ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 117 



believe, were on their way north, and I have not observed any other 

 migrants, as yet, to date (2yth February). PETER ANDERSON, 

 Tiree. 



Hobby and other Birds of Prey in Moray. A Hobby (F. 

 subbiiteo) was killed by one of the keepers at Innes, Elgin, in 

 the end of June last year. It was thought to be a Merlin, 

 but was stuffed, and it was only by chance that I happened 

 to see it, and recognised it. On enquiry I find it was shot 

 about 6 in the evening when flying close to the ground across 

 the pheasant rearing field. There were two keepers present at 

 the time, and they think it was just going to lift a bird. It has a 

 wing almost exactly 10 inches, and consequently I would put it 

 down as a male. The keeper, however, writes it had a bare spot on 

 the breast, and he considered that it had been sitting on eggs at the 

 time. Innes is very well wooded and it is quite possible it was 

 breeding there. I was away in Norway at the time, or would have 

 seen it in the flesh, and probably would have been able to find out 

 if there were more about. I think a good many birds of prey 

 pass over the south side of the Moray Frith. One spring about 

 live years ago, there was an Osprey at Lochnabo. I did not see it, 

 but was told it stayed for a day or two. I have repeatedly seen 

 Peregrines ; indeed, I saw one almost secure a Partridge about a 

 month ago. I also saw in 1906, about the end of October what I 

 have no doubt was a Goshawk. It was feeding on a Water-hen, and 

 rose within half a score of yards from me. It left its bird behind, 

 but returned later and took it away. As this was only a couple of 

 fields from the house, the bird could no doubt easily have been 

 either trapped or poisoned, and perhaps if it had killed either a 

 Partridge or a Pheasant it might have been sacrificed. As it was it 

 was not interfered with. This year we have had a great many 

 Merlins about, and of course with the large woods of Gordon Castle, 

 and Lochnabo so near, there are many Sparrow-hawks. In 1907 

 or 1908, although the keepers thought all nests on the place had 

 been destroyed, in the fortnight beginning the iith August they 

 killed 33 round places the young Pheasants were turned down with- 

 in three weeks, and not without the loss of a good many birds. 

 J. DAVIDSON, Innes, Elgin. 



Wigeon Breeding- at Loch Leven : a Correction. In our foot- 

 note to the communication which appeared in the " Annals " for 

 January we inadvertently quoted as our authority, for the earliest 

 breeding of this species at Loch Leven, Mr. Millais's " Wildfowler 

 in Scotland " ; it should have been the same author's " Surface- 

 Feeding Ducks," published in 1902. EDS. 



Wigeon Breeding in Roxburghshire. The Wigeon (Mareca 

 penelope), undoubtedly, now breeds regularly in Roxburghshire, but 



