ISH.V] 11 



of Bressay to the marvellous cliffs, caves, and arches of the " Noup 

 of Noss." The bird-life here was quite as extraordinary as that of 

 the clifts of Burrafirth, the difference to us being that we now saw it 

 from above instead of from below. A number of the rare Richardson's 

 skua were met with as we ascended the boggy, heathery hillside which 

 suddenly and abruptly terminates in the precipitous Noss, a cliff 592 

 feet high. From this point we could just see Saxaford to the north, 

 Foula to the west, and the Fair Island to the south, and a magnificent 

 scene it was that should on no account be missed by any entomologist 

 visiting the Shetlands. 



An excursion on our return through the Orkneys was chiefly 

 interesting from antiquarian and botanical points of view. The well- 

 known Celtic Stones of Stenness, and the green sepulchral mound 

 known as " Maeshowe," with its square massive chamber inscribed 

 with Runes, were visited on the way to Stromness, whence a somewhat 

 exciting row in a small boat through the powerful currents of Hoy 

 and Burra Sounds brought us to the Island of Hoy, by far the wildest 

 and grandest island of the group. The object of our visit here was 

 the collection of a hawkweed discovered in 18S6 by the Rev. W. R. 

 Linton on the precipices of the Hamars, and recently described by 

 him under the name Hieracium orcadense. An adequate supply was 

 secured, as it occurred in quantity, and in good condition, but we were 

 fairly driven from its haunts in the rocky gullies of the cliffs by the 

 innumerable and venomous midges which attacked us. 



Nothing noteworthy occurred after this on our homeward journey, 

 but before closing these remarks I must briefly revert to the entomo- 

 logy of Unst. We were quite too late for Hepialus humuli, var. 

 Tiethlandica, and just too early for Cidaria immanata, for we carefully 

 searched the sheltered heathery banks where this is known to occur in 

 fair abundance, but could not secure a single specimen. Melanippe 

 montanata, var. shetlandica, was far from plentiful, and in worn con- 

 dition, but we managed to secure eggs, from which I hope to succeed 

 in rearing a few specimens. The only Micro- Lepidopf era netted during 

 our day walks were Pamplusia mercuriana {monticolana) and Aphelia 

 osseana (pratana). One Plusia gamma was taken in our cottage 

 garden. The solitary specimen of Cri/modes exuJis is a little smaller 

 and darker than any of my other Shetland specimens, and tends some- 

 what towards the Perthshire type, having a broad central band of rich 

 brown, a sharp yellow stigma outside it, and some pale mottling 

 towards the hind margin. The forms of Larentia ccBsiata varied from 

 the usual grey, but with a darker central band, to nearly black. One 



