286 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



THE WHITE SPOONBILL. 



PL AT A LEA LEUCORODIA. 



IT is not unlikely that the Spoonbill will be found to be an 

 occasional visitant to the western islands. I am informed by 

 Mr H. D. Graham that this bird has been accurately described 

 by several residents on the Outer Hebrides to Mr Colin M'Vean. 

 At Barra, especially, the species has occurred oftener than once ; 

 on one occasion five were seen together in a flock. I am 

 unable, however, to say anything from personal observation. 

 The species has also been seen on the east coast, in Tyne 

 estuary;* and has been shot in Shetland, where, however, it is 

 extremely rare. 



In October, 1859, a flock of ten was seen flying across the Bay 

 of Kirkwall, in Orkney, by some work people, who soon spread 

 the information, which led to the destruction of half their number. 

 A week afterwards, three more were seen, one of which was killed, 

 thus making the sixth "martyr to the cause of science," as subjects 

 of this kind are now mildly termed. All these specimens were 

 young birds without the crest. 



THE GLOSSY IBIS. 

 IBIS FALCINELLUS. 



THIS straggler has never, to my knowledge, been met with in the 

 West of Scotland, except in the single instance mentioned by Mac- 

 gillivray a specimen having, according to that writer, who saw 

 it, been shot in Ayrshire. No date is given. 



On the east coast, one of these birds was shot in September, 

 1842, in Fifeshire, by Mr Hepburn, who communicated the cir- 

 cumstance to Mr Yarrell. A third specimen appears to have been 

 obtained near Banchory, in Kincardineshire, on the property of 

 Sir James Burnett, Bart., about the year 1844. This bird, as I 

 have been informed by Mr Angus, was presented to the late Pro- 

 fessor Macgillivray, in whose work, however, no particulars are 

 given, although the simple occurrence is noticed. 



To these instances may be added the occurrence of an immature 



* See Turnbull's Birds of East Lothian, page 43. 



