478 The Zoologist — November, 1866, 



sky lark. Only a kw days ago a fine male, sitting npon a large stone 

 on the side of a hill, after entertaining me awhile with the cry of the 

 ringed plover, suddenly went off into an exceedingly good attenipl at 

 that of the lapwing, but soon afterwards, having inadvertently 

 destroyed the whole effect by a ludicrous mixture of the two, it stopped 

 for a short time, and then commenced a monotonous "peewit, peewit," 

 which was continued as long as I remained within hearing. 



Great Skua. — The first eggs of the skua were found on the 17lh : 

 they were of a dark colour, as is usual with the first eggs of the 

 season. 



Manx Shearwater. — Manx shearwaters began to lay on the 18th. 



Arctic Tern. — Arctic terns arrived on the 19lh. Wind heavy, 

 S.W. 



Rednecked Phalarope. — Two years ago I mentioned the occurrence 

 of the rednecked phalarope in Shetland (Zool. 9313). I am now happy 

 to be able to state that they have since been frequently met with, and 

 that there can be very little doubt that they also remain to breed. A 

 female killed on the 19th contained eggs nearly as large as swan-shot. 

 The food seems to consist mainly of small watcr-iusects, but the 

 stomach always contains a quantity of fine sand. I have examined 

 several specimens, and the main result has been the confirmation of 

 Mr. Dunn's statement that the largest and most brilliantly coloured 

 are females. Even Yarrell has fallen into the error of describing the 

 female as the male, a circumstance which throws some light upon his 

 statement that " from the denuded state of the breast of males 

 obtained during the breeding season, there is reason to believe that 

 they take a considerable share in the process of incubation." 



Eider Duck. — A male of this species shot on the 18th was in full 

 breeding plumage. It was very fat, and both stomach and oesophagus 

 contained large quantities of the common mussel. 



Greenjinch. — On the 28th, during a gale of westerly wind, a female 

 greenfinch was seen in the garden, where it remained several 

 days. 



Sclavonian Grebe (Podiceps cornutus) and Great Northern Diver. — 

 On the 22nd Mr. Thomas Edmondston, jun., had the good fortune to 

 shoot a fine specimen of each of these rare birds, both of which, 

 through his liberality, are now in my collection. When first observed, 

 the grebe was swimming quietly among the floating sea-weed near 

 the shore. It dived as the boat came near, remained submerged for 

 about twenty seconds, and instantly on re-appearing took wing, when 



