1 6 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



At all events, it may well be worthy of attention on the part of 

 future observers to note carefully the actual facts which year after 

 year present themselves in connection with the respective distribu- 

 tion of these two closely-allied species. Even their present actual 

 comparative distributions are not thoroughly wrought out. 



LESSER TERN (Sterna minuta\ p. 143. The Lesser Tern is 

 now known to have bred certainly in the Outer Hebrides since 

 1885 or 1886, or for the last 16 or 17 years, and it is now far from 

 uncommon. My informant (who wisely desires that his name be 

 not given, for obvious reasons, and gives no encouragement to 

 collectors, of whom he says " there are already far too many ") tells 

 me that "it is a positive fact that the Lesser Terns breed here in 

 two colonies, their numbers having greatly increased during the last 

 few years, and especially in 1899 an d 1900. They arrive about 

 the end of May." In 1900 I obtained two eggs from this Outer 

 Hebridean locality in order to put the record beyond cavil. Further- 

 more, I have to add that in the " Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist." for October 

 1902 it is recorded that the species nested in Barra for the first 

 time on record. " From 5 to 6 pairs nested." 



IVORY GULL (Pagophila eburnea), p. 144. This is added to the 

 " Fauna of the Outer Hebrides " by Buckley, who sent me notice 

 of one a male sent to Mr. M'Leay of Inverness by Duncan 

 Mackenzie of the Royal Hotel, Stornoway, in January 1890, and 

 seen by Buckley in M'Leay's shop. 



ICELAND GULL (Larus leucopterus), p. 148. This species may 

 almost be considered a regular winter visitor to the Outer Hebrides, 

 though not in great numbers. Mr. Mackenzie continues to find 

 them frequently about Stornoway ("Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist." 1892, 

 p. 140; April, 1890, etc.). 



They are seen also at Barra, but not perhaps so frequently as at 

 Stornoway (loc. cit. 1894, p. 113). 



Thus one was shot at Stornoway by Mr. Mackenzie, and was 

 sent to Mr. M'Leay, Inverness, which was procured about the end 

 of August 1897. There are several other records in the Migration 

 Reports. Mr. Mackenzie also killed one in adult plumage about two 

 years ago say 1899 which had remained all the winter and spring 

 and the following summer. It was shot in September. 



Mr. W. L. MacGillivray also meets with it in Barra. He shot 

 one immature bird in February 1897 ; he found one an adult in 

 a rabbit trap on January 18, 1902. He writes me "that it is 

 the first he has ever met with in adult plumage in Barra," and adds : 

 " and more's the pity that it was not found fresh and in good stuffing 

 condition." Another was sent me by Mr. D. Mackenzie from 

 Stornoway in 1902 ; while I also have the general statements that 

 Iceland (and Glaucous) Gulls have appeared more abundantly 



