EAST COAST OF SCOTLAND. 19 



Skerries; light S.E., haze.* We have also three single records 

 of the true Stonechat at I. of May, on 2nd, 28th and 30th April, 

 and one at Pentland Skerries on May 14th, light E. wind, struck 

 lantern, not killed. On April 30th a rush of Eedstarts along 

 with Eobins, Eing Ouzels, &c, at Isle of May. This concludes 

 spring records. 



In autumn records from N. Unst, one Eedstart (the only one 

 seen this year) and one Wheatear, on 7th and 12th September 

 respectively ; flew S.W. This is the earliest 1884 record of 

 Saxicolince in autumn. Also from N. Eonaldshay, a number on 

 15th striking, and Pentland Skerries, Bell Eock, and I. of May, 

 of Wheatears, a few Eedstarts, Whinchats, &c, and one Black 

 Eedstart, old male, shot (in mus. I. of May, present curator 

 Mr. Joseph Agnew). Another was seen the following da}^ — first 

 on 24th, second on 25th Oct. (recorded in full in Eyl. Phyl. Soc. 

 Proc. 1885, read 21st Jan., 1885) ; a Common Eedstart seen at 

 same time.t The records of all the species are light, and no 

 rush, unless of Wheatears, ut sup., Oct. 22nd, at Isle of May, 

 increasing by the 25th. During our stay on the island (27th 

 Sept. to 17th Oct.) we observed a good many straggling birds. 

 A few accompanied the rush of other species on Nov. 12th (see 

 Tuedid^e). One Whitethroat is returned from I. of May, striking 

 face of lantern, ''facing the wind," on Sept. 12th. Mr. Agnew 



* A full record of this rarity, and of previous occurrences in Scotland, is 

 given by me in Proc. Ryl. Phyl. Soc. Edin., read 23rd April, 1884 ; and a system 

 of Record Forms recommended for tabular and formal records of rarities in 

 future (see also Report for 1883, p. 81). We wish observers would recognise 

 the use of some such uniform method, and we are certain it would save much 

 time and trouble for future compilers. 



f All the previous records of this species in Scotland relate to localities 

 the position of which shows comparatively easily how they arrived at each. 

 These records now amount to six in all, of which I have recorded the last 

 three since Mr. Gray wrote his ' Birds of the West of Scotland.' They are 

 as follows : — 



One : collection of Mr. Sinclair of Wick (R. Gray, op. cit., p. 84). 



One : obtained at Cullen, Banff, by Mr. T. Edward (ditto). 



One : Kirkwall, Orkney, 20th Dec, 1859 (R. Gray, op. cit.). 



One: Higginsneuk, Stirlingshire, 10th Nov., 1875 (J. A. H. B., Proc. Ryl. 

 Phyl. Soc, vol. iv., p. 142). 



One : Pentland Skerries (J. A. H. B., op. cit.). 



One : Isle of May (as given above). 



