74 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



years 1892 and 191 1 many additional notes were contributed 

 by Mr Anderson to the Annals of Scottish Natural History. 

 These and all previous facts, together with any subsequent 

 records, will be found incorporated in the present contribu- 

 tion from Mr Peter Anderson, with any added remarks. 



In concluding these prefatory sentences I would like to 

 draw attention to the fact that Tiree lies directly in a 

 branch track of both autumn and spring migrants ; and 

 although the island has been well surveyed, both for its 

 summer {i.e. nesting) species and as regards its autumn and 

 winter sporting facilities, much, I believe, might yet be 

 accomplished by a trained student of ornithology who may 

 desire to investigate the subject of the biannual migrations. 

 Evidences of this " line " of flight are abundant, and others 

 at another place not altogether wide of it, may also be found 

 in the most interesting article in the Annals of Scottish 

 Natural History upon the Migration at the sea-rock Light- 

 house of Skerryvore, by the late Mr Tomison, who was an 

 experienced observer. A worker at Tiree would, I feel 

 convinced, have good opportunities of adding to our records 

 of migrational phenomena, apart from the great work 

 accomplished along the margins of the 100- fathom line by 

 Mr W. Eagle Clarke, and thus a new " link " be taken up. 



In going over Mr Anderson's notes and observations, I 

 desire to compliment him on the general interest and 

 accuracy of his records. There is one note, however, that 

 I cannot pass by without remark, and that is, as regards 

 his observations upon the "drumming" of the Common 

 Snipe. Proof of his observations would be vastly interest- 

 ing to ornithologists and to some of our enthusiastic bird- 

 watchers armed with the camera. The " kep-ik," " kep-ik " 

 note I have myself often heard, and have watched the birds 

 uttering it when perched on the very top leading-shoot 

 of a giant larch in Northern Russia, or on a fence or 

 wall in this country ; and the other note mentioned by Mr 

 Anderson is also familiar, as also of course the "scape" as it 

 rises from the ground in front of the sportsman. What 

 we would like to have distinctly proved is the statement 

 that the "drumming" or ".bleating" sound issues from 



