EAST COAST OF SCOTLAND. 31 



and on April 27th arrived again finally, after a few days' absence, 

 with fresh S.E. and haze. These and other rock birds breeding 

 here all left on Aug, 10th, except a few Kittiwakes and Eider 

 Ducks, after a heavy W. gale on 9th (see August, below). Puffins 

 were first observed at Isle of May ; however, not before May 4th, 

 when a few showed. 



Following this comes what may be considered local flights, in 

 search of food, to and from the fishing grounds : — 



May 16th, Pentland Skerries, continuous flocks flying E.; light 



breeze N.E. 

 May 21st, Pentland Skerries, continuous flocks flying E.; light 



W., haze. 

 June 4th, Pentland Skerries, continuous flocks flying S.E. ; light 



N.E., haze. 

 June 6th, Pentland Skerries, continuous flocks flying S.E. ; light 



E., haze. 

 June 17th to 20th, Pentland Skerries, continuous rush flying S.E. ; 



strong N. to Hght E. and W. 

 June 21st, Pentland Skerries, several flocks all day flying S.E. ; 



lights. 

 June 25th, Pentland Skerries, large flocks, 7.15 p.m., flying S.E. ; 



fresh S.E., fog and rain. 

 June 29th, Pentland Skerries, a few around ; light S., clear. 



We now come to the autumn movement, if we take the same 

 dates as for many land birds ; but this is apt to be mixed up with 

 the later summer movements of old and young birds, and there- 

 fore we will keep July by itself. All the records here relate, as 

 before, to Pentland Skerries. An equally exact record from each 

 salient or conspicuous station round our coasts could not fail to 

 give us exact knowledge as regards the movements of sea-fowl, 

 or rather of rock birds. Food-supply is an important factor in 

 the local as well as the other migrations. A knowledge of 

 fishing-grounds would thereby be achieved ; and a knowledge of 

 the two subjects, migration of birds and geography of the distri- 

 bution of fishes, would undoubtedly hel^D each other. With these 

 remarks we continue our records for July, believing that this 

 simple tabular form is most useful in the present case, though 

 cumbrous if carried on in every instance. 



