EAST COAST OF SCOTLAND. 17 



betook themselves to the high cHffs of Bressay. They continued 

 to pass the same spot during November, December and January, 

 going westward over the islands every morning at daybreak and 

 returning at dusk to roost in the same rocks." On Oct. 14th a 

 Crow took refuge on a vessel — the Danish ship ' Otto ' (Capt. 

 Mortensen) — about eleven miles from St. Abb's Head, and flew 

 off shoreward on approaching Granton ('Edinburgh Courant,' 

 Oct. 14th). 



Cypselid^. — One record only at Sumburgh Head, on Aug. 

 23rd ; light airs N., clear. 



CucuLiDiE. — We had no entries under this head anywhere on 

 east coast of Scotland in 1881. At Cromarty, Cuckoo first heard, 

 April 4th, light E. breeze, clear; and on June 23rd two Cuckoos 

 were all day on Isle of May, both of which Mr. Agnew secured 

 for the Isle of May collection, and they were old and young. 

 Stated by Mr. Agnew to be very rare on Isle of May. One 

 species. Land Notes. — A Cuckoo was shot on Aug. 30th, at 

 Glasslaw, Bruchlay, Aberdeenshire {vide W. Horn). 



STRiGiDiE. — Earliest July 4th, at Pentland Skerries, one 

 ** Horned Owl " (rare). In Sept., at Auskerry, two Short-eared 

 Owls seen at noon, light variable wind ; and in October a pair 

 remained at same place three days after 28th. One seen at 

 Pentland Skerries on 12th. Fresh E.S.E. breeze. On Nov. 18th, 

 at Bell Kock, one Long-eared Owl rested on balcony, fresh S. 

 breeze ; and on 9th one Short-eared Owl seen asleep in grass on 

 Isle of May, and afterwards shot for Isle of May collection. On 

 Dec. 19th, at Pentland Skerries, one Grey Owl. Probably only 

 two species, but possibly three. 



Falconid^ occur in almost every month of the year, but 

 fewer records in spring than in autumn. Many visits are the 

 result of only local migration in search of food ; indeed such 

 are the great majority of instances, although these must also come 

 to be distinguished as far as possible from the birds of actual 

 passage. In spring, frequent in February at several stations, 

 always on predatory excursions, notably at insular stations, as 

 Whalsey and Isle of May. In March only two records at some 

 places, and in April two at the same places, both on the same day 

 — the 23rd. At Whalsey a game Hawk rested, apparently much 

 fatigued, wind E. and haze. In May one record on 25th, at Isle 

 of May. In autumn, at Whalsey, Sumburgh Head, Auskerry, 



