REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN I918 107 



Yellow-hammer, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Curlew and 

 Teal, all with eggs. Many of the above nests were lost 

 owing to late heather burning. Stonechats had six young 

 a day or two old on the 17th at Stranraer. 



On the 6th of May the first Razorbill's egg was seen 

 on the cliffs of the Isle of May. On the 8th a nest of Black 

 Grouse was found at Corsemalzie, among dead bracken, 

 containing seven eggs ; these were well covered with bits 

 of bracken. On the i6th the nest contained sixteen similar 

 eggs, and it is suggested that two birds were laying in 

 the same nest. Eight of the eggs hatched out on i6th 

 June, the rest in various stages of incubation being eaten 

 by Rooks. On 13th May a Little Grebe's nest with seven 

 eggs was found at Loch Elrig (Wigtownshire). No young 

 Cormorants were hatched at the nesting-place in Mochrum 

 Loch (Wigtown) on 20th May; on the same date in 1917 

 quite big young were seen. Throughout May come notes 

 of nesting of the late breeding birds, while the earlier species 

 were seen with young birds. A Mallard with nine young 

 ones, and " a few nests with young Shags," are reported 

 from North Unst on 26th and 27th May respectively. Pied 

 Wagtails are noted from Westray (Orkney) in June and July, 

 and in these months and part of August, Gannets were 

 seen daily on a skerry south-west of the Muckle Flugga 

 Lighthouse, North Unst. In June we have records of 

 young of many birds being seen. The nests and eggs of 

 Gulls, Terns, and Warblers are reported from many 

 stations, and some second broods of our earlier birds are 

 noted. A Coot at Loch Chesney (Wigtownshire) had a 

 nest with five eggs, within five yards of an old nest, these 

 hatched on 14th May, and a Cuckoo's egg was found in 

 the nest of a Reed-bunting at Mochrum Loch (Wigtown); 

 it was reddish brown. At Corsemalzie five eggs of a 

 Spotted Flycatcher, in an advanced state of incubation, 

 were taken from a nest on loth June; by the 23rd five 

 more were laid in the same nest. Other notes sent durinsf 

 the month deal with normal progress of nesting and 

 rearing of young, and do not call for special notice here. 

 By July the nesting season is practically at an end, and 



