REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 163 
numbers this year.t At Sumburgh Head the appearance of 
a White-tailed Eagle is recorded, but is only of local interest, 
as these birds are known to breed near that station. That a 
migration, however, does take place amongst Eagles, and mostly 
of this species, is undoubted. Mr. D. Dewar, an experienced 
ornithologist, writes me :—‘‘ Every winter, for this long time back, 
when we have a strong east wind in November, EKagles and Rough- 
legged Buzzards appear over Loch Tay. In November, this year, 
I saw four Eagles together, all White-tailed, and three Rough- 
legged Buzzards along with them.” 
Swirt, Cypselus apus.—Only one at Sumburgh Head on 
May 25th, doubtless on the spring migration. ‘T'wo were seen at 
10 a.m., wind light S.W., breeze and haze. “ Swifts, however, do 
not breed in Shetland ” (vide Saxby’s ‘ Birds of Shetland,’ p. 147). 
Swattow, Hirundo rustica.—I have returns from four stations, 
Sumburgh Head, Auskerry, Tarbet Ness, and Isle of May. At 
the northernmost station (Sumburgh Head) “‘anumber were seen 
flying about,” at 1l am., wind at W.S.W., fresh and hazy. But 
this record was on June 12th, so probably refers to the spring 
migration. Their earliest appearance noted is August 21st, when 
four struck at Auskerry at 1 a.m., wind 8.E., strong with fog; the 
latest Oct. 27th, when two were killed at Tarbet Ness at 7.10 p.m., 
wind N.W., light with fog. This shows migration between Aug. 
Qist and Oct. 27th. A “rush” appears to have taken place at 
the Isle of May on Sept. 19th, at 2 a.m., wind light EK. with fog, 
when a flock of young birds was seen and four of them were 
wounded against the glass. Swallows migrate in August and 
September with an HK. to 8.E. wind, light to strong. In October 
my only record at 'larbet Ness gives wind N.W., light with fog. 
When the wind has been N.W., S.E. or E. there has been fog; 
when, in summer, at Sumburgh Head, W.S.W., there has been 
haze and rain. The last Swallow was seen in Berwickshire by 
Mr. J. Hardy on the 30th Sept. 1879. 
Martin, Hirundo urbica.—F rom Pentland Skerries one record 
in which this species is distinguished from the Swallow. On 
August 25th one struck at 2.30 p.m. during a light W. wind 
with haze. The last was seen in Berwickshire by Mr. J. Hardy 
on the 8rd October, 1879. 
+ Lhave referred more fully to this in my “ Report on Scottish Ornithology.” for 
the Nat. Hist, Soc, of Glasgow for 1879-80,—J, A, H,-B, 
