4 REPORT. ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



and gave the shepherd's dogs chase, but sheered off when it saw 

 the shepherd. 



Sumburgh Head. — Sends one schedule, but adds : "Birds are 

 very scarce here." Sent me a specimen of a rare bird, which 

 I knew at once to be a specimen of Phylloscopus super ciliosus, 

 and which has already been recorded [Proceedings Royal Physi- 

 cal Society, Edinburgh, vol. for 1885-86, p. 298], and was ex- 

 hibited at a meeting of that Society. Writing in reply to 

 inquiries of mine, under 16th October, to Mr Youngclause, he 

 writes : " I was after a small bird to-day about the dykes, very 

 similar, but it got away." 



North Ronaldshay. — John Tulloch. One well-filled schedule, 

 ranging from March 18 to September 15. 



Pentland Skerries. — John Gilmour (principal) sends nine 

 heavily-filled schedules. In a letter of 1st October, Mr Gil- 

 mour speaks of great numbers of Twites on the island. " Of 

 course they breed here ; but I think their numbers have been 

 increased of late, as there is a great flock of them." Later 

 he adds : " I may mention that the Eock Pipit is resident 

 here ; and also the Lark, Starling, and Eock Dove are scarcely 

 ever absent from the station." A little earlier — viz., 29th Sep- 

 tember — Mr G. writes : " The autumn migration is not yet quite 

 commenced, although there have been a few birds seen ; but 

 should the wind work round to the east we will likely have a 

 rush. I send you the names of all the birds that bred here this 

 season (1886), viz. : — Stormy Petrel, Puffin, Tern [two species, 

 — J. A. H.-B.], Black Guillemot,' Oyster-Catcher, Eider Duck, 

 Einged Plover, Dunlin, Lapwing, Corncrake, Eock Dove, Star- 

 ling, Lark, Twite, Wheatear, and Eock Pipit. The above are 

 the only species which breed regularly here. The Herring Gull 

 and Grey Crow build some seasons, but not this year. I have 

 heard it said the Snipe breeds also, but I have never seen the nest 

 during the last five years — the time I have been at this station. 



" I take little notice of Solans in the schedules, as I may say 

 they have been going past all season in all weathers, and I still 

 see some going east yet (29th September)." (See also under 

 Mull of Galloway, West Coast, visited by Mr G. on his holiday, 

 16th August to 6th September.) A day-to-day return of Gan- 

 nets or Solan Geese desired, and a separate schedule devoted 

 to the species. 



