278 PROCEEDINGS OP THE 



Stirling and Perth : Kincardine on Forth : A flock of about 

 twenty were observed here, for some days, about the beginning of 

 October. They were very tame. One was shot, and preserved by 

 Mr. M'Culloch, of Glasgow: this bird had remained some days 

 after the others left, having been probably previously wounded. 

 Several Skuas of other species were also observed here about the 

 same time. 



Berwickshire : Berwick : Great numbers were observed here, 

 and upwards of thirty were shot at Spittal point, immediately 

 across the border. One was also shot at Newton, in the county, 

 as recorded by Dr. Traquair in Proc. R. Phys. Soc, Edin., 1879-80. 



On the West Coast of Scotland I have only notices from one or 

 two districts. 



Inverness, insular : North Uist Island : One was shot here, 

 about 26th October, by Mr. Macdonald, factor to Sir J. W. P. 

 Campbell Orde. 



Bute : Mr. A. M'Cunn, shipbuilder, Greenock, obtained five, and 

 saw other three, in Kilchattan Bay, in this island, in October. 



Renfrew, Argyll, and Dumbarton: Considerable numbers 

 appeared in the course of the autumn in the Clyde estuary. Mr. 

 Clunie, naturalist, Greenock, passed about 14 through his hands, 

 which had been killed at various points between Cardross, on the 

 Clyde, and Dunoon. Numbers were seen in Gourock Bay, Dr. 

 Leitch of that place having observed upwards of 20. These were in 

 two flocks, one of eight and the other of twelve. They were 

 accompanied by some common Skuas, which, however, kept a little 

 apart from them. One of the Pomatorhine species was captured 

 in a somewhat curious manner; the person who fired at it having 

 missed, it rose and flew a couple of yards only, and then allowed 

 itself to be taken by hand, having apparently been paralysed by 

 fear. A few were observed even as late as 14th February. 



Dumfries : This is the only other western county from which I 

 have any information, one having been shot, early in October, in 

 Hensol meadow, near the town of Dumfries. 



Keeping, as usual, principally to the east coast, it is worthy of 

 remark that fewer than usual were observed in Ireland, none 

 having been seen by Mr. R. Warren on the north-west of that 

 island during last season, where, as above observed, it is a usual 

 autumn visitant. Doubtless this fact, as well as its appearance in 

 so great numbers, is to be attributed to the same cause — namely, 



