112 Proceedings of the Roijal Physical Society. 



books could be used for daily observations of flocks or the 

 movements of birds and other phenomena, with certain modi- 

 fications, and with the assistance of contractions and symbols, 

 such as "f" for flock, "ff" for flocks, "Iff" for large flocks, 

 " sff " small flocks, etc., etc. Perhaps the best contractions 

 and symbols in use for daily observations are those used for 

 many years by Professor Newton of Cambridge, which are 

 deserving of universal adoption, and are simple and easy to 

 understand (see Trans, of Noy. and Norw. Nat. Soc, vol. i., 

 p. 32). For purposes of records of distribution, a progressive 

 system of sjniibols has already been advocated by me (Ann. 

 and Mag. Nat. Eist., 1877, July, September, and December), 

 which I still use, and find can be easily worked. 



VIII. On the Occurrence of the Black Redstart (Euticilla titys, 

 Scop) at Pentland Skerries, Pentland Firth ; along with 

 a special plea in favour of Ornithological Education. 

 By John A. Haevie-Brown, Esq., F.RS.E., F.Z.S., 



President. 



(Read 23d April 1884.) 



This specimen of Euticilla titys, the fifth recorded occur- 

 rence of the species in Scotland as far as I am aware, is an 

 adult male.^ As already pointed out by me, on the occasion 

 of my former record, it has occurred as far north as Faroe, 

 and at its furthest north point on the Continent in the central 

 districts of Sweden. The remarks made by me before regard- 

 ing the extension of range northward in the breeding season, 

 affecting the so-called accidental occurrences of the same 

 species in autumn, apply still ; and if we. admit, which may 

 be freely admitted, that birds return in great measure to 

 their breeding haunts by the same routes that they leave 

 them, then the more northerly occurrences in this country in 

 perfectly normal weather indicates a more northerly exten- 

 sion abroad also. It may be argued that if this increase had 

 been going on steadily, more marked differences would have 



1 For previous records, see the Proceedings of this Society, vol. iv., p. 142 

 (J. A. H.-B.) ; and Mr Gray's "Birds of the West of Scotland," p. 84. 



