i86 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



Greenland Falcon in the Outer Hebrides. On nth April 1903 

 I received in the flesh a very handsome Greenland Falcon (Falco 

 candicans), which was shot on the island of Mingulay on 2nd April 

 by one of the natives. It was forwarded to me by Mr. John Finlay- 

 son. Mr. Finlayson correctly identified the bird, although it is the 

 first he had ever had in his hand. He writes, " When caught, the 

 shrill screams were a duplicate of those of a Peregrine." It may be 

 interesting to add Mr. Finlayson's notes on the weather. He says : 

 " Alarming storms of persistent fury raged here, with few intervals of 

 peace, since the beginning of winter, the store of disturbance oscilla- 

 ting from south-east to a point near west. It is at this point that it 

 reached something like a cyclone, and threatened to carry everything 

 before it."- -J. A. HARVIE-BROWN. 



Wood Pigeon's Nest on Ground. A few days ago I was shown 

 a Wood Pigeon's (Columba palumbus) nest with two eggs on the 

 ground. It was under some branches laid down for pheasants 

 nesting. I saw several nests a good many years ago on some cut 

 timber about a foot and a half off the ground, but this is the first 

 I have seen on the ground. THOMAS TAIT, Inverurie. 



Glossy Ibises in Scotland. It may interest your readers to 

 know that I received a specimen of the Glossy Ibis (Plegadis 

 falcinellus) which was shot on a small loch near Forres on 2nd 

 October 1902. Another specimen was obtained at Loch Strathbeg, 

 in Aberdeenshire, about a fortnight later, and was sent to Mr. 

 Waters, Naturalist, Aboyne, for preservation. A Hoopoe occurred 

 at Alladale, Ardgay, on 2oth June. W. MACLEAY, Inverness. 



[An irruption of Ibises occurred in Britain during the past 

 autumn, and other specimens were obtained in Scotland in Roxburgh- 

 shire and Islay ("Annals," 1903, pp. 49-50). EDS,] 



Crane and other Migratory Birds at the Pentland Skerries. 



Since the last week of April large numbers of Bramblings (Fringilla 

 montifringilla) and Chaffinches (F. ccelebs) have been here, and are a 

 perfect pest in the gardens, rooting up the seedling vegetables. On 

 the ist of May a large bird was seen on the south side of the island, 

 and on examining it with the telescope, I came to the conclusion 

 that it was a Crane (Grus cinerea]. It soon after rose on the wing 

 and flew with its neck at full stretch, and not doubled up like a heron. 

 It remained all day hunting over the island for food, but on Sunday 

 morning we found that it had devoted the early hours to our 

 gardens, in which it had committed a great deal of damage. It 

 could be seen all day keeping a respectful distance from the station. 

 On Monday morning it again paid the gardens a visit, and so 

 sentence of death was passed upon it, and, with some difficulty, was 

 duly executed. A Willow Warbler was killed at the lantern on 2nd 

 May; Fieldfares (Tnrdus pilaris) very numerous; there are also 



