380 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



1896, and since 1902 no Osprey has been seen in the 

 neighbourhood. 



Mr. S. E, Brock contributes an interesting article on the 

 display of the Mallard, supplementing the accounts pre- 

 viously given by Millais and Wormald. He believes that 

 the female is influenced by the action of the male and does 

 make some kind of choice in the matter of a mate, and that 

 sexual selection does therefore occur in this species. 



A series of interesting photographs of the rock " Stack 

 arid Skerry," one of the great breeding resorts of the 

 Gannets, is contributed by the Duchess of Bedford, who 

 visited this remote spot in her yacht last June. " Stack 

 and Skerry " lies 27 miles north of the coast of Sutherland- 

 shire and 40 miles west of Orkney, and is believed by the 

 Duchess of Bedford to afford a nesting-place to over 

 5000 Gannets, as well as large numbers of Kittiwakes 

 and Guillemots. During this trip Fair Isle, N, Rona, and 

 St. Kilda were also visited, and a pleasant account of the 

 various species of birds met with is given. 



The Isle of May, lying at the mouth of the Firth of Forth 

 off the coast of Fife, is regularly visited by Miss Rentoul 

 and Miss Baxter, in order to observe migrating birds. In 

 two trips in May and September-October 1913, they added 

 ten new records to the list of the birds visiting the island, 

 of which two, Hypolais pohjglotta and Sa.vicola indica, were 

 new to Scotland. The same authors also contribute an 

 interesting paper on the moult of Passerine birds at the 

 time of migration. An examination of a large series of 

 skins taken at Fair Isle during this period has revealed 

 the fact, not apparently generally realized, that Passerine 

 birds, as well as many Waders, do migrate in a state of 

 partial moult, this being usually confined to the body- 

 feathers. 



The capture of a fine male example of the so-called '^ Blue 

 Fulmar" at St. Kilda by the Duchess of Bedford, gives 

 Mr. Eagle Clarke an opportunity of more exactly describing 

 its plumage and distribution. He comes to the conclusion 

 that thouffh this form is chieflv found far to the north 



