robertson) , one at Cra igends (Mall-och) , and a p a i r at

Darvel (N. Hopkins) .

Particular interest attaches to Mr . W i l l iam Rennie’

s observa

tions on this spec ies at Fossi l Marsh .

Beginn ing with a party ofi

eight on the 8th of Apr i l , as

quoted above , a p arty , thi s time of 60 - 70 bi rds , was seen at

sunset on the 17th . At p.m . on the 2oth a score passed ;then just afte r sunset another lot of not less than 80 appeared .

O n the 2 l st, at p.m . ,sever al p assed low to the wate r ,

which he consequently could not count , and twenty minutes

later a fai r ly large flock appeared in the Sky, but i t was

cloudy , and they were only v i s ible at t imes . They could be

hear d twitter ing after sunset . While thi s larger body was

high in the ai r another smaller group p assed over the sur face

of the water . O n the 29th he reached the Ma rsh at p.m .,

and saw the first Swa l lows at At the number was

16, at about 36 , and at over 50 . So the nar rative

goe s on . Mr . Renn ie,f rom hi s exper ienc e in recent years ,

concludes that these gather ings at sunset are composed of

bi rds p ass ing onwards , which are here ar rested for the night ,and are attracted by the twitter ing of some al ready co llected ,which twitter ing naturally becomes louder in the afterglow as

the numbers increase . He favour s the idea of conscious i nte r

ception by those arr iv ing first extending the r adius of the

c i rc les they make,but thi s i s , of course , a l ittle specula tive .

The interest in the observations i s i n no way lessened by the

fact that conc lusions c annot be reached yet regarding the

methods of attraction—the place itself , by the way , with itsbody of water and its cover and seclusion , being , one would

suppose , natura lly very attr active to p ass ing migrants .

RING - O U Z EL ( Turdus torq i ta ti ts) — G reenock Hi lls ( 1)

(Malloch) , 8th Apri l . Nest and three eggs there,14th

May,and feathered young in the nest

,25th May . G len

Afton Solway several in song on 18th Apr i l (R .

W . Wilson) . O bs—The record under this spec ies in

Vol. V., p . 82

,of the occurrence on the Cart at Clarkston


should have appea red on the following page under

Comm-on Sandp iper .

VVILLow-WREN ( Phylloscopus trochilus)—Cart below Clarkston

12th Apr i l (H. W . Wilson and J . Robertson) ; Lin

wood Moss (3) (Malloch) , Beith ( 1) (J . Craig) , both on

15th ; on the 16th at Lanfine on the Irv ine water fai r

numbers (N. Hopkins) , who never saw , he wr ites , such

an early influx be fore . O n same day in all woods from

G reenock Road to E rsk ine, but i t was sti ll absent at

Bothwell,and only one, two , or three bi rds were seen in

the other localiti es from wh ich it is reported on that date ,as at Kilmacolm (MacKeith) , Gadder and

Fossll (Renni e) . O n the 18th i t was numerous in a larger

number of local it ies , and by the 19th was up to its

maximum sp r ing numbers in many places (see p . A

nest with one egg was found by Mr . John Robertson at

W illiamwood on the 9th of May .

COMMON SANDP IPER ( Totanus kypoleucus)—Cart below Clark

ston,a pai r 12th Ap r i l (H. W. Wilson and J. Robertson) ,

and Darvel (Hopkins) same day . Johnstone(2) (Malloch) ,Knapps (MacKeith) , Summerston all on 14th ;E rskine (Ross) l 6th . It was common on the Cart above

Netherlee on the 26th (R . W. Wilson) . It began laying

at Darvel on l st May (Hopkins) , and a nest with four

eggs was found at Harelaw Dam on 6th May .

YELLOW WAGTAIL (Mota cilla ra z

'

i)— Summerston

l 6th April ( 1 ) and on following day ( l g and 318th

,Beith (Craig) ( 3 a ) ; 19th , Muirend William

wood Rouken ( 1) (Robertson ) , Kelvin ( 1) (Ross and

Paterson) ; Darvel , 23rd (Hopkins) ; Fossi l (3) (Rennie) ,24th ,

and on following day 64 there . Under date 25th

Apr i l Mr . Renn ie wr ites A lovely evening for observa

tion . At I noticed that s ingle Yellow Wagtails were

pass ing over the Marsh .

’Real ising that a. movement

was taking place , I began to take note of them . The

movement was slow, and nearly all came in ones or twos,


W C O D-WREN (Phylloscopus sibila tri z )—G a reloch (Baxter) , 23rdApr i l ; i n G len Falloch two seen and at least six heard

in full song on 25th , they seemed to have been there

several days ”

(R. W Wilson) ; Darvel ( 1) (Hopkins) ,26th , very early Inchtavannach ,

several (H. W.

Wilson) , 2nd May .

REDSTART ( Ruticilla phoeni cu'

rusjfi Glen Falloch (R . W.

W i lson ) , 25th Ap r i l ; Inchtavannach (H. W. Wilson) ,severa l on 2nd May .

GREENLAND WHEATEAR ( Sax icola oena n the leucorrhoa )B almuildy 26th Apr i l . It is a pleasure to

see this spec i es , which is beginn ing to be distingui shed

in thi s distr ict , appear ing in thi s l ist .

GARDEN -WARB LER ( Sylvia. horten sis) -Rouken (3) (Robertson) ,26th Apr i l ; Da rvel (Hopkins) , 2md May, fai r numbers

s ince May came in , wr ites Mr . Hopkins . Rouken again

on 2md-3rd May (Robertson) ; G len Luss ( l) (R . W

Wilson) , 4th May , but not heard on 2nd-3rd May on

Inchtavannach .

GRASSHOPPER-W ARB LER ( Locustella naevz'

a ) Inchmoan

(Wilsons) , 3rd May .

SEDG E -WARBLER (Acrocepha lus phragmitis) Near Cloch

Lighthouse (A. Boss) , Rouken and Darnley G lens

(Robertson) , and Darvel (Hopkins) , all single bi rds on

3rd May ; Summerston ( l ) 4th , and Kil

macolm (MacKeith) same day ; Fossi l , three on 5th , several

on 6th , no trace on 7th and 8th ; l0th common but not

as on 6th ; week end ing 1 7th full strength (Rennie) .

SPOTTED FLYO ATCHER (Muscicapa gr isola ) —~Woodside at Beith

(Breckenr idge) , 10th May ; Darvel (Hopkins) , 12th .

COMM O N TERN ( Sternaflfm'ia tilisj—Craigmore (2) (MacKeith) ,l6th May ; Fossi l (Renn ie) , eight at a .m. and two

later—all passed north-west , 19th . Accustomed to see

two or three Terns on the Clyde east of G lasgow after

PROCEED INGS or THE SOC IETY . 93

the mi ddle of May,I was surp r i sed to find on the 23rd

May of the year under notice ( 1914) that many were to

be seen . For two or three mi les east of Cambuslang thev

were never out of sight .

COMM O N W HITETHRO AT ( Sylvia. cinerea ) —Gareloch (B axter) ,29th Ap r i l ; Darvel (Hopkins) , 30th ,

very early Cath

cart ( 1) and G iffnock ( l ) (Robe rtson) , 2nd May , and Lusssame date (T . W . Wilson) ; Cathcart (2) (Robertson) , 3rd ;G len Luss ( 1) (R . w. W il son) , 4th Kilmacolm (MacKeith) ,6th . Well distr ibuted E . Renfrew 9th (Robertson) , and

nest ready Darvel 12th,and one egg in nest 16th

(Hopkins) .

SWIF T ( Cypselus oping—Lan ark ( 3) 2nd May,

and Bomken two if not three (Robertson) , same date ;G areloch (Baxter) , Kilmacolm (MacKeith ) , 3rd ; Sum

merston ( 10 ) 4th ; Kilmaco lm ( 6) (MacKeith ) ,6th ; Fossi l (3) (Renn ie) , 7th . Mr . Malloch wr ites that

the Swifts always seem to be much later at Johnstone

than they are in other d istr icts,and leave ea rl ier . The

19th was really the first a r r iva l at thei r nesting place at

JO hnstone . It may be mentioned that the Swift continues

coming to the c ity to the Blythewood di str ict,and was

th i s vear first. observed -

on 15th May,in W est Geo rge

Street .

