ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 181 



Smew and other Birds in Shetland. An immature Smew 

 { Mergus albellus) was shot on Loch Spiggie, on the i4th of February 

 last, and is the second specimen of this species that I have ever 

 seen here. On the ist of January, a Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) 

 was observed, and a specimen found dead on the i6th was probably 

 the same bird. It had struck against a wire fence and injured its 

 breast. On the ist of February, a Redbreast (Erithacus rubecula) 

 appeared, the first I have seen for a long time. On the i2th of 

 January, a Swan was noted in the loch, which, from its small size 

 and the colour of its bill, I believe to be a Bewick's Swan. We 

 had a visit from a Woodpigeon (Coliunba palumbiis] and a Chaffinch 

 (Fringilla avkbs) during the winter. We rarely see these species 

 here after the early part of December. THOMAS HENDERSON, Jun., 

 Dunrossness. 



Marsh Tit nesting in West Lothian. In passing through a wood- 

 strip near Bo'ness on the morning of xoth June, I was attracted 

 by the characteristic " chay, chay, chay " of a Marsh Tit (Pants 

 palustris), and on looking in the direction of the sound I saw one 

 of these birds flitting about with food in its bill. In a few minutes 

 I found the nest-hole in the stump of a tree, and, breaking away 

 the bark, I displayed to view a group of seven or eight young Marsh 

 Tits, nearly full-fledged. I examined the brood, then repaired the 

 hole as well as I could ROBERT GODFREY, Bo'ness. 



Great Spotted Woodpecker in East Lothian. On i5th May 

 Mr. Tunnard, while fishing at Presmennan Lake, both heard and 

 saw a Greater Spotted Woodpecker (Dcndrocopus major}. I have 

 not heard of its occurrence in this neighbourhood for many years, 

 and never before during the nesting season. Turnbull, in his 

 ; ' Birds of East Lothian," states, " Very rare ; I have shot it twice 

 in Gladsmuir Woods. It has also occurred near Pitcox, the late 

 Dr. Nelson having obtained one or two specimens there." The last 

 mentioned locality is close to Presmennan. ARCHIBALD BUCHAN- 

 HEPBURN, Smeaton-Hepburn, East Lothian. 



[This would seem to indicate an interesting extension of the 

 bird's present breeding range in Scotland. Hitherto it has only 

 been known to breed at Duns, in Berwickshire. We are informed 

 by Mr. Charles Campbell that this bird is believed to have been 

 seen at Dalmeny during June of this year. EDS.] 



Persecution of the Gannet on the Bass Rock. A correspondent, 

 who has recently visited the Bass Rock, draws our attention to the 

 shameful treatment the Gannets are receiving at the hands of the 

 numerous workmen engaged in the erection of the lighthouse on 

 that island. These men not only take large numbers of eggs, but 

 amuse themselves by pelting the birds to death with stones. Our 



