52 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



not previously observed here, although it has been shot on one occa- 

 sion ("Annals," 1895, p. 229), was seen between the same dates. 

 This bird was often seen within the period indicated, and admitted 

 of a very near approach. A Spotted Redshank (Totanus fuscus] was 

 also identified on the i6th of October, and was again seen on the 

 22nd, 23rd, and 3oth idem. The great extent of mud exposed, and 

 the absence of bushes and reeds, presented conditions suitable for 

 this species. The Spotted Redshank proved to be much more 

 wary than the Ruff. There were no Common Redshanks about on 

 any of the occasions on which it was observed, unless the last, and 

 then only one bird. Its appearance was quite distinct, owing to the 

 absence of the band of white on the secondaries when seen on the 

 wing ; and when observed alongside the Ruff, as it was frequently, it 

 was plainly a larger bird than the last named, with much longer legs. 

 It was an exact replica in appearance of the bird in the foreground 

 of the cut of this species in Yarrell, striking us at once as a very 

 light-coloured bird, and we could always distinguish it easily in the 

 company of Golden Plovers, etc., even at a distance. Unlike its 

 congener, the Common Redshank, it appeared to be a silent bird, 

 as we never heard it utter a note on any of the four days which we 

 spent hunting it round the dam. We are not aware of any previous 

 record of this species having been obtained or observed in "Clyde." 

 It is, of course, an addition to our East Renfrewshire list. JOHN 

 PATERSON, JOHN ROBERTSON, Glasgow. 



A Habit of the Black-headed Gull. With reference to the 

 Rev. Mr. Serle's note in the " Annals " for October regarding this 

 Gull's habit of pattering with its feet in the shallows, I may mention 

 that during the last twenty years or so I have, in the same locality, 

 Dalmeny and Cramond, frequently noticed these Gulls acting 

 similarly, and, as they always pecked at something after " beating 

 time," I am inclined to think that their pattering was not altogether 

 for diversion. BRUCE CAMPBELL, Edinburgh. 



Pomatorhine Skua on the Solway Firth. Two immature ex- 

 amples of the Pomatorhine Skua (Stercorarius pomatorhinus) were 

 shot on the shores of this Firth, between Annan and Gretna, on 

 26th October and ist November. They were sent to me for identi- 

 fication, and have been retained for the Carlisle Museum. These 

 are the third and fourth specimens that have been shot on our coast, 

 and sent to me, in the last sixteen years. The first and second 

 were older specimens, though not in full adult livery. H. A. MAC- 

 PHERSON, Allonby Vicarage. 



Pomatorhine Skua in West Lothian. After the severe gale 

 last October, I picked up a Pomatorhine Skua (Stercorarius pomato- 

 rhinus) on the West Lothian foreshore on the 28th of that month. 

 The bird was a quite recent specimen, but headless, and had been 

 sorely battered about by the gale. ROBERT GODFREY, Edinburgh. 