Proceedings of the Society.

THE first meeting of the six ty-third session took place in the

Society’s Rooms , on 30th September , 1913, Mr . John R . Lee,

President, in the chair .

Before the formal business,the President made appropriate

reference to the great loss the Society had sustained in the death

of Mr . Peter Ewing, E.L.S. ( see Vol. V.,pp . 1 13

R eports on excursions to R owardennan ( see p. Rosemount

( see p . and Colintraive ( see p . 62) were submit ted .

Mr . Andrew G ilchrist exhibited specimens of a rare cruc ifer .Subula r ia a qua tica L .

, from Loch Finlas, a new stat ion for this

plant in Avrshire.


Mr . D . A. Boyd exhibited Podosphcem myrtillin a (Schub. )Kim z e, an addit ion to the fungus-flora of the Clyde Area, fromTarbet

,Loch Lomond . He also showed spec imens of Doassansia

a lisma tis Cornu, from Loch Fad (Kirk Dam) , Rothesay, and

D . Martianofi'

iana Sch r'

O t., from the same place, the former being

new to “ Clyde. ”

Mr. Nicol Hopkins sent for exhibition the nest of Vesper.

sylvestris from the banks of the Lindsay Burn,Darvel .

Mr. Johnston Shearer exhibited a large spec imen of Pholiota

aurea Matt ., from Maxwell Park , G lasgow .

Mr A lex . R oss , read a paper on the “ Birds of

Islay (see pp . 7

The six ty-second Annual G eneral Meeting took place on 28thO ctober, 1913 , Mr. John R . Lee, President, in the chair . The

Council ’s Annual R eport showed a successful year . During the

year 5 O rdinary Members were elected, while the names of

1 Corresponding Member and 14 O rdinary Members were removed

from the roll—4 of these through death . The membersh ip,

which is 240 , - is composed as follows —Hon . Members,14 ;

Corresponding Members, 32 ; Life Members,21 ; O rdinary

Members,17 3 . There are also 4 Associates .

The R eport of the Honorary Treasurer (Mr . John R enwick)was adopted (for Abstract Statement of Accounts

,see p .

The R eport of the Hon . Librarian (Mr. James Mitchell) boreout the continued popularity of the Library .

O ff i ce-bearers were elected as follows —As Vice-President,Mr .

Robert W . S. Wilson ; Members of Council, Messrs . J . G .

Connell, Robert Henderson , Jas. J . F. X . King,

and John Main,F .G .S.

Messrs . Jas. Jack and Joseph Sommerville were re—elected as

Auditors .

Mr. R . S. W ishart, M .A . , exhibited a specimen of the

Danewort (Sambucus Ebulus Linn . ) from near Chryston (perfavour of Mr . Hugh H . Aitken) ; potatoes penetrated by therootstocks of -couch -grass flowers of the Artichoke (CynamScolymus and the larva of an insect that appears t o

induce the leaves of Ga lium pa lustre to form pink fiower-bud-likestructures.


Mr. R . W . Wilson showed a Curlew Sandpiper ( Tr ingasuba rqua ta ) from Fairlie ; Mr . T. W. Wilson

,eggs of the House

Sparrow, showing great variations in colour and markings ;Mr . J . R obertson , nests of our summer warbler visitors ; Mr.G eorge Stout a Waxwing (Ampelis ga rrulus) from O rkney .

Mr. John R . Lee exhibited some willows,notably A lpine

forms, including Sa lim Lapponum L. ,from Myrdal

,Norway

,

Cruach Ardran,and Ben Lawers S. a rbuscula L . ,

from Meall

G haordie and Meall Tarmachan S . reticulum L . from Meall

G haordie and Meall Tarmachan S. n igr ican s from Meall

Tarmachan and S. phyliczf olia from Fossil Marsh .

Mr. N. G . Reid showed a delightful series of lantern slides

illustrating A ilsa C raig and its bird- life .

The fifth meeting of the sixty- third session took place on 27 th

January, 1914, Mr . John R . Lee, President, in the chair .

Messrs . G eorge Guthrie,38 Lilybank G ardens William

Miller Kirkwood,O rchard Street, Motherwell ; and John Inch ,

care of Mrs . Carey, 37 A rlington Street , were elected as O rdinarv

Members .

A report on an excursion to Dougalston for fungi wassubmitted (p .

Mr. Jas . J . F . X . King,

exh ibited specimens of the

recently recorded addition to the British Coleoptera, Tha n asz'

mus

rufipes Brahm.,and for comparison specimens of T. jormica

friu-s

L .

,both from Nethy Bridge ; Mr. King also showed specimens

of the rare Acrulia infla te Gyll. , from Nethy Bridge .

Mr . T . Thornton MacK eith exhibited two eggs of the Quail

(Coturn ix commun is) : one taken in a hayfield on Faulds Farm

Kilmacolm (R enfrewshire), in 1903,by Mr . W . L . W alker

there were nine eggs in the nest ; the other specimen was taken

by Mr . Andrew Walker in a hay field at Knockinkelly, Whiting

Bay,Arran

,in the first week in July

,1905, there being seven or

eight eggs in the c lutch . Both specimens had been submitted

to Mr. W . Eagle C larke,who concurred in the identification .

Mr. G eorge Heriot exhibited some highly successful autochrome

studies .

PROCEED INGS or THE SOCIETY . 97

Mr . James St irton , M .D . , submitted a paper , read by Mr .

A lex . R oss,entitled “ O n Some Mosses from the West High

lands,&c .

”

(pp . 33

The Sixth meeting of the Sixty-third session took place on 24th

February, 1914, Mr. John R . Lee,President

,in the chair .

Messrs . Jas . Jack, 83 A itchison Street , Airdrie, and John

R itchie, Jr .,18 Townhead, Beith, were elected as O rdinarv

Members .

A resolution expressing sympathy with a Bill promoted in

Parliament for prohibiting the importation of the plumage of

wild birds for millinery purposes, moved by Mr . A lex . R oss, was

passed unanimously .

A pied Mouse (q s musculus) from Islay was sent for exh ibi

tion by D r. Thos . F . G ilmour .

Mr. J . G . Connell, gave a most interes ting lecture”

on

Common Animals of the Seashore .

Mr . D . A . Boyd read a paper on “ Plant Galls,and submitted

a list of 35 species which had come under his observation in the

course of other quests .

The seventh meeting of the s ix ty- third session took place on

3 l st March, 1914, Mr. John R . Lee, President, in the chair .

Suitable reference was made by the President to the loss

which the communi ty and our society had sustained in the

tragic death of Sir John Murray of “ Challenger ” fame,who

was for many years an Honorary Member of the Soc iety .

Messrs . Henry John Rhodes,Burnbrae

,Bothwell

,and

Thos . W . W ilshaw,15 A rmadale Street

,Dennistoun

,were

elected as O rdinary Members of the Society .

Mr. John R enwick exhibited a walnut,in which

,instead of

the usual bivalve shell, the endocarp was in three sections, giv ingthe nut a three -cornered appearance .

Mr. John R itchie Jun .,submitted a no te

,read by Mr . A . R oss

,

on the occurrence of Argulus f olia ceus L . , a parasite which

attacks fresh-water fishes . In the British A ssociation Handbook

to the Natural History of G lasgow,tir e . the species is

recorded as having been found on the G rayling, and Mr . R itchieG


stated that he had obtained specimens from the common trout

from a burn which flows into Kilbirnie Loch . He had also

identified a Specimen sent to him by Mr. R obert Dunlop , Dun

fermline,as belonging to the same species ; in this case the

parasite was taken from a stickleback Gasterosteus a culea tus L . )from a brickfield near A irdrie .

Dr . R . Broom,late Professor of Z oology and G eology, Victoria

College, Stellenbosch , gave a mos t interesting lecture on" The

South African Rept ilia and the light they throw on the O rigin

of Mammals . ”

The eighth meeting of the sixty- third session was held on

the 28th April, 1914, Mr. John R . Lee,President

,in the chair .

Mr. John R enwick , by favour of Mr. James Whitton, exhibited

specimens of La thr aea clandestina , Tourn .

