EAST COAST OF SCOTLAND. 19 



Head, marked "rare," light S.E. airs; and Herons frequented 

 the shore off and on at Isle of May, from the date of May 1st to 

 the first week in September. On 24th three were seen ; these 

 flying N. On June 19th one addition was seen there. In July 

 two recorded, one flying N. on 31st. In autumn, Aug. 16th, at 

 Sumburgh Head, one flying W., light E. airs; on 17th three 

 flying N., light S.E. airs; and on 19th one flying W., light E. 

 airs. In Sept., at Whalsey, on 14th, one flying W., marked " very 

 rare so early," wind N., fresh, and at Cromarty " seen daily since 

 first week in May." At Isle of May on 22nd, in calm and haze, 

 one '' screaming as if lost." Then in October we find on different 

 dates Herons recorded as flying in all directions : 13th, " came 

 from S. and returned S. ;" 23rd, flying W., wind S.W. ; flying 

 S.W., gale S.E., all night at Bressay, when many other species 

 struck unseen ; 24th, at Isle of May, flying S., and similar records 

 at various stations all through November." N.B. These ledger 

 entries may be useful later. One species. 



Anatid^. — Wild Geese : In spring, on March 1st, two were 

 seen, flying very fast, 1000 feet in the air, crying loudly, before an 

 E.S.E wind, and settled on the land at Sumburgh Head to rest. 

 A Brent Goose seen at Isle of May on March 20th, and a large 

 flock of Geese flying E. accompanied by Curlews at Isle of May, 

 on April 21st. One Brent ('* Sly Goose ") at Pentland Skerries, 

 in June (marked "rare"), flying E. In autumn, at Chanonry, 

 Sumburgh Head, North Eonaldshay and Isle of May. Earliest 

 noted, but probably local movement after the birds had taken up 

 their quarters on Aug. 26th, at Chanonry, when 100 Grey Geese 

 were seen, fair S.W., clear. Here the general flight is N. or. S., 

 being the "lie" of the Firth; on 28th also 100 seen. Latest 

 records into January, 1883. Bushes imperceptible, but very 

 large flocks are mentioned at Isle of May, on December 23rd 

 and 24th, flying from S.W. to N.E. " Sly Geese " (Brent) are 

 noted on Oct. 14th, at Sumburgh Head ; at Isle of May, thirteen 

 Wild Geese, flying W. in a single line, on Oct. 2nd, light S. wind, 

 clear. Two species of Wild Goose. Eider Duck arrived at 

 breeding haunts at Whalsey Head on March 29th ; wind N. and 

 haze. At Isle of May twenty-three, about equal male and 

 female, first seen on March 1st, after a gale which had lasted for 

 twenty-four hours from E. to S.E., and which brought over 

 Eedwings, Lapwings, Books, Hoodies, &c. (see Turdid^). First 



