6 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



given you all that we have taken note of) as I could have done 

 from the Little Eoss, having been transferred from there in 

 February last. Several species of birds lay in the rocks about 

 this headland, such as the Common Gull [? Herring Gull. — 

 J. A. H.-B.], Cormorant, Tystie, Guillemot, Eazorbill. The 

 Gulls are very tame here, often sitting on the tops of the houses 

 throughout the town (Wick), drawn there by the great quan- 

 tity of fish caught, and hanging about the houses." We are 

 very glad to get our first return from Noss Head, however light, 

 and we hope Mr Ferrier will continue to assist us. — (See last 

 Eeport, 1885, p. 15.) 



Cromarty Lighthouse. — Eobt. S. Eitson sends one schedule, 

 January 1886 to December 27, mostly referring to local migra- 

 tions of Ducks, Geese, Gulls, which have always special interest 

 also attaching to them. 



Girdleness. — C. C. Irvine sends one schedule, the first received 

 from this station. He adds : " Very few birds come this way ; 

 but Eooks, Sparrows, and Gulls are to be seen almost every 

 day ; but as they are not migratory, I presume they are not 

 worthy of notice, and our time being much occupied during the 

 day, many may pass without our observing them." 



Bell Bock — James Jack sends two carefully written schedules 

 as usual, strictly adhering to the headings, which always makes 

 the work of posting the items into the ledger easier for the Com- 

 mittee. Mr Jack, after an illness on shore between 23d October 

 and 11th November, writes, on resuming duty: "As yet, Eed- 

 wings have been the most prolific in numbers visiting this station 

 this season ; in fact, night after night, nothing else. All our 

 usual winter feathered companions are now again thickly around 

 us. Dunters are very abundant this season." 



This remarkable immigration of Eedwings is scarcely noted 

 at any other stations ; at least, with regard to its exclusiveness. 



Isle of May. — Joseph Agnew sends eight schedules filled with 

 his usual care, and dating February 3 to November 6, 1886, and 

 kept up till his removal by the authorities to the Monach Isles, 

 off the Outer Hebrides, the electric lighting of the Isle of May 

 being completed, and an electric engineer placed in charge. 

 Under date of April 6, 1886, Mr Agnew writes : " I send you 

 the Turtle Dove. It had been very severely shot before it 

 came here by some one. I did not send it to Small, but made 