,from the Botanic

G ardens G lasgow . This spec ies, in its underground rootstock,covered with close-set, short , fleshy scales

,resembles L . squamar ia

L .

,but differs from it very markedly in the inflorescence

,which

is very striking with its beautiful purple flowers . The specimens

were found growing on the roots of a willow- tree in the garden .

Mr . T . Thornton MacK eith read a paper on the Birdsof West R enfrewshire .

The ninth meeting of the sixty-third session took place on

26th May, 1914, Mr. John R . Lee , President , in the chair.A report was submitted on an excursion to Mauchline (p .

Professor L . A . L . King exhibited two living leeches ;Helobdella stagn a lis L . be had obtained from ponds at Annies

land , near G lasgow,and Herpobdella a toma r ia Car. had been

sent to h im by Mr . W m. Miller, from Motherwell . The latter

species has not previously been recorded for the C lyde Area ; itwas observed by Mr . Miller on the banks of the Clyde on the

undersides of stones .

Mr . R ichard Elmhirst, read a paper entitled “ Some

Additions to the Clyde Marine Fauna (pp. 78

Mr. John Paterson read a report on the return of our summermigrants forthe present season (pp . 87

Mr . Jas. F . G emmill,M .A .,

M .D .,D So

,read a paper entitled

O n Keeping Small Marine Aquaria (pp . 79


June,128 5 hours ; July 195 '4

’

h0 urs ; August, 1432 hours ;September, 80 2 hours ; O ctober, 87 16 hours ; November, 41 3

hours ; December, 28 0 hours . Till the end of May vegetation

was backward , but later in the season the leeway was made up.

The previous season ’s growth on trees and shrubs not having

ripened satisfactorily, the display in the woodlands was neitherbrilliant nor satisfactorv . Though the season

’s growth was slow

at first its later development was good,and as it ripened well in

the warm weather the prospects for 1914 were good .

Note.

Green Sandpiper in W est Stirling shire —O u the eveningof 27th March, 1914, I flushed a G reen Sandpiper ( Tr inga

ocrophus) off a mud patch on the Allander. The bird was seen

in the same neighbourhood (Balmore Haughs) on March 28,

April 3,and three immediately subsequent occa sions . I found

it exceedingly wary,and very difficult of near approach .

D . MACDONALD .

Excursions .

DUNTREATH, 18th O ctober , 1913 —Conductor , Mr . John

Renwick — The second v is it to thi s estate was mainly devoted

to the measurement of some of the larger trees .

O n the s ide of one of the r ivulets , that come down from the

hills on the north , i s a very graceful Bi rch , which r ises to a

height of 63 feet , and has a gi rth of 4 feet . Near it i s a

Walnut,which had p roduced a good crop of juicy nuts .

Among the larger trees in the pol ic i es i s an O ak to the

west of the Castle , 84 feet high , with a fine bole of 36 feet,h av ing a girth of 12 feet 95 inches at 5 feet ; also a Sycamore

with a gi rth of 1 1 feet 65 inches , and a bole of 20 feet .Sir Archibald Edmonstone drew attention to a celebrated

O ak,known as Rob Roy ’ s Tree .

” This O ak ,otherwise

known as “ the Meikle Tree , or Trysting Tree,

” was

spec i ally v isited by the Soc ietv on 7th O ctober , 1893e—the

EXCURS IONS .

quatercentenary of a Notarial Instrument, dated 17 th February,1493 . This document narrates the division of the lands

of Blairquhosh into three parts, whereof the easter third

part,which afterwards became known as Blairquhosh Edmon

stone,has continued to be part of the Duntreath Estate to

the present day . This fine tree i s noticed in the late Mr .

John Guthr ie Smi th ’ s book on The Pa r ish of Stra thblane .

It i s a lso descr ibed , a long with a neighbour ing tree known as

the Smiddy O ak,

” in the Sta tistica l Accoun t as well

as in the New Sta tistica l Accoun t It i s now decaying ,but the lower dead branches have been cut O ff, and the

truncated parts p rotected from the weather . The l ast t ime

Mr . Renwick saw it , pr ior to his recent v i s it , the trunk could

not be measured accurately,owing to its being covered with

zinc but in 1898 i t measured 16 feet 10 inches, having increased2 inches in girth during the 1 1 seasons from 1888 to 1898

inclusive . The diameter of the head had,however

,decreased

10 feet,from 90 feet about 1795 to 80 feet in 1893 and 1898.

It is not a high tree,as it only showed an altitude of 56 feet in

1898 and

The other O ak measured 12 feet 10 inches in girth in 1893

and it had increased from 13 feet in 1898 to 13 feet 1 inch , at

4 feet 7 inches, in 1905. It had a diameter of head in 1893 of

83 feet,which , however, had decreased to feet in 1898

,

owing to the loss of some branches. Height,57 feet .

There i s a very fine Beech on the no rth side of the highway ,to the east of one of the entrances to the pol ic ies , with a gi rth

in 1905 Of 15 feet 1 1 inches ; height , over 84 feet ; d iameter

of sp read , 90 feet .

FUNGUS FORAY IN DO UGALSTO N POLIC IES . 2oth September,

1913—A fungus foray,in conjunction with the Anderson ian

Naturalists ’ Society, took place as above . The full list of fungi

noted a t Dougalston calls for no special remark , as the Spec ies

named are either verv or fairly well known . The ground was

For further information regarding this venerable O ak , and

a photograph showing its appearance, reference may be made tothe Society

’

s Proceedings a Transa ctions (New Series) . vol. iv. ,

p. 250 ; pl. ii.


very dry,and as it had been in that condition for some time, it

is a matter of satisfaction that so many species were recorded .

An interesting point is that while at the previous foray there in

September,1904, the prominent feature was the abundance of

I thypha llus impudica s all over the wood this year that spec ies

was very rare,and Ca n tha rellus aura ntiacus, the false Chanterelle,

coloured the ground everywhere .

MAUCHL INE , &c . , 13th April, 1914.—Conductor, Mr . D . A .

Boyd . This excursion was arranged j ointly with the

Anderson ian Naturalists’ Society .

The Spring Holidav opened under very unfavourable

conditions as regards weather, and heavy rain had , no doubt,the eff ect of deterring manv from undertaking the j ourney to

Mauchline . Seven gentlemen and five ladies braved the dis

comforts of the j ourney, and were not disappointed, for when

Mauchline was reached it was found that the rain had ceased

and the sky Showed welcome signs of clearing.

The town of Mauchline sta nds high , and , under favourable

circumstances, commands a very extensive view stretching over

many miles of country , To a casual visitor the town gives the

impression of being,in general, airy and clean . Most of the

houses are built of the New Red or Permian Sandstone of the

district,which has been extensively quarried at Ballochmyle and

other places in the neighbourhood . The profusion of early flowers

in full bloom in the gardens, afl’orded evidence alike of the fertilityof the soil and purity of the air. Mauchline is in the centre of a

district closely associated with the poet Burns, who there found

inspiration for many of his best-known effusions .After leaving the town, the party proceeded along the Ayrroad

,soon passed from the parish of Mauchline into that of

Tarbolton,and gradually descended towards the valley of the

R iver Ayr . For several miles the road is pleasantly bordered

with beech trees, so as to resemble in summer, when the foliage is

fully expanded, a private avenue rather than a public highway.

Several pa tches of the Lesser Wintergreen ( Pyrola minor) , not yet

in bloom,were observed on the roadside, while on sunny banks

and in sheltered places many of the early flowers were already

displaying their blossoms. A pleasant feature, characteristic of

104 THE GLASG OW NATURALIST.

time for presentation to the Soc iety nor for publication, but

was handed to me shortly before the present visit and I Shall

inc lude most of it . The second was on 5th June, 1909, j oint

with the Hamilton N. H . Society and under their leadership .

Brief accounts of these appeared in our Transa ctions, Vol. VI .

(N.S. ) p . 343,and in The Glasgow Na tura list, Vol. I . p . 143 .

