BIRDS. 113 



his Fauna he gives the Cathedral at Kirkwall as the only 

 locality. Barry says that in his time they bred in the windows 

 of the latter place. 



Although Mr. Watt informs us that the Swallow bred at 

 Skaill House, the bird he refers to is more likely to have been 

 the Martin: he informs us that "they are rather uncommon, 

 and only occasional visitors. Many years ago, a pair nested 

 under the south window-sash of Skaill House. Last summer 

 (1887) a pair were to be seen flying round the house -, these, 

 after a short time, left, and did not appear again." 



Mr. Cowan informs us that a few birds nested in Burgar, 

 nearEvie; but there were none there in 1888. Mr. Ranken 

 says he has seen this species more often in Orkney than the 

 Swallow, sometimes in small flocks, and that a few pairs build 

 in Kirkwall. The late Mr. J. G. Heddle remarked that they 

 were formerly found at Melsetter, as if this was not the case 

 at the time he made this note, but his son, Mr. Moodie-Heddle, 

 says (1887) that they have become more frequent of late years, 

 and breed (i.e. in Hoy). 



None were seen in Rousay by Buckley in 1883. 



Writing from N. Eonaldsay, Dr. W. Traill of Woodwick 

 informed Mr Irvine-Fortescue that, on May 31st, 1885, he 

 saw a flock of House-Martins, consisting of between two and 

 three dozen individuals, flying backwards and forwards over a 

 mass of decaying seaweed, probably attracted by the flies bred 

 therein. Generally, the Martin is a rare species in that island, 

 a pair or a stray bird being only generally seen, and that usually 

 after an easterly gale. 



Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says they are rare at Swanbister. He 

 informs us that they formerly nested in the old manse of Birsay, 

 and that he saw the birds and nests some twenty years ago or 

 more. About ten years after the house was white-limed, when 

 they ceased to nest there. 



When in Orkney in 1888, we found the House-Martin 

 the commonest of all the species. We saw some at Melsetter, 

 and at Rackwick and Little Rackwick, in Hoy ; at the two 

 latter places hawking along the sea-cliffs. Several were seen 

 flying about the Cathedral on the 9th of June. 



H 



