u6 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



Nesting of Quails in Shetland. Numbers of Quails bred 

 in Unst this season. I have not known the bird to breed here 

 before. One was killed at Haroldswick with a scythe, and the eggs 

 taken. JAMES FERRIER, Burrafiord, North Unst. 



Knot (Tringa camttus) in Tiree in Winter. On the iyth of 

 January last I found a Knot with a broken wing under the telegraph 

 wire here. Although a few small parties of this bird call here in the 

 early autumn, I have never seen one here in winter before. PETER 

 ANDERSON, Tiree. 



Little Gull (Lams minutiis) in Inverness-shire. On the 8th of 

 January last a specimen of the Little Gull was found dead on the 

 shore of Loch Ness in sufficiently good condition to admit of its 

 being preserved. T. E. BUCKLEY, Inverness. 



Great Skua (Stercorarius catarrhactes) in the Outer Hebrides. 

 In September last I examined a specimen of the Great Skua which 

 had been shot at Abhuinnsuidh in North Harris. As this bird has 

 not hitherto been observed, to my knowledge, in the Outer Hebrides, 

 it is well that the occurrence should be placed on record. T. E. 

 BUCKLEY, Inverness. 



Great Crested Grebe (Podicipes cristatus) on the Aberdeenshire 

 Coast. On the i9th or 2oth of December 1893 a man shot a fine 

 female specimen of the Great Crested Grebe in the south bay of 

 Peterhead. Mr. Sim of Aberdeen is preserving it for the local 

 museum recently opened. WILLIAM SERLE, Peterhead. 



Scottish Newts Wanted. With a view to ascertaining the dis- 

 tribution of the various species of Newts in Scotland, I desire to 

 receive specimens for examination from all parts of the country. All 

 assistance will be fully and gladly acknowledged. They travel well 

 alive in a little damp moss. WILLIAM EAGLE CLARKE, Museum of 

 Science and Art, Edinburgh. 



Valvata piseinalis in Loch Tay; Perthshire. I happened to 

 visit the pretty village of Kenmore, Perthshire, during September 

 last year, and had the privilege of making a partial investigation of 

 the invertebrate fauna of the east end of this fine loch. Among the 

 species obtained were a few Molluscs, including the species named 

 above. I have been unable to find any records of the occurrence 

 of Valrata piseinalis in Loch Tay, and therefore the present note 

 may be of interest. Mollusca appeared to be scarce round the east 

 end of the loch, but I was only able to examine the bottom where 

 the water was shallow ; it is therefore probable that a careful examin- 

 ation of the loch might yield other species not yet recorded for 

 "Mid-Perth." THOMAS SCOTT, Leith. 



