Ornithological Observations and Reflections in Shetland. 317 



Epeiva Iviguttata (Fab.). Karc on various conifers in the Gunnergate 

 Woods. 



E. qitadvata (Clerck.). Brought to me from Whitby. 



E. citctirbitina (Clerck.). Inexphcably overlooked by me previously 

 but now recorded as very common on various shrubs throughout the 

 lowlying grounds at the northern base of the hills. 



[In addition to the above I have taken a single male of a third species 

 of Philodro)nus which was unfortunately mislaid before its specific iden- 

 tity had been determined]. 



O 



ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AND 

 REFLECTIONS IN SHETLAND. 



EDMUND SELOUS. 



{Continued frotit page 2g6). 



October 20th. — When the Turnstone takes flight, all sorts 

 of white and dark-hued markings become visible, bannering 

 above it, as it lifts its wings, making it a very conspicuous 

 pied bird, which was by no means the case before. The habits 

 of these birds are those of their kind, set to the appropriate 

 surroundings. They come down, usually, in a little flock on 

 the wet rocks, and search about amongst the newly exposed 

 seaweed, not staying very long in one place, and objecting 

 to the play of the waves, if too rough — play should be play and 

 not earnest. Whilst thus walking about, feeding, they keep 

 constantly pecking at something, in a quite satisfied manner, 

 but what it is I cannot say. No laboured action of picking, 

 pulling, knocking off or otherwise dislodging shell-fish, is 

 discernible. As said before, they fly up, all pied and conspic- 

 uous, but disappear as they settle, again, on the rocky platform, 

 in a w^onderful manner. The pursuing Hawk, baffled according 

 to plan, desists instantly, and, turning short round, flies off, 

 with murmurs unjustly directed against Darwin, whom he 

 doubtless considers responsible for the whole affair — for a 

 purely impersonal concept must be held to be beyond the 

 limits of avine intelligence. The exodus is often in consequence 

 of too boisterous a wave, inconsiderately dashing them with 

 its spray. Still more often, however, this is not the case, nor 

 is there any other apparent reason except that it seems to 

 occur to all of them, and all in a flash, that they have been there 

 long enough, and can do better elsewhere. In either case — 

 always I believe — as they take wing, they utter their note, 

 which is a little, hard querulous chirp, repeated several times, 

 in a little burst. So at one do they seem, so all at once is 

 the flash-out of their flight, that one might think they must 

 always act together, that in leaving the rock, at any rate, it 

 must always be one and ah. But this is not the case. Any 

 individual bird, in the little band, is quite capable of resisting 



1918 Oct. ]. 



