NOTES 213 



I think, but cannot of course be certain, that I saw one of the 

 same birds on 1st August. It rose quite near me, and was entirely 

 strange to me. I noticed particularly the dark back and the paler 

 band across the wings formed by the light-coloured tips of the 

 greater coverts, but it flew almost directly towards another member 

 of my party (who did not in fact see it), and I had no opportunity 

 of endeavouring to secure it until it was far out of range. 



The Broad-billed Sandpiper has been presented to the Royal 

 Scottish Museum. — William Berry, Tayfield, Newport, Fife. 



Cream-coloured Whimbrel at Barra. — On 18th May I 

 observed a Cream-coloured Whimbrel (Numenius phceopus) on the 

 Island of Barra. The legs, feet, and bill were the normal colour. 

 The bird arrived with several other Whimbrel, and remained for two 

 days on the sandhills. It stayed behind when the other birds left, 

 and was noticed to be very thin and the plumage considerably 

 worn. — M. Bedford, Woburn. 



Little Tern on the Ayrshire Coast. — On 8th August, on 

 the coast of Ayrshire, about five miles north of Ballantrae, I saw 

 four Lesser Terns {Sterna minutd). There were two parent birds 

 and two young (well able to fly), the former feeding the latter with 

 small fish as they sat on the sand. I understand that these birds 

 are not common on this coast. I shot one of the young, and am 

 having it prepared as a museum specimen. I have never seen this 

 bird here before, and from what I can gather from other naturalists, 

 it has not been seen recently. On the following day I saw the 

 parent birds and remaining young one, but I have not seen them 

 since. In view of the increased interest now being taken in the 

 migration of birds, I thought it might be of interest to publish this 

 note in your pages. — Melvin H. Rattray, Lendalfoot, Girvan. 



Immature Eared Grebe in Sol way. — A specimen of the 

 Eared Grebe (Podicipes nigricollis) was obtained near Skinburness 

 on 29th July last, and forwarded to me for identification. On 

 dissection it was found to be a male. Further examination proved 

 it to be a bird of the year, the sides of the head and neck 

 showing very evident traces of immaturity. The occurrence of 

 a young bird in this locality at this season of the year is excep- 

 tionally interesting, as it may be reasonably inferred that the 

 specimen in question was bred somewhere within the S 

 area. — Hugh Mackay, Edinburgh. jt^fi. 





