56 THE PENTLAND SKERRIES. 



Sturmdce. Starlings are resident on the Skerries ; they 

 fluctuate in numbers, which may be due to merely local move- 

 ments. But in July 1883 there was a great continuous migra- 

 tion at Auskerry. 



Corwdce. Jackdaws, Hooded Crows, Kooks, and Ravens. All 

 these are resident in the islands, and breed, so no doubt many of 

 the migration reports refer to local movements. Jackdaws occur 

 continually in our schedule for February and March 1889, but as 

 they breed in S. Ronaldsay this is not to be wondered at. In 

 fact there is scarcely a month in which Corvidae, generally either 

 Eooks or Jackdaws, do not figure. Ravens are very rare, and Grey 

 Crows by no means common, as the actual numbers seen are so 

 often mentioned in the schedules. This would appear as if the 

 Orkneys were outside the great stream of these latter birds, which, 

 farther south, come to us in such masses. 



Cypselidce. Swifts are more often seen in autumn than spring, 

 but at Auskerry flocks were seen on May 1st, 1885, with this note 

 on the schedule : " rarely seen until the middle of June." 



Picidce.Two records only occur, both in autumn, of the Great 

 Spotted Woodpecker. 



Guculidce. There is not a single record occurs of Cuckoos. 



Strigidce. The Short-eared Owl is reported to visit Auskerry 

 annually in May. A grey owl is reported from the Pentland 

 Skerries now and then in autumn; once on May 3d, 1889. A 

 Long-eared Owl on November 17th, 1888. 



Falconidce. Hawks occur in most of the schedules, but none 

 in 1888 or 1889. 



Ardeidce. Common Heron seen most months, but never in 

 any quantity. 



Columbidce. Rock-Doves are occasionally seen, but there are 

 only two records of Wood- Pigeons, viz., June 18th and October 

 7th of 1886. 



Pterodidce. For Sand-Grouse, see under the species. The 

 Pentland Skerries was one of the places where they were earliest 

 seen, viz., May 17th, 1888. 



Eallidce. The Corn-Crake appears regularly in May, and nests 



