ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 237 



we could plainly see the tall (our estimate three and a half feet) 

 dorsal fin, with a prominent hook, and a white patch in the region 

 of the head. We watched them for a considerable time. On my 

 return I looked up the literature of the subject, and have no doubt 

 but that the whales were Killers (Orca gladiator). I cannot recall 

 any record of the Killer or Grampus occurring in this area, but the 

 " Finners," well known to yachtsmen, will probably frequently be 

 referable to this species, although they remain undistinguished. 

 JOHN PATERSON, Glasgow. 



Prosecution under the Wild Birds' Protection Acts. At 



Cupar, on 5th July, before Sheriff-Substitute Armour, Alexander 

 Greig and Christopher Neilson, labourers, Tay Street, Newport, 

 admitted having taken eighty Terns' eggs at Tentsmuir, contrary to 

 the Order of the Secretary for Scotland, for the Protection of Wild 

 Birds and their Eggs on Tentsmuir. A fine of \ : 45., or seven 

 days' imprisonment, was imposed on each of the offenders. 



Migrant Wagtails at Peterhead. Migrant wagtails are a feature 

 of the Peterhead district during the latter three weeks of August. 

 They are everywhere in family parties, which, as the season goes on, 

 unite into flocks of about twenty. The fields where the fishermen 

 spread their herring-nets are a great attraction for these Pied Wag- 

 tails (Motacilla lugubris\ but the most unobserving notice them by 

 the side of small streams or catching flies amid the turnip-fields. They 

 have always struck me as birds that migrate very slowly. Mixed up 

 with them is a fair number of Gray Wagtails (Motacilla mclaiwpc), 

 but these generally prefer to migrate later in the season. It is but 

 rarely you notice the Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla rayi) with them, 

 although they breed in the neighbourhood. Let me add that some 

 years ago, when I resided in Leith, I used to see hundreds of Pied 

 Wagtails, during September, sitting down for their night's rest in 

 nurseries close to the Botanic Gardens and Fettes College. Often 

 I used to go along to see them coming in from all quarters, 

 and regularly before retiring to rest they used to sit in crowds 

 balancing themselves on the wires, or ran in little squadrons along 

 the road. WILLIAM SERLE, Peterhead. 



A Habit of the Black-headed Gull. Did any of your readers 

 ever note that habit of this gull of fast pattering with its feet in the 

 shallows ? Lately I was frequently down on the beach opposite 

 Cramond Island. Here the tide goes far back, and leaves shallow 

 pools. In these pools the gulls stood "beating time" in the most 

 rapid manner, and so making the water muddy. It seemed to be 

 as much a piece of diversion as a means of snatching any food that 

 might be stirred up. WILLIAM SERLE, Peterhead. 



Introduction of the Capereaillie into Inverness-shire. Three 

 years ago Mr. Dalziel Mackenzie of Farr made an attempt to intro- 



