ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 253 



Malcolm. The locality it is an addition to the avifauna of the 

 island and the date are both interesting and worthy of record. 

 WM. EAGLE CLARKE, Edinburgh. 



Red Grouse in Shetland. It appears that a few survivors of the 

 1882 introduction are still in existence in Yell. While in that island 

 this spring I picked up some grouse-feathers in Lumbisterdale, which 

 had evidently only been lost within an hour or so, and have lately 

 received information that a nest of the Red Grouse (Lagopus scoticus) 

 had been found this year (the eggs having probably been eaten) in 

 that locality. The Grouse have had many enemies to contend with, 

 and have received no protection whatever since a short time after 

 their introduction. That they should still survive and breed shows 

 considerable powers of adaptability and self-protection in the bird. 

 HAROLD RAEBURN, Edinburgh. 



Great Bustard washed up on the Ayrshire Coast. On the 



2oth of June this year, while walking on the beach at Irvine, I 

 observed a large bird floating in the water, which I managed to 

 secure, but was quite puzzled with it, having never seen one like it 

 before, nor was I able to ascertain its name from any one in the 

 district to whom I showed it. Finally I submitted it to Mr. J. A. 

 Harvie-Brown, who pronounced it to be a specimen of the Great 

 Bustard (Otis tarda) a bird that has been extinct as an indigenous 

 species in S.E. Scotland for over three centuries, and now only 

 an extremely rare casual visitor from the Continent of Europe, and 

 one which it is believed has never before been recorded for Ayrshire. 

 The bird was considerably decomposed when found, and had 

 evidently been in the water for some days. From its comparatively 

 small size it was evidently a female. JOHN PRINGLE, Irvine. 



Green Sandpiper in Argyleshire. On the 1 9th of August last, 

 I received for preservation a male specimen of the Green Sandpiper 

 (Totanus ochropus\ which had been shot at Strontian by Mr. 

 Stewart. C. H. BISSHOPP, Oban. 



Greater Weever (Trachinus draco} in the Firth of Forth. A 



specimen of this fish was captured in the trawl-net of the Fishery 

 Cruiser "Garland," while at work at the "Fluke Hole," off St. Monans, 

 on the 2 gth of August of this year. The specimen measured 12 

 inches in length, and was very prettily marked. The depth of 

 water at the "Fluke Hole" ranges from about 13 to 15 fathoms; 

 the bottom consists in some parts of fine sand and comminuted 

 shells, in other parts it is somewhat gravelly. This is only the 

 second specimen of the Greater Weever that I know of that has 

 been captured in the Firth of Forth : the first specimen was also 

 taken by the " Garland," on the 2 ist of May 1889, in Largo Bay, and 

 was smaller than the one now recorded, being only 9 inches in 

 length. It is referred to in some notes on " Rare and Uncommon 



