146 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. x. 



was brought to him on Ajiril 2(>th, 1906, at Ballinamore, co. 

 Leitrim. It was said to have been shot out of a hirge flock 

 at Garadice Lake. In August, 1912, in co. Monaghan, Mr. 

 Mc William and his brother shot one out of four, and a few 

 days later saw two more in the same neighbourhood. 



Roseate Tern off co. Wexford. — Prof. C. J. Patten 

 records {Irish Nat., 1916, p. 120) that an adult female Sterna 

 doagallii was i^icked up dead on the Tuskar Rock on May 

 7th, 1916, and forwarded to him. 



Little Gull in Lanarkshire. — Mr. J. Robertson states 

 {Scot. Nat., 1916, p. 240) that he and Mr. D. Macdonald saw 

 an immature Larus minut^is from May 16th to 21st, 1916, 

 on the Kelvin river near Summerston. The bird is scarce on 

 the west coast of Scotland. 



Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gull in Fifeshire. 

 —On July 9th, IS 16, Miss E. V. Baxter and Miss L. J. Rintoul 

 saw in Largo Bay a Lesser Black-backed Guil with a " coal- 

 black mantle " standing with four or five of the British for)n 

 Larus f. affiriis. No doubt this bird was an example of the 

 typical L.f.fuscus {Scot. Nat., 1916, p. 265). 



Water-Rail at St. Kilda. — With reference to Dr. W. E. 

 Clarke's recent record of a Water-Rail at St. Kilda (c/. antea, 

 p. 70), Dr. J. Wiglesworth points out {Scot. Nat., 1916", p. 241) 

 that the first recorded visit of the bird to St. Kilda was on 

 November 3rd, 1903, when an example was captured and sent 

 to him. 



LETTER. 



HABITS OF SPARROW-HAWKS. 



To the Editor of British Birds. 



Sirs, — In the last chapter of his delightful, and acciirate account 

 of the habits of Sparrow-Hawks, Mr. Owen asks for candid criticism and 

 suggestions. My own observations extending over very many years 

 are practically the same as his. They differ somewhat in the question 

 of " soaring." I had no idea that the Sparrow-Hawk was supposed 

 not to soar ? On almost any calm brilliant day, especially one follow- 

 ing a spell of bad weather, we see Sparrow-Hawks soaring over these 

 woods, and often drifting away in spirals out of sight at a great 

 height. I have looked upon them, and often heard others make the 

 remark that they are exceptionally good " Soarers," rising very fast 

 in small circles. I too have seen them soar in company with a Kestrel 

 on many occasions, and also with a Rook ! I do not think I have 

 notic^ed the cock soar as frequently as 1 have hens. 



E. G. B. Meade- Waldo. 



Stonewall Park, Kknt. 

 Oct. ."), 191(). 