The party went by rail to Dalserf station, and walked by

Garrion Bridge and G arrion Haugh , entering the policies by the

south- east lodge . O n the banks of the Clyde above G arrion

Bridge several plants were observed , such as Stella ria nemorum

and Geran ium sylva ticum. O n a visit a fortnight later two

spec imens of the Star of Bethlehem, O rn ithoga lum umbella tum

were seen . Here and in the hedges Alliar ia ofi cina'

lis is

conspicuous, and has evidently been so since the time of Patrick

( 183 1) who says common about Dalserf.”

O n our first visit Mr. Whitton wrote—“ O wing to the backward

ness of the season one of the features of Cambusnethan , viz the

great profusion of the Wood -hyacinth (Sci lla nutans) intermixed

with the Leopard ’s Bane (Doron icum Pa rda lian ches) was missed,as the flowers were only showing, instead of being in full bloom .

”

O n our presen t v isi t the Hyacinth was in splendid condition

and immense profusion . Patrick remarks This is ‘ the a z ur ’d

Hare-bell mentioned in Shakespeare’s Cymbeline . ’

Still more interesting was a large patch of the Meadow -Sax ifrage

(Sax iffraga gr anula ta ) on the south- eastern avenue. Indeed th is

patch was almost a solid mass of white.

Patrick writes The double variety grows abundantly at the

front of Jerviston House, where it is regarded as an inveterate

weed .

” Mr . Bryson , gardener at Mauldslie, told me that it grows

freely near his house .

In the field above the mansion -house and toward the glen

were a number of fine trees , Turkey O aks, Horse Ches tnuts in

abundant and beautiful flower, &c . A Turkey O ak which in

1909 had a spread of 86 feet and a girth at 3 feet 6 inches of

9 feet 1 1 inches has increased to 10 feet 3} inches . Another has

grown from 9 feet 25 inches to 9 feet 7 inches at 5 feet. Both

have short boles,only 7 feet and 9 feet respec tively.

An Elm in this field, with a girth of 10 feet inches at 4 feet,and a bole of 6 feet

,does not look like the Wych Elm

,but the

EXCURS IONS . 105

foliage was too immature for even Professor A . Henry to say

decisively .

The venerable Spanish Chestnut is still making wood . It has

increased in girth 29; inches Since June, 1909, and Si inches SinceMa y

,1900 , and is now 22 feet l l -ln inches at 5 feet 6 inches on

the low side . I t is stated to have been struck by lightning, and

its appearance goes to confirm this statement . A large part of

the trunk has been torn off . It had a height of 70 feet in 1909,

the very same figure as that given about 1863 and 1879. In girth

it is the largest Sweet Chestnut we know in the Cly de area .

Another noteworthy tree 15 a fine example of the true Black

Poplar (Populus n igra ) . In 1909 it had a height of 102 feet, and

in girth it has since then increased 22inches to 1 1 feet inches .

O n both previous Visits the Toothwort (La thrcea Sguamar ia ) wasfound growing on its roots

,and again on this occasion . Mr .

Renwick has found it at The R oss, Hamilton , growing, as here,on the roots of Populus n igra . Neither H0pkirk in Flora

Glotlian a ( 1813) nor Patrick in The Indigenous Plan ts ofLana rkshire ( 183 1) ment ions Lathraea at all . F rom the British

A ssociation Handbook to“ C lyde ” ( 1901 ) it appears, according

to Hooker, to have been found at Cambuslang and Cathcart and

near Ayr according to Hennedy, in Lanarkshire ; according to

Smith , at Dundonald . Hennedy in the second edition of the

Clydesda le Flora says Very rare . Parasitical on the roots of

Hazels, &c . Carmyle wood below the village . O n the same spot

for two seasons in May.

”Professor King in his edition of this

work addS Langside above Cambuslang on roots of Hawthorn ;near Lanark . I t was found abundantly this spring on the

banks of the C lyde above Cambuslang .

Mr . Renwick found it in 1906 at the foot of a Lime tree at

Doonholm in the Parish of Av r. In reporting on a visit of theSociety to Doonholm (see our Tran sa ctions, VIII . (NS ) p .

Mr . R enwick wrote Mr . John Smith in his B ota ny a g/rshire,

1896, records it from Dundonald and Maybole, on the auth orityof a Botany of Ayrshire, 1882, drawn up by Messrs . Borland ,Duncan , and Landsborough . Mr . Smith informs me that he has

never found it himself. Dr . Landsborough,in a letter to me

,

24th April, 1906, writes—J According to my notes i t was found

by Smith, of Monkwood,a t Bla irston

,Maybole Dundonald


Woods by the Messrs . Paxton,Kilmarnock ; by W . M ‘Cutcheon

( on Hazel) , Clavens Hill, Dundonald and at C leuch G len , Sorn ,by mysel f . ’ This discovery at Doonholm

,Ayr Parish , appears

therefore to be a new parish record for the County .

”

Near the house is a good Wych Elm with a bole e f 13 feet and

a girth of 11 feet 2 inches at 5 feet, an increase of 1% inches in 5years. An Elm,

which I take to be Ulmus campestris, the English

Elm,near the foot of the glen , has a girth of 10 feet 10% inches a t

2 feet 2 inches, an increase of 12% inches in 12 yea rs . In thereport of our visit in 1902 the girth of this tree was inadver

tently given as 8 feet 10 inches instead of 9 feet 10 inches .

O n that occasion the party went by Wishaw South Station .

Mr . W’

hitton wrote Proceeding by the Ha’

G ill—ah excellent

type of the gills or small glens common to the C ly de valley, the

party Slowly worked its wa y down by a somewhat diflicult pathto the haugh bordering the Clyde . A ttention was directed to a

dyke or fault in the mineral strata which necessitated the coal on

either side of the gill being worked from pits at wide distances

apar t and on different levels . At one point “ a striking example

of the effect of the withdrawal of the underlying coal was

observed in the crushing and shattering of a huge face of rock

which a few years previously presented a smooth compact surface .

In the upper part of the gill few of the trees were of any note ,the large Spruces were dying from the effect of smoke, or by the

sinking of the ground through under ground workings wrenching

the root-system of the trees, and also upsetting the natural water

supply—each cause in itself sufli cient to kill the trees . In the

park fac ing the main front of the mansion several fine healthy

specimens of trees were noted , particula rlv two distinct varieties

of the G reat Maple, Acer Pseudo-

pla tanus, one being a beautifullv

variegated form,and the other

,which is known as the ‘ Cor

storphine Plane’w ith beautiful golden foliage, which makes it a

conspicuous obj ec t in the landscape for some time, as later it

assumes the usual tint of the type .

In addition to the trees already mentioned there are a number

of good Beeches tall Poplars (Populus serotina ), 112 to 119 feet

high,and E lms whose species can only be determined by obtaining

mature foliage . There was great abundance of fruit on the

Wych Elms, and the absence of foliage on the Ash which is verv

late this year, was notable .


the further ascent O f the peak , the limit of the phyllite schists

having been reached , and no further botanical results being

expected . In spite of the weather conditions, the party were

able to note most of the rare plants which grow in such profusion

on this exceptionally rich mountain. E specially the great

abundance - O f flowers of Drya s octopeta la was noticed , and one or

two magnificent spec imens O f Pyrola rotundifolia . Having

decided to return , the two members who were in residence at

Tyndrum retraced their steps across the moor, wh ilst those from

Crianlarich followed the farm road from Chon inish to Stra thfillan ,

and thence proceeded to their destination by the main road .

O n Monday, 20 th July , six members of the party ascended

Ben Cha llum in fine weather. starting a t nine o ’c lock i rony

Crianlarich . C rossing the R iver Fillan by means of the railwayviaduct, the ridge of Creog Luiragan was crossed in a northerly

direction , and a visit paid to Lochan Dhu, a tarn Of considerable

size,in which a species of Utr icular ia was found in some

abundance . The ascent was then made along the ridge to the

top O f Ben Challum, which consists of a double peak,the northern

and more distant being the higher f t . In a rocky gully

between the two,the Pa rslev Fern was found growing luxuriant]y

,

and on the descent, which was made by the eastern side of the

peak , this same fern was found in remarkable abundance . The

botanical results were somewhat disappointing however, the only

plants of special interest seen being J un cus tr ifidus and

Ar ctostaphylos Uva-ursi .

O n Tuesday, 21st Julv a visit was paid to the banks of Loch

Dochart, about a mile below Crianlarich , where Subula ria

aqua tica was found abundant in the shallow water a t the edge of

the loch , along with a fine display of Lobelia Dortmanna .

