24 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



Sept. 3rd to 15th, Pentland Skerries, fewer, all flying S.W. on 

 15th; light S.E, wind. 



Sept. 5th to 30th, Noss Head, daily, flocks of six to fifty flying 

 N. all day. 



Oct. 19th, Noss Head, nineteen at 3 p.m. ; strong W., haze and rain. 

 Nov. 10th, Sumhurgh Head, eight flying S., 12 noon; fresh N. 

 breeze, hail. 



The annual regularity with which the Solan Geese pass and 

 repass through the Pentland Firth and various other points of 

 observation cannot, we think, fail to develop, by the statistics 

 accumulated, some curious facts in migration. We are thus 

 careful to record these with some minuteness of detail. A late 

 schedule from Sumhurgh Head has — "Two on 16th, Sum- 

 burgh Head. Eighteen Gannets flying S.W., 12 noon; strong 

 W., showers. 



Ardeid^. — We do not think it will be so easy, in regard to 

 Herons, to arrive at laws regulating their flights; but, in case of 

 development, will on this occasion tabulate their records, though 

 we have not done so before. 



Spying. 

 March 29th, Pentland Skerries, one flying N., 3 p.m. : S. gale, rain. 

 June 13th, Isle of May, one flying S., 5 p.m., in company with 

 Gulls, which is rare. 



June 24th, Isle of May, one flying S., 5 p.m.; light W., clear. 



Autumn. 

 Aug. 26th, Isle of May, one flying W. ; light W., clear. 

 Sept. 12th, Pentland Skerries, four flying about island (rare) ; 



light S., clear. 

 Oct. 15th, Pentland Skerries, one rose off rocks, 4.15 p.m. 

 Oct. 23rd, Isle of May, one ; fair W., clear. 

 Nov. 1st, Pentland Skerries, one flying S., 7.50 a.m. ; light 



N.W., cloudy. 

 Jan. 29th, Sumhurgh Head, six (one shot) ; fair W., clear. 



There was a very large movement of Herons in 1882, princi- 

 pally in October and November (see Keport, 1882, p. 18). 



Anatid^. — Yery few records either 'in spring or autumn. 

 Spring : none. Autumn : Swans on Aug. 15th, at Tarbat Ness, 

 two from the N., flying S.E. at 1 p.m. ; N. strong, and clear. 

 The only other records are in October, a large flock flying E. 

 past Pentland Skerries at 12.20' p.m., with light W. and showers, 



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