162 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



unable to fly " owing to severe moult." An Oystercatcher 

 flying high to the east over the moor at Corsemalzie, five miles 

 inland on 4th July, stooped and circled at a Herring-gull, 

 calling loudly the while ; there, too, twenty Common and one 

 or two Black-headed Gulls on 25th March were feeding on 

 a patch of heather burnt the previous evening. Four 

 Common Gulls were seen on 13th June chasing a Meadow- 

 pipit, which was eventually caught and carried off (1. 1917, 91). 

 A female Pheasant at Corsemalzie on 19th January flying 

 down wind killed itself against a stone dyke, and another at 

 the same place on 12th June flew through the billiard-room 

 window, cutting itself so badly that it died. 



Migration, 

 summary of movements. 



January. 



January was unusually warm and a good deal of rain fell 

 throughout the month ; the wind was chiefly westerly and 

 often strong. 



The first three weeks of January showed little movement, 

 the most interesting items being records, during the first 

 week, of Starlings, Thrushes, Blackbirds, Golden Plover, 

 and Curlew at the Killantringan lantern. Having regard 

 to the mildness of the weather, we would not have expected 

 emigration (to Ireland ?) at this season. Possibly these 

 movements indicate immigration, the high temperature may 

 have induced an early return of the species mentioned. 



In the fourth week movements of Starlings, Skylarks, 

 Thrushes, and Blackbirds are recorded at the Little Ross 

 and Killantringan lanterns, and from 14th January onwards 

 spasmodic records of Little Auks come from both coast and 

 inland stations. 



February. 



The first week of February was mild; thereafter it became 

 colder, and a good deal of snow, hail, and rain are reported. 



