ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 137 



which had been killed at Dalnawillan, on the 24th of June; and a 

 male changing from the young to the adult plumage, and nearly 

 blue, was obtained at Westfield, near Thurso, on the 8th of January 

 1892. — Lewis Dunbar, Thurso. 



Rough-legged Buzzard (Archibuteo lagopus, Gmel.) near Kin- 

 gussie. — On the 1 8th of December a Rough-legged Buzzard was 

 trapped on a low part of the moors at Bellville. It had been 

 causing great annoyance for some considerable time by hunting the 

 ground most systematically and clearing whole beats of birds. My 

 keeper says that he generally sees birds of this species in September, 

 and that they remain until April. — C. B. Macpherson, Whitechurch, 

 Salop. 



Albino Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo, L.) in Orkney. — An 

 Albino Cormorant was shot by Mr. Jas. M'Lauchlan at Kettletoft 

 Pier, Sanday, Orkney, in February 1891, which I purchased, and 

 have now in my possession. It is full-grown, slightly flecked with 

 brownish feathers on neck, back, and thighs, elsewhere white. 

 Curiously enough the eyes, instead of being of the pinkish tint 

 generally found in albinos, were yellow, the feet, legs, and bill, 

 horn white. A slight ring of dark brown feathers surrounds the 

 eyes, and edges the gape. It was got in good condition, and had 

 been observed in company with its normally coloured brethren on 

 several occasions before it was shot, so in all probability it was bred 

 in the neighbourhood. I do not recollect seeing or reading of 

 an albino Cormorant being previously obtained in this neighbour- 

 hood, and should like very much if any of your correspondents can 

 inform me if they are common anywhere. — T. S. Peace, Kirkwall. 

 [One is figured in Graham's "Birds of Iona and Mull," p. 130; 

 and acording to Saxby ("Birds of Shetland," p. 319) two pure 

 albino cormorants with light - coloured feet and bills, were 

 observed in Unst during the years 1869 and 1870. — Eds.] 



The Bittern {Botaurus stellaris, L.) in Wigtonshire. — I regret 

 to have to record the destruction of a fine specimen of the Common 

 Bittern (alas ! there is a melancholy irony in the adjective) on the 

 White Loch of Myrton, Monreith, Wigtonshire, in January last. Is 

 there no hope of arousing a feeling of interest in harmless species 

 annually becoming more rare ; and of inducing sportsmen to limit 

 their operations to game birds? — Herbert Maxwell, Monreith, 

 Wigtonshire. 



Bittern {Botaurus stellaris, L.) at Moffat. — I shot a Bittern on 

 the 23d of January last in a small marsh situated about a mile below 

 Moffat. The ground is generally wet and covered with long grass, 

 rushes, and at one spot some reeds. The bird got up about the 

 reeds, and I did not recognise it, as I had not seen one before. — 

 Adam Fyfe, Moffat. 



