156 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



For the examination of a specimen with the hand-lens a 

 good h'ght, preferably a window facing north, is essential, 

 while the pin carrying the fly should be stuck into a small 

 bung of cork and held in one hand w-hile the lens is held 

 in the other. To observe details of body-markings and 

 bristle-arrangement it is most advisable to hold the fly with 

 the tip of the abdonie7i towards tJie light, while for the 

 discernment of wing-neuration, outlines, plumosity of the 

 antennal arista, hairiness of the eyes, and so on, the insect 

 must be held between the eyes and the light (sky or artificial 

 light). To avoid the discomfort of raising the specimen 

 above the level of the eyes, and the throwing back of 

 the head for this purpose, the very simple expedient of 

 laying a small mirror (say 6x3 inches) flat on the table 

 in front of one will be found a great boon. The mirror 

 reflects the light from the sky (and usually the brightest 

 part of it), and one has merely to hold the fly between it and 

 the eyes to get as good a view of the details in question 

 as can be required, and in the most comfortable position 

 possible. When working by artificial light {e.g.^ gas or electric 

 table lamp) a slight tilting or other adjustment of the mirror 

 is all that is required to secure the same convenient result. 



White Snipe and Ruff in Tiree. A white Snipe was shot 

 here in the last week of January 1919 ; it was a very pretty bird, pure 

 white, except for two bright marled yellow feathers in the centre of the 

 tail, and two of the same colour on the lower back. The eyes were 

 normal. A Ruff was also obtained in August 191 8 out of a reedy 

 bog ; I have seen one or two Reeves here before, but they were wading 

 in shallow tarns or pools, whereas this Ruff got up out of a very rough 

 bog with reeds four or five feet high. Peter Anderson, Tiree. 



Oapercaillie in Montrose. On Sunday evening (13th April 

 1919), about 6.45 P.M., what may be termed a very unusual occurrence 

 happened here. A hen Capercaillie was brought to me, freshly 

 killed in fact it had only just died when I saw it. It was seen to 

 fly against the telephone wires near the post office, and was alive 

 when picked up. Although numerous a few miles from here, it is 

 difficult to account for the bird being down on the coast and in 

 the centre of the town. As we know many birds are killed by the 

 wires, but a bird like a Capercaillie is about the last one would 

 expect in a town the size of Montrose. It was in excellent 

 condition and plumage. R. W. Thomas Ewart, Montrose. 



