94 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



Addenda and Correction to List of North Uist Birds. 



Re my notes on North Uist, which began in The Scottish Naturalist 

 of November 1918, I find I have overlooked important facts 

 concerning Monach Lighthouse. 



In the Vertebrate Fauna of the Outer Hebrides (1S8S), Appendix 

 D, p. 251, the following were accepted as good : 



Bluethroat {Cyanecula suecica), Linn., nth October 1888. 

 Redstarts {Ruticitta phmuicurus'), Linn., 28th September and 



ist October 1888. 

 Golden-crested Wren {Regulus cristatus), K. L. Koch, 12th 



May 1888. 

 Brambling {Fringilla nwntifri/igilia), Linn., 29th April 1888. 

 Barn Owl {Strix JIammea), Linn. Undated. 



These observations, made by Mr Joseph Agnew, lighthouse- 

 keeper at Monach, are of great importance. 



Ref. p. 251 The Scottish Naturalist, 1918, my remarks }-e 

 Pyrrhocorax graculus, Linn., should be enclosed by brackets. 

 Thus the total number of species, as having occurred, should read 

 151 with the addition of eight doubtful examples. Fred. S. 

 Beveridge. 



Smews off the Aberdeenshire Coast. On the afternoon of 

 i8th April 1919, I was sitting on Craig Ewan Point, just north of 

 Peterhead, when I saw four Smews a little distance out to sea. I 

 was there for about three hours, and the birds were still there 

 when I left. The white heads, necks, and bodies of the three male 

 birds were plainly to be seen, with the black patch at back of head 

 and lines of black nearly meeting across the breast. The female's 

 rufous head and white body could be easily distinguished. 

 The male birds dived frequently and very quickly, remaining 

 under water for a few seconds each time. The female seldom dived. 

 All four birds constantly stood upright in the water, beating 

 their wings rapidly. There were very few birds about that afternoon ; 

 one Red-throated Diver sailed up to the Smews, but was disturbed 

 by some boats a little way off. A week before, there had been a 

 flock of fifty Turnstones and about eighteen Redshanks on the 

 foreshore, but the holiday-makers had scared away all the birds ; 

 only a couple of Rock Pipits recently arrived were left there. 

 During the last fortnight, Larks, Meadow and Rock Pipits, and one 

 female Wheatear have arrived. This easternmost point of Scotland 

 is too bleak and bare for winter birds ; there is so little shelter for 

 them. Mary G. S. Best, F.Z.S., W.R.N.S. 



