262 BIRDS. 



In 1888, during our visit to Hoy, we often saw and heard 

 this species there, and found a nest containing two eggs on 

 the edge of one of the " brulochans," or, as they term them 

 in Orkney, " Loomagens." 



Concerning this Mr. Moodie-Heddle writes us : 



" Ked-throated Diver, also 'Loom.' There are lochs or hill 

 tarns all over Orkney, now sometimes drained out, which are 

 called 'Loomagens'; hardly an island, but has one set of lochs 

 so called. These were formerly, when water was at high level, 

 the breeding-places of the * Looms.' Now they are mostly con- 

 fined to Hoy and Walls." 



There are, we know, one or two such lochs in Rousay termed 

 " Loomagens," but, for all this, as stated above, there seems to 

 be no authentic account of these birds having bred out of the 

 island of Hoy. 1 



That the Eed-throated Diver, however, does frequent lochs 

 in other parts of Orkney at times we are aware, and it is possible 

 that, if protection could be given it, the species might yet be 

 found nesting on the Mainland. In 1888 Mr. Irvine-Fortescue 

 saw a pair on Hobbister loch; and in the same year Mr. 

 Cameron of Burgar saw two pairs, late in May or early in June, 

 on two small lochs not far from that place. We went out there 

 ourselves on June llth to look for them, but could then only 

 see one bird on the nearer loch. 



Family PODICIPITID-ffi. 

 Podiceps cristatus (.). Great-Crested Grebe, 



Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us that his father saw a dead specimen 

 in 1829 near Melsetter "a large bird." Mr. Millais writes 

 us : " I have seen this species occasionally in winter in the 

 Sound between Hoy and Grsemsay. Specimens have been 

 killed in autumn in Loch Harray and in Sanday, by Mr. Begg 

 of Stromness." 



1 Mr. Begg, in a letter dated April 24th, 1890, distinctly affirms that the 

 Red-throated Diver used to breed on the edge of a small loch on the hill above 

 the Established Manse, Stromness. 



