14 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



by Mr. Eagle Clarke in the " Annals " for that year (pp. 

 195-197), on the "History of the Hawfinch as a Scottish 

 Species," and that subsequently an adult Hawfinch was 

 recorded as having been picked up dead in a shrubbery at 

 the same place. Mr. Eagle Clarke, in noting the latter 

 occurrence, expressed the opinion that we should in future 

 be warranted in considering it as among our probable home- 

 breeders, a surmise that has now been verified. 



It is interesting to note that, as at Arniston, the parent 

 birds were able to escape observation during the whole of 

 the nesting time, although they must have been living for 

 weeks in the immediate neighbourhood of this dwelling-house, 

 and within a short distance of observers both interested and 

 competent. It is indeed believed that one of them came to 

 be fed with some other birds at the house door durine a 



o 



spell of hard weather in the end of April ; at all events, a 

 momentary glimpse was obtained of a bird that seemed to 

 answer to the description of the Hawfinch, but it was im- 

 possible to identify the bird satisfactorily on that occasion, 

 and it was not seen again. It is much to be hoped that 

 these birds, and perhaps their progeny, will return to breed 

 in East Fifeshire in future years, and that they may again 

 be successful in rearing their broods undisturbed. The nest 

 was composed of dried grass-stems, moss, and a few twigs ; no 

 roots. In shape it was shallow, not very strongly built, but, 

 of course, a good deal knocked about by the weather ; very 

 shallow externally, internal diameter 3 inches. The egg was 

 pale bluish-green, with a few streaks and spots of purplish- 

 brown. 



ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE LITTLE BUN- 

 TING (EMBER1ZA PUSILLA] IN ORKNEY: 

 AN ADDITION TO THE SCOTTISH AVI- 

 FAUNA. 



By WILLIAM EAGLE CLARKE. 



ALTHOUGH a circumstance to which too much importance 

 must not be attached, it is, nevertheless, both pleasurable and 

 interesting to be able to record an addition to our avifauna. 



