54 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



interesting to learn of its ultimate success. Meanwhile no birds 

 have been shot on the property during 1901. 



We do not know what advice was given with regard to what 

 may appear to some to be trivial or of minor importance, such as 

 preparation of the ground, and the sources of supply of such a large 

 number of birds ; nor are we fully informed as to whether all of 

 the birds were supplied at one time, from one source, or from many. 

 We believe the proportions of males were about one to five females. 

 No doubt, however, we shall hear more later on. I am obliged to 

 Mr. J. Grierson for the above items of information. J. A. HARVIE- 

 BROWN. 



Grey Phalarope at Montrose. A Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus 

 fitlicarius) was received by Mr. Towns to be mounted, from Mr. 

 Collie, Montrose, which had been shot on the mud-flats of the tidal 

 basin. Mr. Milne of Auchenblae, to whom I am indebted for the 

 information, was told of the occurrence on the gth of September. 

 J. A. HARVIE-BROWN. 



Great Snipe in Shetland. At last I am able to record the 

 actual occurrence of the Great Snipe (G. major] in Shetland. Mr. 

 J. Grierson sent one to me in the flesh, which was shot by him 

 upon the 26th September, 1901, and it weighed S-] ozs. Now that 

 attention is called to the occurrence of this species during the early 

 autumn as a migrant in Shetland, it will be interesting to learn 

 more about its visits. I believe Dunrossness and the marshes of 

 Spiggie and Brou will be found to hold some birds almost every 

 year, say, during the last ten days of September. Their habit may 

 be, however, only to rest there for a day, or even less time, before 

 resuming their migratory flight southwards. J. A. HARVIE-BROWN. 



Occurrence of the Great Snipe in Orkney. While shooting 

 with two friends, during the month of September, in the Island of 

 Stronsay, Orkney, we flushed from a small patch of clover grass a 

 Great Snipe (Gallinago major], which we were fortunate enough to 

 secure. The bird rose within five yards of us and flew slowly, thus 

 presenting an easy shot. The weight of this specimen was a fraction 

 over seven ounces. About an hour later on the same day another 

 Great Snipe rose to us from a clump of reeds, and, although shot, 

 fell in a fresh-water loch about sixty yards from the shore, and was 

 irrecoverable, there being no boat on the loch, and the bottom of 

 the most treacherous description possible. The date on which 

 these birds were shot was 25th September. A considerable number 

 of Jack Snipe appeared just at this time. ROBERT B. BELL, Edin- 

 burgh. 



[A Great Snipe was shot near Castle Douglas during the past 

 autumn ; a Common Snipe and a Jack Snipe being also shot by the 

 same gun on the same day, but the date is not mentioned. EDS.] 



