346 



BIRDS. 



habit of keeping his eyes about him on all his many trips across these narrow 

 seas. I say, I hope it is unnecessary to repeat that he has always and repeatedly 

 insisted that beyond one or two Fulmars in all that time seen upon the waters 

 near this same fishing bank, he has never met with the birds inside the Outer 

 Hebrides in winter or in summer. I do repeat it, however, knowing how short 

 people's memories often are, and especially those who may be inclined to dismiss 

 such observations as too trivial to have any significance, or be worthy of any 

 further attention, or who never come to study a subject by reading bach ! It 

 is true that isolated observations of similar nature may not have great signi- 

 ficance, but when a long series has been put on record, it shows little of the 

 true spirit of philosophical research if they are repeatedly ignored. 



Order PYGOPODES. 

 Family ALOIDJE. 

 Rock-Birds. 



The Black Book of Kincardineshire gives an account of the innumerable seafowl 

 which resort to the Fowlsheugh, about three miles south of Stonehaven, which cliff's 

 have a frontage of nearly a mile with 200 feet elevation, and are quite perpendicular, 

 and in some places overhanging. Formerly these cliff's were let to a tacksman, who 

 plied his fearful calling in pursuit of the eggs and young birds, etc. Mr. Milne says 

 he possesses a number of eggs which he procured from the said tacksman. These birds 

 consist of the usual cliff species, including Common Gull (?), Herring Gull, Kittiwake, 

 Razorbill, Common Guillemot, and Black Guillemot (?), and Puffins. 



AIca torda, Z. Razorbill. 



Eesident. Common. Breeds. 



In winter seen in numbers off the mouth of the Tay, and more 

 especially in autumn and spring. Col. Drummond Hay notes the 

 fact that this species and also the Common Guillemot are seen 

 occasionally on fresh water fishing, and quotes Mr. Marshall, of 

 Stanley, "a most observant ornithologist," as having seen several of 

 both species for some weeks near Stanley and Stormontfield. 



It has also been seen on Loch Tay (D. Dewar). 



In the winter of 1871-2 — more especially in January 1872— large 

 numbers were found dead along the coasts. They were not in an 

 emaciated, but in quite plump condition (Proc. Glasg. Nat. Hist. Soc, 

 vol. ii. p. 181). 



Uria troile (L.). Common Guillemot. 



The Common Guillemots nest in considerable numbers at Fowlsheugh, 

 and a very few pairs have also taken up their quarters at the Red 



