REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN I914 157 



dale (i. 1914, 237), Corncrakes in East Lothian, and 

 Woodcock at Tynninghame, where, though there were a 

 great many nests, only a small percentage of the eggs 

 hatched ; the others were believed to have been frosted. 

 In view of the observations made last year on the decrease 

 of cliff-breeding birds in several localities, it is gratifying 

 to be able to record a great increase in the number of 

 Guillemots breeding at North Unst. On cliffs on which 

 there used to be only a few eggs there are now scores. 

 Nine pairs were at the Butt of Lewis but no eggs were 

 seen. "Vast numbers" of Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razor- 

 bills, and Puffins bred on Ailsa Craig this summer (i. 

 1914, 289). On the Isle of May there were many more 

 Herring-gulls than have been seen previously in the nesting 

 season ; there was a new colony of Kittiwakes, and Puffins 

 were decidedly more plentiful (i. 1914, 162). P'ulmars were 

 seen coming up on to the ledges at Fowlsheugh on the 

 i8th June; no eggs were seen, but ten birds were counted 

 (i. 1 914, 215). Two were passing the Isle of May on 9th 

 and 25th May (i. 1914, 199), and the Duchess of Bedford 

 records the species in small numbers all along the north 

 coast of Sutherlandshire (i. 1914, 178). 



Turning to the other side of the picture, we find that 

 only one Chiffchafif was seen in East Lothian ; none was seen 

 at Duns, where there are usually a few, and Blackcaps were 

 absent from the same locality. Only a few Tree-sparrows 

 were seen, though they were quite common last year, and 

 there were fewer Redstarts than usual. There were not 

 so many Wheatears as usual at Corsemalzie, Swallows and 

 House-martins were scarce at Dundee, few Corncrakes 

 were heard in the neighbourhood of Duns, and the numbers 

 in East Renfrew and South Bute were much below the 

 average. Interesting statistics regarding the number of 

 Black-headed Gulls nesting in Dumfriesshire show that 

 when the last census was taken in 1908 there were 5300 

 nests, while in 19 14 there were only 3600, showing that 

 there is a marked decrease in the number of breeding birds 

 in the last six years (i. 1914, 203). The tree in which 

 the Pied Flycatchers used to nest at Duns was blown down, 



