CONTRIBUTIONS TO A FAUNA OF SHETLAND 23 



scarce as compared with the previous season, and all obtained 

 up to end of October with the exception of Jacks and perhaps 

 two or three Full Snipe were home-bred birds. We shot one 

 day on Mousa with Mr. George Bruce, but nine Snipe, two 

 Jacks, and two Water Rails composed our joint bag. Further 

 north, on Bressay and in Lerwick district, we heard, however, of 

 bags of ten and a half couple (\V. Weber), and fifteen and a half 

 couple (Captain Furlonger) ; and Captain Furlonger in Fetlar 

 added in all ninety-six to his score in 1892 to date. It was a 

 bad migration season. Snipe which are constantly talked of as 

 weighing seven and a half to eight ounces, and as " foreign 

 birds," can hardly prove to be other than Great Snipe. During 

 our stay in Shetland in 1892, some three or four Snipe we shot 

 were of the russet variety ; and we brought home skins of both 

 varieties : the dark, boldly-marked birds, usually looked upon as 

 /wine-bred, and the russet, richly vermiculated variety, usually 

 considered to be of foreign origin. 



JACK SNIPE (Gallinago gallinula). A sprinkling in the marshes in 

 1891, and quite a number in 1892 for a few days only the 

 earliest seen on 28th September, and two shot next day. But 

 most seen about 6th October to loth : a few remained longer. 



SANDERLING (Calidris arenaria). Mr. A. Forrester shot one, the 

 only one seen, 2yth September 1892, on the shore of Quendale 

 Bay. 



DUNLIN (Tringa alpina). Four were seen and two shot on the 

 shore of Loch Hillwill on 6th October 1892 by Mr. A. Forrester ; 

 and three more were seen on Loch Spiggie a day or two after- 

 wards. None were observed in 1891. 



PURPLE SANDPIPER (Tringa striata). Only two observed at Garth 

 Banks in 1891. One only shot by Mr. A. Forrester on 

 2gth September 1892 at same place. 



REDSHANK (Tetanus calidris]. Not observed very commonly in 

 1891. But many seen along the rocky shores of Quendale Bay 

 on both sides of the sand in 1892 -probably all migrants. 



BAR-TAILED GODWIT (Limosa lapponica). First identified by loose 

 feathers picked up at Loch Hillwell. Saw several afterwards at 

 VirkieVoe in October 1891, and also at the same place in 1892 ; 

 but not by any means abundant. 



CURLEW (Numenius aquatd). A flock of about fifteen to twenty 

 persistently frequented the Quendale Links and shore both in 

 1891 and 1892 ; always most unapproachable. A large flock 

 on Virkie Voe, and around. Sumburgh. 



WHIMBREL (Numenius pha;opus]. Not many seen. None in 1891. 

 A few in 1892, as late as 3rd October. 



