The Zoologist — April, 1871. 2537 



the birds become alarmed and take flight they are apt to injure 

 themselves by dashing against the branches or the dark garden 

 walls, 



Shorteared Owl. — In September and October shorteared owls 

 were to be met with upon the hills and in turnip-fields. There is 

 sometimes great variety in the plumage of different individuals 

 killed at the same season, some being very dark, others exceedingly 

 pale, as if bleached. 



Woodcock. — Now that certain lands are preserved woodcocks are 

 becoming more plentiful every year. The keeper at Hermaness 

 tells me that a pair hatched there last June. 



1870. 



Smew. — No observer, so far as I am aware, has hitherto recorded 

 the smew as a visitor to Shetland. About the end of February 

 a lad saw a pair in the fresh-water loch at Quoyhouse, and shot the 

 female, which is now in my possession. 



Water Rail. — Water rails were rather numerous in the early 

 spring. Long before winter fairly sets in the whole of the herbage, 

 even that in the ditches, is so closely cropped by starving animals 

 that not even water rails can find shelter from observation ; there- 

 fore they are very frequently seen here. Being in want of specimens, 

 I shot two within half an hour on the loth of March. 



Snowy Owl. — Snowy owls have often been seen, but the gun-tax 

 has made the people rather unwilling to go in pursuit. Two, how- 

 ever, were killed ; one about the end of April, the other a little 

 before Christmas. 



Twite. — Early in May a pair of twites built a nest in the green- 

 house at Gardie, in the island of Bressay. It was placed in the 

 branches of a juniper growing in a large flower-pot. Two eggs 

 were laid, and the female sat closely, quite regardless of the frequent 

 presence of admiring visitors, becoming so tame indeed as to feed 

 while they stood by. Of course she was killed by a cat. 



Landrail. — Landrails, usually so numerous, have not been 

 heard at Baltasound for the last two years. The very backward 

 state of the rye-grass may possibly have been the cause. 



Ravens. — Ravens are now comparatively scarce in Unst, the 

 sheep-farming mania having brought about one good result in the 

 destruction of these mischievous birds. Great numbers were 



