NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 147 



mass of the localities where they have been recorded as shot on 

 migration, it seems more than likely that some of these obtained 

 are British bred birds, or British breeding birds. T am particular 

 in alluding to this here, as it is desirable to trace out the exact 

 lines of migration of individual species, and every record of service 

 in this direction may prove useful afterwards. 



Another Honey Buzzard was seen for some days frequenting 

 Penmanshiel Wood, near Oldcambus, Berwickshire, about the 

 18th September, as related to me by Mr. Hardy. 



Obs. Negative. No Buzzards or Goshawks were seen this 

 season — ] 878-79 — in North Berwick, where they often appear in 

 ordinary years, as I am informed by Mr. Jas. Hardy [op. cit. 

 5, ii., 79], Rare birds indeed are unusually scarce everywhere 

 this winter, for reasons already given — the suddenness, severity, 

 and early arrival of the winter. 



MERLIN. 



Falco aesalon (Tunstall). 



Accessions to their numbers were observed in the S.W. of 

 Scotland during the winter by Mr. Service. The species, he writes, 

 " became quite common." [Report of paper, he. cit.] 



SNOWY OWL. 



Nyctea scandiaca (Lin. J. 



Lately several White Owls, supposed to have come from Norway, 

 have been shot in Lewis [Glasgow Weekly Mail, 25th January, 

 1879]. It is still somewhat doubtful whence come the Snowy 

 Owls which visit Lewis almost every year.* 



1 Mr. John Cordeaux and myself have lately taken up the subject of 

 Migration of Birds upon our coasts, and by sanction of the Commissioners 

 of Northern Lights and Elder Brethren of the Trinity House, have enlisted 

 the services of the Lighthouse keepers to fill in circular schedules upon the 

 autumn migrations at the various stations, which are to be returned to our 

 hands by the 23rd of December. It is hoped and expected that a series of 

 such observations, extending over a number of years, and, taken in conjunc- 

 tion with similar ones taken in Heligoland by Herr Gaetke, and at other 

 localities, may in time result in a somewhat more perfect knowledge of the 

 migrations of various species of Birds, and also be found of use from a 

 meteorological point of view. I will be glad to correspond with any of our 



members regarding this subject, or to receive hints and notes at any time. 

 VOL, iv. L 



