REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1910 143 



nests near Colinsburgh (Fife), and one pair had begun a new 

 one. A Missel Thrush's nest was found at Thornhill 

 (Dumfries) on 2oth March, and on the 26th a pair of 

 Long -tailed Tits were observed building their nest at 

 Swordale (E. Ross), " both assisted and were working 

 vigorously." From the " Scotsman " we take the note of a 

 Dipper's nest by the Birkland Burn, Castle Douglas, with 

 four hard-set eggs, "these eggs were hatched on the 3ist, 

 a very early date." Young Ravens were found in South 

 Perthshire on the 2;th March. On 8th April Mallard 

 were hatching at Craignish (Argyll), and next day 

 Stock -doves are reported as nesting, commonly in 

 rabbit holes, at Luce Bay, and a Hoodie Crow's nest with 

 three eggs was found at Craignish. On the loth a Sparrow- 

 hawk's nest was found at Kirkliston, but the first egg was 

 not laid till 5th May, and our correspondent notes that the 

 young were fed by their parents till eight weeks old. From 

 this time onward the nesting of our commoner species was 

 general all over Scotland, the first dates of laying being 

 rather earlier than last season. On the 2ist a Grouse's nest 

 with seven eggs was found at Forvie Sands near Aberdeen. 

 Eider had eggs at Craignish on the 25th, and two days later 

 a Little Grebe was laying at Kirkliston, exactly the same 

 date as the first there last year. The persistency of a Song 

 Thrush in nesting is recorded from Eoligarry, where the same 

 pair of birds had four different nests, one after another 

 (see 1.1911.55). From North Unst, under April, comes 

 the note, " The Fulmar resides here and is now breeding." 



On the yth of May a Wigeon's nest with 8 eggs was 

 found in Roxburghshire (1.1911.117), and a nest in Forth 

 contained 9 eggs on the I3th (1.1910.249), and by the 

 1 9th young Eiders were hatched at Craignish (Argyll). 

 From Kirkliston comes a note of very few Hedge Sparrows 

 having laid before May. At least three pairs of Missel 

 Thrushes were seen on the Mainland, Orkney, near Finstown 

 this summer. There were two nests in mountain-ash trees, 

 with four eggs in each on the 2Oth May (3-iv.22o). This 

 species is uncommon in Orkney, there being apparently only 

 two records of its having nested there before, both being at 

 Kirkwall (" Fauna of Orkney," p. 91). During the last week 



