EAST COAST OF SCOTLAND. 13 



Note. — Mr. Dunn, Dalkeith Gardens, " observed a > -shaped 

 flock of about forty Wild Geese, about six hundred feet from the 

 surface of the earth, flying in an easterly direction on the 16th 

 December. They made a considerable noise in their flight. The 

 wind at the time was N.W., and for the six previous days it 

 ranged from W. to N., on one day only chopping round to S., viz., 

 on 15th, which was the day before we saw the Geese. Snow was 

 lying on the ground at the time, and the next seven days were 

 cold, dull, and stormy, with more or less snow falling every day. 

 Flights of Geese are not common in this district, hence the 

 interest taken in the above." Could we get a number of similar 

 records from inland observers, how useful they would be for 

 comparison with our coast stations. — [J. A. H. B.] 



Swan, Cijgnus. — At Sumburgh Head, Jan. 30th, 1881, twenty 

 wild Swans seen, first a mile off, flying along the shore very 

 slowly, and lowering, apparently much exhausted. At North 

 Ronaldshay, Dec. 23rd, 1880, sixteen Swans seen ; they stayed 

 on a large loch about two weeks, during a heavy fall of snow, 

 and flew off north when the thaw commenced. 



Ducks. — Two records on April 1st at Whalsey and Sumburgh 

 Head, referable to the spring migration. At Whalsey, Eider 

 Ducks (or ''Dunters") arrived about this date, and at Sumburgh 

 Head, Sheldrakes arrived on this date, at 10 a.m. ; wind strong 

 S.S.E., with showers. In the autumn migration, notes have 

 been taken at Whalsey, Sumburgh Head, Pentland Skerries, and 

 Isle of May (eight entries). Eiders said to leave about August, 

 and the note is added that, "after the Ducks have sat eight or 

 ten days, the Drakes all disappear from the neighbourhood." 

 On Sept. 12th, twelve male Eiders seen at 3 p.m. ; wind S., and 

 fine, with haze. At Pentland Skerries, Sept. 14th, a flock, 

 mostly males, seen flying E.; wind light E., and rain. Sept. 

 25th, at same station, a flock of male and female Eiders flying 

 E.; wind light E., rain. At Isle of May, Oct. 19th, a ''small 

 duck." At Isle of May, Dec. 22nd, "a flock of ducks" swam 

 along shore. At Tarbat Ness, Dec. 30th, flocks of from eight to 

 ten "ducks" seen from 2 to 3.30 p.m. ; wind light N., and snow. 

 At Isle of May, Jan. 13th, three "Wild Ducks" seen; wind 

 E.N.E., gale, and snow. 



EocK BiKDS. — Records at North Unst, Whalsey, and Sum- 

 burgh refer to spring arrival. At North Unst, April 25th, 



