358 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



Iceland Gull on Lochfyne. — On 27th August 19 15, Mr 

 James L. Malcolm, Inveraray, obtained an Iceland Gull {Lams 

 leucopteriis) there. It was an immature male approaching the 

 all-white stage of plumage, and had been noticed among the other 

 Gulls for about five days before it was got. There are few records 

 of the Iceland Gull having been obtained in "Clyde." — John 

 Robertson, Glasgow. 



Black headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) breeding in 

 immature plumage. — Referring to the note under this heading 

 in Scottish JVatiit-a/ist for November (p. 334), perhaps I may be 

 allowed to direct attention to the fact that in my Birds of North- 

 umberland and the Eastern Borders (p. 620) I referred to several 

 instances in which Black-headed Gulls in immature dress had been 

 observed by me to be engaged in various stages of the reproduction 

 of their species : some of them incubating eggs, others pairing, and 

 so forth. Since that book was issued (in 19 12) I have noted 

 similar cases on more than one occasion, and am pretty sure that it 

 is by no means so uncommon as seems to be generally supposed for 

 these Gulls to breed before attaining the adult plumage. Nor is 

 there any doubt that other birds besides Gulls sometimes (probably 

 quite commonly) breed in immature dress. In the work above 

 mentioned, instances are given of Sparrow Hawks, Peregrines, and 

 Kestrels doing so, and my journals could considerably extend the 

 list. Only this spring I saw an immature Sparrow Hawk that had 

 been shot (together with her adi/It mate) from a nest of half 

 incubated eggs. I think it was about a year ago that Mr J. M. 

 Campbell recorded an immature Gannet breeding on the Bass 

 Rock. — George Bolam, Alston. 



Arctic Skua in Lanarkshire. — Early in August, 1915, 

 M'CuUoch c^ Sons, Glasgow, received an Arctic Skua {Stercorariiis 

 crepidati/s) which was obtained at Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire — 

 far inland for this species. — John Robertson, Glasgow. 



Saperda scalaris, L., in Argyll. — With reference to the 

 notes on this beetle in the October number, I may mention that I 

 netted a specimen while in flight in the neighbourhood of Loch Awe 

 on I St August last. In the same locality I took an entirely black 

 Phyllopertha horticola, L., and saw another. — J. W. Bowhill, 

 Edinburgh. 



Saperda scalaris, L., in Perthshire. — With reference to the 

 two interesting records appearing in the October number of the 

 Scottish Naturalist of tins somewhat rare beetle in Scotland, 



