REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY FOR 1908 197 



by Kirkliston, 6th, and Swordale, 15th, whereon the following 

 day the countryside was alive with them. " In one particular 

 valley flock after flock kept arriving — they were accompanied 

 by Bramblings." At the Butt of Lewis a large number was 

 flying round the lantern at night on the 6th. On the 14th, at 

 Lerwick, there was a big rush with fog. On the i6th and 

 17th, great numbers were seen at Sule Skerry, S.S.E. wind, 

 haze; and at the Isle of May on the i6th also there was a 

 great rush. On the 17 th at Cathcart, judging from call notes, 

 more passed over than on any other night during the season ; 

 very dark with light easterly wind. On the i8th they are 

 reported at the Flannans in thousands, and at Monach in 

 hundreds. A large body arrived in Mull on the 20th, 

 remaining in considerable numbers throughout the winter 

 till the 31st of March 1909. On the 23rd an enormous 

 rush w^as observed on the Isle of May, and another from 

 7 P.M. on that day till daybreak the following morning. On 

 the 29th there were again thousands observed at the 

 Flannans. 



T. PILARIS (Fieldfare). — Small parties were observed at seven 

 localities on the mainland and light-stations between the 2nd 

 May at Bridge of Weir (Renfrew), and 9th at Beith (Ayr). 

 The first observation in autumn is on 20th October in Mull. 

 Thousands are reported at the Flannans on 5th November 

 and Butt of Lewis on the loth — these are the only important 

 movements noted. ]\Ir. Craig remarks that at Beith there 

 were more Redwings than Fieldfares this year, and in West 

 Sutherland they were not nearly so numerous as during the 

 autumnal immigration in the preceding year (pp. 47-8), and 

 these observations are borne out by the lighthouse returns. 

 When boreal conditions set in, 29th and 31st December, con- 

 jiderable movements of the species were noted, at Lahill (Fife), 

 Dunure (Ayr), and Mull. 



T. MERULA (Blackbird). — This species is reported in song between 

 6th February at Kirkliston, and 5th July, Mearns (Renfrew). 

 One with a yellow head was seen at Gilston (Fife) on 27th 

 February, and the first egg is reported from the same place on 

 27th March. At Beith two broods were raised in the same 

 nest. It was singing again at Caldwell on 21st September. 

 No great movement of this species has been reported for 

 several years past. 



T. TORQUATUS (Ring-Ouzel). — Isle of May, 26th April; Arran, 

 27th; Mull, 28th; Kinnelhead (Beattock), 30th, all single 

 birds or pairs. Latest in autumn, Isle of May on 28th 

 October (3). 



