2Q2 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



Orkneys. As reported in The Scotsman of 3rd October, 

 a specimen was captured at Papa Westray during the last 

 week of September. 



SHETLANDS. Mr W. Fotheringham, Lerwick, writes us 

 as follows : " This year the Convolvulus Hawk - moth 

 was very plentiful in the north. We had an enormous 

 number in Shetland." 



Dr T. Edmondston Saxby, Halligarth, Balta Sound, 

 kindly sent t\vo specimens, accompanied by the following 

 remarks: "26th August 191 7. By same post I am sending 

 you a large moth which I take to be the 'Convolvulus' 

 Moth, caught in the honeysuckle on the front of our house 

 at 8.15 P.M. G. M. T. (not summer time), yesterday by my 

 brother, Captain S. L. Saxby." "27th August 1917. This 

 specimen [the second one sent] caught at Quoyhouse, Unst, 

 on Saturday night, and brought over to me to-day, is one of 

 many which have been seen and captured during the 

 last few days. I hear of five which have been caught, 

 and I've seen three of them, all the same kind." 



Migration by River. Migration manifests itself in many 

 forms. One that we had hitherto not had the opportunity of 

 observing was the method by which young duck travel from the 

 inland places, where they have been bred, towards the sea. 



While at Aberfoyle from 6th to 13th August we had the chance of 

 seeing a movement of this kind. There were several thunderstorms 

 on nth August, accompanied by heavy rain which lasted till 

 midday on the 12th, and on this latter day the rivers were running 

 very big. On the swollen waters of the Duchray and the Laggan 

 parties of duck were travelling down-river ; we saw young Mallard 

 almost fully feathered, and family parties of Goosander and 

 Merganser, the young being still in down with feathers just 

 beginning to show. They travelled steadily down stream, though 

 sometimes stopping in the back-waters or making their way on to 

 the grassy banks. They were not being carried away by the water : 

 when frightened they could turn and swim against the current, even 

 where it was heaviest. All day they were passing in small numbers, 

 and on other days when the waters were lower the movement was 

 noted on a much smaller scale. Leonora Jeffrey Rintoul and 

 Evelyn V. Baxter, Largo. 



