0760 Birds. 



face, danced rouud her, took her round the waist, as if he was go\ng to waltz, when 

 they expressed their joy by dancing and howling in ludicrous concert. — Alhenaum. 



Ornithological Notes from Shetland. By H. L. Saxby, M.D. 

 (Continued from page 9591). 



April, 1865. 



Bramhling. — On the 8lh of April we were visited by a few bram- 

 blings; the wind was blowing heavily and varying between N.W. and 

 S.W. On the 28lh some large flocks arrived with N.E. wind and 

 snow. On comparing specimens shot in April with those shot in 

 autumn the more brilliant colours of the former are very apparent. 



Hooper. — On the 11th (wind blowing strongly from N.) some 

 hoopers rested in the Loch of Cliff, and others were seen at frequent 

 intervals during tlie remaining part of the month. 



Teal. — Teal in large flocks visited the Loch of Watley on the 11th. 

 1 have seldom observed them there in such large nuiubers. 



Goldeiiei/e and Titfled Duck. — Goldeueyes and tufted dticks in- 

 creased in number during the first two weeks in April. 



Barlailed Godwil. — The bartailed godwit is quite rare in Unst, and 

 also, 1 believe, in other parts of Shetland. One appeared at Baltasound 

 on the 18ih (wind N.E.). 



VVheatear. — The first whealear, a male, also arrived on the 18th. 

 Riny Ouzel. — On the 22ud a ring ouzel visited the garden. It 

 appeared to be an adult male, but was so shy that only an occasional 

 glimpse of it could be obtained. The day was bright and calm, but on 

 the preceding day there had been a light, steady breeze from S.W. 



Lapwing. — Lapwings were said to be laying very early in the 

 month, but I saw no eggs before the 23rd. 



Guillemot. — The full number of guillemots has now arrived, and 

 long rows of them may be observed sitting up on the high rocks. A 

 specimen shot at Baltasound on the 20ih, several miles from the 

 breeding station, had tlie front of the neck entirely white, but all that 

 were shot under the cliffs at Burrafirth four days later were in perfect 

 summer plumage. 



Ringed Guillemot. — On the 24lh I shot several specimens of the 

 ringed guillemot at Burrafirth, from among those of the common kind. 

 This was accidental, it being of course impossible to distinguish the 

 one-frotu the other as they fly out of the cliffs. Even when a telescope 



