200 BIRDS. 



Fulica atra (L.). Common Coot. 



Ore. = Snaith. 



A common species, and seen by us on all the islands we visited, 

 where there were suitable localities. We have seen their nests 

 in Kousay, in an island in Loch Saviskail, placed on the ground 

 under docken leaves, which is perhaps an unusual site ; other 

 nests in the same loch were built and placed in the more 

 ordinary manner. 



Mr. Watt writes us that they migrate from the loch of 

 Skaill, it being a rare thing to see one there in winter. 



Mr. Irvine-Fortescue has seen small flocks of from six to a 

 dozen on the loch of Harray in winter, and, on one occasion, 

 shot two out of a flock of between one hundred and fifty and 

 two hundred Widgeons. 



In June 1889 we sat watching two Coots feeding in the 

 loch of Skaill close to us. They seemed mostly to be picking 

 small insects or shells from the plants, but at times they dived 

 and brought up small portions of weed, which they either ate 

 whole or picked over. 



Family GEUID^B. 

 Grus communis (Bechst.). Common Crane. 



Notices of this bird in Orkney appear to be very vague. Sir 

 Kobert Sibbald mentions their occurrence in these islands, and 

 Dr. Fleming states that a small flock were seen at Tingwall in 

 the autumn of 1807 (Baikie and Heddle, Fauna Orcadensis). 



At page 7 of the Statistical Account of Orkney it is stated that 

 the Crane is found in Orphir, but this most likely refers to the 

 Heron, which is so often called a Crane. 



In the 4th edition of Yarrell, the Crane is stated to have 

 often occurred, but none of our correspondents have ever men- 

 tioned it to us. 



Grus virgo (L.). Demoiselle Crane. 



A very fine specimen of this bird was shot on the 14th May 1863 

 on the Mainland at Deerness, the most eastern parish in Orkney. 



