162 BIRDS. 



Harvie-Brown found three or four pairs breeding at the 

 Black Craig, in or about the year 1863,, within some 6 or 8 feet 

 of the summit of the cliff. 



Mr. Moodie-Heddle writes that the Heron breeds in one 

 locality in Hoy, and that every year a few nests may be found. 

 At this spot the bird makes its nest amongst long heather and 

 bracken at the edge of a cliff, where there are a few small 

 birches and rowan-trees. 



There is also a pencil note in a copy of Macgillivray by 

 Mr. Heddle's father, that the Heron builds in Orkney in rocks, 

 and gives Skaill, Hoy, and the island of Glimpsholm, as localities. 



Mr. Moodie-Heddle continues : "I have no doubt that they 

 (the Herons) may shift, but that they breed at all these places 

 occasionally. At Pegal Head and Blsa Little one may usually 

 see about the same number any day of the year, i.e. from 30 to 

 50, according to wind and weather." 



Mr. Reid notes that they did breed, or were said to breed, 

 at the heads of Roithisholm, Stronsay, but we saw no Herons 

 there in 1888. 



Herons are abundant all through the Orkneys in winter; 

 indeed, at any season, except when breeding, when they are at 

 present scarce. 



Ardetta minuta (.). Little Bittern. 



We have no record of any other specimen of this species from 

 Orkney besides the one given by Baikie and Heddle, as having 

 been procured in Sanday in 1806. 



Botaurus stellaris (L.). Bittern. 



[Obs. l n a MS. note on this species by the late Mr. Heddle of 

 Melsetter, he remarks, " very doubtful " in Orkney ; but his son 

 informs us that he believes his father did kill a Bittern after 

 this, about the year 1851.] 



Family CICONIIDJE. 



Ciconia alba, Bechst. White Stork. 



We have no further notes on this bird since Baikie and Heddle 



