274 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



The Snowy Owl in Elgin. After reading the report of 

 the birds, uncommon and otherwise, that have visited us in 

 191 7, I am tempted to record although a little belated in 

 the Scottish Naturalist the occurrence of the Snowy Owl {Nyctea 

 scandiaca) as being sufficiently rare to be worth noting. On 

 1 8th June a very fine specimen was got a little distance inland 

 from the lighthouse in Covesea rocks west of Lossiemouth. Three 

 days after it was got it weighed 4 lb. 8i oz. Length of bird 

 26 in., spread of wings 50 in. This bird was in grand condition, 

 plump and fat. However long or short its stay had been, it was 

 just in the spot for an abundant supply of young rabbits, to which 

 no doubt it helped itself freely. 



I may add that it has been beautifully set up and is a magnificent 

 specimen, and a great acquisition to the already extensive collection 

 of birds in the Elgin museum. Wm. Ogg, Duffus, Elgin. 



Snowy Owl, etc., in Aberdeenshire. When shooting near 

 Port Errol, on 7 th September 19 18, I saw a very large white owl 

 which I believe could only be the Snowy Owl. It passed within a 

 few yards. This owl has been observed formerly near there, and 

 was recorded many years ago. I also noted a pair of Richardson's 

 Skuas, and a great number of Whimbrel compared with 191 7. 



While shooting Rock-dove, from a boat near Whinnyfold, 

 Cruden Bay, on the same day, a Peregrine Falcon swooped down 

 to enter the pigeons' cave, passing within twenty yards of the boat. 

 Ernest Gordon Paterson, Cliff House, Cults. 



Woodcock carrying its Young. Often as I have read 

 discussions about Woodcock carrying their young, yet never having 

 observed the act myself, I had preserved an open mind upon the 

 point until 3rd August 1915. That morning in Houxty Wood, 

 within 100 yards of my house, I sprang a Woodcock close by, and 

 as it flew or rather flapped heavily across my front I observed 

 that it was carrying a young one beneath its body. The short beak 

 of the youngster, directed downwards at an angle of 45, with its 

 legs dangling below it, were clearly visible beneath the centre of 

 the parent bird. Nearly three months earlier (on 7th May), at 

 almost the identical spot, I had found young Woodcocks already 

 able to fly ; which tends to show that many Woodcock breed twice 

 a fact I only mention incidentally, since I have amply satisfied 

 myself of its correctness on several other occasions. The first eggs 

 are often laid by mid-March ; the second about the middle of June. 



The above circumstance I recorded at the time in our local 

 zoological journal, the Vascitlum. Abel Chapman, Houxty, Wark, 

 Northumberland. 



