EAST COAST OF SCOTLAND. 15 



relieved. — * Scotsman,' 1st May, 1880." Mr. Jack writes as 

 follows, 10th May, 1880 : — " It is quite true about the Sea Gull. 

 It was so unusual to see a string attached to the bird, that 

 I opened the window of my bedroom and leaned out to look at it, 

 when, strange to say, it came towards me. Without thinking for 

 a moment that the creature would really come to me, I held out 

 my hands towards it, when it came close up to me. I took hold 

 of it and brought it inside, and called to my two assistants (who 

 were looking out of another window a few feet from mine) to 

 ' look at this.' So surprised were they both at the whole affair, 

 that after we had relieved the poor bird, one of my assistants 

 declared that, when he got on shore in turn, he would state the 

 case to the editor of the 'Guide' newspaper." "Poor little 

 creature ! " adds my correspondent, "it was a pleasant sight to 

 see it on its flight away, and not as it arrived, weary and worn 

 out." One has only to imagine the Bell Kock as the Ark in the 

 midst of the waters, and the Gull a Dove. As I am speaking 

 now of the Bell Eock, I may note here that large numbers of 

 Long-tailed Ducks are reported by Mr. Jack as frequenting the 

 vicinity of the rock in winter, constantly uttering their peculiar 

 cry of " Co-co-candle-wick." Solan Geese are perpetually in sight 

 summer and winter, flying round the rock or fishing. Mr. Jack 

 also tells us that single birds of different species come crash 

 against the dome or windows with terrific force, and rebounding 

 off are seldom even seen, but leave often their blood and brains 

 scattered about. 



Skua, Lestris catarractes. — EeiDorted as seen at North Unst 

 first on April 18th. About the same number is counted, viz., 

 six or eight each year. In autumn, at Sumburgh Head, one 

 "Bonzie" was seen flying W. at noon; wind S.S.W., haze; and 

 the note is added, " The first seen (in autumn?) for eight years." 



Terns, Sternince. — Two records referable to spring migration 

 at Whalsey and Sumburgh Head. Arriving at former about 

 May 15th and at the latter on May 16th, at 9.40, with variable 

 winds, fine, and clear. In autumn, records at Whalsey, Sum- 

 burgh Head, Auskerry, and Bell Kock. They disappeared from 

 Bell Kock on Aug. 23rd, " not, however, from want of food, as 

 plenty soil of herring are around the rock." They had been 

 about the rock for a fortnight, feeding. They disappeared from 

 Whalsey, Aug. 25th, after the fog of 21st — 28th, at the same 