The following is a list of the plants noted on Ben Laoigh

Arabis petrcea Lam.,Alchemilla a lpina, L.

, Cherler ia sedoides L . ,

Sibba ldia procumbens L Armer ia vulga r is Willd Plan tago

mar itima, L. , Aspidium Lonchitis Sw.,Asplen ium vir ide Huds

Cystopteris mon ta na, Link , B ar tsia a lpina L .,Dryers octopetala L .

,

Arena. a lpin a Sm. , Ca rex a tr a ta L . . Saussurea a lpina, D .C .,

Cera stium a lpin um L . , Ha ben ar ia vir idis Br. , Pyrola rotund'ifolia

L .,Trolling europoeus L. ,

Hiera cium anglicum Fr. , Luz ula Spica ta,

D.C . , Jun cus triglumis L. , Carex pulla G ood , Silene a caulis L .,

Excunsmns. 109

Saxifi'

aga Oppositif olia L .

, S . stellar is L.

,S . hypnoides L

S . a iz oides L.,Solidago cambr ica Huds . , Polygonum vivipa rum

L . , Selagin ella spinosa Beauv .

,Sedum Rhodiola D .C .

FULLARTON HOUSE , TROON , 15th August, 1914.—Mr . R enwick ,

Conductor . This domain has been in the possession of the Dukes

of Portland since 1805, but for more than five centuries previously

it had belonged to the family of Fullarton Of that ilk . The name

Fullarton apparently means the town or residence or possession

of the fowler. In ancient deeds it is usually written “ Foulertoun,

”

or sometimes Fowlertoun ,

’ and no doubt was pronounced in the

same way as the modern Fullarton .

”

In 1344 Sir Adam Fowlertoun of that ilk had a charter of the

lands of Fowlertoun and G aylis, with the hail fish ings from

the Trune to the water-mouth Of Irvine .

I t is interest ing to note that the pronunciation O f “ the Trune,

as indicated by the spelling, is still preserved locally . The older

inhabitants do not speak of Troon but of “ the Trune ” trin) .It is evidently the Welsh form of the Celtic word for nose

(or point of land) , of which the G aelic form i s Sron modified

by the Sassenach into Strone,

” and poin t s to the former presence

of Cymric-speaking people,as does also Cumbrae= the i sland of

the Cymric .

The manor of Crosby or Corsb ie is that on which the presenthouse of Fullarton and the ancient Kirk or Chapel of Crosbie are

situated . This word with the term ination by or“ bye may

point to a settlement by Danish invaders . The name appears

sometimes as Crosbie and sometimes as Corsb ie the latter way

Of spelling is preserved in the Corshill O f Kilwinning . An old

Scotch name for a market place was Cors or Corse, from the cross

being formerly erected there . The present house was begun in

the y ear 17 45 by Will iam Fullarton ,who succeeded to the

estate in 17 10 , and died 1759.

In it and its accompaniments he showed a just taste by the

simplicity and unity of the design. G ardening and botany he

also cultivated with much assiduity and success,particularly the

latter,of which he was a devoted admirer . Quite likely a

number of the trees ma y have been planted by h im,and some by

hi s son , Colonel William Fullarton , who succeeded in 1759 and


died in 1808. In 17 70 , when only 16 years Of age, the latter

visited the continent,Malta and Sicily, with Patrick Brydone, a

once celebrated traveller referred to by Burns in “ The Vision .

”

This Fullarton,in 1793 wrote An Accoun t of the Agr iculture

of the Coun ty of Ayr , with O bserva tion s on the means of i ts

Improvemen t, and , in 180 1,an essay on the best

'

method ofturning grass lands into tillage . He made considerable additions

to Fullarton House in 1791. There are some fine trees a t

Fullarton . A Sycamore and an Elm measured by the late

Dr. Landsborough in 1879, were blown down about Christmas,1895. The larges t elms now measure 14 feet 3 inches

,bole

1 1 feet ; and 13 feet 6% inches, bole 20 feet, showing girthincreases since 1893 of 8 inches and 9 inches respectively . The

most remarkable trees are a Holly ( I tem Aquif olium) , and an

Evergreen O ak ( Quercus f lex) , each the largest of its kind known

in the Clyde area. The former girths 11 feet 45 inches at thenarrowest part of the bole of 6 feet

,say at 8 inches above the

present level of the ground . equal to 1 foot formerly . A few

years ago a large quantity of manure was put in around the t ree,and the ground raised about 4 inches . The tree has since

improved in appearance and health . The trunk has been

cemented to keep out moisture and prevent decay.

Dr . Landsborough measured the tree in 1879. It was then 9 feet

8 inches in girth at 1 foot, and he remarked—“ it is enormous far

exceeding the girth of the greatest holly the writer ever heard or

read of .” Dr. D . Christison in Trans. B ot. Soc. Edin ,

says it

appears to be one of the finest Scottish examples of its kind .

The O ak ( Q. f lex) , divides into 5 stems at 2 feet from the

ground, and rises to a height Of 48 feet . A t the narrowest part

of the trunk, about a foot from the ground , it has a girth of

13 feet 75: inches . Dr . Landsborough , in 1879 made the girth

to be 10 feet 1 1 inches . Loudon , about 1838, records two Ilexes

here,one 40 feet h igh, diameter of trunk 2 feet

,feet

3 inches girth) another, 120 y ears Old, 3 feet diameter, girth,

9 feet 5 inches) . I f the present tree is either of these it must bethe smaller of the two . TW O Sweet Chestnuts measure

respectively, 15 feet 35inches, bole 13 feet, and 14 feet 84 inches,hole 20 feet. A very fine Beech has a girth of 16 feet 0g» inch,bole 1 1 feet . There are a number Of fern-leaved Beeches ( Fagus

THE GLASG O W NATURALIST.1 12

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H Oto CD QD O F -I co r—4

I ND E X ,

Abies nob il i s , 49pectinata , 49

Acanth ias vulgaris , 41Accentor modularis, 3 , 11

Accipiter nisus , 19ACCOUNTS

,ABSTRACT STATEMENT , 112

Acer Pseudo -p latanus , 61 , 106Acredula caudata , 3Acrocephalus phragmitis, 3 , 10 , 92Acrulia inflata , 96Actinoloba dianthus , 84Adoxa Moschatellina , 78

[ Egialitis hiaticula , 5, 26

[ Esculus Hippocastanum ,52

Ailanthus , 66 , 67glandulosa , 69

Ajuga reptans, 63Alauda arvensis , 4, 17Alca torda , 31Alcedo ispida , 17Alchemilla alpina , 108ALDER , 50ALGAE, FRESH -WATER

,61

Alisma Plantago -aquatica, 76

All iaria officinalis, 104ALMOND TREE , 69, 70Alnus glutinosa , 50Ampelis garrulus , 96Amph icora , 79

fabricia , 79Amphileptus clapzu

'

edn , 78Anas boscas, 22ANDERSON , THOS .

, 62

Andreaea alp ina , 34, 37 .

var . compacta,36

, 37nivali s , 36obovata

, 34, 36, 37Anemone appenina , 103ANEMONE , FEATHERY , 84

SEA, 80 , 84

Anser alb ifrons, 21c inereus

,21

segetum , 21Anthus obscurus, 3 , 12

pratensis , 3 , 12triv ialis, 3 , 12, 91

Aposphaeria populea , 7 7APPLE

, 73

AQUARIA , MARINE , 79-86Aquila chrysaétus, 18Arabis petraea

,108

Araucaria , 53Arctostaphylos Uva -ursi , 108

Ardea c inerea , 5, 20Arenaria trinervia , 78Argulus fol iaceus , 97Alm eria, vulgaris 108AR TICHOKE , 94Ascidians, 84scochyta armoraciae, 64

ph i ladelph i , 62 , 63, 64ASH, 49, 68, 71 , 106

FLOWERING,111

G O LDEN=EDG ED,50

MANNA,70

Asio acc ipitrinus, 18

otus,17

ASPEN, 68

Aspidophorus cataphractus,Asp idium Lonch itis, 108

Asplen ium Ruta -muraria, 64

Viride, 108ASTOR , 74AUX , LITTLE , 31 , 55Aulostoma nigrescens

, 44Aulostomum gulo , 44Aurel ia aurita

, 84Avena, alpina

,108

BALSAM , YELLOW , 64Barbula obtusula , 99recurvi fol ia , 47

Bartramidula W ilsoni, 35

artsia alpina,108

atrachospermum vagum, 61BAXTER , W . R .

