BIRDS. 201 



Two of them had been seen in Deerness for some days 

 before, and were pursued and shot at several times. When the 

 one was killed, the other flew over to the neighbouring island 

 of Copinsay, and was not seen afterwards at Deerness. 



In the stomach of the one that was procured there was 

 nothing but a few grains of oats, but it did not appear to be 

 starved, and weighed about five pounds. The gulls and lap- 

 wings continually attacked the two strangers whenever they 

 walked or winged their way over the grass or oat fields, and 

 they were heard frequently to utter a hoarse scream when thus 

 persecuted by their tormentors. 



The bird was bought by Mr. Reid, bookseller of Kirkwall, 

 from the owner, who was hawking it about the streets, and who 

 said that "if he did not get his price for it (a very few shillings) 

 he would, on getting home, pluck it and make soup of it." 



Mr. Reid had the bird stuffed, and it afterwards passed into 

 the collection of Mr. Christy Horsfall, Leeds. 



Extracted from the different local papers. 



Order 4. LIMICOL-ffi. 



Family OTID.E. 

 Otis tarda (L.). Great Bustard. 



A beautiful specimen of this bird was shot at Holland, Stronsay, by 

 Mr. Steavenson in March [April 1] 1886. The bird proved to be 

 a female, the eggs being in a forward condition. Its weight was 

 9f Ibs., and it is now in the possession of Mrs. Balfour of Balfour 

 and Trenaby. The stomach was filled with green matter, either 

 grass or turnip tops. Before it was shot the bird was very 

 tame, and made only short flights. An attempt was made to 

 catch it, but was unsuccessful. 



Family CHARADRIID-E. 

 Charadrius pluvialis (L.). Golden Plover. 



Resident and common, receiving large additions to its numbers in 

 autumn. 



