176 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. viii. 



conversant with the writings of the Scoto-Pole, but, as regards 

 Blackgame, they certainly shared the same behef which he 

 expressed in reference to Urogallus nearly three hundred 

 years before their time. 



The science of Ornithology has not been free from 

 extravagant notions concerning the pro-creation of birds, 

 and I venture to think that it is interesting to note that this 

 ridiculous idea as to the mating of Blackgame should have 

 continued, and for all I know may still continue among 

 the uneducated, in this the twentieth century. 



Hugh S. Gladstone, 



Carrion-Crows in Outer Hebrides. — Mr. F. S. Beveridge 

 records {Scot. Nat.. 1914 p. 238) that a flock of eight Corvzis 

 corone, two of which were shot, were present in North Uist 

 diiring August and September, 1914. We believe that the 

 only previous record of this species in the Outer Hebrides 

 is that of three on the Flannans in November, 1912. 



Ferruginous Duck and Ortolan Bunting in 

 Suffolk. — In an ornithological diary from Lowestoft, 

 Mr. F. C. Cook records {Zool, 1914, p.' 323) that a female 

 Nyroca nyroca was shot at Hopton on September 1st, 1913, 

 and that on September 3rd, Dr. C. B. Ticehurst received 

 an example of Emberiza hortulanus amongst other birds 

 captiired on a fishing-smack. The Rev. J. G. Tuck {Vict. 

 Hist. Suffolk, I., p. 188) only includes one specimen of this 

 species from Suffolk, though it has frequently been taken 

 in Norfolk. 



Dotterels in Wigtownshire. — Mr. C. H. Braid reports 

 {Scot. Nat., 1914, p. 239) that on the night of August 29th- 

 30th, he saw a flock of Charadrius morinellus flying round the 

 lantern of the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse. Four of the 

 birds struck the lantern and there were at least eleven other 

 birds in the flock. On the same night and on the following 

 night there were large numbers (" hundreds ") round the 

 Isle of May Lighthouse as recorded by Mr. S. Baigrie {I.e.). 

 The Dotterel is rarely recorded from western Scotland. 



The Council of the London Natural History Society invites 

 Belgian or French refugees interested in Natural History 

 to attend the Society's meetings, and offers them the use of 

 the Society's library and collections. The meetings of the 

 Central Society are held at Hall 20, Salisbury House, London 

 Wall, E.C., at 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the 

 month. Further particulars can be obtained from J. Ross, 

 18, Queen's Grove Road, Chingford, N.E. 



