20 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



record at Sumburgb Head is not till April 17th ; three seen ; 

 fresh E.N.E. wind. In autumn, at Pentland Skerries, continuous 

 flocks flying S.E., mostly females, on Oct. 6th (compare with 

 Report 1881, p. 12). Again, at Sumburgh Head, three (the first 

 seen), on Nov. 5th, fresh W. ; and at Pentland Skerries, on 22nd, 

 a flock, mixed male and female, flying S. ; and on 28th a large 

 flock, mostly males, about the rocks all day. Of other Ducks 

 scattered records only : a few Teal, seen on March 1st, at Isle 

 of May ; at Pentland Skerries, Sept. 3rd ; and seven on pools on 

 Island, on Dec. 6th. Grey Ducks (probably Scaup or Pochard) 

 at Chanonry, where some 400 flying W. were noted. The 

 records of Anatid.e not so voluminous this season as last ; 

 three or four species. On March 23rd fifteen White Swans came 

 from S., rested on the sea at Sumburgh Head, and flew on N. ; 

 wind fresh, S.W. breeze. Again at same place. Swans flying N. 

 and crying loudly on April 10th. On May 9th one was shot at 

 same place. It alighted in a voe three miles from station, and 

 was no doubt a weakly bird so late in the spring; fresh S.S.E. 

 In autumn, records at Sumbm-gh Head, N. Ronaldshay, Cha- 

 nonry, and Isle of May. Earliest Sept. 18th, at Chanonry, when 

 six were seen ; light S.W. and cloudy. At same place, two on 

 25th and ten on 26th ; haze and rain, variable and light N.E. 

 In November, six flying W. at N. Eonaldshay, strong N.E. and 

 snow. In December four seen at N. Eonaldshay, fresh E., and 

 on 28th two seen at N. end of Isle of May. Note. — Look out 

 always for two sizes of Wild Swan — the. large Common Wild 

 Swan and the lesser Bewick's Swan. If together the two species 

 are easily distinguishable. Land Notes. — Brent Geese unusually 

 abundant on the Tay this year, 1881-82 (P. D. Maloch). 



CoLrMBiD^. — Note. — We had no records of Pigeons on E. 

 coast last season, 1881. This year we have them both in spring 

 and autumn. We would lik^to know if all records of "Wood 

 Pigeon " are strictly correct, and if no veritable Stock Doves 

 passed on migration.* In spring, at Bell Rock, on April 9th, one 

 "Wood Pigeon" struck and was killed at 10.30 p.m., light 

 S.S.E. ; and at Isle of May one struck and was killed at 2 a.m., 



* See a paper by me on the *' Increase and Extension of Range of the 

 Stock Dove," read before the Pioj^al Physical Society of Edinburgh, Feb., 

 1883. They are seen in large migratory flocks on the mainland in May — as 

 in the Carse of Gowrie — in some seasons, and I have received specimens this 

 spring and winter from two localities in this county — Stirhngshire. 



