The Zoologist— November, 1866, 477 



coiKlition. The stomach of one examined on the 27th contained 

 small mussels and fine gravel. 



Scaup Duck. — Two scaups were seen on the 5th in a small sandy 

 bay at Balta. 



Mountain Finch. — On the 6lh (wind strong N.W.) a mountain 

 finch, apparently a male, took shelter in the garden, and remained there 

 lor a i'ew days. 



Longtailed Duck. — I saw the last hvf longtailed ducks in Balta- 

 sound on the 18th, but a small flock was observed about two miles out 

 at sea on the 25ih, 



Twite. — \ saw the first twite's eggs on the 10th, but within the last 

 fortnight they have been very abundant. 



Blacklailed Godwiti^^). — On the 13lh, while crossing a wet meadovr 

 at Upsal, I observed a large bird, which, judging from a distant view, 

 I believe to have been a blacktailed godwit. It was standing upon the 

 grass beside a small stream, and as it rose, about fifty yards before me, 

 the white tail tipped with black was so conspicuous as to leave but 

 little doubt in ray mind as to the bird's species. Although I visited 

 the spot next day with a gun, and again saw it near the same place, 

 it was too shy to afford even the chance of a long shot. 



Redshank. — About the middle of May there were several pairs of 

 redshanks in the marshy grounds and along shore, but I could find no 

 eggs. 



Hooded Crow. — The hooded crows mentioned in my notes for April 

 have built a nest within a few yards of the site of the former one, which 

 was washed away by the sea. On the 20th it contained six eggs, all 

 of which were small, of an unusually round shape, and somewhat 

 minutely marked. Upon the same day the nest of another pair was 

 discovered in the same line of low cliffs. It contained one egg, which 

 I look, leaving in its place a roundish gray beach-stone: this the birds 

 allowed to remain, although I removed a newly laid egg upon each of 

 the three following evenings, after which the nest was torn down by 

 some boys who were passing in a boat. Each of these two nests was 

 placed upon a large mass of bones, chiefly those of ponies and 

 sheep. 



Wheaiear. — Wheatears are now extremely abundant. They are 

 so clever at imitating the notes of other birds that it would often 

 require a practised ear indeed to discover the deception. I have within 

 the last ievf weeks heard them imitate the notes of the oystercatcher, 

 golden plover, rock pipit, wren, and even part of the song of the 



