The Zoologist — July, 1869. 1763 



Oyatercatcher. — An oystercatcher was seen here on the 11th No- 

 vember, and another on the '2bi\\ December : it is very seldom indeed 

 that it is seen here in winter, although it is resident in Orkney through- 

 out the year (See Zool. 9091). 



Albino Starling. — I am informed by the Rev. D. Webster, minister 

 of Fetlar, that, during the early part of the winter, he repeatedly ob- 

 served a pure white starling. Macgillivray states that he has "not 

 seen any British specimen either white or spotted with that colour," 

 while Yarrell believes such varieties to be " not uncommon." 



Gannet. — During the month of December a considerable number of 



gannets appeared here, all of them in adult plumage : one which I 



had wounded, finding itself unable to rise, rushed open-mouthed at the 



boat, never stopping until it had driven its bill against the planks. 



Several of these curious birds were caught inland, but in almost every 



instance they contrived to inflict rather severe cuts upon the hands of 



their captors. 



1869. 



Rook.— On the 2ud March (wind N.E.) three rooks were seen at 



Buness. 

 Peregrine Falcon. — Four fresh eggs of the peregrine falcon were 



brought to me from Burrafirth on the 34th April. 



Snowy Owl. — A snowy owl was shot at Crushafiel on the l'2th April. 

 Cra/*e (Grus cinerea). — Oq the lllh May I heard that two cranes 

 were in the island, but my endeavours to obtain even a sight of one 

 were unavailing until the evening of the 27th, when one of them was 

 brought to me by a boy, who said that he had killed it near Uyeasound: 

 he stated that, seeing some people chasing it over the moors, he joined 

 in the pursuit, and, being a swift runner, pressed it so closely that it 

 turned and attacked him, upon which he threw two large stones, the 

 second of which struck it upon the head and killed it ; he then dis- 

 covered that the wing had lately been broken, probably by a shot. 

 Several men and boys have since told me that they saw the bird run- 

 ning over the moors, but were unable to overtake it. The following 

 measurements were taken before skinning : — 



Length, from middle claw to tip of bill - - 4 feet 8y incbes. 

 „ from tail to tip of bill ----- 3 „ 8^ „ 



Expanse of wings ---------6„8 „ 



Wing, from carpal joint to tip ----- 1 „ 9 „ 



Bill, from front to tip ------- „ 4J „ 



Tarsus ------------0„9j „ 



Middle too and its claw ------- „ 4k „ 