, 7 , 91 , 92, 93BEECH, 49, 50 , 51 , 68, 101 , 106, 111

COPPER, 53

FERN -LEAVED,111

Bernicla brenta, 21

leucopsis, 21

Betula a lba, 69

BIRCH, 49, 68, 69, 71 , 100BITTERN

,20

BIRDS OF GAR ELO CH, 1 -7

I SLAY , 7 -32

SU

ggMER

, RETURN TO CLYDE, 87

DANTE ON, 70 -75

BURNS ON, 70 75

BLACKBIRD, 1

BLACKCAP, 55, 56, 60BLACK CURRANT AND GOOSEBERRYHYBRID , 95

Blechnum Sp icant, 62

BLOODWORMS , 43Botaurus stellaris, 20

Botrytis depraedans, 64BOYD

,D . A .

, 55, 61 , 62, 75,102

Brachythecium pO puleum, 47

BRACKEN,INCREAS E OF , 160

BRAMBLING , 13Broussonetia papyrifera , 69Bryum atropurpureum , 47

barbatum,38

elegantulum,38

erythrocarpum , 47

leptaleum, 38

perpusillum, 38

Stirtoni,38

tenerrimum, 38, 39

BUCHANAN , 91

BULLFINCH , 4, 14BUNTING

, CORN, 14REED , 14SNOW

,14

YELLOW, 4, 14

Calidris arenaria , 28Calothrix epiphytica , 61

Campanularia ex igua , 79Campanulina

‘uurrita , 79

Cantharellus aquaticus,102

aurantiacus , 63Caprimulgus europaeus, 17Carex atrata

,108

pulla , 108Carp inus BetuluS , 52Castanea sativa

,53

CATALPA,AMERICAN

, 68

Catalpa bignonioides, 70

CEDAR , 53Cenangium ab ietis, 64Cerastium alp inum

,108

Cerc is Sil iquastrum, 70

Ceriosporella polygoni, 77

erthia fam il iaris,3,11

HAD W ICK , 88

CHAFFINCH , 4, 13Charadrius pluv ialis

,26

Chel idon urbica , 3 , 12, 91(

‘

herleria sedoides , 108CHESTNUT , HORSE , 52, 104, 107SWEET, 53 , 105, 107 , 110

CHIEECHAEE , 2, 56 , 88Ch ironomus , 43, 44CHITONS

, 84

CHOUGH,14

C inclus aquaticus, 11

Circus cyaneus, 19

Cirratulus , 84

Cladosporium fulvum , 59

Clangula glaucion , 23

Cleps ine bioculata , 44complanata , 43tessulata , 42

Cl itocybe candicans , 64dealbata , 64

Coccomyces dentatus, 63CO D

,46

COLEOPTERA , BRITISH , 96Columba liv ia

,24

palumbus, 5, 24, 54Colymbus glac ialis , 31

septentrionalis,32

Coniothyr ium pepl is,7 7

CONNELL , J . G .

,94

,97

,107

COOT , 26COPEPODS

,84

CORMORANT, 20

CORNCRAKE , 25, 91Corvus corax , 16cornix

,16

corone, 4, 16frugflegus , 4, 16monedula , 16

Corylus Avellana, 77

Cotile riparia,4,12

, 88Coturnix commun is , 25, 96CRAKE

,SPOTTED

, 25CRANE

, 74

Crex pratens is,25

, 91

CROW , CARRION , 4, 16HOODED

, 16

CUCKOO , 4, 7 , 17 , 56 , 60 . 91

Cuculus canorus, 4, 17 , 91CURLEW , 6 , 28Cygnus bewicki , 22

musicus, 22olor , 22

Cynara Scolymus, 94

CYPRES S , 72Cypselus apus , 4, 93Cystopteris montana

,108

DANEWORT, 94

Dasyscypha crucifera, 61 62

grisella , 61pteridis, 61

Dendrocopus major, 17Desmonema W rangelii, 61D iaporthe W '

ibbei, 61Dichothrix orsiniana

, 61D igitalis purpurea

, 61DIPPER

, 7 , 11

D IVER , GREAT NORTHERN , 31Red v throated, 32

Glossiphom'

a tessellata , 42tuberculata, 43

Glossosiphonia complanata , 41 , 43Glyceria aquatica , 63Gnomonia lugubris, 64Gnomiella vulgaris , 77GOLDCREST , 2, 10GOLDENEYE , 23GOOSE , BARNACLE , 21

BEAN , 21BRENT

, 21

GREYLAG , 21W HITEER O NTED ,

21

GOOSEBERRY AND BLACKHYBRID , 95

GOSHAWK , 74, 75

GRAS S , COUCH , 94GRAYLING , 97GREBE

,LITTLE

, 32

GREENFINCH , 4, 13GREENSHANK

, 28

Grimmia robusta, 34, 37 , 38Schultz ii, 34, 37 , 38

GROUS E, BLACK , 5. 25RED , 5, 25

GUILLEMOT, 6 , 31

BLACK, 31

GULL , BLACK -HEADED , 6 , 29COMMON , 6 , 30GREATER BLACK - BACKED

, 6, 7 , 30HERRING , 6, 30IVORY , 30LES SER BLACK BACKED , 6, 30, 60 , 88

G URNEY , JOHN H., 95

GUTHRIE, GEORGE , 96

CURRANT

Habenaria Vii idis 108Haematopus ostralegus, 5, 27Haemopis sanguisuga , 41Haliaétus alb icilla

, 18Hapalos hon Libe1nicu

8,s 61

Harpant us scutatus, 4

HARRIER , HEN , 18HAWK SPARROW

, 75HAZ EL , 105HEDGE-ACCENTOR

, 3Helobdella stagnalis, 41 , 44, 98Hemiclepsis tessellata , 42HENDERSON , ROBERT, 94HEPATICZE FROM VICE COUNTY 87 , 47 48HERIOT, GEORGE , 96HERON , 5, 20Herpobdella atomaria

, 98octoculata

, 41 , 45

HIGHLANDS , WEST , MOS SES FROM , 33-39

IBIS , GLOS SY , 20Ilex aquifolium

, 110

Impatiens Nol i tangei e , 64ISLAY , BIRDS OF , 7 32Ithyphallus impudicus, 102IVY , 72

J ACKDAW, 15, 16

JACK , J . R .

, 60 , 95

JAS . , 94, 97 , 112J ELLYFISH , 84JUDAS TREE , 68, 70Juncus conglomeratus , 61

trifidus, 108triglumis, 108

KESTREL , 5, 19, 75KILKERRAN TREES

, 48 54KINGFISHER

, 17

L . A . L . 95, 98

KIRKWOOD , W . M, 96

KITTIWAKE, 30

Lagopus mutus , 25sec tions , 5, 25

Hirudo complanata , 43medicinalis, 40 , 44

muricata , 41octoculata , 45

sanguisuga , 44stagnalis, 44

tessulata , 42

V itrina , 42Vittata , 46

Hirundo rustica , 3, 12. 88

HOBBY , 75Holcus moll is , 77HOLLY , 110HOPKINS , N. , 89, 90 , 91 , 92, 93, 94Hormospora mutabil is , 61HORNBEAM , 51Humaria jungermanniae, 76

HYACINTH WOOD, 104

HYDRO ID , 80Hypnum cupressiforme

var . ericetorum,47

resupina‘oum , 47

tectorum, 47

exannulatumvar . brachydicton , 47fluitans var . ovale, f orma angustifol ia , 47

J uratz kanum, 99riparium, 47

Lauius excubitor , 12

I JAPW ING , 5, 26

La rus argentatus, 6 , 30canus, 6 , 30

fuscus , 6, 30 , 88

ma rinus , 6 , 30ridibundus, 6 , 29

Lathraea clandestina , 98Squamaria

, 98,105

LAUREL , 72LEECH , DUTR O CHET

’

