REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY FOR 1904 209 



May. ("A.S.N.H.," 1904, p. 156). Several at Lerwick 

 3oth and 3ist March, and immense flocks at Corsewall on 

 3rd and i2th November. At Beith a pair persisted in 

 occupying a chimney-pot on a dwelling-house. After the 

 material for the nest had been removed several times, one 

 of the pair was destroyed, which tragedy ended the ex- 

 periment. 



ALAUDA ARVENSIS (Skylark). From all stations round the coasts 

 small parties are reported throughout February and March, 

 but the only great rush (with other species), and the only April 

 report, is from the Flannans on i5th. There are no reports 

 from May till August. From September till the end of the 

 year reports are not so numerous as in the first months, and 

 the only large number is at Noup Head on yth October. 



A. BRACHYDACTYLA (Short-toed Lark). One ( $ ) captured on the 

 Flannans, 2oth September (" A.S.N.H.," 1904, p. 206). 



CYPSELUS APUS (Swift). Earliest records are on 5th May from 

 Lamlash, Cameron Bridge (Fife), and Inverleith ; Dunure 

 (Ayr), yth, and Beith, 8th. In autumn at Duddingston, i3th 

 September in numbers; Auchtertool and Noup Head, i6th; 

 Flannans, i6th and xyth; and Kirkliston, i8th, forming an 

 unusual series of mid-September observations on this species. 



IYNX TORQUILLA (Wryneck). One found dead, gth May, at Dunbar, 

 ("A.S.N.H.," 1904, p. 244). 



CAPRIMULGUS EUROP^EUS (Nightjar). Lamlash, 4th May, and nightly 

 thereafter when quiet. 



DENDROCOPUS MAJOR (Great Spotted Woodpecker). One at 

 Auchinblae (Kincardine), i6th June. 



ALCEDO ISPIDA (Kingfisher). Two occurrences are reported from 

 far north, (i) Inverbroom, igth September; (2) Brawl Castle 

 ( 9 )> 1 9th October, picked up dead at river side. On the 

 Clyde near Glasgow, on i2th April, twenty minutes after sun- 

 set, I heard one singing, a regular warble with the call note 

 appearing time and again in the measure. 



CUCULUS CANORUS (Cuckoo). The earliest dates are from 

 "Clyde," viz. Lamlash, 25*; Beattock, 26th; Beith, 28th 

 April; Auchinblae (Kincardine), 29th; Cloverhill (Tweed) and 

 Fossaway (Forth), 3oth, are the next reports, but the majority 

 of the observations of first occurrences are between 2nd and 

 4th May. 



Asio ACCIPITRINUS (Short-eared Owl). Four observed at Teasses 

 (Fife), loth March. They had been there all winter in con- 

 sequence of a plague of field voles. They did not breed. 

 56 C 



