i 5 2 the scottish naturalist 



Summer and Nesting. 



This year, as was the case last year, the returns sent are 

 less numerous than in better times, but the correspondents 

 who have kept notes of nesting have sent such a good 

 series, that we hope the information under this heading will 

 be but little behind that of former years. 



A great increase in the number of Linnets is noted in 

 East Fife and in the neighbourhood of Dundee ; in the latter 

 locality, in addition to Linnets, Corn-buntings, Shelduck, 

 Shoveller, Pochard, Tufted Duck, and Black-headed Gulls 

 have all increased, and Spotted Flycatchers were more 

 numerous than usual near Largo. From Inverewe, West 

 Ross, we hear that Golden Eagles, Starlings, Bullfinches, 

 Eider, and Merganser are all increasing, especially the last 

 two species mentioned, and there is also an increase of 

 breeding Eider reported from Tentsmuir (North Fife). 

 Pipits were very numerous on the Isle of May this year, and 

 a good many hatched out two broods of young; both Rock 

 and Meadow Pipits breed on the island, but our correspondent 

 there does not say if the increase was more noticeable in the 

 case of one than the other. Sedge Warblers were more 

 numerous at Possil Marsh than in 191 5 (2. viii. 61), Stock- 

 doves are becoming more common and widely spread in both 

 North and South Fife, while from Kirkmichael we hear that 

 Spotted Flycatchers, Willow-warblers, Lapwings, Golden 

 Plover, Common Sandpiper, and Curlew are" more numerous, 

 the Plovers specially so," and there is a great increase of 

 Woodcock in Lauderdale. Guillemots are believed to have 

 been more numerous at North Unst than in previous years, 

 while from Cullen we have the following note : " Capercaillie 

 are on the increase, but the keepers try to shoot them down, 

 as, since they appeared, Blackgame have disappeared." In 

 the winter number of Bird Notes and News Great Skuas are 

 reported to have had a good breeding season, while Red- 

 necked Phalaropes are increasing considerably in numbers. 

 In a few cases the scarcity of some species this year may be 

 directly attributable to the heavy storm of rain which took 

 place on 7th and 8th July. This was certainly so with 



