212 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



above had an incubation mark, and this was an oval spot some 

 2\ x 1 1 inches, situated on the lower part of the abdomen. 

 The stomach contained the remains of at least three young 

 birds, one of which was a Duckling, the other two looked like 

 young Black-headed Gulls. The carcass of this Peregrine was 

 devoured by Common Gulls How are the mighty fallen ! 

 During the evening of i5th June, I saw a fine specimen fly 

 over, chased by every bird in the vicinity. I first became 

 aware of his approach by the shrieking of the Pewits, who rose 

 in a black cloud, having detected their enemy long before we 

 could see him. The Oyster Catchers all sounded their alarm 

 note, and an angry buzzing told us that the Black-headed Gulls 

 had all been aroused. The excitement continued long after its 

 author had vanished into space. The next morning we dis- 

 covered the cause in the shape of the carcass of a freshly killed 

 Black-headed Gull. 



KESTREL, Fako tinnunculus, Linn. Of late years has become 

 scarcer, but now more plentiful again. In the stomach of a 

 male shot from the nest on i2th June the remains of three 

 mice were found. 



HERON, Ardea cinerea, Linn. Was extremely common this year 

 both on fresh-water and sea lochs. 



GREY LAG GOOSE, Anser cinereus, Mayer. By 28th May all the 

 Geese had hatched off. The commonest number of young 

 was five. By 25th June all old, and young, had collected on a 

 solitary hill loch, where they were to be seen in great quantities, 

 when they had, for the most part, begun to moult. In fact, 

 I only saw two which could fly. The primary feathers were 

 found on the islands scattered in great profusion. On this 

 loch I counted no less than 147 adults, entirely omitting the 

 numerous young, which, I think, shows that no diminution in 

 their numbers is taking place. When swimming with their 

 young they are able, by stretching out their necks and sinking 

 their bodies, to make themselves well-nigh invisible. On these 

 occasions the gander leads the way, and his mate brings up 

 the rear. 



BERNACLE GOOSE, Bernida leucopsis, Bech. A fine specimen in 

 full plumage frequented the fresh-water lochs and sea-front on 

 2oth June and subsequent days and then disappeared. It 

 appeared to have no desire to associate with the Grey Lag. 



MUTE SWAN, Cygnus olor, Gmelin. A number of these swans are 

 commonly to be seen flying about. The noise caused by 

 the vibration of their primaries carries to a great distance. 

 With a flock numbering some seven individuals, a Black Swan 

 was seen associating. This is the second occasion on which 

 this exotic species has been observed. 



