16 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



over which they pass at certain hours, this varying with the 

 direction of the wind. Thus some days the Garth Banks is a 

 sure find, if one wishes to procure specimens ; other days the 

 sandhills of Quendale close to Hillwell, and again Spiggie 

 and other places. 



Hooded Crow (Corvus comix). — Abundant, fearless, undisturbed. 

 In flocks of scores or singly. Everywhere assertive and impudent. 

 A possible increase was observable after the ioth October — 

 at least flocks were more commonly seen. Some were much 

 whiter in the mantle than others, and may have been of more 

 eastern origin. 



Rook [Corvus frugilegus). — In 1891 several were seen: first three 

 on the 19th October, then five reported. By all accounts rare 

 in Shetland, but Mr. Bruce of Sumburgh lately (September 

 1 891) had quite a large flock close to his house. Many are 

 seen at odd times. Wind always southerly and westerly when 

 observed. Not observed in 1892. 



Skylark (Alauda arvensis). — In 1891, Skylarks were literally in 

 thousands up to the middle of October, but after that, perhaps 

 only in hundreds, and later on still fewer ; frequenting the 

 stubbles. By 22nd December, Larks had become still scarcer, 

 as we were informed by Captain Macfarlane. In 1892, Larks 

 were only seen rising out of the stubbles in September singly, 

 or in small scattered flights ; but soon after, about the 4th 

 October, a great change appeared, and they were beginning to 

 flock and draw nearer to one another — a change observable 

 also amongst the Meadow Pipits. This was a day or two 

 before the general movement of birds on 5th and 6th October 

 1892. 



Wryneck (lynx torquilld). — Mr. Thomas Marshall, The Store, 

 Stanley, Perthshire, informs us (in lit. 20th October 1892): 

 " Mr. Youngclause sent me the Wryneck on 21st August 1891." 

 Mr. Youngclause wrote thanking Mr. Marshall for the identi- 

 fication, and said : " It was sent up to me by our local post- 

 master, Mr. Isbister, and had killed itself on the telegraph 

 wires. I, however," — continues Mr. Youngclause, — "saw 

 another one alive at Quendale this day week [letter is dated 

 29th August 1 891]. So it seems a few of them have been 

 about." 



Short-eared Owl (Asio accipitrinus). — In 1891, one was shot by 

 us, as it rose out of the peat " cuts " below Loch Hillwell on the 

 17th October, and one — probably the same bird — was reported 

 by Mr. Youngclause as seen at Sumburgh Lighthouse two days 

 before. In 1892, one was seen about the same place by 

 Captain Macfarlane before my arrival at Quendale in September. 