S, 39

GLAS SY , 42HORSE , 44MEDICINAL , 40 , 44

SKATE , 40 , 41

LEECHE S OF GLASGO W D ISTR ICT , 3947LEE

, JOHN R ., 62, 93, 94, 95, 96 , 97 , 98

107LEOPARD ’ S BANE , 104

Leptosphaeria agnita , 62Leskea polycarpa

, 47

Leucob ryum a lb idum , 33 , 34

glaucum , 34

pumilum , 34Ligurinus chlori s , 4, 13LIME , 68, 70, 105, 107LDrNET

, 4, 13Linota cann abina

, 4, 13fiav irostris , 4, 13ruf escens, 4, 13

Lobelia Dortmanna, 108

Locustella naevia , 92Lophoz ia bicrenata , 48LUNAM , GEORGE , 61 , 95Luz ula sp icata

, 108Lychnis a lpina

, 35

G ithago, 62

Lycopsis arvensis , 62Lymn ea peregra , 43

truncatulus , 44

M ‘

ANDREW , JAMES , 47 , 95M ‘

DO NALD,D. , 88, 90 , 91 , 92, 93, 100

MACKEITH , T . THORNTON , 88, 90 , 91 , 92,93

, 96 , 98M ‘

LEO D,A .

, 89

Madotheca Thuja , 48Magnolia acuminata

, 111MAIDENHAIR TREE

, 69, 70MAIN , JOHN , 94MALLARD

, 22

MAPLE , GREAT, 106Mareca penelope, 23Marine Aquaria

, 79-86MAR INE FAUNA , ADDITIONS To78 79

Marssonia populi, 63

Nephelis tesselata , 42vulgaris , 45

Nettion crecca , 23NIGHTJ AR , 17

Numenius arquata , 6 , 28ph zeopus , 28

Nyctea scandiaca , 18

MARTIN ,HOUS E 3 , 12, 56 ,

60 , 64,SAND 4, 7 , I2, 56 , 88

MERGANS ER ,RED - BREASTED , 24

Mergulus alle, 31Mergus serrator , 24MER LIN ,

19, 74, 75

Merismopedia punctata , 61METEOROLOGICAL NOTE S , 99Milesina blechm’

, 62, 64

MITCHELL , JAMES , 94MOO RHE N , 26Morus n igra, 70MOS SES FROM VICE -COUNTY , 87 , 47

FR O M THE WEST HIGHL ANDS ,Motacilla a lba , 88lugubris, 3 , 12

melanO pe, 3 , 12

ra i i , 90MOUSE , 97MULBERR Y , 69, 70uscicapa grisola , 3 , 12. 92

Mus musculus , 97Mycena lactea , 64

rosella , 64Myri ca Ga le, 61 , 62, 63

O AK , 49, 53 , 68, 72, 100 -1,107

EVERGREEN , 110TURKEY , 53 , 100 , 104

OLEANDER, 72

OLIVE , 72O ph iy otrocha , 84

Orch is maculata, 60

rni thogalum umbellatum , 104rph iobolus herpotrichus, 7 7rthotrichum anomalum, var . sax .

diaphanum, 47OSPREY

, 19O thonia fahrion , 79O W L

, BARN , 17LONG -EAR ED , 17SHORT -EAR ED

,18

SNOWY, 18

TAWNY , 18OYSTER -CATCHER

, 5, 27

Pagoph iLa eburnea , 30PALM , 72

Pandion haliaetus , 19PARTRIDGE , 25Parus ater , 3 , 11caeruleus , 3 , 11major , 3, 11

Passer domesticus , 4, 13PATERSON

,JOHN , 70 , 87 , 90, 98

Peplis Portula , 77Perdix c inerea , 25Peronospora a ffinis, 76alta

, 62, 64

chrysosplenii , 59

PETREL , FORK-TAILED , 6 , 7STORM , 32

Phalacrocorax carbo,20

graculus , 20PHALAROPE

,GREY

, 27

Phalaropus fulicarius, 27Phasianus colchicus, 5, 25

PHEASANT, 5, 25

Ph iladelphus coronarius, 62

Pholiota aurea , 94Ph oma cylindrospora , 63

orthotrichi, 77

Phylloscopus rufus , 2, 88sib ilatrix

,2,10 , 93

troch ilus , 2, 10, 93Phyllosticta ajugae, 62, 64

erysimi, 77syringae , 64teucrii , 63ulmi , 63

PiCea sitchensis , 53PINE , 72STONE

, 72

Pi nus sylvestris, 53

PIPIT , MEADOW , 3 , 12

ROCK,3, 12

TREE , 3 , 12 , 60 , 91Pisc icola marina

, 40PLANE , 72Corstorph ine , 106London , 65, 66 , 70

P lantago lanceolata , 62major, 62 QUAIL , 25

Platanus orientali s , var . acerifolia 70 Quercus cerris , 53Plectrophenax nival is , 14 I lex , 110Plegadis falcinellus , 20 robur

, 53PLOVER , RINGED , 5, 7 , 26GOLDEN

, 26PLUM , 73

POCHARD, 23

Podicipesfluv iatilis, 32Podosphaera myrtillina , 54, 94Polygonum amph ib ium , var . terrestre

, 77V iviparum, 109

Pontobdella muricata, 40, 41

POPLARS , 67 , 106BALSAM

,67

,70

BLACK , 51 , 70

BL ACK ITALIAN , 67 , 70ENGLISH

,67

GREY , 49LOMBARDY , 67 , 70

POPLAR -WOOD, 77

Populus balsamifera, 70

canescens , 49nigra , 70 , 105

var .

“betulifol ia , 51pyramidalis , 70typica , 51

serotina , 70, 106Porzana maruetta , 25

Potamilla , 84Potamogeton , 76POTATOES , 94Potentilla palustris

, 76

Pratincola rubetra,2,10

, 91rubicola , 10

PROCEEDINGS , 93—100Procellaria leucorrhoa , 6

pelagica , 32Protoclepsis tessellata , 41 , 42,Prunus Amygdalus

, 70Pseudopezi za 1

'

epanda, 61

Pseudotsuga Douglasi i 50PTARMIGAN , 25Pteris aquil ina

, 61Puccinia bux i , 64

c ircaeae, 64chrysosplen i i , 64hieracii

, 57

pimpinellae, 57rubigo -vera

, 58PUFFIN , 31Pyrola minor , 102

rotundifolia,108

Pyrrhocorax graculus , 14Pyrrhula europaea

, 4, 14Pyrus Aucuparia

, 70

pinnatifida , 70

Sorbus , 70

Raia, 41Rallus aquaticus

,26

Ramularia adoxae, 78ajugae, 64arenariae , 78armoraciae, 64heraclei, 64knautiae, 63

SWAN,BEW ICK

’

S,22

MUTE, 22SWIFT, 4, 93SYCAMORE

,49, 66 , 100 , 107 ,

Svlvia cinerea , 2, 10 , 3

curruca , 2h ortensis , 92

Synchytrium aureum ,62

cupulatum ,76

succisae, 62

Syrnium aluco , 18

Tadorna cornuta , 22TAMARISK , 72

Taph rina aurea , 63Taraxacum officinale, 61 , 63

TEAL,23

Terebellid, 84TERN

,AR CTIC, 29

COMMON , 6 , 29, 92Tetrao tetrix , 5, 25Teucrium Scorodon ia , 63Thanasimus formicarius , 96

rufipes, 96

THORN, 71 , 105

THRUSH,MISTLE

,1,9

SONG , 1 , 9Tilia vulgaris , 70TITMOUSE

,BLUE

,3,11

COLE , 3 , 11GREAT

,3,11

TOOTHWORT , 105Totanus cal idris , 5, 28canescens, 28hypoleucus, 5, 28, 90

Trachelobdella lubrica, 40, 46TREE -CREEPER

,3,11

TREE OF HEAVEN , 66-67 , 69

TREES , BURNS ON , 70 75DANTE ON , 70 75KILKERRAN , 485 4LONDON

,65 70

Trichostomum tenuirostre , Ta r .

