62 The Zoologist— February, 1866. 



stones thrown at them only cause thera to crouch still closer, but on 

 falling into the water they use every effort to escape, and swim 

 remarliably w ell, but I am not aware that they dive on such occasions. 

 Only a few days ago one which was slightly wounded and had fallen 

 into the water made such good use of the feet and the sound wing that, 

 although unable to rise from the surface, and notwithstanding a brisk 

 gale, it very soon reached a small holm about fifty yards to windward. 

 They avoid turning back to the wind when they drop into the water, 

 for a strong gust is very liable to catch them under the wings and 

 plunge the fore part of the body beneath the surface. Their plumage 

 suffers less from immersion than does that of most other sandpipers. 

 At all times, but more especially during flight, the white upper tail- 

 coverts are conspicuous. 



Lesser Blackhacked Gull. — Lesser blackbacked gulls remained in 

 Unst up to the Glh of September. Last year their departure took 

 place about a week earlier. 



Turtle Dove. — The turtle dove mentioned in ray last communication 

 (Zool. S. S. 19), remained until the 9lh of September (wind S.). 

 It regularly came to roost in one particular tree about sunset every 

 evening, but I could never even hear of it in the day-tiuic. 



Ganiwt. — On the 20th of September some boys brought me a fine 

 adult male of this species, which they had just caught upon the hill of 

 Vallafiel, about half a mile from the sea. They said that, after making 

 some slight atteuipts to escape, it turned and attacked them with its 

 bill when they drew near. It was in good condition, and had ap- 

 parently been in perfect health at the time of its capture; therefore it 

 seems probable that the boys were correct in their statement that the 

 length of its wings hindered it from rising from the level ground. 



Sktj Lark. — Sky larks were heard singing from the 20th of Sei)tember 

 to the end of the month. The song was less powerlul than in spring, 

 and but slightly varied. 



Golden Plover. — Golden plovers are still numerous, but the flocks 

 are smaller than they were some weeks ago. 



Heron. — On the 20th of July a living heron was brought to me by 

 a man whose dog had caught it upon some marshy ground by the Loch 

 of Cliff. It was evidently a young bird of the year, and although it 

 was well grown and fully fledged, a considerable quantity of down was 

 yet remaining among the plumage, particularly about the lop of the 

 head, where there were also some long, slender filaments, very much 

 resembling shreds of tow. Thinking that the bird would soon recover 



