1G8 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



snow. The length of time occupied in migration was between 

 Sept. 17th and Dec. 3rd. "Rushes" of migrants took place 

 between Oct. 15th and 21st, but the reports are very meagre, 

 being in most cases instanced by single birds striking at North 

 Ronaldshay, Auskerry, Pentland Skerries, and Isle of May. Again 

 a rush between Nov. 11th and 19th at North Ronaldshay and 

 Girdleness; and again between Dec. 1st and 8rd at North Ronalds- 

 hay and Tarbet Ness. In two cases only have more than single 

 birds been recorded. The migration took place principally when 

 the wind was between S. and W. ; but I have records of their 

 flights also in strong N. wind with snow, on Dec. 1st, at Tarbet 

 Ness; in N.E., moderate breeze with sleet, on Oct. 15th at North 

 Ronaldshay; and again, with an E. light breeze and clear, on 

 Dec. 21st, at the same station. When the wind has been S.W. or 

 W., there has been fog or haze ; when S., rain, as in November, on 

 the 14th and loth. Woodcocks appear to migrate principally at 

 night, and are observed during the hours between evening dusk 

 and morning grey, or, in other words, between 7.30 p.m. and 

 5 a.m. Exceptions occur, as at 11 a.m. at North Ronaldsha}^ 

 11.30 a.m. at Tarbet Ness, 2 p.m. at North Ronaldshay, and 3.30 

 p.m. at Girdleness; these last being all in daylight. A flight 

 came inland in Stirlingshire about Nov. 22nd, on which day a 

 party of five guns, of which party I was one, killed eighteen in 

 Torwood Covers. 



Snipe, Gallinago scolopacina. — At the Isle of May one was 

 seen at 10 a.m. on August Otli, with light S.E. wind, fog and rain. 

 Snipe scarce or much scattered, owing to wet season. Entirely 

 disappeared from inland localities when the hard frost of beginning 

 of December set in, and few returned all winter. 



Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus. — One record at Girdleness; 

 on August 17th, one was seen at 8 p.m., wind E. with rain. 



Grey Geese. — At Dunnet Head, on Sept. 3rd, thirteen Grey 

 Geese were seen " going north" at 3 p.m., wind S.E., fresh, haze 

 and rain. 



Bernacle Goose, Bemicla brenta. — At Dunnet Head a mixed 

 flock of old and young (twenty-five) seen going W. on Sept. 7th, 

 and five more on the 14th, during the day, wind light W. Fog on. 

 the 7th; clear on the 14th. Anatidce were a month earlier in 

 appearing on Loch Tay in the autumn of 1879. Geese were 

 reported as unusually abundant from many localities. 



