REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN I914 235 



the Beauly Firth "last week." Curiously enough, when the rush 

 elsewhere was over, Little Auks are recorded as more plentiful in 

 our Northern Isles ; on 1 7th December five are reported at Deer- 

 ness, and a few arrived at Fair Isle, a few were still at the latter 

 station on i8th and 21st December, one at Whalsay Skerries on 

 19th December, and "many" at sea off Fair Isle on 22nd and 

 24th December. 



The Puffin, Fratercula ardica arctica. — Two Puffins were 

 found dead on the shore at Devaar on 29th January. Arrivals at 

 breeding haunts are reported from 19th March to 26th April, while 

 departures took place between 9th August and 8th September. 

 Several Puffins were washed ashore dead by the great gale between 

 loth and i6th December at Golspie and St Andrews. 



The Corncrake, Crex crex. — The first records for the season 

 come from Dalgowan (Kirkcudbrightshire), on 17th April, Darvel 

 (Clyde) on the 21st (2. vi. 91), Beith (I.e.) and Glenorchard on the 

 25th, and Broughton and Duns next day. After this, notes of the 

 arrival of Corncrakes come plentifully from all parts of Scotland, 

 some high inland localities not receiving their quota till mid-May, 

 On 30th April/ 1 st May one was killed at the lantern of the Mull of 

 Galloway, Corncrakes were first reported in the Outer Hebrides 

 (Galson) and Shetland (Fair Isle) on 5th May, and at the Butt of 

 Lewis on 22nd May (i. 1915, 37). Last heard at Craignish (Argyll) 

 on 27th July, several at Galson (O.H.) on 9th September, single 

 birds at Glasserton on nth and Butt of Lewis on 25th, 28th 

 and 30th September (i. 1915, 37); at the Isle of May on 2nd 

 November, Galson on 25th November and Darvel (Clyde) on 13th 

 December. 



The Spotted Crake, Porzana porzana. — One was shot at 

 Fetlar, Shetland, on 19th October (i. 19 14, 288). See p. 155. 



The Water-rail, Rallus aquaticus aquaticus. — Single birds 

 are recorded from Fair Isle on 2nd and 23rd January, 15th 

 February, loth March and 9th and loth April, from Galson (O.H.) 

 on 9th, loth and 14th January, Corsemalzie on i6th January and 

 26th February, Sule Skerry on loth March, and South Ronaldshay 

 on 23rd March, while on nth April two visited Fair Isle. From 

 1 2th October to the end of the year, there are a good many records 

 of one or two Water-rails on the move. The notes refer chiefly to 

 the Northern Isles and Outer Hebrides, but they are also reported 



