SOME BIRD NOTES FROM THE OUTER HEBRIDES 215 



it, I think, is well shown by the fact that they are able to hear 

 the click of the shutter and fly off before the exposure is 

 completed a period lasting but -^ of a second. While 

 conscious of being observed in the neighbourhood of her nest, 

 the hen bird would pretend to be feeding, apparently finding 

 a store of nourishment amid barren stones and sand, but in 

 reality keeping her weather-eye open in one direction. This 

 habit they share in common with other waders. The cock bird 

 mounted guard on a knoll overlooking the nest, and to him 

 the hen would run and hold a consultation when perplexed 

 as to the nature of the strange object. Once or twice she 

 behaved in an extraordinary way : under the eye of the camera 

 she would pluck a daisy and run away a short distance and 

 pretend to devour it, returning in a few seconds for another. 

 The nests when first found were mere hollows in the sand, 

 but as incubation commenced a lining of grasses, small stones, 

 and bits of shell was added, and in one instance the leaves of 

 the beautiful silver-weed, which grew around in great profusion. 



(To be continued.} 



PROSECUTION UNDER THE WILD BIRDS ACT. 



AT the Lerwick Sheriff Court on 8th July before Sheriff 

 Broun Major William Stirling, J.P., D.L., a Member of the 

 British Ornithologists' Union, residing at Ord House, Muir- 

 of-Ord, near Dingwall, Ross-shire, and A. L. Jessop, Leasing- 

 ham, near Sleaford, Lincolnshire, were charged with having 

 on 3rd June, at a part of the island of Hascasay, in the 

 parish of Yell, Shetland, taken two eggs of the Great Skua 

 and four eggs of Richardson's Skua. 



The accused did not appear, and Mr. J. C. Grierson, 

 solicitor, acted as their agent. 



Wm. Hoseason, son of James Hoseason, farmer, deponed 

 that his father was appointed by the Society for the Pro- 

 tection of Wild Birds to protect the scheduled eggs in the 

 islands. He (witness) was sent to Hascasay to watch that 

 no eggs were taken. On the 3rd of June he was in the house 

 on the island when two strangers came. They said they 

 were in search of eggs, but he told them they could not take 

 any as the eggs were protected. The men said they could 

 not understand that. They said they would have a look 

 round. He (witness) followed the men. They soon came to 



