BIRDS. 123 



day in the south, but perhaps the cold summer of 1883 may 

 have had something to do with this. 



In Orkney the Skylark begins to sing early in the year, 

 sometimes even in winter. Here boys will not disturb larks' 

 nests, the bird being still called " Our Lady's Hen." 



Mr. Ranken mentions a case where a mouse attacked a tame 

 lark in a cage, and in connection with this Mr. Moodie-Heddle 

 asks the question, " Can Short-tailed Field Mice destroy these 

 birds' nests ? " as he once found a piece of carrion, about three 

 ounces in weight, in a nest of this mouse, all minced up. 



Alauda arborea L. Wood Lark. 



[Gray, p. 125 of his Birds of the West of Scotland, says that the 

 most northern locality he has been able to find for this species 

 is Orkney, where, on February 20th, 1844, a specimen was shot 

 at Stromness, in Dunn's garden. We have no other record 

 than this, which at least seems open to doubt, when, according 

 to Baikie and Heddle, Dunn said that the Skylark left the 

 Orkneys during the winter.] 



Section 5. OSCINES CULTIROSTRES. 

 Family STURNIDJ3. 



Sturnus vulgaris, L. Common Starling. 

 Orc.=Stare, Stirlin (B. and H.). 



Abundant in Low's time, and certainly not less common now. 

 Resident, and breeding in almost any place that they can find 

 suitable for placing their nest, even under stones on the beach 

 and in low dykes. It is quite likely that their abundance may 

 be caused by the absence of all ground vermin ; and even rats, 

 those great destroyers of eggs, besides young birds, are not 

 common in every place. 



They both nest and roost in " doo'-cotes," and indeed so 

 much so as to drive out the rightful inhabitants. 



