ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 247 



breeding extensively. All the Woodcocks were taking cover in thick 

 bracken, on the moors. 



We have seen Woodcocks here in every month of the year, but 

 have never in August seen the amount we have seen this year. As 

 regards Snipe (Gallinago ccelestis], these birds are more than usually 

 plentiful in this locality. I should say they are nearly three to one 

 more numerous than I have ever seen before. HUGH S. GLAD- 

 STONE, Thornhill. 



Killdeer Plover at Peterhead in 1867. While overhauling the 

 bird collections in the University Museum, Aberdeen, in July last, 

 I discovered a specimen of the Killdeer Plover (sEgialitis vocifera). 

 It is apparently an adult, though not in absolutely perfect 

 plumage, of course it is now much soiled with age and dust, but 

 apart from this it is not a clearly marked specimen. It bore a 

 label, old and yellow, which ran as follows : " Charadrius hiaticula, 

 Ringed Dotterel, shot at Peterhead, by Andrew Murray, jun., Esq., 

 1867." You will notice that the month in which the bird was 

 killed is not stated. Since no one at the time ever had any 

 suspicions that this bird was anything other than what it seemed I 

 don't think there can be any question as to its genuineness. This 

 therefore now ranks as the first British killed specimen. 



Professor J. Arthur Thomson, to make sure, very kindly inter- 

 viewed Mr. Andrew Murray for me. He, as one would have 

 expected, had no recollection of shooting this particular bird, but said 

 that at that time he did a good lot of shore shooting, and presented 

 several small waders and other birds to the Museum. This was 

 apparently one of them. W. P. PYCRAFT, South Kensington. 



Whimbrels in "Forth." An old bird (male), Denny Hills, loth 

 September 1904. The only one seen on that day. Wind north- 

 north-west. Bird flying south-west or thereby when shot. 



Whimbrels usually migrate by this route in autumn from i ;th 

 to 22nd August (or thereby), these are young birds in flocks, 

 tame and fly low, and do not often pitch on the moor, then there 

 is a short pause. 



Old birds follow singly, or in at most companies of two or 

 three together. These fly higher, often pitch on the moors, and 

 remain a day or two, they are much wilder and not so easily 

 " called." 



The bulk of migration here is over by the first week in September, 

 and this specimen is a late one. 



This specimen has been sent to the Edinburgh Museum of 

 Science and Art in the flesh, same day as shot, as the Museum 

 desired specimens. J. A. HARVIE-BROWN. 



Late appearance of the Iceland Gull on the coast of Mull. 



An immature Iceland Gull (Larus leucopterus) was observed by me 



