NOTES 69 



glossy, purple breast. The Capercaillie is undoubtedly extending 

 its range in the west, and as the female is generally the first to 

 appear on the new ground, hybrids between it and the Blackcock 

 may be expected from these localities. Charles Kirk, Glasgow. 



Smews in Moray Area. On 16th January 1912, in a 

 sheltered bay of the Beauly Firth, I had the pleasure of watching 

 a fine adult o* Smew disporting itself unconcernedly, till it was 

 moved .by the vicious swoops of a Herring Gull. This bird, or 

 another, was pricked by a gunner, and remained in the Beauly 

 Firth till 6th July. In the end of January it is interesting to note 

 that a $ Smew was procured at Dava (see Scottish Naturalist, 

 19 1 2, p. 91). An immature Smew was seen by Mr W. Berry of 

 Lentran, on Loch Spynie, on 14th December last. Annie C. 

 Jackson, Swordale. 



Green Sandpiper in Dumbartonshire. Mr Robert Neaves 

 has sent us a Green Sandpiper which he secured on 9th January 

 at Gartshore, near Kirkintilloch. The bird is a female, and from 

 the dull yellowish white of the spots on the upper surface, is 

 evidently a last year's bird. The outer tail feathers, too, show an 

 unusual amount of dark, whereas on the adult these are entirely 

 white. Mr Neaves is of opinion that he first saw this bird early in 

 December, and later on, about 1st January. It frequented a certain 

 disused old quarry, in which there was always to be found an 

 amount of stagnant water and mud, and it was here that the bird 

 was finally secured. Geo. Stout and Harry Duncan, Glasgow. 



Manx Shearwater inland, in Ayrshire. On 20th 



September 191 2, a Manx Shearwater was picked up behind one 

 of the butts after a grouse drive on the Lanfine moor in Ayrshire. 

 The bird was in good condition, and must have come over during 

 the drive, as shot marks were found in it when skinned. The 

 moor where it was killed is 22 miles "as the crow flies" from the 

 sea. M. Bedford, Woburn. 



Pox Shark off Barra. Mr L. G. Esson has just sent me 

 information of an unrecorded capture by an Aberdeen trawler of a 

 Fox or Thresher Shark {Alopecias vulpes) off Barra. The fish was 

 caught in 25 fathoms of water close to the east side of the island 

 in November 191 1. It appears to have been an exceedingly large 

 specimen, for the tail, which has been preserved, measures 6 ft. 

 10 in., and the backbone 4 ft. 7 in. dimensions which would 

 indicate that the shark must have had a total length of ah/tap ; 



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