6 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



From Kinnaird Head Lighthouse I have the following reply 

 to my inquiry : — *' Birds at this lighthouse are every year getting 

 more scarce, as the town is now extended to the lighthouse, and 

 cooperage works at the very gate make much noise, and sparks 

 of fire fly ahout whilst making the barrels. At the same time 

 Mr. D. M. Scott, now at Sumburgh Head, tells me he has once 

 caught, in one watch, forty-eight Starlings at the lantern, and 

 some Thrushes. 



I have also to thank Mr. Alexander Greig for the first return 

 from Noss Head. The movements of Gannets, as related there, 

 cannot fail to be of use to the Committee. Mr. Greig says, 

 " There has been great scarcity of birds this last year, except 

 those which are generally with us." 



schedules at the end of the year, with the simple remark "No Birds" or 

 "FewBu-ds" attached, if such is the case? Then our Committee would 

 have certainty to go by, not merely hypothesis. Mr. Davidson gives me 

 the further information regarding this station, that he observed no further 

 migration since Oct. 30th, the weather being so mild. It is usually before 

 any changes in the weather that we see any birds passing here besides the 

 birds which frequent the locahty. The situation of Tarbat Ness is a very 

 high tower, 175 feet, and is joined to farmhouses. It is not much sheltered, 

 the tower being on the bare point. At some seasons great quantities of birds 

 are seen {iniit., Jan. 20th, 1884). 



§ At Chanonry lighthouse the schedule, again kindly returned by Mr. 

 McGill, pretty clearly indicates and illustrates the action of local migrations. 

 Thus he tells us : — " There are plenty of Black Crows, which fly between this 

 and Nairn every daj^ for feeding in the morning, and fly back at night. A 

 great many grey ducks come down on this Firth for the purpose of feeding. 

 It would seem they do not migrate. There are several flocks of birds which 

 seem to fly north the one day and in a few days to fly back to the south ; 

 they seem to be the same flocks that have been feeding." From Chanonry 

 Mr. McGill writes: — "Only one bnd has struck the lantern since I came 

 here in the summer of 1882, and only two Ughted on the lantern. None 

 killed." The returns from this station almost all relate to local movements, 

 but are not on this account less valuable, but rather more so, as gi^'ing good 

 opportunity of making comparisons and deductions. Most of the occurrences 

 are attended by highly developed pressures, squalls, strong breezes, &c., but 

 the directions of these are not given. 



II Mr. D. M. Scott, who left this station, removed to Sumburgh Head. 

 He sent the description of a bird fi'om Kinnaird Head in 1882, but no 

 schedule. Scarcity is the true reason of lack of returns from this station. 

 Mr. Scott has sent well-filled schedules since from Sumburgh Head. 



IT "No Birds" at Montroseness, reason given for absence of returns in 

 1882 (q. v.). 



