54 



The Scottish Naturalist. 



bus septentrionalis) — one or two been killed. Black Guillemot (Uria grylle) — 

 one caught in the avenue to my house at Rosslyn, during a strong easterly gale. 

 Green Cormorant (Phalocrocorax crista tus)— one shot on North Esk a few years 

 ago. Arctic Tern (Sterna arctica) — occasional on Compensation Ponds. Black- 

 headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) — very common. Common Gull {Larus canus) 

 — common. Lesser Black-backed Gull {Larus fuscus)— common. Herring 

 Gull (Larus argentatus) — common. 



Liberton House, near Edinburgh, October, 1871. 



Bare Birds in Aberdeenshire— A fine adult male specimen of the Great 

 Snipe (Scolopax major, Gem.,y was shot on the estate of Durras, in the begin- 

 ning of October last. This bird, generally accounted rare, would (if a little atten- 

 tion were given by those who have opportunity of visiting the localities the bird 

 frequents), I have no doubt, be found to be more common than is generally 

 supposed. 



For the last few weeks considerable numbers of the Great Spotted Wood- 

 pecker (Picus pipra, M'Gll.,) have been sent me from various parts of the 

 county ; and several have been seen in the gardens around the city. 



The Bohemian Wax- wing (Bombycilla garrula, Jen.,) has also put in 

 an appearance in greater numbers this season than for some years back. 

 Some have been sent me, and I have received information from gentlemen in 

 the country, of others having been seen, and unfortunately in many instances 

 killed.— G. Sim, 20 King Street, Aberdeen, Dec. 4, 1871. 



The Bohemian Wax-wing in Aberdeenshire.— I have observed five spe- 

 cimens of the Bohemian Wax-wing (Bombycilla garrula) here. Two of them 

 were shot by Mr. Morris, on the 16th of this month. They had been feeding 

 on the berries of the Hawthorn.— J. Garrow, 40 Market Place, Inverurie, 

 Nov. 27, 1871. 



Capture of Wotodonta trepida.— A pair (male and female) of the Large 

 Prominent Moth (Notodonta trepida) were taken by Mr. James Robertson, near 

 Kilgraston, on May 20th, between 8 and 9 o'clock a.m. The female layed eggs 

 the same day. The eggs hatched on June 8th, and the caterpillars became 

 chrysalids about the end of July and the beginning of August.— Melville 

 Jamieson, yr., Perth, Sept., 1871. 



Sesia bembeciformis in Fife— Between the 18th and 21st July I took a 

 pair of Sesia bembeciformis, and saw about a dozen of its empty pupae sticking 

 out of three old sallows (Salix Caprea) at Balmuto. These three trees are now 

 nearly dead from the borings of the larvae. I find Mr. Jenner-Fust has not 

 admitted this Clearwing as a native of Scotland — all the alleged Scotch stations 

 being marked by an O in his paper on the "Distribution of Lepidoptera in 

 Great Britain, "f 



A few specimens of Dianthcecia conspersa, and solitary ones of D. capsincola, 

 D. cucubali, and Aplecta herbida, are the only other captures worth notice 

 I have made this year, since the date of my last communication.— J. Boswell 

 Syme, Balmuto, Kirkcaldy, Sept., 1871. 



Galls in Scotland.— I observe with great satisfaction that records of the 

 occurrence of Galls in Scotland are likely to occupy a prominent portion of space 

 in the " Scottish Naturalist." 



t It occurs in several Scottish counties.— Ed. 



