18 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



Bressay, Pentland Skerries, Bell Rock, Isle of May. Records 

 numerous, though not so great as in 1881. Greatest aggregate 

 in any one month in October. Most numerous at Pentland 

 Skerries and Isle of May. Earliest July 29th, at Isle of May, 

 one small Hawk. Latest through December into Jan., 1883. 

 Rush, if any can be said to be appreciable, in October. Thus, 

 such species as game Hawks, large Hawks, large brown Hawks, 

 dark grey Hawks, &c., appear in the records more abundantly in 

 October than at other times, whilst Sparrowhawks, Merlin and 

 Kestrel appear more frequently at other times. The following 

 species are included, but it would be more satisfactory to obtain 

 specimens : — Kestrel, Merlin, Sparrowhawk (max.), and those 

 mentioned above. On Oct. 12th two Hawks were hunting small 

 birds all night, in the the zone of light. Buzzards and Harriers 

 are also probably included.* 



WATER-BIRDS. 



Pelicanid^. — In spring, in May, at Sumburgh Head, ten 

 Gannets were seen, flying S., at 9.30 a.m., with S.S.E. breeze, 

 and on 4th thirty-five, also flying S., with S.E. breeze. In 

 autumn, at Sumburgh Head, Pentland Skerries and Dunnet 

 Head, observations taken ; earliest July 5th, three flying S.E., 

 mod. N.W. at Sumburgh. On 17th, flying E. all day, fresh S. 

 showers. Pass and repass Dunnet Head every day till Sept. 15th 

 in threes and dozens. One species. Other Notes. — From Mr. T. 

 Anderson, s.s. ' Marathon,' Dec. 27th, 1882.—*' This has not 

 been a very good trip for observations oh birds, the southerly 

 migration being past ; but when off the coast of Portugal, on our 

 way home, I saw from 150 to 200 Solan Geese in company, and 

 occasionally finding a shoal of fish. All their movements were 

 in a northerly direction ; when they were done with a shoal 

 01 fish, they never proceeded S., but always N." 



Ardeidje. — Common Herons : Stragglers at almost all times ; 

 most records in autumn. That local migration is principally 

 indicated is seen by the very various directions of flight noted at 

 some stations, often coming from and 'returning to the same 

 points of the compass. These are given in detail in sixteen 

 schedules and in the ledger from which this report is written. 

 In spring, April 11th, record at Isle of May, one at Sumburgh 



'■^ Difficult to say how many species are intended, but probably at least six. 



