BIRDS SEEN IN THE MAINLAND OF ORKNEY. 57 



cliffs of Galtic at the east end of the island, feeding in the 

 adjacent fields during the day, and returning to roost on the cliffs 

 at sundown. 



Rook {Corvus frugilegus) . — A few single birds were seen feed- 

 ing in the meadows, and a few with the Jackdaws at Galtic. I 

 was told that they breed here in the sea-cliffs, which seems 

 probable, as there are practically no trees of any size in the 

 island. 



Hooded Crow (Corvus comix). — A few pairs were seen about 

 the shore and loch from time to time, but they were by no means 

 numerous, and at the most I never saw more than three pairs in 

 a day. 



Peregrine (Falco peregrinus). — One bird was seen to leave 

 the cliffs at Galtic on Oct. 6th ; it was raining and misty at the 

 time, and we lost sight of it out at sea. I could not find out 

 definitely whether these birds bred in those particular cliffs or not, 

 but was shown a very beautiful and deeply marked clutch taken 

 on Hoy in 1897. 



Merlin {Falco cesalori). — A Merlin was seen pursuing a flock 

 of Starlings over the Grcemeshall loch on Oct. 4th, but, so long 

 as we were able to watch it, was not successful in striking 

 one ; when it stooped they immediately bunched together, and 

 twisted to one side. On Oct. 14th, when after Golden Plover, a 

 Merlin appeared, and successfully struck down one of them, not 

 thirty yards from where we were standing. On putting it up, 

 it carried its prey off to a neighbouring stubble, and began to 

 devour it there, the Plover weighing it down so much on its 

 way that it was unable to rise more than a yard from the ground. 

 One or two other birds were seen. 



Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) . — Only four birds were seen 

 altogether, two of which were adult males. 



Common Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). — Quite a rare 

 bird; one was put up from the shore on Oct. 14th, and one flew 

 over the boat on Oct. 1 2th while we were fishing in the bay at 

 St. Mary's Holm. 



Shag (Phalacrocorax graculus). — Very numerous, adult and 

 immature birds being in almost equal numbers. Every morning, 

 about 7.30, large numbers were fishing in the sound, forming in 

 the distance a thick black line on the water. By 8.30 the 



