98 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 
RHINNS OF ISLAY LIGHTHOUSE, 
23d December 1888. 
Sir,—I beg to return you the concluding schedule for this year, 
and most likely I have put a lot of remarks into it and previous ones 
that are of little account, and some of the wings I sent to you were 
most likely very common ones to you, although they were strange to 
me, or I had some doubts about them ; but as I have now got the 
names of some of the odd ones in this locality, I will not likely 
trouble you with so many again. If my suggestion of including 
assistants as well as principals in filling up the schedules has been 
of any advantage this year, I would further suggest for 1886 that 
you should make a strong appeal to all stations to try for one year 
to give you all the information (and especially those who have not as 
yet sent in any or meagre returns) they can. First, what birds—or 
as many as they can ascertain—breed in their near locality. Second, 
when do Stonechicks (which I believe are all over Scotland), Snow 
Buntings, Robins, Wrens, and several other small birds arrive which 
make their appearance only at certain seasons. In looking over the 
Report for 1884, the point that annoyed me most was, that I could 
not make out the names and terms of all the different species ; but 
at John o Groat’s School thirty-five years ago there was no word 
of Latin. In ’84’s Report I expected to have seen better reports 
from some stations that I know, such as North Unst, Start Point, 
and Noss Head. At North Unst there are several migrants which 
build on the rock, and I wondered to see no account of Mother 
Carey’s Chickens, as they breed on the rock, and at the end of 
August they annoyed us a good deal by striking the lantern and 
emitting an oily substance on the glass. At Start Point the Shel- 
drake breeds, and I have seen the Stock Duck breed on it also; and 
I was told there were thirteen species of Ducks frequented that 
locality, and I have seen Teal and Widgeon there in hundreds. 
Also at Noss Head there are various classes of birds which visit it 
in the breeding season. I once knew of a Grebe got in a small pond 
there. Trusting you won’t feel annoyed at the above remarks, I am, 
etc., PreTEeR ANDERSON. 
Lamlash.—Messrs David Scott and Robert Brown send us one 
schedule. The remark occurs that “the Thrush is becoming 
very scarce here.” 
Turnberry.—A carefully-filled schedule—dating March 11 to 
November 10—sent by Messrs Andrew Nisbet (principal) and 
Wm. Beggs (assistant). Species well distinguished. 
