NOTES 165 



was very tame, and I was repeatedly able to get within a few 

 yards of it as it stood on the sand. It was not in adult dress, 

 but corresponded with the description of a bird of the second year 

 in Dresser's Birds of Europe, except that the tinge of pink was very 

 faint; the tail was slightly forked. The flight was peculiar and 

 very easy, and it consorted frequently with some Common Terns. 

 Meves states (Dresser's Birds of Europe, vol. viii., p. 379) that he 

 saw birds of the previous year frequenting the breeding grounds 

 that he visited in Russia ; he did not believe them to be nesting, 

 but held that they had come to join the breeding-birds for the sake 

 of company. The nearest breeding-place of the Little Gull is in 

 Jutland, and probably the strong north-east wind that had been 

 blowing brought this immature bird across the North Sea from the 

 Danish shores. Evelvn V. Baxter, Largo. 



Fulmars at Butt of Lewis. For the first time on record, 

 Fulmar Petrels were seen at the Kittiwake's breeding cliffs at Butt 

 of Lewis on 24th April, and a few still remain, evidently intending 

 to breed. Though the cliffs are only about 100 feet in height, the 

 great distribution of Fulmars during the last few years has made 

 their arrival here not unlikely, and expected sooner or later. Now 

 1 6th May three pairs have chosen a position above a small 

 colony of Kittiwakes, and the place where the pair of Guillemots 

 bred last year, and on either side of them is one Herring Gull's 

 nest. The Fulmars are not so easily frightened from their perch 

 as are the other more familiar breeders near. There are three 

 separate colonies of Kittiwakes in proximity, and about the time 

 of the arrival of the Fulmars they all left their breeding rocks, 

 of which they had several weeks taken possession, and did not 

 return till 8th May. They never did so in previous years, whether 

 the coming of the Fulmars was the cause or not. Probably their 

 haunts were invaded for a few days by great numbers of Fulmars, 

 though only the few have remained. The position is about half a 

 mile S.W. from the lighthouse, but the Fulmars are never seen 

 beside the station, where the rocks are lower, so they must keep 

 closely by the place they have chosen. 



The Kittiwakes and Tysties (Black Guillemots) here are not yet 

 nesting, but a few of the other Gulls and Shags are now incubating. 

 The pair of Common Guillemots which bred last season have not 

 returned. R. Clyne, Butt of Lewis. 



Great Warty, Smooth, and Palmated Newts near 

 Porres. While examining the aquatic life of a pond near here, 



