I 4 8 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



they can just be seen as a mere speck. When the Skua 

 observes a good catch, he makes straight for the Puffin at a 

 terrific rate. The Puffin never seems to see the Skua till he 

 is upon him, then makes a headlong flight for the water, 

 dropping like a stone from the heavens, the Skua just a 

 pace or two behind. When about to strike the water he 

 takes a shear along the surface, and as he enters the water 

 he drops his catch and dives immediately. I have never 

 seen a single instance of the Puffin showing fight." Our 

 excellent correspondent writes further : " This summer I have 

 repeatedly seen the Great Skua swoop down on a Puffin or 

 Kittiwake on the water, seize it and hold it under till 

 drowned ; then pluck and eat it in the manner of the Falcon." 

 A curious accident to a young Tern is recorded from the 

 Butt of Lewis ; this bird was found in a dying condition on 

 i 5th August with a quill feather, 6 inches long, fixed in its 

 throat. 



PLUMAGE, VARIETIES, ETC. 



Several albinistic varieties have been recorded during the 

 year. Two pied Blackbirds are reported, one in Edinburgh, 

 the other in East Fife ; the latter was a curious variety, 

 being white and black all over in alternate small patches, 

 looking almost like a shepherd's plaid. On I5th July an 

 almost perfect albino Wheatear was procured in Unst 

 (1.1910.246) and a bird of this species was seen near Largo 

 (E. Fife) on ist August, with the whole of its head and back 

 white, right down to the rump. A pure white Wood Warbler 

 was obtained near Drumlanrig, Thornhill, in the end of July 

 (1.1911.55), and an albino Chaffinch was seen near Largo on 

 loth and i ith February, i/th June, 3rd July, and ist Decem- 

 ber. A cream-coloured Sparrow is recorded at Ballantrae 

 (E. Ross) on 1 4th July, and a white one in the same county on 

 4th November. On 8th August a Rook with white secondaries 

 in both wings is reported from Tarbatness. It seems wiser 

 to reserve judgment on the abnormally coloured Gannet 

 recorded from the Bass on I4th and 3 ist July and ist August 

 (3.iv. 152) pending the results of this year's observations, as 

 to whether it was a painted bird or not. An Eider Duck, 

 of a uniform pale whity fawn, was seen near the Isle of 



