BIRDS. 161 



As he was driving along the Stromness road by the Bay of Firth, 

 he was suddenly startled by the appearance of a huge white bird 

 which kept swooping and dashing about the lantern of his gig. 

 The night was very dark, and as the bird's screams sounded 

 unearthly enough for anything, it was some little time before Dr. 

 Logie ascertained the precise nature of his visitant. Presently he 

 observed the bird alight in a deep ditch by the roadside, and 

 getting out of his gig, he, with the aid of the lantern, so dazzled 

 the bird that it was easily captured. A closer inspection showed 

 it to be a remarkably fine specimen of the Solan Goose. The 

 bird is now stuffed, and in Dr. Logic's possession." 



Order 4. HERODII. 



Family ARDEID^. 

 Ardea cinerea, L. Common Heron. 



Low describes the Crested Heron as common in the winter, but 

 says he thinks it does not remain through the summer, its place 

 then being taken by the Ash-coloured Heron ; however, as the 

 former bird is merely the Common Heron in full breeding 

 plumage, and the latter the young bird, it is quite probable that 

 this species bred in Orkney in his time. 



Eobert Dunn does not seem to have discovered its breeding 

 haunts either, so it must have been very local (as in fact it is 

 now), or very rare at that season; indeed, it is not generally 

 supposed to breed in the Orkneys, but we have received many 

 statements to the contrary. 



Mr. Watt of Skaill informs us that it breeds in Lyre-geo, 

 sometimes called Heron-geo, between Skaill and Stromness. 



Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says : "I believe one once nested on 

 the Black Craig, Stromness. I saw an egg which had been got 

 there. They may nest yearly, but it requires to be confirmed. 

 Small flocks of half-a-dozen or so have certain roosting-places, 

 where they may be almost always found, as on the holm of 

 Wasbister, loch of Harray, and Veness, Orphir, when not dis- 

 turbed," etc. etc. 



Mr. Eanken tells us they build in the cliffs in Sandwick parish,, 

 and that his father obtained young birds from that district. 



L 



