30 REPOBT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDL. 



Nov. 18th, Isle of May, every Gull gone ; light N.W. 



Nov. 24th, Isle of May, hundreds of Herring Gulls came from 



S.E. all day; fresh W. ; also accompanied by smaller numbers 



of Black-backs. 



Dec. 13th, Pentland Skerries, two Black-backed Gulls on island, 

 12.30 p.m. ; N.W. gale. 



Dec. 3rd, Isle of May, thousands of "Gulls," 3 p.m. ; W., clear. 



1884, Jan. 22nd, Isle of May, large light-coloured Gulls with 

 black tips to wings ; gale W. last night. 



Xote. — There is evidently considerable confusion existing 

 regarding the various species of Sea Gulls ; and this is not to be 

 wondered at when the innumerable phases of plumage in even the 

 same species, according to maturity or immaturity, is considered. 

 What is sadly wanted in such a quest as ours is a series of cheap 

 yet fairly well executed plates of birds in all phases of plumage, 

 with measurements to scale ; but the almost impossibility of 

 issuing such at a sufficiently low price for general distribution 

 must, we fear, for ever debar our correspondents from obtaining 

 such a means of assistance. M. De La Rue issues marvels of 

 cheapness in Christmas Cards ; could he not undertake some- 

 thing in this line ? His pictures of birds are admirable, but he 

 would have to keep up the standard, or even improve it, to be of 

 scientific value to us. 



Procellariid^. — Records scarce in spring and autumn. At 

 Auskerry, arrived for first time on July 30th, but as early as 6th 

 eggs were laid at Pentland Skerries. Being a bird of nocturnal 

 habits, the arrival cannot, we fancy, be easily fixed at all times. 

 At Auskerry, on 8th, two pairs had two eggs each (some notes on 

 the schedule margin here have been torn off and lost, J. A. H. B.) 

 On Sept. 25th one struck at Dunnet Head; S.S.W., fog; and on 

 26th six struck and rested from 9 to 11 p.m. ; S.E. fresh, and 

 haze. It is seldom so many are recorded at the same time. Are 

 these Pentland Skerries birds ? At Noss Head, on Aug. 28th 

 and on 30th, one Stormy Petrel each time struck, but not 

 killed, with W.N.W. fresh on former date, and light S.E. and 

 haze on latter. 



Alcid^. — Spring. First visit at Isle of May on March 21st, 

 when "not very many" appeared, with fresh E.S.E. Guillemots 

 and Razorbills. Next visit at Isle of May, large numbers on 

 April 1st with light W., and in dear weather. Increased on 3rd, 



