EAST COAST OF SCOTLAND. 7 



the best of it myself, covering the wounds as well as I could." 

 Under date of October 12, 1886, Mr Agnew writes: "The old 

 carboy is still doing duty yet, and has been emptied two or 

 three times. On one occasion it contained a cosmic mouse, but 

 whether it came from Jupiter or Mars, or some other far off 

 world, I do not know." As this carboy was put in situ by our- 

 selves in October 1884, in behalf of the Marine Station at 

 Granton, we would be interested to know whether it has yielded 

 any scientific results. Perhaps Mr John Murray will enlighten 

 us. Begarding the electric light, Mr Agnew writes : " It will 

 be ready in a few weeks, perhaps three weeks. I do not know 

 what effect it will have on the birds. The light will be very 

 intense, and the most powerful light in existence. The room 

 in which the trials are now being conducted has the appearance 

 of a place brilliantly lighted up at night, though it is in the 

 day time. The daylight is made to disappear. If the light 

 were a fixed one, same as the old one, I think it might have a 

 good x effect, but I am afraid its quick revolving character will 

 be against it. The light has been revolving for the last two 

 months with the oil lamp, and though some birds have come to 

 the lantern, I don't think, considering the numbers of birds, so 

 many have struck as heretofore. But as I am leaving this, I 

 very much fear the reports will be very meagre in future, if 

 there be any at all. The man who succeeds me has been here 

 for a month or more, and he seems to have no notion of the 

 matter, and has never interested himself in it ; and besides, he 

 will be very little in the light-room; his principal business 

 will be in the engine-house, though he is to be head-keeper. 

 You may perhaps be able to get him interested in it. The two 

 men, however, whose special duty will be in the light-room, 

 may take up the subject, and do something; but I would 

 say — be very thankful for what you have already got from 

 Isle of May." In a later letter (26th October), Mr Agnew 

 says : " I am now almost convinced that few birds will come 

 near the lantern, the revolutions are so quick, viz., eight flashes 

 in the minute. We can see the birds going round with the 

 rays, and though they make a dash at the lantern, before they 

 reach it the light leaves them, and they turn round after it 

 again, and repeat the same. During all last week there was 



1 i.e., effectual in alluring the birds to it. 



