72 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



NOTES ON SHETLAND BIRDS. 

 By F. S. Graves & P. Ralfe. 



The following notes were made during a visit to the Shetlands 

 from 20th May to 4th June, 1898, when the breeding season of 

 most species in these islands is commencing. Three days at the 

 beginning and end of the time were spent among the shores and 

 islands about Scalloway, and two days in Unst. The remainder 

 of the excursion included a day on Foula, a hurried run to Papa 

 Stour, and several days in the Walls neighbourhood, with whose 

 dreary heather-clad waste and countless lochs we became very 

 familiar. The weather, though dry, was for the most part cold, 

 with high wind, which prevented much boating, and confined us 

 largely to the land. 



Wheatear (Saxicola cenanthe). — Very common everywhere. 

 This and the Skylark are the characteristic small birds. Several 

 nests with eggs found. 



Whitethroat (Sylvia cinerea). — On the rocky edges of the 

 little landing creek on Foula were a few warblers of this species. 

 They were very shy and silent, and must have felt sadly out of 

 their element, as there are no bushes there. 



Wren (Troglodytes parvulus). — A few seen. 



Meadow-Pipit (Anthus pratensis). — On the moorlands; 

 common. 



Rock-Pipit (A. obscurus). — The "Bank Sparrow" was nume- 

 rous on the Scalloway islands, where we found a sucked egg. 

 Under a detached piece of rock on Foula was a nest with 

 two eggs. 



Swallow (Hirundo rustica). — On the 25th May we saw two 

 on Foula, hawking along the little sheltered burn which falls into 

 the creek forming the landing-place. On the 28th we saw two 

 near the Loch of Cliff, Unst. 



Common Sparrow (Passer domesticus) . — Seen in the neigh- 

 bourhood of houses and outbuildings. 



Twite (Linota Havirostris) . — Frequent; principally on the 

 coast. 



