22 EEPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



Eider Duck. — Odd birds noted off jST. Unst in February 5th 

 and 18th, and March 23d and 26th — winds different directions ; 

 and a flock of nine at Isle of May on 18th April. Odd records 

 in May and June at N. Eonaldshay and at Fidra, probably 

 merely local movements. In Autumn. — Eecorded as " making 

 their appearance by the 5th September at N. Eonaldshay ; and 

 large flocks by the 11th September at Pentland Skerries. 

 Flocks all day on several dates in October at N". Unst, and 

 Fidra, &c." 



Teal are noted occasionally at Pentland Skerries in March on 

 1st and 2d. Widgeon rarely noted : once in March at Isle of 

 May, and once in October at Fidra. Shieldrake once noted at 

 Noss Head, and once on 15th November on Fidra. 



Wild Swans are noted on 12th April, and four on 25th at 

 N. Eonaldshay ; and thirty on one occasion at Sumburgh Head. 



Note. — A most remarkable assemblage of Eider Ducks took 

 place off the west shore of Harris, as seen and reported to me 

 by James Cowan, Esq., M.P. He writes, under date of 18th 

 March 1887 : "Last year, owing to the easterly winds, we had 

 not less than 3000 Eiders within four miles of our cottage, on 

 the west coast of Harris ; and the year before there was not 

 one." 



ColumbidtE. — Pigeons, Doves. — Eock Dove, Wood Pigeon, 

 Turtle Dove. — A Turtle Dove was obtained at Isle of May on 

 31st May 1886 ; wind light S.E., and haze. An addition to the 

 Isle of May list and collection ; at present at Dunipace House. 



A single record of a Wood Pigeon, " seldom seen here," at 

 Pentland Skerries on 18th June ; and another at same place on 

 7th October, " flying west ; rare " — fresh, variable, and haze. 



A single record of Eock Pigeons (a flock) on 20th at Pent- 

 land Skerries, and the remark, " seldom seen." There were 

 twenty in the flock. 



Eallim;. — Corncrake, Water Eail, etc. — Heard first time at 

 Pentland Skerries on 19th May, and at Cromarty on 25th. 

 Above are the only records of any of the Eails. 



Charadrlad^e. — Plover, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Dotterel, 

 Einged Dotterel or Einged Plover, Oyster-Catcher or Sea Pie, 

 Grey Plover, Golden Plover. — In Spring.-^ Movements scarce ; 

 in February (one record on 25th at Pentland Skerries) ; in 

 March (one record at same). 



