268 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



Graham, I find, mentions in his very interesting notes that in very 

 stormy weather he has seen large flocks in lona feeding in the 

 ploughed fields. 



It was suggested by the late Dr Fleming that this species might 

 breed in Shetland, as he had observed it at all seasons of the year; 

 and I find it mentioned in a manuscript note by one of the authors 

 of the Fauna Orcadensis, that it breeds in the Orkney Islands. No 

 authentic record, however, has yet been published of the nest or 

 eggs having been found in either group of islands: it is, indeed, 

 possible that on account of the bird having been seen every month 

 of the year except July, these writers may have been misled. 



THE OYSTER-CATCHER. 



H^EMATOPUS OSTRALEGUS. 

 Gille Brideun. 



THIS beautiful and lively bird is a familiar resident in all the outer 

 islands, and is also found throughout the whole year over the shores 

 of the west of Scotland generally, its breeding stations being 

 numerously scattered from north to south. It is likewise found 

 on the Haskar rocks and St. Kilda, in both of which places its nest 

 has been found by Mr John M'Donald, Newton. 



The Oyster-Catcher pairs early in the season, and in some parts 

 of Scotland is known to travel long distances inland. When 

 travelling from Perth to Inverness in April, 1870, I observed 

 several pairs on the banks of the Tay evidently mated. Near 

 Dalguise, I saw others frequenting ploughed fields at some distance 

 from the river; and at Ballinluig two or three pairs were observed 

 near a farm steading feeding not more than twenty yards from the 

 pigeons and poultry. On reaching Pitlochry, I found five or six 

 pairs, all apparently mated ; and finally, as we passed Blair Athole 

 and proceeded northwards towards Struan, I counted about a 

 dozen more, showing that these birds follow the windings of such 

 a river as the Tay, and take up their summer quarters on its banks 

 at the commencement of the breeding season. About a week 

 afterwards, while travelling along the side of the Spey from 

 Rothes to Abernethy, I took notice of the fact that pairs of this 

 bird were located in the same way on the banks of the river from 



