9590 Birds. 



ascertain, it never feeds upon the oyster, eren in those situations where 

 the latter abounds. It is not easy to imagine how the limpets are 

 procured, allhough it is possible that experience may have taught the 

 bird to strike them from the rock suddenly and without previously 

 alarming them, and it is not at all unlikely that they are also picked 

 up while feeding in shallow water before they have time to retreat 

 within the shell. By way of experiment, I have easily detached 

 limpets from the rocks by means of the bill of a recently-killed oyster- 

 catcher ; but this can only be done by means of a sudden blow, other- 

 wise the shell will be closed down so firmly as to defy all further 

 effort. The common song thrush, as is well known, often betr.\ys its 

 feeding-place by allowing the shells of snails upon which it feeds to 

 accumulate in one particular spot, and the oyslercatcher has the same 

 habit. On capturing a limpet it does not at once devour it, but 

 carries it to a suitable place, such as a flat rock or a grassy ledge, 

 where the operation of unshelling it is easier than it would bo upon 

 the slippery sea-weed. These collections of shells used to puzzle me 

 greatly before their cause was ascertained, for they are often met with 

 some hundred yards inland. Those birds which I sometimes see in 

 confinement always place the limpet with the shell downwards, and 

 then, running the bill round the inner margin with a peculiar tremu- 

 lous motion, detach the animal as rapidly, and far more neatly than 

 I can do it with a knife. I have never seen them use the foot to 

 assist in the operation. 



Goldeneye and Tufted Duck. — Goldeneyes and tufted ducks became 

 more numerous about the middle of the month. The latter species 

 seems to be less partial to sea-water than the former. 



Longtailed Duck. — Many longtailed ducks are now returning from 

 the south, remaining here for a few days upon their way. Upon these 

 occasions they seem to prefer the lochs to the sea. 



Merlin. — The number of merlins is perceptibly increasing. On the 

 15th I obtained a beautiful female specimen. When first seen it was 

 sitting upon a stone devouring a snow bunting, and although it was 

 driven up several times before a shot could be obtained, it never flew 

 further than a couple of hundred yards at a time. 



Snipe. — I first heard the drumming of snipe on the evening of the 

 17th, about an hour after sunset. 



Great Blackbacked Gull. — Great blackbacked gulls have now 

 perfected their spring moult, and now the bill and eyelids are much 

 more brilliantly coloured than they were during the winter. This 

 species has been more than usually abundant this season. " As a rule 



