The Zoologist — January, 1807. 537 



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



(Continued from Zool. S. S. 479.) 



Jdne, 1S66. 



Whiletailed Eagle— \ have just been informed that vvhitetailed 

 eagles hatched very early this mouth. 



Hooded C/w.— After a gale, hooded crows may be seen upon the 

 shores in large numbers, busily searching among the drifted weed. 

 Sometimes they carry a large root some distance inland, and, resting 

 it in a quiet spot, spend half an hour in picking out the shells which 

 are concealed among the crevices. 



Twite. — Twites are doing great damage in the gardens: this is 

 partly owing to the dryness of the season, for at present scarcely any 

 of their favourite food, the seed-leaves of cruciferous plants, has 

 appeared above ground except in cultivated spots. 



Land Rail. — The first land rails were heard on the 3rd of June. 

 (Wind S.E.) 



Swallow. — A few swallows also appeared on the 3rd, and remained 

 with us about a week. 



Yellowhainmer.—On the 4th (wind S.E.) a yellowhammer visited 

 the garden. 



Snipe — I am not sure when the first snipes' eggs were found, but 

 on the 3rd I met with many of the birds in the marshes where they 

 breed. It is at this season that their peculiar drumming or bleating 

 sound is most constantly heard, and there seems to be good reason for 

 the belief that it is produced by the male alone : a snipe which 1 shot 

 some years ago almost in the very act, and I never had the cruel 

 curiosity to kill another in the breeding season, was certainly a male. 

 Soon after I commenced walking through the marshes several birds 

 were wheeling about in the air, some at a great height, and for perhaps 

 the hundredth time I sat down to watch them, as they circled, in all 

 directions, now high, now low, but each one evidently preferring to 

 keep above its own particular portion of ground, where, judging from 

 former experience, I felt sure the nest must be. After a cunsiderable 

 height had been attained, a sudden descent followed, during winch 

 the bleating was heard and the wings were kept rigidly extended, or 

 perhaps vibrating in a manner so slight as to be imperceptible: this 

 lasted for three or four seconds; then the bird rose for about eight 

 seconds, when another descent was made, and after the same move- 



SECON0 SERIES — VOL. II. c 



