204 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. vii. 



Aiiskerry (Orkney) under large stones sometimes as much 

 as three feet from the mouth of the cavity {Scot. Nat., 1913, 

 p. 212). 



Spotted Redshank in Ctjmberland. — ^Mr. H. Mackay 

 records {Scot. Net., 1913, p. 234) that a male Tringa erythropus 

 was obtained at Skinburness on August 31st, 1913. 



Black-tailed Godwit in Outer Hebrides. — Mr. F. S. 

 Beveridge announces {Scot. Nat., 1913, p. 235) that he saw 

 a specimen of Limosa limosa on the island of Vallay on 

 August 28th, 1913. The bird is rarely observed in the 

 Outer Hebrides. 



Scandinavian Lesser Black-backed Gtjll in Stirling- 

 shire. — ^Mr. W. Evans gives {Scot. Nat., 1913, p. 260) an 

 excellent identification of a specimen of Larus f. fuscus 

 which he saw on September 15th, 1913, at G-rangemouth. 



Razorbills and Guillemots Deserting their breeding- 

 places.— Mr. C. Kirk states {Scot. Nat., 1913, p. 235) that 

 Guillemots and Razorbills had diminished at Ailsa Craig 

 in 1911 and 1912 and had completely deserted it in 1913. 

 Puffins and Kittiwakes also appeared to have diminished 

 in numbers, but Gannets had if anything increased. It 

 has been suggested that the big gun practice carried out 

 west of Ailsa causes so much concussion as to disturb the 

 birds, but this does not seem to affect them in other quarters. 

 In the next number (p. 260) of our contemporary Miss M. G-. S. 

 Best states that at Rathlin Island (north-east Ireland) 

 there was a great diminution of these birds in the past 

 breeding-season. Is it possible that the concussion causes 

 some disturbance in the food supply in certain locaUties ? 



Birds in Oxfordshire. — In Mr. 0. V. Aplin's account of 

 birds in Oxfordshire for 1910-12 {Zool, 1913, pp. 321-332), 

 there are several occurrences of the Hobby mentioned and 

 in one case a pair nested in 1910 at Wytham (really in 

 Berkshire) and both birds were unfortunately shot. The 

 Little Owl was seen in various places in autumn and spring, 

 but apparently there is no record of breeding yet in 

 Oxfordshire. A Wood-Sandpiper, the first for the county, 

 was " shot from a flock of about eight at Kingham on 

 August 3rd, 1912." 



