NOTES AND QUERIES. 



61 



the duplicates for publicatiou. Had this been done during the past few 

 years our records would long since have solved the mystery of migration — 

 of this I feel firmly convinced. A volume of such forms would soon come 

 to be indispensable to the working ornithologist. — John A. Harvie Brown. 

 [This communication being signed also by Mr. John Cordeaux, the 

 Secretary of the British Association Committee on the subject of Migration, 

 we assume that he approves of the scheme above mentioned. — Ed.] 



The following is the "form" suggested : — 



Form for more uniformly recording the Occurrences of Hare Birds 

 or other Migrational Phenomena. 



Kemaeks. — This rare British hird was shot at Newton, N. Uist, by Mr. John 

 MacDonald, factor there. It had been seen previously on Bunera Island, Sound 

 of Harris. It is a bird of the year, and when obtained was found to have one 

 foot wanting. Flying southwards at the time it was shot. 



Note by Mr. Cordeaux. — " Although the Little Gull is a rare 

 wanderer to the West coasts of Scotland, seldom a year passes without 

 examples being recorded on the East coasts of Great Britain, more especially 

 in the neighbourhood of Flamborough Head, and sometimes in very con- 

 siderable numbers. Thus, in the winter of 1869-70, after a terrific three 

 days' gale from the east, on February 12th, 13th and 14th, twenty-nine 

 were shot south of the headland, nineteen of which were old birds in winter 

 plumage. It occurs in large numbers in the neighbourhood of Heligoland 

 in the autumn. On September 5th, in 1880, enormous numbers were 

 seen on the water near the island." 



[Before any steps are taken to carry out Mr. Harvie Brown's suggestion, 

 it would be desirable to know the views of other correspondents on the 

 subject. At present it is our impression that it would not meet with 

 universal favour. Many would find it irksome to have to record their facts 

 in so formal a way, and we must say, candidly, that such formality would 

 in our opinion detract very much from the pleasure which we now derive in 

 perusing the original observations which are received from all parts of the 

 country. — Ed.] 



