8o THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



eggs in October ; the former hatched out before the end 

 of the month, and the young left the nest on nth November. 

 At Tillicoultry, a nest of the same species, with four eggs, 

 was found on 2nd November, while on 8th November a 

 Sparrow's nest with three eggs is recorded from Maybole, 

 Ayrshire. 



Winter. 



The winter of 1920-21 was chiefly notable for its mildness, 

 and for the fact that many of the partial migrants stayed 

 at or near their nesting places throughout the whole season. 

 Winter visitors were present in their usual numbers, and 

 except for a few Waxwings seen in different parts, there 

 was nothing in any way remarkable to be recorded. The 

 end of 192 1 was more interesting ornithologically than its 

 beginning; there was a great immigration of Waxwings 

 of which records come from all parts of the country. With 

 them came lesser numbers of Northern Bullfinches and 

 Mealy Redpolls — "a few" of the former and "quite a 

 number" of the latter wintered on Fair Isle. As well as 

 these uncommon winter visitors the species which commonly 

 winter with us were present in large numbers. Fieldfares 

 and Redwings were plentiful all over the country, and Ducks 

 and Geese are reported in numbers. Grey-lag and Pink- 

 foot Geese were not quite so numerous as they have been 

 in some years in Islay, but a great many more Bernicle 

 Geese than usual were seen there, also some Brent Geese 

 and great quantities of Duck, chiefly Wigeon, although 

 Mallard were also very plentiful at the same station. Winter- 

 ing Duck were unusually plentiful round the shores of Fife ; 

 one of our recorders tells us that his bag of Duck this 

 winter was more than three times as big as in a normal 

 year, and we have seen very many of the common wintering 

 Duck both in Largo Bay and at other points round the 

 shores of Fife. Cormorants and Shags were seen in unusual 

 numbers in Monifieth Bay in December, while both at the 

 Isle of May and Ailsa Craig in November and December 

 we are told Razorbills, Guillemots, Pufiins, and Shags were 

 seen in a " sad plight, their feathers all stuck with crude 

 oil" cast on to the sea by ships. 



