The Annals 



of 



Scottish Natural History 



No. 72] 1909 [OCTOBER 



REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY 



FOR 1908. 



By JOHN PATERSON. 



WHILE there is no lack of interest in the year to which this 

 Report relates when regarded as a whole, there are some 

 quite remarkable features about the second quarter, concern- 

 ing which the first quarter gave no hint. The spring 

 migration of species largely represented in Scotland through- 

 out the year, such as the Lapwing and Curlew, began early, 

 and March gave us, in its second half, such species as the 

 Lesser Black-backed Gull, White Wagtail, Wheatear, and 

 Sand-Martin, when we look for them in a normal year. 

 With the advent of April there was a great change, and this 

 month proved more barren of results than any that can be 

 recalled by the present generation of Scottish Ornithologists. 

 For a period of fully three weeks the stream of migration 

 was arrested. The conditions that obtained in Scotland do 

 not account for this extraordinary state of matters, as while 

 the weather continued during this time very cold, it was 

 dry and bright, very suitable for farming operations and 

 encouraging to the ornithological observer. We have 

 frequently had a good show of April visitors when the 

 weather was little better. The cause must then be sought 

 beyond our borders, and this is not hard to find. While 

 72 B 



