212 BIRDS. 



Mr. Harvey informs us that a few Woodcocks are seen 

 yearly in October on Sanday, but only for a few days. 



In the winter of 1886-7 Mr. E. S. Cameron shot seven 

 Woodcocks on his shootings of Burgar, on the Mainland. 



When Buckley was in Eousay in 1883, up to December 

 10th no Woodcocks had been seen, but, some time after his 

 departure, the keeper sent him one or two. He was told that 

 they appear more numerously in moderately hard weather, but 

 should it get too severe they all leave. 



In 1888 we were told by the Kousay keeper that Wood- 

 cocks bred there, and that there were at least two nests near 

 Trumbland, the eggs having been seen by him. Mr. Moodie- 

 Heddle has since informed us that, at times, Woodcocks are 

 very abundant in Hoy, and he has known of between thirty 

 and forty birds being flushed there in a single day, though six- 

 and-a-half brace was his best bag. 



Gallinago major (Gmel). Double Snipe, 



By all accounts a very rare bird in Orkney, and we have few 

 authentic instances to record since Baikie and Heddle's time. 



Mr. Cowan says he has only seen one in forty years. Mr. 

 W. Keid informs us that Mr. Calder shot a Double Snipe in 

 Shapinsay, in September 1863. 



Mr. Moodie-Heddle writes us he has killed this species 

 twice or thrice in Hoy; and Mr. Watt shot one near Skaill, 

 at the pools of Mire, in either 1864 or 1865, the only one he 

 ever saw. 



Gallinago ccelestis (Frenzel). Common Snipe, 

 Ore. = Horse-gowk (B. and H.) 



Though still fairly abundant, and breeding in all the islands and 

 holms, yet the Snipe is getting a scarce bird in Orkney in 

 comparison to what used to be the case. All the evidence of 

 our correspondents tends to this, and in most cases these gentle- 

 men ascribe it in great measure to the one cause, viz., the 

 very severe winters of 1878-9 and 1880-81. This goes a long 



