ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 



7i 



of being placed on record. On 20th August last, one was picked 

 up in a dying condition on the burnside at Thorntonloch, a few 

 miles east of Dunbar, and taken to Mr. Durie, to whom (through 

 Mr. G. Pow) I am indebted for the particulars and the remains of 

 the bird itself. On 24th August Mr. Small, George Street, Edinburgh, 

 received one for preservation from the Pentland Skerries, and at 

 the end of the same month another reached him from Kirkwall. 

 About the same time a fourth was sent to Mr. Lewis Dunbar, 

 Thurso, as I am informed by Mr. John Gunn, who saw it in Mr. 

 Dunbar's hand. — William Evans, Edinburgh. 



Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca, L.) in Argyllshire. — My keepers 

 have seen a large Snowy Owl here for two or three days. Yesterday 

 it flew across in front of the Duchess, who, with a party, all stopped 

 to see the wonderful big white bird, which seemed to be as big as a 

 White Heron. This is not the first time the bird has been seen 

 here. The late Dr. Smith, minister, told me many years ago that 

 he had seen one hunting in Glen Aray in this parish. — Argyll, 

 Inveraray, 30th Sept. 1891. 



Spotted Crake (Porzana maruetta. Leach.) in Shetland. — Saxby 

 does not mention the Spotted Crake as occurring in Shetland, in his 

 " Birds of Shetland." But Saunders, in the " Manual of British Birds," 

 says it has twice occurred in the Islands. On the 26th October last 

 (1891), whilst snipe-shooting in Shetland, I met with the species. 

 My spaniel " bunched " one in the marshes of Dunrossness, which 

 would not rise on wing, and the dog fetched it alive to me. I have 

 only once before met with an example in Scotland, viz. in a marsh 

 at Dunipace in Stirlingshire, which when flushed, flew three yards or 

 so and alighted, but was not seen again. — J. A. Harvie-Browx, 

 Dunipace, Larbert. 



The reported occurrence of Grus leueogeranus, Pallas, in the 

 Outer Hebrides. — Mr. E. W. Marshall of Marlow, Buckinghamshire, 

 writes as follows to "The Field" of 14th November 1S91, p. 758 : — 

 "In the report of a recent meeting of the Zoological Society, which 

 appeared in last week's ' Field,' I see that Dr. Hamilton made allusion 

 to the shooting of a white crane (Grus leucogeranus) in the Outer 

 Hebrides in August last. I think I am justified in concluding that 

 this bird was one of a pair which belonged to me, and which made its 

 escape last August. These two birds only came into my possession 

 last summer. They were imported by Mr. W. Jamrach, and being full 

 winged, were turned out with one wing 'brailed' instead of being 

 cut. The bird in question must have broken its 'brail,' or contrived 

 to get it off. My man happened to be on the spot at the time it 

 escaped, and saw it rise suddenly and By away in a northerly 

 direction. I think it well to mention this tact, lest your readers 

 may imagine that this white crane is a rare visitor from Japan or 

 Northern India, upon whose skin probably a high price would be 



