120 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



Honey Buzzards in Aberdeenshire. On 23rd September 1901, 

 an immature Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) was shot near Port 

 Erroll ; and on the 3oth of the same month another was obtained 

 near Ellon. GEORGE SIM, Aberdeen. 



Grey-lag Geese in Wigtownshire. On iSth January I shot 

 a fine specimen of the Grey-lag Goose (Anser dnereus] near 

 Wigtown Hay. It was one of several hundred I saw on that 

 occasion. In the morning and early part of the day they fre- 

 quented the grass fields, but during mid-day they were to be seen 

 chiefly out on the mud flats, returning again to the fields as the 

 light began to fade. Their movements, however, are probably 

 considerably influenced by the state of the tide. On 25th February 

 my brother found them still in the same locality in large numbers, 

 and secured a second. These two weighed 8^ and 8 Ibs. respect- 

 ively. From what I have been able to gather I am of opinion 

 that the Grey-lag has been by far the most common species in 

 the district this winter. Mr. Howard Saunders in his " Manual " 

 states that "even in the Solway district the Grey-lag is seldom 

 seen." It would be interesting to know how far this is correct as 

 regards the Wigtownshire coast. J. M'L. MARSHALL, Portpatrick. 



Bean Goose in Galloway. On 8th February the head keeper 

 brought me two Bean Geese (Anser segetuni) which he had shot in 

 a turnip field above the village of Portpatrick. They were two out 

 of a lot of three, and weighed 7 Ibs. 2 ozs. and 5 Ibs. respectively. 

 Several other small lots of geese were reported to me as having 

 been seen about the same time, but to what species they belonged 

 I cannot say. J. M'L. MARSHALL, Portpatrick. 



Pintail breeding in Selkirkshire. On the i5th of May 1901, 

 while making a round of the lochs in the southern portion of 

 Selkirkshire, I discovered a nest of the Pintail (Dafila aatta), and 

 flushed the female off her eggs. I watched the bird and saw her 

 join the male on the loch close at hand. I am very well ac- 

 quainted with this species, having shot the bird many times in 

 Berwickshire. I examined the birds carefully with my field-glasses, 

 and there was no mistaking the species. I have reason to believe 

 that this was not the only nest of the Pintail found in the district 

 last season, for I have reliable information that a nest of seven eggs 

 was discovered, and that five young hatched out, and were seen at 

 the end of June or beginning of July, and were doing well. 

 W. RENTON. 



Snipe flocking in Benbeeula. Snipes (Gallinago ccelestis) 

 breed in these islands in considerable numbers every year. In 

 September the foreigners begin to come, and flights continue to 

 arrive during winter. In October 1899 I saw a most interesting 

 sight as I was driving between Howmore in South Uist and Loch- 



