ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 181 



dealer in eggs, and had this year alone dispatched upwards of two 

 tons of Lapwings' eggs to London. 



DESTRUCTION OF OSPREYS. We regret to learn that Ospreys have 

 been destroyed during the present season in the counties of Argyll and 

 Aberdeen. It is satisfactory to know, however, that both cases are 

 being investigated with a view to the prosecution of the offenders. 



ZOOLOGICAL NOTES. 



Pied Flycatcher in S.E. Scotland. We are informed that the 

 Pied Flycatcher (Musdcapa atricapilld] has been unusually abundant 

 as a bird of passage this season. Unfortunately, the details are not 

 forthcoming in some instances. It was first reported from Ravel- 

 ston, near Edinburgh, on xoth May, where a male was seen by 

 Mr. A. O. Curie. A male was observed at Tyninghame on the 

 1 2th, where, on the i4th, no less than eleven were noticed in 

 different places by Mr. Christopher C. Tunnard. In the " Scotsman " 

 for 23rd May, it is stated that three of these birds were observed 

 " the other day " between Ayton and St. Abb's. Lastly, an adult 

 male was picked up dead towards the middle of June in the remote 

 island of Foula, Shetland, and sent for identification by Mrs. Traill 

 of Edinburgh and Foula. EDS. 



The Pied Flycatcher in East Lothian, etc. Pied Flycatchers 

 (Musdcapa atricapilla] seem to have been unusually plentiful on 

 our east coast this year during the period of the spring migration. 

 From Dunbar I heard of them from several sources. According to 

 my information, they were first observed on loth May, and for a few 

 days were, comparatively speaking, quite common in the neighbour- 

 hood. Mr. D. Bruce wrote me on the i3th saying, that in the 

 course of that and the two previous days he had seen no less than 

 fifteen or sixteen pairs. On the nth, two were seen by Mr. R. R. 

 Sutter at East Barns ; and in a stable there, a fine male, which Mr. 

 Sutler kindly forwarded to me, was found dead on the i6th. About 

 the same time, three were seen near St. Abb's ; and when on the Isle 

 of May recently I learned that they had also been common there. 

 Almost every year a few Pied Flycatchers are observed on the east 

 coast of Scotland, but, according to my notes, we must go back to 

 May 1885 for a visitation at all approaching the present one. Con- 

 tinuous cold, easterly winds characterised both occasions. WILLIAM 

 EVANS, Edinburgh. 



Golden Oriole in Claekmannanshire. On the iQth of May, a 

 Golden Oriole (Oriolus galbula) was picked up dead on the lawn of 

 Montague Cottage, Menstrie, and brought to me for identification. 

 On the previous day, I had a hasty glimpse of what appeared to be 



