REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 169 



Swans. — Three Swans seen at North Ronaldshay flying south 

 at 2.30 p.m., with W.N.W. fresh wind and clear, and again at 

 same place at 9.30 a.m., on Nov. 27th, swimming on the water; 

 wind strong N.E., and clear. At Pentland Skerries eight were 

 seen at 2 p.m. on Oct. 26th ; wind light W. and clear. At Dunnet 

 Head three old and one young seen going S.W., at 1 p.m., breeze 

 light, on Sept 14th ; and three old birds again on Sept. 22nd. 



Ducks.— At Tarbet Ness a large flock of ducks passed inland 

 at 10 a.m., with a N. gale and snow, on Nov. 12th. At Girdle- 

 ness, two ducks seen at 4.40 a.m., wind S.W., and haze, on 

 Oct. 16th. At Tarbet Ness a large flock seen at 9.15 a.m., wind 

 W., strong and snow, on Dec. 5th. At Dunnet Head seven ducks 

 (Widgeon) stayed on the lake three days from Oct. 25th ; arrived 

 with W. to N.W. breeze and cloudy. 



Guillemot, Uria troile. — At Pentland Skerries a flock seen 

 on June 25th, at 7.15 p.m.; wind E.N.E., and light haze. (Com- 

 pare with notes on W. coast at Cape Wrath and elsewhere.) 



Puffin, Mormon fratercula. — At North Unst innumerable 

 Puffins seen on evening of April 24th. 



Common Skua (or "Bonxie"), Stercorarius catarrhactes. — At 

 North Unst, usually appear about middle of April. " We do not 

 see more than six or eight in a season." 



Petrel, Thalassidroma pelagica. — Seen at North Unst in 

 August, and at Dunnet Head on Oct. 10th, wind strong W., and 

 haze, at 11 p.m. 



Tern, Sterna. — Only one record. One struck at Pentland 

 Skerries at 8.30 p.m. on Sept. 8th ; wind strong S., and fog. 



Terns always appear upon our Stirlingshire coast the end of 

 August and beginning of September, remaining usually about a 

 fortnight to three weeks. 



The unusual scarcity of migrants is very generally reported 

 upon at almost all the east coast stations. The remarks of the 

 reporters, comparing the observations with former years, generally 

 show this to be the case. Thus, commencing with our most 

 northerly station. North Unst, I find it stated that, in most 

 seasons, '*Land birds, as Snow Buntings, Stonechats, and 

 Starlings, strike the lantern." It is also stated that — "Until 

 the last three years, large flocks of Iceland Gulls were seen 

 during the month of April, going N.W. A few returned this 



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