WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND. 63 



under water after striking, whilst no doubt struggling with 

 its prey. 



Dhuheartach. — Messrs Win. Davidson and J. W. M'Guffie send 

 four good schedules. The Siskin occurred on the 10th Novem- 

 ber, and was sent for identification, having been caught on the 

 lantern. " Heavy rush " all night of 11th. 



Skervuile. — Mr John Ewing sends three filled schedules down 

 to November 21st, after which no more migration was observed. 

 Harvie-Brown visited Skervuile and landed on the whales- 

 back-looking rock on which the lighthouse is founded, and 

 which is awash with the sea. 



Rhinns of Islay. — Messrs Peter Anderson and James Ducat 

 send nine carefully filled sheets, and write nearly each time at 

 length. At the same time we are now, thanks to these reporters, 

 obliged for a much more minute, and day-to-day return for each 

 month of the year, most carefully prepared under species and in 

 tabular form, which cannot fail to prove interesting and useful 

 to work from. These date December 1886 to February 1888. 

 The Ehinns of Islay must be looked upon as quite one of the 

 most important West Coast stations for migration. 



A Manx Shearwater is reported as caught on the lantern on 

 the 20th April, and another was seen next morning. They are 

 the first of the kind the keepers ever remember seeing. The 

 occurrence thus makes it appear that Manx Shearwaters pro- 

 bably pair early, if they do not pair for life. 



On August 2d, clouds of Midges round the lantern ; and on 

 13th, from twenty to thirty Daddy-longlegs were captured. 

 This season the very worst for Caterpillars (or " Kail-worm "). 

 Glass rarely below 60° on the N. side at midnight, and again as 

 warm on 10th September. [Note. — The warm weather about 

 this time was universal. — J. A. H.-B.] 



" The only rush we have had has been of Larks, and they 

 have been in greater numbers than any year since I came here. 

 One solitary Eedwing is all I have seen this year. We have 

 had such a long time of N. and KW. winds. Best winds are 

 S. to S.K to bring the most birds. On October 9th, 1000's of 

 Puffins appeared "flying North;" Iceland Gull on 10th; six 

 Choughs seen on island on 16th, no doubt local birds. Heavy 

 returns from October 19th onwards to 25th, of Larks and Star- 

 lings. Local visitation of Eooks owing to shooting going on 



