154 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



that nesting was early this season, a fact which is commented 

 on by several recorders. 



From Duns we have records of an increase in the number 

 of Linnets ; there, too. Bullfinches, Wood-warblers, and Tree- 

 sparrows are also common in summer, although the last 

 mentioned is said not to have been seen in winter this 

 year. There were unusual numbers of Willow-warblers at 

 Duns, and Blackcaps were "exceptionally plentiful in Duns 

 Castle woods — usually there are only a pair or two, this 

 year there are quite a dozen pairs." A Stonechat's nest 

 and young was found at Beith, and our correspondent 

 there adds that it is eleven years since he saw a nest 

 of this species (2. viii. 22). A good increase of Tufted 

 Duck, Goosander, and Great Crested Grebes was observed 

 in Tay. At North Unst the Kittiwakes have started a 

 new colony, and have made about twenty nests on a cliff 

 facing north-east. Little Ross, too, records a new Kittiwake 

 colony, and at North Unst, we are told. Guillemots were 

 even more numerous this year than last. Fulmars were 

 noticed at the Butt of Lewis during the breeding season, 

 but they were " not definitely ascertained " to be nesting. 



Turning now to the records sent of the decrease of 

 species in certain places, we find that there were no 

 Hawfinches at Duns, Garden - warblers were scarcer there 

 than usual, Whitethroats and Reed-buntings were " thinly 

 scattered," Sedge - warblers were quite scarce in the dis- 

 trict, and only one pair of Corn-buntings was noted there. 

 There were fewer Pied Wagtails than usual at Dunkeld 

 this year, the Peregrine was not seen at the Burnmouth 

 eyrie, and no Corncrakes were heard at Nevay Park, 

 Meigle. Only seven or eight pairs of Coots bred on Loch 

 Stiapavat (O.H.) this year, and neither Moorhens nor Little 

 Grebes were observed there. 



Three pairs of Hawfinches were found nesting in East 

 Lothian this year (i. 191 5, 284). A Chaffinch at Beith 

 reared two broods in the same nest (2. viii. 23), and at 

 the same place a Garden-warbler's nest was found with 

 five eggs, which resembled those of the Common White- 

 throat, and were smaller than those of any Garden-warbler 



