ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 185 



Tree Sparrows in West Lothian. A small party of Tree- 

 Sparrows (Passer inontanus\ which were first seen by me last winter, 

 have remained in the district to breed. I have found the nesting 

 quarters of three pairs and have no doubt there are more. I ex- 

 amined a clutch of five eggs, which were partly incubated eggs, on 

 1 8th May last. Perhaps you might like to note this in the 

 " Annals," as the bird has apparently not been known to nest in West 

 Lothian before. SYDNEY E. BROCK, Kirkliston. 



Wryneck in the Island of Lewis. A Wryneck (lynx torquilla] 

 was obtained near Aignish, a crofting township between four and 

 five miles south of Tiumpan Head Lighthouse. It was sent to Mr. 

 M'Leay, Inverness, for preservation, and received by him 28th August 

 1905, and was seen there by Mr. Duncan Mackenzie of the Royal 

 Hotel, Stornoway. Mr. Mackenzie suggests that the new Light- 

 house may serve as a special attraction to migrants, and guide 

 them into Broad Bay, and to the Eye Peninsula. J. A. HARVIE- 

 BROWN. 



On the Occurrence of the Roller, and other Notes from Brora, 

 Sutherland. It will interest your readers to hear that on 2Sth May 

 I saw a Roller (Coracias garrit/a) at Balnacoil on the Brora. I think 

 it was a male bird, as its plumage was very bright. I saw it again 

 the next day, and believe it remained about for several days. It 

 seemed to be getting a good supply of food on the ground. Its 

 favourite perch was far out on a bare branch, and it never remained 

 long on the ground. Its flight at times was rather like a wood- 

 cock, at others like a pigeon. It is the first I have ever seen up 

 here, but I believe there is a specimen in the Museum at Dunrobin. 

 I have seen them in Somaliland. This bird did not emit any 

 sound, but in Africa I sometimes found them very noisy. It may 

 interest you, too, to hear that Hedgehogs (Erinacetis europaus} seem 

 to be on the increase in this part of Sutherland. I found three 

 dead within the last two months on the bank of the river, and we 

 have got two others in vermin traps. Some years ago they were very 

 scarce. We had 5 Whooper Swans on the loch here for about ten 

 days, and our old tame Swan was very much annoyed with them. 

 Whoopers do not often come here. FRANCIS G. GUNNIS, Brora. 



Iceland Falcon in Lewis. An Iceland Falcon (Falco islandus) 

 was obtained on Eye Peninsula, Lewis, a mile south of Tiumpan 

 Head, on 28th February. It had been seen for some days prior to 

 that date. It had been sent to Mr. M'Leay for preservation, and 

 was seen there by Mr. Duncan Mackenzie. 



Mr. Mackenzie adds " There were a few Iceland Gulls about 

 as usual during the winter of 1905-6, and I observed what I 

 considered unusual numbers of Purple Sandpipers."- -J. A. HARVIE- 

 BROWN. 



