ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 181 



ZOOLOGICAL NOTES. 



Greenland Seal taken in Sutherlandshire. Some time back 

 I received a sealskin from a Sutherlandshire crofter, who had been 

 out with me as ghillie in years gone by. It turned out to be the 

 skin of a Harp Seal or Greenland Seal (Phoca grcenlandica). On 

 learning recently of the rarity of its occurrence on British coasts, I 

 have made inquiry as to the circumstances attending its capture. 

 On the last day of December 1903, three lobster fishermen belong- 

 ing to Loch Nedd in Assynt, when returning from their fishing, saw 

 a large seal floating on the water, asleep, in the narrows in the inner 

 part of the loch. They approached very cautiously, and were able 

 to get near enough to stun it by a blow on the head with a " foot- 

 spar " (? boat-stretcher). Though the seal struggled for some time, 

 they managed to secure it. They say they obtained 40 bottles 

 of oil from the blubber. The skin measures from the nose to the 

 beginning of the hind flippers a little over six feet in length. It is 

 just under five feet in width. JOHN P. WAY, Rossall, Fleetwood. 



[This rare visitor to the British coasts was somewhat abundant 

 on the east coast of Scotland in the spring of 1904. See " Annals," 

 1904, p. 184. EDS.] 



Remarkable Visitation of Migratory Birds to Shetland. 



We have had a great rush of migratory birds, equal in numbers to 

 that of the i5th of April 1898, but scarcely in variety. On the 

 evening of the i2th of April, the wind shifted round from the N. to 

 S.E., and by morning was blowing a strong gale, which lasted until 

 the i yth. I did not observe any strangers the first day, but after 

 that they came in great numbers. I have had many birds described 

 to me by other people, which I believe to be rare, but I refrain 

 from naming them. The most interesting occurrence was that of a 

 Hoopoe ( Upupa epops\ an adult male, found dead. The following 

 is a list of the other species which as immigrants and birds of 

 passage also came under my notice: Ring Doves (Colitmba 

 palumbus], two; Rooks (Corvus frugilegus), large flocks; Jackdaw 

 (C. iiionediila), one; Redwings (Turdus iliacus\ many; Fieldfares 

 (T. pilaris], many; Blackbirds (T. merula), a. few; Chaffinches 

 (fringilla Calebs], a few ; Redbreasts (Erithacus rubecula), immense 

 numbers; Hedge Accentors {Accentor modularis\ immense numbers ; 

 Pied Flycatchers ( Muscicapa atricapiHa), a few ; Pied Wagtail 

 (Motadlla lugitbris), one ; White Wagtails (M. alba), numerous ; 

 Siskins (Chrysomitris spimis), a few ; Goldcrests (Regulus cristati/s}, 

 many, several found dead ; Meadow Pipits (Anthits pratensis\ great 

 numbers ; Wheatears (Saxicola cenanthe), a great many. THOMAS 

 HENDERSON, Jun., Dunrossness, Shetland. 



[This great movement also came under the notice of Mr. John 



