176 Ornithological and other Notes, by Andrew Brotherston. 



a good ornitliologist, and liad previously seen the bird in the 

 south, he could scarcely be mistaken. If the first bird had not 

 been shot, it is probable that they might have nested in the ad- 

 jacent woods of Floors, or Springwood Park. 



Tufted Duck {Fuligula cristata), LEACH.-;-On August 20th, 

 1879, I received a young female from Mr A. Eobertson, which he 

 had shot on Hoselaw Loch. The primaries were not over half 

 grown, so that it was unable to fly, thus showing that in all 

 probability it had been bred at the Loch. I think it will be 

 found that the Tiifted Duck nests more frequently in this 

 country than is generally supposed. See also " Proc." vol. viii., 

 521. This interesting specimen is now in Kelso Museum. 



Eed-b4cked Shrike [Lanius collurio), Linn. — Near the end of 

 August, 1879, a specimen was obtained amongst some willows 

 near the Pailway Bridge at Tweedmouth. I am not aware of 

 this species having been found so far north previously. 



The laege Eusset variety of the Common Snipe. — A speci- 

 men (male) of what I take to be this variety — or perhaps distinct 

 species — was shot in Liddesdale, in the beginning of October, 

 1879. Besides the difference of colour, this was a larger bird 

 than the Common Snipe, which appears to be a characteristic of 

 the Eusset Snipe, 



PoMATOEiNE Sk'ua {Stercorarius pomatorhinus), Temm. — On 

 October 11th, 1879, I received two specimens— both males— to 

 preserve for the Kelso Museum, to which institution they were 

 kindly presented by Mr Y. Knight, who shot them at Holy 

 Island. About this time there was an extraordinary flight of 

 these birds over the whole country, especially the east coast. 

 The variety of colour in different individuals of this species is 

 remarkable. One of them appears to be a bird of the first year. 

 It is dark brown on the upper parts, the feathers on the back 

 tipped with pale yellowish brown, the under parts barred with 

 dark and light brown, legs pale blue in front, webs and toes 

 black, the middle tail feathers barely half an inch longer than 

 the others. In the older bird the back is more uniformly dark, 

 while white is the prevailing colour below, mixed with blackish 

 brown towards the breast and tail, the centre tail feathers three 

 and a quarter inches longer. Neither had the yellow colour, in 

 the side of the neck. The long tail feathers, in most of the speci- 

 mens obtained at that time, were either one or both of them 



