ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 199 



of the Perthshire Society of Natural Science in Tay Street, Perth, 

 where it is now placed. — H. M. Drummond Hay, Seggieden, Perth. 



Whitethroat {Sylvia rufa, Bodd.) in Barra. — On the 13th of 

 this month (May 1892) I noticed a pair of Whitethroats in my 

 garden here. At first they were very shy and difficult to observe, 

 as they were continually moving about among the bushes, but after 

 a day or two they got bolder, and I was in hopes they might nest 

 in the garden. I have, however, missed them for the last few days ; 

 but as there is a small plantation near at hand, they may have gone 

 there. I have never seen these birds out here before, but the shelter 

 afforded by the trees that have been recently planted at several places 

 on the island will no doubt induce many strangers to pay us a 

 summer visit. — J. MacRury, Barra. 



White Wagtail (Motacillaalba, L.) in Barra. — On the 9th of 

 May 1 89 1, I saw a pair of these birds on the west side of Barra, 

 and about the end of the following August I saw numbers of them 

 all over the island, but staying only for a few days. This year again, 

 on the 4th of May, I saw two pairs of them on the farm of Eoligary, 

 at the north end of the island ; and the tacksman, Mr. William Mac- 

 gillivray, told me he had noticed them a day or two before. To make 

 quite sure of the species, I shot one, which was in splendid plumage, 

 and which Mr. Macgillivray got preserved. During the following 

 week I saw one other bird on the east side of the island and three 

 on the west side. — John MacRury, Barra. 



Swift (Cypsehis apis, L.) in Barra. — On the 29th of June, and 

 on the 27th of August, 1891, I saw a Swift in Barra, and on the 

 1 8th of July of the same year I saw another on the west side of 

 Benbecula — all solitary birds. I do not remember of seeing any 

 of them in these islands before, although swallows and sandmartins 

 are frequently seen. — John MacRury, Barra. 



Great Spotted Woodpecker {Dendrocopus major, L.) in Stirling- 

 shire. — My attention being recently called to the J disappearance of 

 the Great Spotted Woodpecker, I may state that I saw what was 

 certainly one of these birds. On Sunday, 27th September 1S90, 

 while on my way from Bonnybridge to Carron Glen, in Stirlingshire, 

 while on an old road lined with trees, I heard a loud tapping sound, 

 and immediately a large dark-coloured bird alighted on the body of 

 a tree within a short distance of me and began tapping and turn:: 

 bits of bark off, going upwards in a circle round the tree. 1 saw at 

 once it was a stranger, and followed it about from tree to tree for 

 fully ten minutes, having a good view of it, as it did not appear the 

 least timid. It was about the size of a Blackbird, but longer and 

 firmer-made. The back and wings were black and all spotted over 



with white, and white streaks appearing lengthwise above the eyes. 

 I could not get a look at the under parts, as it always stuck close to 



