164 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



difficulty a very few young Rooks — branchers — were obtained, 

 perhaps three dozen in all; whereas, in other years, many scores 

 — even hundreds — have been shot, and the village supplied with the 

 annual " Craw-tairts." I learned later that a similar fatality must 

 have occurred in another township at a large rookery at Cowie, and 

 where "Crow-pie" has been a most unwonted dainty in 1 912. I 

 have not made inquiries further afield ; but if someone else has had 

 similar experiences, the unusual "shortage" of the seasonal food- 

 supply in this direction might be worth while recording. It may 

 prove, too, of interest in the near future to note what effects remain 

 in the welfare of these birds, as affected by the storms of 191 2. 



I venture, therefore, to communicate my most pitiful tale relating 

 to " Rookdom," believing it to be worthy of record : whether it 

 should prove of only local significance, or may be extended over a 

 much larger area, it may prove a sign-post by the way. — J. A. 

 Harvie-Brown, Dunipace, Larbert. 



The Snowy Owl. — During the strong northerly winds prevail- 

 ing at the end of last March, a Snowy Owl {Nyctea nyctea) was 

 caught on the moorland in the north of the Lewis. The wholly 

 white plumage of the specimen was only relieved by a few dark- 

 brown specklings on the wings, indicating that the bird was 

 probably a male. There are several records of these Northern 

 Owls being got in the district previously, but none for many 

 years. — R. Clyne, Butt of Lewis. 



Greenland Falcon at Barra, Outer Hebrides. — On the 



2nd of April 1912, an adult male specimen of the Greenland Falcon 

 {Falco candicans) was obtained at Barra, and has been presented to 

 the fine collection of Scotch birds in the Royal Scottish Museum. — 

 Wm. L. Macgillivray, Eoligary, Barra. 



Some Habits of the Gannet.— With reference to the remarks 

 in the Scottish Naturalist of April last regarding the very rare 

 occasions on which Gannets (Sula bass ana) bring their prey to the 

 surface, and are seen to swallow it, I have to state that at the Bell 

 Rock, where occasionally the Gannets go under with a slanting 

 dive in shallow water among the shoals of Saith, on one occasion I 

 saw one bring up a large Saith quite close to the lighthouse, carry- 

 ing it on the wing for about thirty yards before settling down to 

 engulf it. No doubt the proximity to the building and shallow 

 water, the size of the fish, the necessity of the case, and reluctance 

 to let go a good thing, severally contributed to bring about this 

 infrequent occurrence. — R. Clyne, Butt of Lewis. 



