206 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



M'Bain, Esq., M.D., E.K, a cordial vote of thanks was 

 awarded to Mr Grieve for his able address. 



The following Communications were then read : 



I. Ornithological Notes: (1.) Surnia nyctea, Snoivy Owl; 

 (2.) Crex porzana, Spotted Crake; (3.) Eallus aquati- 

 ons, Water Rail; (4) Larus Sabini, Salines Gull. 

 (Specimens exhibited.) By John Alex/vnder Smith, 

 M.D. 



(1.) Surnia nyctea, tlie Snowy Owl. — This very fine speci- 

 men of the snowy owl — an adult male — was shot on the 

 27th October last, at Lochmaddy, North Uist, the property 

 of Sir John Orde, Bart, of Kilmory. Mr Keddie informs 

 me that its stomach was quite empty. This large white 

 owl more or less spotted with brown is well known as an 

 occasional visitor from the north of Europe or America. Dr 

 Edmonston believed it might occasionally breed in Shetland, 

 and thought he had found one reliable instance of its having 

 done so. It is stated to have bred on the islands of Unst 

 and Yell, Shetland. It is a rarer bird on the mainland of 

 Scotland than in the islands to the north and west, where it 

 has been more frequently captured. Mr Gray informs me that 

 it may almost be considered a regular spring visitor to the 

 Hebrides, and it is believed these birds have occasionally come 

 from N"orth America, like many other occasional visitors, being 

 carried by gales of wind out of the line of their more ordi- 

 nary migration. I am not aware of any instance of this bird 

 being supposed to have bred on the mainland of Scotland. 

 Indeed the only one recorded, as far as I am aware, was pub- 

 lished in the Zoologist for 1856, and repeated again in the 

 natural history appendix to the recently-published, amusing, 

 and interesting "Life of a Scotch Naturalist," Thomas 

 Edward, Banff, by Samuel Smiles ; but I fear this soli- 

 tary case requires a little more confirmation. Perhaps our 

 Secretary, Mr Gray, may be able to tell us something of the 

 true state of matters in regard to it. 



(2.) Crex pormna, the Spotted Crake. — Two specimens of 

 this bird are exhibited, the larger, the male; and the smaller, a 



