CONTRIBUTIONS TO A FAUNA OF SHETLAND 17 



Snowy Owl (Sumia nycted). — On the 28th October with S. and 

 S.W. wind and heavy rain, and a migration of Glaucous Gulls 

 passing S. to S.E., a magnificent Snowy Owl passed within a 

 hundred yards of our boat on Spiggie. It was almost within 

 range of the big eight bore, but we were all at first too much 

 taken up in watching him, in a very bad light, trying to make 

 him out. At first I thought it was an albino Sea Eagle. I felt 

 dubious, and then flashed across my miserable memory the 

 Snowy Owl's flight in Russia; the wings not so "board-square" 

 as the Eagle's. He flew low over Backasetter, and winged his 

 way over the " fields " towards Fitful. When it dipped and its 

 back became visible, it appeared to be a bird about two to 

 three years old, from the mottling of the feathers on the back. 

 The wings showed " frilling " or " fringing " on the edgings 

 against the sky, much as a Rook's or an Eagle's wings do. I 

 believe this bird would probably rest upon the flat plateau 

 which forms the summit of Fitful, and towards which it was 

 slowly winging its way, flying south with a S.W. wind. Perhaps 

 its next resting-place will be Butt of Lewis, possibly Orkney ; 

 less likely the mainland of Scotland. 



White-tailed Eagle (Haliaetus albicilla). — Distinctly saw a White- 

 tailed Eagle wing its high way over Quendale Links and Sand- 

 hills towards Fitful, which, however, was enveloped in dark 

 thick mist. Mr. George Bruce, who was along with us, saw it 

 also, and said, " It is one of the Fitful eagles." He tells me 

 these Fitful birds have often been killed, and he believes that 

 the reason the Fitful Eagles have continued to hold their eyrie 

 so long is to be found in this occasional destruction of one or 

 the other bird before its mate gets too old to wed again. In 

 this I perfectly acquiesce. Mr. George Bruce still believes there 

 are five pairs in Shetland, and Air. John Bruce corroborates 

 the statement that there has been no break in the continuity of 

 their occupancy of Fitful. Little or no information can be ex- 

 tracted from the natives about this or almost any species of bird. 

 We are not ourselves perfectly satisfied of their occurrence there 

 as a nesting species now, but the above notes may elicit more 

 data and proofs. 



Peregrine Falcon {Falco peregrinus). — The Fitful falcons were 

 constantly seen both in 1891 and 1892. The female a very 

 large powerful bird, and the male a particularly small bird. I 

 saw them both often at short distances as they suddenly flashed 

 past along the hill-sides, intent on Blue Rock Doves, about the 

 outskirts of the cropped land. 



Merlin (Falco cesalon). — Very common, and often seen hunting 

 singly, and at times in pairs. Usually appears on the track of 

 the Snow Buntings, Snipe, or flights of small birds. I have 

 5 c 



