EAST COAST OF SCOTLAND. 3 



supposed to be migrating right away." Mr J. N. then adds : 

 " Since filling up this schedule (to date of 25th October), have 

 been told that on 29th October three large Swans rested on the 

 Loch of Cliff on their way south. November 5th. — One Eagle 

 shot near Holderswick measured across the wings seven feet. 

 A Woodpecker seen at Baltasound. When fish seem plentiful 

 about the rock, Common Gulls are in abundance ; occasionally 

 Herring Gulls and Iceland Gulls, Black-backed Gulls, Common 

 Skua Gull, of which a few breed at Unst. On shore at the Loch 

 of Cliff, throughout the autumn, a Herring Bird, some Plovers, 

 Curlews, Snipes, and Wild Ducks. A few of the latter breed at 

 the Loch of Cliff. At Lerwick, on 10th October, two large 

 flocks of Swans passed over the town, flying in a southerly 

 direction ; and one flew very low while near the town. Up to 

 the date of 30th October 1886, no Wren has been seen ; should 

 I get one, shall not fail to send it on. One seen on 2 2d Novem- 

 ber ; could not be caught." At date of December 20th, Mr J. 

 N. writes : " All birds have now deserted us. None seen since 

 the 1st December, except in favourable weather, such as are 

 mentioned in the schedule for December 1885, viz. : — Starlings, 

 Sparrow Hawks, Crows, and Gulls. We had no great rushes of 

 birds in the night time this year like last year ; but a greater 

 number seen in the day time. On November 18th sixty Bottle- 

 nosed Whales, the largest about twenty-two feet long, were 

 captured at Cullivoe, Unst. Five boats (manned) put off and 

 gave chase. Boats having got to seaward, they were turned for 

 the shore, and were getting well in, when they suddenly turned 

 about and put to sea again. Boats, after a hard struggle, again 

 got the off-side of them, and slowly commenced to shorten the 

 distance between them and the shore. Not until 6 p.m., after 

 six hours' chase, were the boats successful in reaching the 

 ! school.' After the monsters were stranded the scene was very 

 animated, as they lashed the water to foam with their tails in 

 their frantic efforts to get away again. It was not till late at 

 night that killing operations were accomplished. On 24th 

 November sixty whales were exposed for sale, and realised a 

 sum of £119. The number of buyers was limited, but the com- 

 petition was keen." On January 11, 1887, Mr J. N., in a letter, 

 records the occurrence of one Snowy Owl seen on the summit 

 of Hermann's Hill ; and an Eagle, flying high over, came down 



