90 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



" I did not receive many eggs this year, in fact scarcely any, 

 about a dozen Bonxies only, which are all gone." 



Mr. Paterson's object in getting possession of these eggs 

 was to prove the statement made by him after a visit to 

 Shetland in 1890, viz. "The Great Skuas' nests are pillaged 

 regularly and persistently by the inhabitants of Foula." 



The above communications bear out Mrs. Traill's state- 

 ment that practically all the eggs of the first-laying were 

 taken. While this is greatly to be deplored, and it is hoped 

 may be prevented in the future, it suggests a sinister 

 question, namely What would have been the result if an 

 early and ready market for these first-eggs had been found ? 

 Would not the disasters of the season of 1 890 have been 

 repeated, when it is said not a single chick was reared by 

 the whole of the Foula colony ? The names of all con- 

 cerned in this little less than shameful business have been 

 placed in my hands, and I shall have to consider whether 

 it is not my duty to inform Mr. Scott, the proprietor of Foula, 

 what has been done against his expressed orders and desires, 

 and give to him the names of those who are implicated. 



UNST. 



Regarding the welfare of the Great Skua in Unst Mr. 

 Thomas Edmondston wrote as follows in " The Times " (of 

 ist August 1891). 



At the beginning of May I engaged a special keeper to live for 

 three months on Hermanness, and keep watch and ward by night 

 and day over the Skua's home. Notices were published and 

 extensively posted in the island, intimating that any person or 

 persons found trespassing within the enclosure of Hermanness during 

 the months of May, June, and July, would be prosecuted ; but I am 

 glad to say that no proceedings of this nature have been necessary. 

 Early in May nine pairs of Skuas returned to the neighbourhood of 

 their ancient nesting-place. One pair established themselves an 

 interesting fact upon the hill at Saxavord, a promontory opposite 

 Hermanness, and a former, but long-abandoned station of the Skua. 

 Another pair selected as a domicile the heights of Sneuga, some 

 distance to the south of Hermanness, and not on our land. Seven 

 pairs sought again asylum within the territory of their old protectors. 

 I grieve to say that both of the outlying nests were harried by egg- 

 stealers, and that neither of the pairs succeeded in hatching their 



