168 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
snow. The length of time occupied in migration was between 
Sept. 17th and Dec. 8rd. “Rushes” of migrants took place 
between Oct. 15th and 21st, but the reports are very meagre, 
being in most cases instanced by single birds striking at North 
Ronaldshay, Auskerry, Pentland Skerries, and Isle of May. Again 
a rush between Noy. 14th and 19th at North Ronaldshay and 
Girdleness; and again between Dec. 1st and 3rd at North Ronalds- 
hay and Tarbet Ness. In two cases only have more than single 
birds been recorded. The migration took place principally when 
the wind was between S. and W.; but I have records of their 
flights also in strong N. wind with snow, on Dee. Ist, at Tarbet 
Ness; in N.E., moderate breeze with sleet, on Oct. 15th at North 
Ronaldshay; and again, with an EK. light breeze and clear, on 
Dec. 21st, at the same station. When the wind has been 8.W. or 
W., there has been fog or haze; when §., rain, as in November, on 
the 14th and 15th. Woodcocks appear to migrate principally at 
night, and are observed during the hours between evening dusk 
and morning grey, or, in other words, between 7.30 p.m. and 
5am. Exceptions occur, as at 11 a.m. at North Ronaldshay, 
11.30 a.m. at Tarbet Ness, 2 p.m. at North Ronaldshay, and 3.80 
p-m. at Girdleness; these last being all in daylight. A flight 
came inland in Stirlingshire about Nov. 22nd, on which day a 
party of five guns, of which party I was one, killed eighteen in 
Torwood Covers. 
Sniez, Gallinago scolopacina.—At the Isle of May one was 
seen at 10 a.m. on August 6th, with light S.E. wind, fog and rain. 
Snipe scarce or much scattered, owing to wet season. Entirely 
disappeared from inland localities when the hard frost of beginning 
of December set in, and few returned all winter. 
Warer Raw, Rallus aquaticus.—One record at Girdleness ; 
on August 17th, one was seen at 8 p.m., wind E. with rain. 
Grey Grrse.—At Dunnet Head, on Sept. 3rd, thirteen Grey 
Geese were seen “ going north” at 3 p.m., wind S.E., fresh, haze 
and rain. 
BERNACLE Goose, Bernicla brenta.—At Dunnet Head a mixed 
flock of old and young (twenty-five) seen going W. on Sept. 7th, 
and five more on the 14th, during the day, wind light W. Fog on 
the 7th; clear on the 14th. Anatide were a month earlier in 
appearing on Loch Tay in the autumn of 1879. Geese were 
reported as unusually abundant from many localities. 
