294 Frocecdiwjs of the, Royal Physical Society. 



us, but five seen together by Barrington, and tliree shot — 

 two males and a female. Barrington thinks they were 

 breedino". 



o 



Hirundo rustica (Linn.). — A pair seen on the north side 

 about the cliff {fide W. Williams), 1886. 



Chelidon urhica (Linn.). — One shot 1886. 



Strepsilas iiiterpres (Linn.). — Five seen on rocks between 

 high and low water-mark by Barrington's party. Summer 

 plumage not complete. According to our experiences of the 

 Outer Hebrides and West of Scotland, this is usually the 

 case in regard to the plumage of Turnstone when seen in 

 summer there ; but we have seen birds in pairs, on several 

 occasions also, in full summer plumage, or almost perfect 

 breeding dress. We have seen many Turnstones and many 

 Purple sandpipers in June on many parts of the Hebrides 

 and West Coast, but we cannot on any one occasion recollect 

 an instance in which the actions of these birds would lead 

 one to suppose they were breeding, except once, when Purple 

 sandpipers were found high up on a hillside, and others — 

 females — were shot on the shore line, with ovaries not very 

 far advanced in development, but the birds in very nearly 

 perfect breeding dress. This was during the last days of 

 May. We think it quite possible Turnstones may have bred, 

 or if not, that they may yet extend their breeding range in 

 this direction ; but that they have bred except in the most 

 infinitesimal degree, we cannot for a moment believe, when 

 we consider how well worked the summer avi-fauna of the 

 Outer Hebrides has been, from the days of the MacGillivrays 

 down to the present time. 



Hemato'piLs ostralegus (Linn.). — Plentiful; breeding espe- 

 cially amongst the debris on the northern point of Eona. 

 Swinburne's nest, taken at an elevation of about 200 feet, is 

 not an unusual thing on our western isles. Many times 

 they are found breeding at great elevations. 



Numenius arqiiata (Linn.). — One seen {fide W. Williams), 

 and also five or six pairs seen about the centre of Ptona by 

 Swinburne. None seen by us anywhere on the island in 

 1885. Swinburne remarks upon these birds being very noisy. 



Numenius phaeopus (Linn.). — In 1885 we found one pair 



