194 BIRDS. 



island where they were to be found, completely extirpated them; 

 his bag having been stated as high as 14 brace in one day. 

 The late Dr. Duguid of Kirkwall was Mr. Ranken's informant. 



Lagopus scoticus (Lath.). Red Grouse, 

 hen. 



In vol. xvi. p. 480 of the old Statistical Account for the year 1795, 

 the following passage occurs: "About eighty years ago Muir- 

 fowl frequented some of the hills, and were shot within a mile 

 of the village of Stromness. . . . Now, 1795, none are seen." 



We have no reason to suppose that Black game ever existed, 

 more than as an accidental visitor (see under species), to 

 Orkney, and the above-quoted passage may therefore well be 

 taken to refer to the Red Grouse. We think there is a good 

 deal of interest attached to this, as showing that in all proba- 

 bility the birds were suffering from the disease which comes so 

 much more frequently throughout Scotland now-a-days. Had 

 they been shot out, some record would most likely have been 

 left of the fact, as was the case with the Ptarmigan just 

 mentioned. At the same time we are given to understand that 

 disease at the present day, rarely, if ever, makes its appearance 

 in Orkney. 



Low in his Tour speaks to the abundance of "Moor-fowl" 

 in Hoy and Flotta, and the parishes of Holm and St. Andrews 

 on the Mainland ; and their scarcity in Risa Little. 



At the present time Grouse are found on the Mainland, 

 Hoy, Burray, Flotta, Fara, Risa Little, Cava (where of late 

 years, Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us, they have bred), Eday and 

 Rousay. In all these islands they are resident, but they also 

 occasionally visit Sanday from Eday, as we are informed by Mr. 

 Harvey ; and Buckley was also told that they have been known 

 to fly as far as Westray from Rousay. This may seem a long 

 flight for a Grouse, but, during the severe winter of 1879-80, 

 Grouse were observed to cross from Scrabster, near Thurso, to 

 Hoy, which is about eleven miles; they were seen on their 

 journey, passing the mail steamer. 



It is quite probable that owing to these partial migrations, 



