NOTES 115 



definiteness of this action, of which I have seen no mention in 

 descriptions. Over and over again the glass vessel containing 

 living specimens was whirled round until a strong rotating 

 current was set up in the water. In this miniature whirlpool 

 the Hairworms {Parnchordodcs violaceus) invariably found 

 anchorage by pressing their heads closely and at right angles 

 against the surface of the glass, the body being whirled this 

 way and that in the agitated water, while the head remained 

 fast. Examination of the attached head through the glass 

 by means of a strong pocket lens showed that the tip, 

 especially the pale-coloured central portion, was pressed flat 

 against the surface of attachment. Whether adhesion is of 

 a mechanical nature, due to a sucker-like action on the part 

 of the tip, or depends upon the presence of an adhesive 

 secretion formed by gland cells, I am at present unable to 

 state, though it is hoped that a detailed microscopic examina- 

 tion of serial sections of a specially preserved specimen will 



decide the point. 



i^To be continued.) 



NOTES. 



Uncommon Bird Visitors in Shetland. — I think the 

 following records of uncommon birds may be of interest to readers 

 of the Scottish Naturalist. All the species mentioned occurred 

 about Lerwick. On 7th September 19 14 a Curlew Sandpiper 

 visited us; the bird is said to be scarce in Shetland. On 13th 

 September a Grey-headed Wagtail {Motacilia flava thunhergi) was 

 procured and sent to Mr Eagle Clarke, who confirmed my identifica- 

 tion. The only previous record of this form in Shetland comes 

 from Fair Isle. A Great Tit, probably of the Continental race, 

 appeared on the 25th October, and three on the 29th; there were 

 six or seven of them seen in and around Lerwick. The Sparrow- 

 hawk is also a rare visitor to Shetland ; one was shot at Lerwick 

 on 15th November 19 14. — Samuel Bruce, Lerwick. 



Tengmalm's O'wl in Perthshire. — There has recently been 

 presented to the Perthshire Natural History Museum a fine 



