i 3 6 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



entirely unknown to me. On looking about to ascertain what bird 

 it might be I saw a common rook (Corvus frugilegus) sitting on the 

 top of a large isolated lime-tree, and indulging in a most unmistakable 

 song, that resembled a bass or guttural reproduction of the varied 

 and spluttering song of the starling, and accompanied, like the 

 starling's, by a fluttering of the wings, besides the usual bowing and 

 spreading of the tail and wings of the rook. The most remarkable 

 part of the song was a peculiar deep single whistling note, repeated 

 three or four times in succession and coming every now and then 

 in the middle of the other notes, of which there were, so far as I 

 could tell — and I was standing within 25 yards of the tree — some 

 three or four different kinds, varying in both pitch and quality. The 

 song was continuous and lasted the whole time — about three minutes 

 or a little more — that I was watching the bird. The song was only 

 brought to an end by the bird flying off and joining a flock of its 

 own species that passed over the tree. As to the nature of the song, 

 it is just possible, with the well-known imitative qualities of the 

 Corvidae, that this bird may have actually copied the song of the 

 starling. — Norman Maclachlan, Loretto, Musselburgh. 



Rollers (Cor arias garrirfiis, L.) in Caithness. — On the 1st of 

 October 1891, a Roller, a male, was found dead near Mey. Three 

 specimens of this bird have come under my notice for the county 

 during the past twenty-six years. One of these, also a male, was 

 killed at Watten on the 21st May 1890. — Lewis Dunbar, Thurso. 



Diehromatism in the Tawny Owl (Syrnium a/uco, L.) — I have 

 been engaged for the last eight months in making careful investigations 

 upon the subject of Diehromatism, and having arrived at a certain 

 stage in the work regarding the common Screech-Owl (Megascops asio), 

 am desirous of obtaining information concerning the Tawny Owl in 

 various parts of Europe. I shall deem it a special favour if any one 

 will kindly furnish information in answer to the following. (1) How 

 many specimens have come under your notice, and what proportion 

 of them were in the gray ? (2) Which is the prevailing colour in your 

 locality? (3) What forest trees are most uncommon in your locality 

 — deciduous or coniferous ? (4) If you have observed a pair of old 

 birds with young, state the character of young as to plumage, and 

 also that of the parents ; whether both red, both gray, or one red and 

 the other gray. Any additional information will be very acceptable. 

 — E. M. Harbrouch, 1 6 10 15th Street, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. 

 [We have pleasure in making the above known to our readers, and 



shall look forward with interest to the conclusions to be 



deduced from Scottish data. — Eds.] 



Hen Harrier (Circus cyaueus, L.) in Caithness. — This species 

 is now becoming scarce in this county owing to the persecution to 

 which it is subjected by keepers. I received a very fine female 



