50 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



he could not have secured any which, in this case, would have 

 revealed the secret of its identification with greater certainty than 

 the pretty black and white feathers which form the tail of this little 

 bird. This species has not occurred previously on the east coast of 

 the mainland of Scotland, for the young male recorded for Berwick- 

 on-Tweed, on the 5th of October 1883, was captured on the south 

 side of the river. Mr. Clyne is to be congratulated on the fact that 

 his efforts have led to the detection of this interesting visitor at 

 his lonely station. WM. EAGLE CLARKE. 



Spoonbills in the West of Scotland. Two specimens of the 

 Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), obtained in November last, have 

 been forwarded to Mr. Bisshopp, of Oban, for preservation. The 

 first of these was an immature male from the Island of Canna ; the 

 second was from the Island of Inchkenneth, Loch-na-keal, West 

 Mull. Both were duly recorded in the " Oban Times." 



Floek of the Glossy Ibis in Orkney. On 24th September a 

 flock of nineteen or twenty Glossy Ibises (Ibis falanellus) appeared 

 at Sandwick, in Orkney, a small township about four miles inland 

 and about eight miles from Stromness, where they frequented some 

 marshy ground. The man who discovered them did not think of 

 shooting them at first, and so for three days they remained in peace, 

 but on the 2yth until ist October he shot two or three each day 

 as they were feeding in a burn, until he had accounted for no less 

 than ten. They were very wary and rose high in the air when 

 disturbed. Most of them were sent to Mr. Malloch, of Perth, and 

 it would be interesting to know whether they were old or young 

 birds. I do not think there are a dozen records of this bird having 

 visited Scotland, and the occurrence of a flock of them in Orkney is 

 most unusual, as I believe the species has only occurred twice 

 before in these islands : viz. a young bird near Stromness, on 

 1 9th September 1903, which I mentioned in the "Field" at the 

 time, and another near Kirkwall as long ago as September 1857, 

 exactly half a century ago. H. W. ROBINSON, Lansdowne House, 

 Lancaster. 



[The specimens sent to Mr. Malloch are, we are informed, all 

 immature birds. EDS.] 



Glossy Ibis at Speymouth. This bird was seen on the Lein 

 Burn by Mr. John Smith, of Garmouth, who shot at and wounded 

 it. He kept it alive for several days, when it died and was cast 

 away. Mr. James Geddie, hearing that a strange bird had been 

 shot, rescued it and had it preserved. I got the specimen a few 

 days afterwards for the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, and it is 

 now at Gordon Castle. The back and upper parts are black with 

 greenish reflections ; and the head and neck are buff-coloured with 

 some dark feathers in them. GEORGE MUIRHEAD, Fochabers. 



