ioo ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



and dying in the Orkney Islands. This series of northerly 

 gales had, without doubt, driven before it vast numbers of 

 Little Auks, and the North Sea had now become quite a 

 rendezvous of the species. That such was the case is indeed 

 proved by the events which followed. 



On 1 2th JANUARY another cyclonic period was ushered 

 in by a gale from the S.E. affecting all parts of our Islands, 

 and which is specially chronicled as blowing with great force 

 on the north-east coast of Scotland, and with the temperature 

 below freezing-point over the northern parts of Britain. On 

 the I 3th the gale still prevailed, and the sea was very rough. 

 On the 1 4th the gale was still blowing \vith moderate force* 

 in the north of Scotland. From this date until the early 

 days of February weather of a very unsettled type prevailed, 

 with the temperature below the mean. Latterly the cold was 

 very severe ; the sea was often rough ; the wind often fresh 

 from the N. or E., sometimes very strong ; and there was 

 some snow. A reference to our tabulated statistics shows 







that a great disaster overtook the Little Auks sojourning in 

 the North Sea from the I 3th January onwards. The period 

 of strong winds, rough seas, low temperatures, and snowstorms 

 which prevailed during these three weeks made great havoc 

 in their ranks and wrecked them in vast numbers among the 

 Northern Isles, and along the entire East Coast and its 

 Firths, indeed throughout the length and, in some areas, the 

 breadth of Scotland. The following are a few incidents of 

 the storm and its results which are worthy of special mention. 



Some numbers were driven as far west as Loch Lomond, 

 where they appeared after " the gale and snowstorm from 

 the east " on the I 3th. 



One \vas found as far from the eastern seaboard as Fort 

 William, also after that same storm. 



Considerable numbers appeared in the Firth of Forth, and 

 70-80 were observed on the I3th of January close off 

 Aberdour, at the mouth of the harbour, seeking shelter from 

 the high sea running outside. 



Mr. G. Pow says that in every sheltered bay along the 

 Haddington coast from Prestonpans to Cockburnspath they 

 sought refuge from the raging sea, and that doubtless many 

 escaped in this way. 



