Ornithological Notes, by Robert Gray. 159 



which distinguish the immature plumage of the Great Grey 

 Shrike. 



Little Auk (Mergulus melanoleucos). — In December and Janu- 

 ary a flock of Little Auks seems to have reached our coasts. 

 Specimens were sent to Edinburgh from North Berwick, Tyning- 

 hame, Dunbar, and other places in Haddingtonshire, and several 

 were sent from Fifeshire and Midlothian. One was found in a 

 turnip field at Lasswade, and others were met with at Granton 

 and Trinity. 



Glaucous Gull (Larus glaucus) has been again very abundant 

 along the coast from Dunbar to North Berwick. I have, during 

 the last three months, examined numerous specimens from that 

 district, and also from Musselburgh, and the shore near New- 

 haven, Trinity, and Granton. This species seems to vary very 

 much in size. It may now be regarded as a common winter 

 visitant to the Firth of Forth. 



Bufeon's Skua (Lestris Buffonii). — A young bird in the plum- 

 age of the first year was shot on the Rule water, Roxburghshire, 

 in the first week of September, 1875. Viewed from a little dis- 

 tance this specimen shews, faintly outlined, all the characters of 

 the adult bird, with the exception of the long tail feathers. On 

 closer examination, however, all the dorsal feathers are seen to 

 be tipped with brownish yellow, while the under surface is 

 similarly besprinkled, but in so faint a degree that the slightest 

 disturbance of the feathers shews the white plumage underneath. 

 The neck also shews distinct traces of the yellowish white, which 

 encircles it, and which is a distinguishing feature of the adult. 

 The bird when placed alongside a young Richardson's Skua of 

 the same age is seen to be smaller and of much more elegant 

 shape. It also differs materially from the ordinary colouration 

 of that species ; the one being of a dark brown with yellowish 

 markings ; the other almost wholly of a cinnamon colour, except 

 the quill feathers which are dark and tipped with light brown. 

 The under plumage of Richardson's Skua is broadly margined, 

 so that on pushing aside the feathers none of the white is seen. 



Storm Fetrel {Thalassidroma pelagica). — A specimen of this 

 Fetrel was shot on the Rule water, Roxburghshire, on 23rd Sep- 

 tember, 1876. 



ROBERT GRAY. 



13, Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, 

 April, 1877, 



