46 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



Note on the Red-neeked Phalarope (Phalaropus hyperboreus) in 

 Argyllshire. — In the Fauna of Argyll, under Phalaropus hyperboreus, 

 it is stated that Phalaropes are also seen, but always in winter. On 

 referring to my notes for the year 1880, I find that I shot a Red- 

 necked Phalarope (Phalaropus hyperboreus) on the sands opposite 

 Traigh House, Arisaig, on the 13th of September of that year, and on 

 the same afternoon a curlew sandpiper, Tringa subaquata. — Edward 

 Hamilton, South Kensington. 



Blaek-tailed Godwit (Limosa belgica) in Forfarshire. — On 



19th September, Mr. Davidson, Montrose, shot a bird unfamiliar to 

 him on the Montrose Basin. He showed it to Dr. Key, who kindly 

 forwarded it to me. It turned out to be a male Black-tailed Godwit. 

 This is only the fourth or fifth occurrence of this bird in Forfarshire ; 

 in each case the month was September and the locality Montrose 

 tidal sands. — J. F. Dewar, Arbroath. 



Ruff (Machetes pugnax) in the Outer Hebrides. — As I see in the 

 " Fauna of the Outer Hebrides," only one instance of the Ruff is 

 recorded ; I think it will interest you to hear that one was shot by 

 Mr. T. W. Buisson, of Snown Hill, Betch worth, on the 6th of 

 September last, on the Galson shootings, of which I am tenant. It 

 was identified by the late Mr. McLeay of Inverness. — Radclyffe 

 Walters, Ewell, Surrey. 



Ruddy Sheld Duck (Tadorna casarca) in the Moray Firth. — 



Another fine specimen of this rare duck was shot in the estuary near 

 Findorn on the 1 9th of October last by Mr. W. A. Brown of Dundee. 

 This is the last of the five that visited the Firth early in July. — 

 James Brown, Forres. 



Tufted Duck (Fuligula cristata) breeding* in Selkirkshire, — 



While staying with W. B. Boyd, Esq., of Faldonside, last July, I 

 almost walked on to a nest of this bird, containing nine eggs, 

 evidently near hatching ; they were left undisturbed. Though noted 

 as a visitor in Mr. Evans's List of the Birds of Melrose, it has not, so 

 far as I know, been previously observed to nest in the county. The 

 locality was a very wet " moss," about three miles from Faldonside, 

 in a thick bed of horsetails. I also saw several broods of young 

 Pochards on a loch in Forfarshire, where that species has been a 

 regular resident for some years past. — Edward S. Marshall. 



Pomatorhine Skua (Stercorarius pomatorhinus) in Perthshire. 



— A Pomatorhine Skua was shot in the third week of September 

 last on the moor of Dalclathie near Comrie, Perthshire. — E. T. 

 Baldwin, London, S.W. 



Cannibalism in the Zonuridse. — I observe that at page 

 271 of your last number, Mr. J. Macnaught Campbell states that 

 he would be glad to hear of any case similar to that related by 

 him of supposed cannibalism in the Slow-worm (Anguis fragilis). 



