160 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



joined a little later by two House Martins. A single Chaf- 

 finch (Fringilla ccelebs} in the garden. Sept. 16. Damp 

 morning ; frequent showers ; the wind rose towards afternoon, 

 and by I 2 P.M. it was blowing a perfect gale from the S.S.W. 

 I shot a Tree Pipit ; it was alone and on the ground, appar- 

 ently seeking for food, when I came on it. Still a few Red- 

 starts and Willow Wrens and a single immature Blackcap 

 haunting the garden. Sept. 17. Dull morning; very wet 

 afternoon ; wind S., and at 10.30 P.M. blowing strong from 

 the S.E. Traill, who returned from Sanday this morning, 

 informs me that several lots of small birds passed close to 

 his boat, heading south ; he could not determine the species. 

 Sept. i 8. Wind S.W. ; very stormy in morning ; moderate 

 towards afternoon. Traill and myself noticed a small gray 

 bird in the garden this morning ; it was very wary, and kept 

 well in cover. After rather a protracted pursuit all over the 

 place, I managed to get a shot and secured a Lesser White- 

 throat (Sylvia cnrruca) ; I fancy this is new to Orkney, as I 

 can find no mention of it in Messrs. Harvie-Brown and 

 Buckley's " Fauna." The bird on dissection proved to be a 

 female. I find, however, that I have the skin of a Lesser 

 Whitethroat shot by myself in North Ronaldshay, dated 4th 

 Oct. 1893. These are the only two of the species that have 

 come under my notice. Sept. 19. Day fine, with very little 

 wind. Crossed the firth to Sanday on our way home. In the 

 morning, before leaving the island, I had a last look round 

 the garden. The only strangers I saw were two Redstarts and 

 a Willow Warbler. On 6th Oct. D. Knight, Mr. Traill's 

 man, shot a Pink-footed Goose (Anscr brachyrhynchus] ; the 

 bird was alone when shot. It was sent on to St. Andrews, 

 where I saw it ; it appeared to be an old bird, but was in too 

 high a state to be of use. This species would appear to be 

 of rare occurrence in the Orkneys, Messrs. Harvie-Brown and 

 Buckley in their "Fauna" only mentioning three different occa- 

 sions on which it had been seen. 



