WHALING IN SCOTLAND FOR 1908 69 



same track between Scotland and Ireland. It is to be regretted 

 that we do not know more of the whales on the West of Ireland. 



By the kindness of Mr. T. Salvesen, Leith, I give catch of Mr. 

 M. C. Bull, Iceland :— 



10 B. sibbaldii. 1 1 Megaptera longiinana. 



10 B. micsculus. 2 B. borealis. 



And at the Dansk Hvalfangst and Fiskin Co. : — 



4 B. sibbaldii. 5 1 -5- borealis. 



45 j5. nmsculus. 4 Hyperoodon rostratu/n, 



or Bottle-nose. 



These catches throw some light on the migration of whales. 



I do not think it necessary to give in future any particulars 

 about the sizes of whales caught at the different stations unless any 

 of peculiar rarity should occur. I have already given the average 

 size of 912 B. musculus bulls and of 762 cows, and sufficient 

 particulars about size and proportion of bulls to cows of B. sibbaldii 

 and B. borealis to give the needed information, also what informa- 

 tion I could get about Sperms, Atlantic Right Whales, and Hump- 

 backs, all more or less rare whales in Scottish waters, which I trust 

 may prove more or less useful to naturalists. 



To show the risks of whaling, the gunner of the s.s. Noronha 

 fired at a whale, missed it, and the harpoon ricochetted, the 

 attached cable snapped, the slack coming back shattered the poor 

 man from head to ankle. He died soon after. 



THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE. — IV. REPORT 

 ON OBSERVATIONS MADE DURING THE 

 YEAR 1908. 



By Wm. Eagle Clarke, F.R.S.E., F.L.S. 



With the year 1908, the Fair Isle ornithological investiga- 

 tions entered upon a new era. Being convinced, by the 

 experiences gained during my short visits, that the island 

 was a most important station for observing the movements 

 of migratory birds, I determined, if the necessary help were 

 forthcoming, to obtain for 1908 a day to day record of the 

 feathered visitors ; in fact, to establish a bird- watching 

 station, and to appoint an observer whose duty it would 

 be to devote the whole of his time to the investigations. 



