BIRDS OBSERVED IN SOUTHERN SHETLAND 9 



numbers did not increase on this loch during our stay, nor 

 were they numerous elsewhere. The largest number seen was 

 eighteen on a small loch near the east shore on the 2Oth. 

 Several were noted in the bays of Troswick and Virkie feeding 

 at the edge of the tide. 



The birds seen were evidently only a few of the van, the 

 great flight not arriving from the north until later in the autumn 

 a remark which also applies to all the species of duck that 

 came under our observation. With the exception of a few males 

 in change, all the Wigeon seen were in the plumage of the 

 female. 



SCAUP-DUCK, Fuligula marila. An adult male and female arrived 

 on Loch Clumlie a sheet of freshwater in Eastern Dunrossness, 

 and near to the sea on the i3th, and were to be seen there 

 up to the date of our departure. 



This note may be useful, since there appears to be little or 

 no definite information regarding the date of arrival of this 

 species in Shetland in the autumn. 



GOLDEN- EYE, Clangula glaudon. A pair of Golden-eye, in the 

 plumage of the female, arrived on Loch Spiggie on the i4th, 

 and were observed there, without their numbers being added to, 

 during the remainder of our visit. 



This duck is a common winter visitor to Loch Spiggie, 

 and above-mentioned date records its arrival for the autumn of 

 1900. 



QUAIL, Cotnrnix communis. A nest of this species, containing nine 

 fresh eggs, was discovered, and the bird seen, among some oats 

 which were being cut near Scousburgh on the i3th. The 

 eggs were shown to us. 



Although a remarkably late date for such an occurrence, 

 yet it is not unprecedented ; indeed, it is eclipsed by an Unst 

 record of a nest and eggs found on the 25th September 1868 

 (Saxby, "Birds of Shetland," p. 155). 



WATERMEN, Gallimda chloropus. We found the Waterhen fairly 

 common at Hillwell Loch. This is apparently a new locality 

 for this species in Dunrossness. The bird is increasing in 

 numbers in Southern Shetland, and is now quite common in 

 the marsh at the head of Loch Spiggie. 



COOT, Fulica atra. This is another species which is spreading and 

 increasing in Dunrossness. It is now not uncommon on Loch 

 Clumlie, an unrecorded haunt for the bird in the district. 



GREY PLOVER, Squatarola helvetica. A bird of the year was 

 obtained at the Pool of Virkie on the iSth. It was alone, 

 and, when examined with the aid of binoculars, was taken for 



