Birds. 9317 
places besides Shetland. Although the greater part of their time is 
spent upon the shore, they come inland to feed during heavy rains 
when the ground has become thoroughly soaked. 
Cuckoo.—On the 10th of August, a cuckoo—a very rare visitor to 
these parts—was shot here by a friend of mine, who mistook it for a 
hawk. I saw it about a week previously, and supposed that the strong 
winds from W. and S.W. had driven it over to the island. It was a 
young bird of the year, full grown and in perfect plumage. Six years 
ago I several times heard the cry of a cuckoo near this place, and 
some weeks afterwards a young one, scarcely fledged, was shot: there 
can be no doubt that it was hatched here. 
Knot.—The first knots appeared on the 17th of August. There is 
very good reason to believe that it occasionally remains here to breed. 
In summer I have shot old birds in the rich chestnut plumage peculiar 
to that season, and also several young birds very weak upon the 
wing. 
Pied Wagtail.—A pied wagtail was seen here on the 20th of August. 
This species never breeds here, but a few visit us almost every 
summer. 
Wild Duck.—A good many wild ducks still breed near the Lochs 
of Cliff, Watley and Belmont, and a few beside the small lochs upon 
the peat moors. The nests are always placed close to the water’s 
edge among the tallest herbage. The young birds are now well 
fledged. 
Sky Lark.—I have not heard the song of the sky lark this month. 
The birds themselves are very abundant, but the only sound they utter 
is a low chirp as they rise from the ground. 
Merlin.—Plenty of merlins, both old and young, are now to be seen, 
but they very seldom come within shot. In most of its habits the 
merlin very closely resembles the peregrine falcon, only it is more 
daring. It is continually seen in chase of the house pigeons, and now 
and then it kills one; butits strength, though great for so small a bird, 
is insufficient to enable it to carry off so heavy a prey. The merlin 
usually builds in the sea-cliffs, constructing rather a slight nest of 
heather, dead weeds and dry grass. The nest is also found upon the 
hills among heather, but I have never seen it in that situation. 
Although in some seasons the birds themselves may almost be con- 
sidered abundant, I have always experienced the greatest difficulty in 
obtaining the eggs. 
Snowy Owl.—The snowy owl which I have already mentioned as 
having been brought to me on the 20th of June (Zool. 9240), is still as 
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