104: BIRDS. 



Family ACCENTORID^. 

 Accentor modularis (.). Hedge-Sparrow. 



The Hedge-sparrow seems to have increased, both as a migrant 

 and as a breeding species, since Baikie and Heddle's time. 



Mr. W. Reid mentions his shooting one as a rare occurrence, 

 even as late as 1862, so that the increase must have commenced 

 at least as late as that date. 



Writing in 1887, Mr. Moodie-Heddle says: "This bird 

 is now more common, and breeds most seasons at Melsetter, 

 either in the lower parts of the hedge, or in apple-trees against 

 a wall." 



Mr. T. W. Ranken sends us the following notes on this 

 species by his father and himself : 



" I have seen two in Kirkwall, one in 1842, and another in 

 1844. Another was shot by Dr. Duguid, near Kirkwall, in 

 April 1849 (B. M. R.). These birds are more frequently seen 

 now, 1887, and a few nests may be found in a season. The 

 hedges at Wideford are the best locality to find specimens, but 

 they are by no means common in Orkney." 



Buckley shot a specimen in the Westness garden, Rousay, in 

 the autumn of 1883, but they did not breed there at that time. 



Mr. Moodie-Heddle sent us a specimen shot at Melsetter in 

 April 1888, and a pair bred there in May; but the young 

 perished in the nest from cold. 



Family PARIDJE. 

 Parus major, L. Great Titmouse. 



The following is the only notice we have of the occurrence of the 

 Great Tit in Orkney. 



Mr. T. W. Ranken~says : " 2d July 1884. I frequently got 

 quite close to a specimen of this bird in the plantation of 

 Muddiesdale to-day, once being so near to it that I was almost 

 within arm's-length, and have no hesitation in stating that this 

 straggler was certainly identified. I have never seen another 

 here." 



