14 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 
Gulls breed in the cliffs. Also large numbers of Guillemots, 
Razorbills, which arrive first and second week of August. Also 
lots of Starlings and Grey Linnets, but these and the Gulls 
remain the whole year. Under date of 16th January 1886, 
Mr Y. writes: “Birds have been very scarce; not one stranger 
since the 27th November.” Two schedules. 
North Ronaldshay.—John Tulloch (principal). Two schedules. 
Gannets began flying north about the 18th April. 
Auskerry.—=John M‘Donald (principal). Three well-filled 
schedules. 
Pentland Skerrves—Signed by John Gilmour (assistant). 
Eleven very full schedules. Mr Gibson (principal), Mr Frazer, 
and Mr M‘Gee are all much interested in the subject. They 
have been supplied with a copy of C. A. Johns’ “ British Birds in 
their Haunts,” published by the Society for Promoting Christian 
Knowledge. Harvie-Brown visited Pentland Skerries in July 
1885. “Skerries” is a misnomer for the larger island. Itisa 
lovely island, richly grassed, feeds twenty sheep on 114 acres; 
very level, fine turf, rich in daisies and buttercups, producing 
lovely milk, and admirably situated to intercept migration. 
Elsewhere an account of the birds seen there in summer will be 
incorporated Pentland Skerries, along with Isle of May, as 
usual, shared the heaviest rushes and returns, and Bell Rock 
very fully participated. The rush seemed to be about the 
middle of October, continuing, but not so heavily, through that 
month, and increasing again up to the middle of November. 
On the 11th November our reporters say: “ Never saw so many 
Fieldfares flying round the light” as to-night. 
Dunnet Head.—David Laidlaw (principal) sent one schedule. 
Visited by H.-B. in 1885. It is easily understood why it is not 
a good station, notwithstanding the favourable description of 
light. The light is 346 feet above the sea, and does not face 
clear to eastward except upon the horizon, a great cliff top 
intercepting the downward rays at a distance of at least 100 yards 
from the tower. 
1 Vertebrate Fauna of Shetland, Caithness, and West Cromarty, by T. E. 
Buckley and J. A. Harvie-Brown, im press. There can scarcely be a doubt that 
this station would quickly rival the ‘‘Isle of May” in rarities, if the men had equal 
facilities of obtaining specimens. If they had guns, also, they might add largely 
to their stock of wholesome fresh food. 
