12 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



N.E., 11.80 a.m., S.W., haze, a^jproacbing to fog; and another 

 flock same day, at 12.30 p.m. Besides the above, one " Brent " 

 Goose (?) is noted on Nov. 25th, flying N., with S.W. gale, and 

 showers. Swans. — Spring : Records at Sumbiirgh Head, Pent- 

 land Skerries, and Bell Eock. Earliest Feb. 27th, at Sumbiirgh 

 Head, two "Wild Swans," apparently much fatigued, flying S. ; 

 latest May 6th, a flock flying N.E. Autumn: Records at 

 Sumburgh Head. Earliest Nov. 12th, at Sumburgh Head, 

 eight fl^'ing S.E.; latest Dec. 25th, at Sumburgh Head, two 

 resting on a lock near the lighthouse, where they frequently rest 

 on their way south every year. Note: — If these are the same 

 birds each year, it is interesting as proving the undeviating lines 

 of autumn flight of waterfowl. Eider Ducks. — Spring : AVhalsey 

 Skerries only ; noted as arriving at breeding haunts on March 

 9th. Autumn : Records at Whalsey Skerries, Auskerry, Pent- 

 land Skerries, and Isle of May. Earliest July 5th, when Eiders 

 left the island at Whalsey Skerries. " The Drakes had left pre- 

 viously," light S., haze, and fog; latest Oct. 20th, at Auskerry, 

 ten Eiders remained all day; they also remain at Auskerry all 

 winter. Rush, largest number recorded at Pentland Skerries on 

 Oct. 8th, when a flock of 100, mostly males, were seen swimming 

 'past the island, light S. breeze, and fog ; and forty took shelter 

 on Oct. 12th, at 9 a.m., at Whalsey Skerries, S.W. gale and 

 rain ; and all left next day. Sheldrake. — Autumn : Having 

 remained here (x\uskerry) all summer since end of June, leave in 

 September or October. Records from Auskerry and Pentland 

 Skerries. Earliest Aug. 27th, at Pentland Skerries, one found 

 dead ; latest Oct. 5th, at Pentland Skerries, flock flying S.E. 

 Other dates, Aug. 31st, at Pentland Skerries, flying S. ; Sept. 

 3rd, flying about light, not striking. Teal. — One on Sept. 21st, 

 at Isle of May, another at Pentland Skerries, on Oct. 8th. Wild 

 Duck at Isle of May, Sept. 24th, Oct. 4th, and Nov. 21st. Long- 

 tailed Duck at Sumburgh Head, Nov. 12th (about twenty). 

 On Sept. 12th Tufted Ducks were abundant on Loch Leven, — 

 the most abundant species there, — and the young were not able 

 to fly, *' some being not larger than a Water Rat." Other species 

 seen were Scaup, Golden-eye, Pophard, Teal, and Mallard (P. D. 

 Maloch {in lit.). 



Rallid.t:. — Corn Crake. Spring : One arrival noted at 

 Cromarty on May 19th. Autumn : One in. Isle of May, Sept. 



