384 Ornithological Observations and Reflections in Shetland. 
refilling, and a history of the process can be easily reconstructed 
from them. A small excavation showed the bed of the old 
lake to be of glacial drift, but no shell marl was seen.* At 
least one definite birch layer was noticeable in the peat. A 
series of pools was selected, carefully marked, and their contents 
noted. It is proposed to watch these and see if there is any 
periodicity in such floating plants as Sphagna, Hypna or 
hepatics and their algal coverings. 
Interesting plants seen here include the Bog Myrtle, 
Floating Bur-reed, Mare’s-tail, Small Bladder-wort, Cranberry, 
Andromeda polifolia, Schenus nigricans and Arundo Phragmites. 
The excursion was continued to Lawkland Moss, where the 
process of reclamation is nearly complete. Devil’s Bit Scabious 
gave a distinct colour to the place, and other plants include 
Sneezewort, Angelica and Saw-wort. Although the attendance 
was small, the excursion proved successful, and should produce 
results as the ideas and suggestions are worked out later on. 
Quiet talk and argument on the spot help to settle or open up 
the way to the elucidation of problems which are only slowly 
tackled by single workers, and in this way the sectional 
meeting justifies itself. 


~O:; 
ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AND 
REFLECTIONS IN SHETLAND.* 
EDMUND SELOUS 
(Continued from page 306). 

OcTOBER 13TH.—At about 8-45, on my way to the Post 
Office, I saw the young Kittiwakes at their ablutions again at 
the same place. Coming back half an hour later, some of 
them were bathing elsewhere in the loch, as they floated on 
the water, whilst far larger numbers were assembled on a green 
knoll, near to but not adjoining it. They were preening 
themselves, for the most part, some standing, some sitting, 
on the greensward, sunning themselves, had that been possible 
(which it was not), and standing amongst them I. counted 
seven or perhaps eight Herring Gulls, both young and old, 
but most of the former having almost acquired their mature 
plumage, though still much plainer than the parents, and with 
the bill not yet fully coloured. The Herring Gulls were 
not all in a group together, as, had they been Black-backs they 
probably would have been, but scattered throughout the 
assemblage, with the Kittiwakes all about them—even if 
two of them were near together, yet some of the latter were 

+On the previous day, at the site of a tarn now drained near Sowthwaite, 
we saw there had been a considerable thickness of shell marl. 
Naturalist, 
