7344 Notes on the 



Mormon fratercula (tammy-norie). Summer. Permanent? Very 

 few i-eraain after the breeding season; and there appears reason lo 

 believe that some other species or well-marked variety exists which 

 appears in winter. 



Alca torda (willock). Summer. 



Carbo cormoranus (loring) and C. cristalus (scarf). Permanent. 



Sula bassana. Occasional, but tolerably common after the breeding 

 season. 



Sterna arctica (piccatarie). Summer. 



Larus Rossii ? A gull, the plumage of which was tinged with rose- 

 colour, was shot some years since in North Uust; possibly it belonged 

 to this species. 



L. ridibundus. Summer. 



L. tridactylus (weeg). Summer and autumn, in millions. 



L. eburneus. Winter. Sent to the Edinburgh Museum, by Dr. 

 Edmonston, in 1822. 



L. canus. Permanent. 



L. leucopterus. Winter. This bird, which bears the same relation 

 to L. glaucus as L. fuscus to L. marinus, was first noticed in Britain 

 by Dr. Edmonston, and is still to be seen in Shetland, though there 

 is no reason to suppose that it remains to breed. 



L. fuscus (said-fool). Permanent. * 



L. argentatus (white maa). Permanent. To exemplify the relative 

 value of morphological and anatomical characters, it may be mentioned 

 that the digestive organs of this bird during the summer, when its food 

 is fish and animal matter, are membranous ; but in early spring, when 

 their diet is almost wholly of some description of corn, they are pro- 

 vided with an adequate gizzard, quite sufficient, were that organ alone 

 in view, to locate its owner among the Gallinaceae ; Let this habit 

 become permanent, and a very pretty specimen of mutation would be 

 the result. 



L. marinus (baagy). Permanent. 



L. glaucus. Winter. Dr. Edmonston, who first noticed this spe- 

 cies, formerly observed large flocks where now a chance specimen 

 only can be seen. 



Lestris catarractes (skua or bonxy). Summer. A few years since, 

 some greedy itinerant collector shot down all the specimens of this 

 fine species, except a pair or two, which their boldness during the 

 breeding-season rendered an easy matter. It is a pity he was not 

 made to smart for it on the occasion ; but as these birds have, by 

 the appointment of a keeper, been increased in numbers, though at 



