NOTES AND QUERIES. 271 



Ornithological Notes from Aberdeen. — Appearance of Migrants 

 during 1899. — The Lapwings (Vanellus vulgaris) appeared here in flocks on 

 Feb. 9th ; the Curlew (Numenius arquata) on Feb. 26th, but only solitary 

 birds. It was a week later before they were generally seen about this part, 

 and they continued to arrive even considerably later. A green-billed Gull 

 (Larus canus) appeared inland here on March 3rd : a pair of Pied Wagtails 

 (Motacila lugubris) on March 8th. On March 23rd two Grey and Yellow 

 Wagtails (M. melanope) reached us during the severest snowstorm of the 

 season. A Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) I observed on April 20th. A 

 Dunlin Sandpiper (Tringa alpina) was noticed on April 30th. The Cuckoo 

 {Cuculus canorus) was first heard on May 1st. A flock of Wild Geese 

 crossed over on May 11th, and on the 12th a few House Swallows (Hirundo 

 rustica) were flying about ; and a few Sand Martins (Cotile riparia) on the 

 15th. About the last two dates some of the migratory small birds, as 

 Warblers, were noticed. But at the date of writing (May 20th) neither 

 Wheatears nor Whinchats, both fairly common here under ordinary circum- 

 stances, have been noticed by me. The unparalleled cold spring evidently 

 kept them away at the dates when they usually appear. 



Some Peculiarities of the Season in Bird-life. — With such very 

 mild weather in mid-winter, and severe when we usually expect genial 

 weather, it is only reasonable to suppose that something unusual could be 

 observed in ornithological circles. I noticed pairing going on among Red 

 Grouse (Lagopus scoticus), and energetic pairing among Partridges (Perdix 

 cinerea). I fouud an egg of the latter in an occasionally utilized water- 

 course on March 17th ; it had been recently laid, and the upper part of the 

 shell was quite complete, though brittle with the severe frost prevailing at 

 the time, the part immersed having been much affected by the action of 

 the water, leaving nothing but the skin to cover the contents. I have 

 referred to the Lapwings in a previous communication ; they, of course, 

 appeared in flocks early, being beguiled by the warm weather to suffer 

 severely by late snowstorms, and a stray bird or two appeared through the 

 season. We heard the Sky-Lark (Alauda arvensis) singing on Feb. 9th, 

 and remaining mute at the usual date at which it sings most. It was 

 noticeable that the wary Curlew did not fall under the spell which misled 

 the Lapwings. It was well into March before they had generally arrived, 

 instead of appearing about the same time as the Lapwings do in normal 

 seasons. Probably also the increase in numbers of the latter, owing to 

 recent legislation, may induce them to extend their haunts with the mild 

 weather. The Curlews are little affected by the Protection Acts, as they 

 are adepts in their breeding grounds at keeping out of harm's way. The 

 Robins {Erlthacus rubecula) were the tamest on record here about March 

 22nd. Pied Wagtails have been about in their usual numbers, while the 



