REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1910 147 



in great numbers about this time ; while large flocks of 

 Rock-doves are noted at Barra Head. 



A great many Sclavonian Grebes and Great Northern 

 Divers are recorded from Barra in November, and quite a 

 lot of Little Auks occurred in various parts of Scotland. 



FOOD, ETC. 



In East Ross in July flocks of Greenfinches were feeding 

 on the sea-pink seeds by the shore. The large flocks of 

 Mealy Redpolls paid toll to the birds of prey ; at Ollaberry 

 (Shetland), on 3Oth October, a small Hawk [probably a Merlin] 

 " dropped on the rearguard of a flock of Mealy Redpoles " 

 and secured a victim, when only about 10 yards from the 

 observer. In East Fife on 2ist March, a female Kestrel was 

 seen trying to fly off with a young Leveret, which, however, 

 she dropped, after carrying it a few yards. It was still quite 

 warm, but the head was wanting. On the 26th of the month 

 a Kestrel was seen by the Glasgow Natural History Society, 

 to catch a bat ( Vesper ugo pipistrellus) on the wing, seizing 

 it in its talons (2.ii.i 37) ; while on 8th July, in East Ross, one 

 of these birds was seen attempting to eat a snake [ ? slow- 

 worm]. A Mallard Drake is recorded as having been found 

 on Ailsa Craig choked by an eel in its throat (" Scotsman "), 

 while a Heron met the same fate when endeavouring to 

 devour a Water-rat, 9 inches long (" Scotsman "). Black- 

 headed Gulls are noted on Loch Awe, on I ith March, eating 

 the small grey fly, while one of these birds was drowned in 

 the Tay near Perth, by a Mallard Duck, who, resenting its 

 presence too near her brood, seized the Gull by the back of 

 the neck and shook it as a terrier does a rat. Then, still 

 holding the Gull's neck in her bill, she forced the unfortunate 

 bird under water and swam backwards and forwards with 

 short rapid rushes till the Gull was drowned (" Scotsman "). 

 A Herring Gull in immature plumage, on the shore at 

 Dalmeny, seized a Dunlin which had incautiously come 

 within reach of it, tore its victim to pieces, and swallowed it 

 (" Scotsman "). In North Unst the Arctic Skuas often 

 persecute the Puffins, which are there in myriads. " To 

 escape their pursuer the Puffins sometimes fly so high that 



