344 The Scottish Naturalist. 



east. Often one or two may be found on the beach, 

 killed by some means unknown. 



207. Great Northern Diver. Must be written down an un- 



common visitor to our shores. Occasionally a specimen 

 of this noble bird reaches the taxidermists. This year one 

 was caught in the salmon net at Elliot, two miles west 

 of Arbroath. The fishermen kept it alive in their bothy 

 for some time, but ultimately gave it its liberty. 



208. Black-throated Diver. Unknown here otherwise than 



as a visitor. 



209. Red-throated Diver. Got at times along the coast. 



I have one in my possession that was caught in a herring 

 net at sea by the crew of an Auchmithie boat. 



210. Great Crested Grebe. Known to be a casual visitor 



to the west and east ; but my district cannot claim it on 

 certain evidences. 



211. Eared Grebe. Occasionally met with westwards. 



212. Little Grebe. A rather rare bird. The only one that I 



have secured for my private collection was kindly pre- 

 sented to me by a friend in Friockheim, near whose 

 house it was procured. 



Ring-OUZel {Tardus turquatus L.) in Orkney. In the valuable 

 " Manual of British Birds," by Mr. Howard Saunders, which Messrs. Gurney 

 & Jackson are at present publishing in parts, it is stated (on p. I5)with regard 

 to the Ring-ouzel that "its breeding-places are in the wild and hilly districts 

 of Cornwall, Devon, Somersetshire, the Pennine backbone of England and its 

 spurs ; Wales ; and the greater part of Scotland, including most of those 

 islands which present suitable features, except the Orkneys and Shetlands, to 

 which it is comparatively a rare visitor." In former years I was well acquaint- 

 ed with the birds of Orkney ; more especially so with those of the parish of 

 llarray on the Mainland, (or Pomona as it is called by geographers, but not 

 by Orcadians). This parish is separated from the sea by hills almost all 

 round. The Ring-ouzel, though not often seen in the more level portions of 

 the parish, was not rare in the glens or "dales " among the hills ; and in one 

 of the glens I once found a nest with four eggs, one of which I took and still 

 have in my possession as a proof that the bird does breed in Orkney. 



James W, II. Trail. 



