REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY FOR 1908 207 



A. ACCiPiTRiNus (Short-eared Owl). — A few in spring, first week in 

 March till first week in May, on the Isle of May, and again 

 there in autumn, 24th September till 1 3th November. Beattock, 

 2nd May; Kilchattan, 30th May; Caithness, i6th October. 



Syrnium aluco (Tawny Owl). — Kirkliston, 20th April, nest and 

 three esfss. 



'OO' 



Nyctala tengmalmi (Tengmalm's Owl). — Shetland, 4th January, 

 an adult ( $ ) ("The Field," 4th April 1908, p. 583). 



Scops giu (Scops-Owl). — One near Largo, i6th May ("Annals of 

 Scot. Nat. Hist.," 1908, pp. 180 and 183). 



Circus cyaneus (Hen-Harrier). — Brawl Castle, one (5) on 31st 

 January : "very rare now." 



BuTEO VULGARIS (Buzzard). — Fairlie (Ayr), one on 27th September. 

 A pair appeared at Swordale on 30th October and continued 

 there till 26th December. 



Aquila CHRYSAiiTUS (Golden Eagle). — One observed at Swordale on 

 28th October. 



Falco candicans (Greenland Falcon). — One from the Flannan 

 Islands, 8th March ("Annals Scot. Nat. Hist.," 1908, p. 183). 



F. isLANDUS (Iceland Falcon). — An adult killed in December in 

 the Flannan Islands ("British Birds," February 1909, p. 310). 



F. PEREGRiNUS (Peregrine Falcon). — At Fossil Marsh, near Glasgow 

 (pair, c^ and 9), 29th April. Pair arrived at Swordale on 

 17th October, with Redwings, whom they hunted. 



F. ^SALON (Merlin). — Butt of Lewis, a pair on 30th April ; and on 

 27th August there, two caught in the engine-room, which they 

 entered in pursuit of a Wheatear. Again seen at same place, 

 Tnd November, and "have been numerous about lately (29th 

 December)." One on Isle of May, 26th September to 8th 

 October (p. 16). 



Pandion HALiAiiTUS (Osprey). — May, Loch Spiggie (Shetland), one 

 ("Annals of Scot. Nat. Hist.," 1908, p. 183). 



BoTAURUS STELLARis (Bittern). — Whittingehame, 8th January, one 

 (cJ) captured alive ("Annals Scot. Nat. Hist.," 1908, p. 120). 

 Aberlady, 6th April, one {loc. cit. pp. 183-4). 



Anser cinereus (Grey Lag-Goose). — 3rd November, 40-50 in 

 stubble near Walten Loch, Caithness, and on following day a 

 large "gaggle." In November and December "grey" geese 

 very numerous, Dumfries, with marked preponderance of Grey 

 Lags. Several which visited the Fair Isle were of this species 



(p. 74). 



