2O2 



FORK-TAILED PETREL. 

 Case H. 



These birds are resident in St. Kilda and one or two 

 other islands of the Outer Hebrides ; they are occasionally 

 obtained in stormy weather on our southern coasts. The 

 bird stuffed in a flying position was found lying dead under 

 telegraph wires at Creagorry, Benbecula, November 5th, 

 1894, and was presented by Mr. William Bain, of that place. 

 One of the others was shot at Loch Melford, Argyleshire, 

 September 28th, 1891, by Mr. A. D. Laurie, who presented it 

 to the Museum. The third was picked up dead on the 

 Brunswick Lawns, Brighton, in the winter about 1870, and 

 was purchased in 1895. 



The specimen of Helix Caperata is from Benbecula and 

 the Bulinms Acutus are from close to Flora Macdonald's 

 birthplace in South Uist. 



LITTLE BITTERN. 

 Case I. 



This species formerly nested in England, but is now a 

 rare visitor only. 



The specimen is a young male, captured alive in a 

 stable at Hove on the morning of September 3rd, 1894. 

 Some of the extraordinary attitudes assumed by this bird 

 after its capture are described in the Zoologist for 1894, 

 p. 454, and it is stuffed in one such attitude. It was 

 presented by Mr. Henry Willett. 



SHORT-EARED OWL. (NEST AND YOUNG). 

 Case J. 



This day-flying owl still nests occasionally in the fens 

 and broads, and breeds regularly in the north of Scotland and 

 the Hebrides. The three young birds in the case were 

 obtained by the late Mr. Booth in Norfolk on June 23rd, 

 1881. 



When disturbed near their nests, I have seen the old 

 birds circling in the air round the intruder, uttering their 

 bark-like note. On one such occasion I saw them rising to a 

 considerable height in the air, and then dropping nearly 

 to the ground, repeatedly beating their wings together over 

 their backs with a distinct crack which could be heard at a 

 considerable distance. 



