76 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



the colony of Lyra Skerry, described by Mr. Raeburn (Zool. 

 1891, p. 131), and great numbers of the birds, mixed with other 

 species, were assembled on the shallow ponds in the interior of 

 Papa. The darker colour of the mantle, as compared with that 

 of L. fuscus, was very noticeable. We were shown some eggs, 

 taken recently (25th May) on Foula, where, we were told, the 

 bird is rather scarce. 



Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla). — Common. There are great 

 colonies, as is well known, on Foula, and in Burra Firth, Unst. 

 On the former island we saw innumerable Kittiwakes flying from 

 a bit of wet ground inland to the cliffs, each with a morsel of 

 moss in its beak. 



Great Skua (Stercorarius catarrhactes). — We saw the colonies 

 both on Foula, and, by permission of Mr. Edmondston, on Her- 

 manness. At the former laying had just commenced. On 25th 

 May we saw a number of empty nests, others with one egg t and 

 about twelve with their full number of two eggs. The nest was 

 usually a scratched hollow about a foot across. 



Richardson's Skua [S. crepidatus). — Saw them nesting on 

 Hermanness and Foula, on the latter in two places, near the 

 Great Skua, and, in larger numbers, on the level not far from the 

 landing place. On 25th May, on Foula, we saw one egg only, 

 where a very large number of Skuas was collected ; yet we were 

 several times actually struck by the birds, which never occurred 

 with the larger species, nor indeed with this species on Herman- 

 ness, where in a few cases two eggs had been laid on 28th May. 

 In both colonies dark-plumaged birds seemed to be in the majority. 



Razorbill, (Alca tor da). Guillemot (Uria troile). — Abun- 

 dant on the sea ; we saw little or nothing of their breeding. 



Black Guillemot (Uria grylle) . — Very common and abun- 

 dant ; quite the characteristic sea-bird of Shetland. Laying 

 scarcely commenced by the beginning of June. 



Little Auk (Mergulus alle). — On the top of the brow near 

 the Kaim, Foula, we picked up a part of a skeleton with the 

 wings attached. 



Puffin (Fratercula arctica). — Numerous; nesting abundantly 

 on Foula ; eggs seen. One we picked up had been carried some 

 distance inland, no doubt by a Raven or Crow ; it was undamaged 

 except by a small dent, probably caused by the bird's bill. 



