REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN I917 177 



May, single birds at Lerwick and Foula on 10th, four at Lerwick, 

 and several at Fair Isle on 14th, and four at North Unst on 16th 

 May, while on 16th July one visited Galson (O.H.). 



On 4th August passage to the east is reported at Dundee, and 

 westward movement at the same station from 10th August to 30th 

 September. A large exodus took place in the last week of August, 

 and departure is recorded throughout September. The October 

 records are several in Largo on the 4th, one at Eyemouth on 7th 

 and nth, and a few going west at Dundee on 14th October. 



The Sand-martin, Riparia riparia riparia. No species 

 shows the influence of the season more strongly than the Sand- 

 martin, the records of its arrival in 191 7 being much later than any 

 with which we have had to deal. The earliest are from Summerston 

 on 23rd April, Possil Marsh next day, Little Ross on the 26th and 

 Duns on 27th April, Edinburgh on 30th April, the Tummel, Darvel, 

 and Swordale (E. Ross) on 1st May, while in the early days of May 

 many records of arrival come from all parts of Scotland. The only 

 reports from our outlying isles are of single birds from Swona on 

 3rd and Fair Isle on 12th May. 



From 22nd July to the end of August there are many records of 

 movement from mainland stations, the direction of flight when 

 noted being chiefly westerly. Last seen at Beith on 4th September, 

 Balhousie near Largo on 14th, Largo Bay on 23rd September, and 

 Little Ross on 6th October. 



The Swift, Apus apus apus. This species being normally late 

 in arriving in this country was less delayed in its movements than 

 the other summer visitors of 191 7. The earliest records come from 

 Beith on 30th April, Bathgate, Bardowie Loch, Collessie, and 

 Morningside on 1st May, Kilmacolm, Laurencekirk, Duns, and 

 Melrose next day, and Pitlochry on 3rd May. After this arrivals 

 are reported up to 24th May, by which time our breeding birds 

 seem all to have been present. A Swift is noted at Foula on 

 4th May, one was killed at the Pladda lantern on 21st May, and 

 two are recorded from Galson (O.H.) on 29th June. 



A good many Swifts left us during July, and there are steady 

 notes of departure during August. What was probably passage 

 migration is reported from Swona, Hellyar Holm, and North Unst 

 from 16th August to 26th September. Last seen at Melrose on 29th 

 August, Arbroath and the Isle of May on 12th September, Largo 

 and Muirend (1. 1918, 21) on 15th, and Eyemouth on 18th 

 September, while a very belated Swift was seen near Dalmeny 

 House on 24th October and 13th November (1. 1918, 34). 

 79 AND SO X 



