140 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY 



FOR 1905. 



By JOHN PATERSON. 



AN examination of the details in the following pages relating 

 to the observations made throughout Scotland in 1905, 

 which are set out as usual in specific order, will convince the 

 reader that a great amount of systematic attention is being 

 paid to the ornis of Scotland by lightkeepers and observers 

 on the mainland. It may be argued that those interested 

 appreciate this report, and find it a convenience, from the 

 ready support extended to the compiler, the reports being 

 more numerous this year than last year, and in detail much 

 more full. Only a small portion of the information submitted 

 appears here, but it is hoped that none will be discouraged 

 from keeping their returns up to the full standard which 

 they have in many cases set themselves this year. The 

 difficulty of selection from the mass of information which 

 has come to hand has been considerable, and in accepting 

 the responsibility for what to some may seem omissions, the 

 compiler of this digest can assure all who have contributed 

 to make the report possible that every detail submitted has 

 received due consideration, although that may not appear 

 from the necessarily brief notices in many cases under species. 

 The present opportunity is taken to impress on correspondents 

 again, the desirability of extending the inquiry, so as to 

 embrace all the phenomena of bird-life in Scotland to which 

 their attention may be directed, or which may come under 

 their observation. 



Throughout the following pages reference will be found 

 from time to time to considerable movements which took 

 place during the year. Among them the most notable is 

 the great rush of Turdidse, Wheatears, Robins, Chaffinches, 

 etc., which is reported simultaneously from Dunrossness and 

 Lerwick in Shetland and the Pentland Skerries, Orkney. 

 This " rush" followed upon a change of wind to the S.E., 

 which took place between the I 2th and I3th of April. The 

 wind blew strongly from that quarter for five or six days, 



