82 the ornithologist's guide 



was informed that Eagles, Ravens, and Crows are 

 not so numerous in Shetland now as they were 

 formerly. It had been a custom for many years 

 for the Commissioners of Supply to give three shil- 

 lings and sixpence for every eagle's head, four- 

 pence for that of a raven, and twopence for that 

 of a crow, as an encouragement to the people to 

 destroy them, on account of the mischief which 

 they do to the lambs and poultry ; but this reward 

 ceased in 1835, at the time I was there. 



Troglodytes Europ^eus, Cuv. Robin*. Wren. 

 Kitty Wren. — The Wren is a constant resident 

 in these islands, frequenting rocky and sheltered 

 situations, and building its nest under stones, in 

 crevices of the rocks, and in the ruins of old turf 

 dykes. 



Cuculus CANORUs,Z?>ift. Cuckoo. — Two pairs 

 of tbese birds have regularly visited Orkney for 

 the last four or five years, and bred there. The 

 place they selected for that purpose was in the 

 immediate neighbourhood of Stromness. I do not 

 know if it has been seen in Shetland. 



Columba livia, Linn. Rock Dove. Rock 

 Pigeon*. — There are considerable numbers of the 