dinianum,99

Tringa alpina, 28ocrophus, 100

striata,28

Trocheta subviridis, 39

Troglodytes parvulus , 3, 11Trollius europaeus

,108

Tubifex , 45Turbellarians

, 84Turdus il iacus

, 9

merula,1, 9

musicus, 1 , 9pilaris

, 9

torquatus, 9, 89Viscivprus, 1 , 9 YEW

, 68TURNSTONE

, 26

TWITE , 4, 7 . 13 Z oothaminium marinum , 78

Ulmus campestris, 52, 70 ,glabra, 52montana , 70nitens, 52

var . stricta, 52Uria grylle, 31

troile, 6 , 31

Utricularia, 108

Vaccinium Myrtillus , 55Vanellus vulgaris, 5, 26Vespa sylvestris , 94Vort icella nebulifera , 78

patellina , 78

WAGTAIL,GREY , 3 , 12

PIED, 3 , 12

WHITE,56 , 88

YELLOW , 56, 90

WALNUT, 97WARBLER , GARDEN 60, 87 , 92

GRAS SHOPPER 92

SEDGE 3, 7 , 10, 92

W ILLow 2, 10, 56 , 90

WOOD 2, 10

WATER -RAIL, 26WATT

,HUGH B . , 65

WAXWING , 96VVebera polymorpha

, 99

proligerg , 99

WELLINGTONIA , 52IVESTELL, W . PERCIVAL

, 1

WHEATEAR, 1 , 7 , 56, 88GREENLAND

, 32, 92

WHIMBREL, 28

WHINCHAT, 2, 10, 60, 87 , 91WHITEBEAM

, 69

WHITETHROAT, GREATER , 2, 10, 56, 60, 93LES SER , 2, 7

WHI TTON , JAMES , 98, 99, 103 , 104, 106WHOOPER

, 22

WIGEON, 23

WILLOW , 68W ILSHAW , T. W .

, 97

WILSON , R . W ., 88, 90 , 92, 93, 94, 96

H. W ., 88, 89, 90, 91 , 92, 95

T . W ., 93, 95, 96

WINTERGREEN, LESSER , 102WISHART, R . SWOODCOCK

, 27

WOODLOUS E, AR MADILLO 43WOODPECKER , GREAT SPOTTED , 17WOOD -PIGEON , INVASION or , 54WREN , 3 , 11

W ILLow 10, 60, 87 , 90

WOOD 10, 60, 87 , 92

WRYNECK , 56

fi g ural fi iz tnrg Suz ietg of 10513 5530 111.

SESSION LXII .—19l3-1914.

O F F I C E - B E AR E R S .

President.

JOHN R. LEE, 96 Finlay Drive, Dennistoun.

Vice-P residents.

D. A . BOYD, St. Clair, Sa ltcoats .

JOHN ROBERTSON,529 Clarkston Road.

ROBERT W . S . W ILSON,437 Clarkston Road.

Hon . Secretaries.

ALEXANDER ROSS, 409 G reat W estern Road.

GEORGE LUNAM ,120 Y ork Drive, Hyndland.

.Hon. Trea surer .

JOHN RENW ICK ,47 Oswa ld Street .

Hon. L ibrarian .

JAMES MITCHELL, 14 Knowe Terrace,Pollokshields.

Hon. Editor of Tra nsactions.

JOHN PATERSON, 99 Millbrae Road, Langside .

Members of Council.

For O ne Year.J. G . CO NNELL , F. L . A . L. KING , M .A. W M . RENNIE .

R . HENDERSON. T. THORNTON MACKE ITH. J . R . JACK,J . J. F . X . KING , F.E S . ROBT. S . HOUSTON. R. M ‘LEAN ,

M .A .

J. MAINI ,F .G .S . J . R . THOMSON . WM . M . PETTIGREW.

Hon. Lanterm’

st.

J . R . THOMSON .

Auditors.JAMES JACK and JOSEPH SOMMERVILLE .

COMMITTEES APPO INTED BY THE CO UNCIL.

Excurs ions C omm itteeD. A . BOYD , St. Clair, Saltcoats , and GEO. LUNAM ,

120 York Drive ,Hyndland, Conveners ; W . R. BAXTER, J. G . CONNELL,J . R . JACK

,JAMES J. F . X . KING , JOHN R . LE E , JOHN

MA IN, JOHN PATERSON , WM . M . PETTIGREW,J . RENWICK,

and the Secretar ies.

Pub lish ing C ommitteeJOHN PATERSON , 99 M i llbrae Road , Langside, Convener ; W . R.

BAXTER,D. A . BOYD , DAVID ELLIS , D.Sc. , Ph .D. ,

ANDERSONFERGUSSON , R . HENDERSON , L. A . L. KING , M .A . ,

J . R. LEE ,

RICHARD M ‘KAY , J AMES M ITCHELL , JOHN RENWICK , and the

Secreta r ies.

Lib ra ry C ommitteeJAM ES MITCHELL

, 14 Knowe Terrace , Polloksh ields, Convener , W . R.

BAXTER,R . HENDERSON, GEO . HERRIOT

,JAMES KNIGHT, M .A . ,

D.Sc . ,ROBT . M ‘LEAN, M .A . , WM . RENNIE , JOHN RENWICK ,

HUGH W . WILSON, R . W . S . WILSON , and the Secreta ries.

Photog raph i ca l C ommitteeW . R . BAXTER , 175 West George Street , Convener ; JOHN FLEMING,ROBERT GARRY , B .Sc . , GEORGE HERRIOT , J . R . JACK, R. M ‘LEAN

,

M .A . , T. THORNTON MACKEITH , WM . M . PETTIGREW, NICHOL ASG . RE ID , J . W . REO CH , J. R. THOMSON, HUGH W . WILSON ,and the Secreta r ies.

Museum, Resea rch , and B ritish Association C omm itteeD. A . BOYD , St . Clair, Saltcoats , (c , d , e, b

l) , Convener.

W . E . AGAR , B .A . , 1 Eton Gardens , H i llhead.

J . BALL ANTYNE , Corporation Gasworks, Hamilton (y) .W . R . BAXTER, 36 Sutherland Terrace, H i llhead (z) .FREDERICK O . BOWER, M .A D.Sc. , F.R S , 1 St. John ’s Terrace,

H i llhead.

GRO.

'A . BROWNE , 35 Sunnys ide Road, Coatbr idge (r , d l ) .R . BROWN, M .D . , Belhaven House, PollokshieldsJOHN CA IRNS , 23 Dunearn Street (h) .JAS. CLARK , M .A. ,

D.so. , A.R .C.S. , K i lmarnock Academy (u, z ) .J G . CONNELL , Stow College, Cowcaddens (m) .ANDREW A . DALGLISH , 21 Prince’s Street , Pollokshields (t, n) .W . CAMERON DAVIDSON, 18Lilybank Gardens , Hi l lhead (v) .J . S . DUNKERLEY, B.Sc . , Natural History Department, the University

(It, el) .

ROBERT DUNLOP , Park Avenue, Dunferml ine (c l . )DAVID ELLIS , D.Se. , Ph .D. , Royal Technica l College, (d) .

(a ) F resh rwater Algae ; (b) Characeae ; (c) Lichens ;‘

(d ) Fungi (e).

Hepat ics and Mosses ; ( f ) Ferns ; (g) Flowering Plants ; (h ) Trees ; ( i )Foss i l Plants ; (k) Foram inifera (l) Ccelenterata ; (m) Ech inodermata(n) Marine Worms ; (0 ) Crustacea ; (p) Arachnida ; (q ) Myriapoda,Collembola, Thysanura ; (r ) Coleoptera ; (s) D iptera ; (t) Lepidoptera ;(u) Hymenoptera ; (v) Polyzoa ; (w) Mollusca ; (x ) Fishes ; (y) Rept i l iaand Amph ib ia ; (z ) Birds ; (a l ) Mammals (b

l) Plant G-alls ; (cl ) Geology

(all ) Hemiptera (el) Parasites .

Delegate to Conf erence of C or responding Societies of the Br itish Associa tion.

Mrs . EWING .

Delegate to ClydeNa tura lists’ Representative Council.ALEXANDER ROSS , F.E. I . S.

Representative to Committee of M ar ine Biologica l Association of the

W est of Scotland .

ALEXANDER Ross, F.E . I. S.

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