68 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 
and Bewick Swans were common and sitting about on land in 
small parties. If they attempted to rise they were blown away 
and capsized, only to be rolled along the ground like a huge 
ball. Golden Plover were blown like chaff before the wind. 
Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper had all come inland, 
and when compelled to rise were carried down wind like crumpled 
bits of paper, capsizing whenever they attempted to land again. 
Mallard could rise, but could not face the wind, and were com- 
pelled to go with it. Wigeon and Golden-eye suffered the same 
fate. Eider-duck came in from the sea, where they could not 
have lived for an instant, and were sitting about on the land and 
on small puddles. The cock Eider was the only bird I saw which 
could face the wind. I saw it on two occasions, and it was a 
fine example of strength and determination. Birds made about 
a mile an hour ground-speed, but were at frequent intervals making 
a minus ground-speed though still facing the wind. Hen Eider 
failed to face the wind, though I saw many attempts to do so. 
“ Of smaller birds, Twites were in flocks cowering under walls ; 
if disturbed they were dashed to the ground and were in some 
cases killed against walls and rocks. Blackbirds were in the same 
predicament. Redwing could rise from the ground, but had to 
turn with the wind and be blown away out of control. 
“Life on water for birds was impossible. Gulls were sitting 
on land with head held low. All Duck were on land or in 
very small shallow puddles. Geese were in huddled flocks sitting 
without sentries behind small knolls and hillocks.” 
These interesting observations were made by Col. Meinertz- 
hagen, and are here reproduced from Lull. Brit. Ornith. Club, 
December 1920. 
A Rare Millipede (Isobates varicornis) in Midlothian. 
—In my revised list of the Millipedes of the Forth area, published 
in the 1919 volume of this Magazine, /sobates varicornis (C.K.) 
was included on the strength of the single Scottish record by Mr 
Bagnall from East Fortune in East Lothian, June 1917. I can 
now record its presence near Penicuik in Midlothian, where about 
a score of examples were found by myself on zoth April 1921, 
under the bark of a dead oak that had recently been cut down. 
They agree exactly with English specimens in my collection. The 
formation of the eyes at once separates the species from the 
common Amsteinia fusca, to which it bears a close superficial 
resemblance.—WILLIAM Evans, Edinburgh. 
