BIRDS. 261 



Mr. Eanken says he saw a pair of these birds, once only, in 

 Inganess Bay in December 1876. 



When Buckley was living at Westness in 1883, he saw a pair 

 that constantly frequented the "Muckle" and "Peerie" lochs 

 in May and early in June, but could not make out that they 

 bred there, though he often looked for some sign of a nest. Later 

 on, in July, pairs of these birds were again observed by him 

 frequenting these same lochs. From this, it would appear as 

 if these lochs were in their line of migration. Constantly in 

 the evenings, at the end of July and beginning of August, we 

 used to hear and see Divers, either Black- or Red- throated, 

 flying over the island of Eousay, almost always in pairs, and 

 taking a S.W. course. 



Mr. Millais writes us : " The Black -throated Diver is scarce. 

 I have noticed it four times in spring, and have two eggs taken 

 on a small loch in Hoy, which undoubtedly belong to this 

 species, though I have not heard of its breeding elsewhere. A 

 Black-throat was shot, August 1886, by the Eev. S. A. Walker, 

 near the point of Ness, Mainland." 



Eeferring to its breeding in this note, we think it would 

 have been more satisfactory as establishing the fact had Mr. 

 Millais himself taken the eggs and seen the birds divers' eggs 

 being rather deceptive in appearance, and still more so in size. 



Colymbus septentrionalis, L. Red-throated Diver, 

 Ore. = Loom. Loon. 



Though resident in greater or less numbers, we have no 

 authentic information that this bird ever bred in any other 

 island than that of Hoy ; but, from the time of Low downwards, 

 it has always been noted as nesting there. 



At one time, Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us, the bird was 

 nearly exterminated as a breeding species from Hoy, owing to 

 people being bribed to steal the eggs. Now, however, owing to 

 that gentleman's care and preservation, there are usually some 

 four nests in the island. 



Mr. Irvine-Fortescue tells us that two or three of these birds 

 are usually to be seen in Swanbister Bay. 



