124 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. vi. 



NTBIBER OF FULMARS ON HANDA. 



On June 10th, 1912, I visited the island of Handa. and of 

 course saw the usual birds Avhich habitually breed there 

 in great numbers. I also saw a good number of Fulmars 

 [Fulmarus g. glacialis) mostly at the northern end of the island. 

 One local boatman who visits the island regularly, told me 

 that there were about sixty pairs breeding there this year, 

 others, including the Scourie keeper, put the number of 

 nesting couples as betAveen forty and fifty. 



Personally I did not see so many as I Avas unable to reach 

 a good point of observation. But everyone, from whom I 

 could gather information, agreed that there now exists a 

 large and flourishing colony on the island. 



The last occasion on which I was on Handa (previous to 

 this year) was at the end of August, 1900. Then I saw 

 nothing of the Fulmars. But this year an old cragsman, 

 who had acted as a ghillie for me in 1900, remarked that on 

 my previous visit there were only one or tAso couples on the 

 island. As, hoAvever, I do not suppose that the old man 

 reckoned accurately the date of my preAaous A'isit, but only 

 spoke in general terms, I ha\^e no reason to suppose that 

 any record of the Fulmar on Handa, previous to the reliable 

 one of 1902, is in any way trustworthy. A. May all. 



[In the summary of Mr. HarAde-BroAAn's recent paper, 

 it should have been noted, on p. 94, that Eilean IMor is one of 

 the Flannan Isles. — Eds.] 



GREAT CRESTED GREBE BREEDING NEAR LONDON. 



On June 26th, 1912, I discovered a Great Crested Grebe 

 {Colymbus c. cristatus) sitting on a nest on the Metropolitan 

 Water Board reservoir at Lordship Road, Stoke NeAA'ington, 

 a few minutes' Avalk from Finsbury Park. I \asited the nest 

 nearly every day and finally the young birds made their 

 appearance on July 9th. The nest AA^as situated a fcAv yards 

 from the edge of the reserA'oir, about fifty yai'ds from Lord- 

 ship Road, in full vicAV of the considerable number of people 

 Avho frequent this road. 



I have on several occasions noticed anglers fishing close to 

 the nest, and sometimes the float or bait Avould fall 

 into the water a fcAv feet from the nest, yet the bird stuck 

 to its post. This seems a very remarkable instance of 

 boldness in Avhat is supposed to be a timid bird. 



It is not improbable that the pair of birds in question came 

 over from the WalthamstoAA^ ReserA^oirs, Avhere a colony of 



