The Scottish Naturalist. 
67 
available information goes, in West Ross, Skye, or the Outer 
Hebrides. 
Of some thirty-six occurrences, the exact dates of which are 
known, eight birds were killed in October, eight in December, six 
in February, and five in March. 
Occurrences in April and May are far more frequent than some 
orniihologists suppose. 
The earliest autumnal arrival on our east coast (of Scotland) 
appears to be that of the bird killed at sea on the ist of October, 
though I have examined birds caught in England three weeks 
earlier. 
Among recent contributions to the literature of this species 
may be mentioned, Seebohm, "British Birds," Vol. L,and "Proc. 
Roy. Phys. Soc." Vol. VII. p. 223; Collett, ^'The Ibis," 1886; H. A. 
Macpherson, "Trans. Cumb. and Westd. Assoc.," IX., pp. 106, 
107, this last containing a description of the habits of the Great 
Grey Shrike, as studied in a Scottish example. 
SOME NOTES ON BIRDS RECENTLY OBSERVED 
IN THE TAY DISTRICT. 
By Col. H. M. Drummond Hay, M.B.O.U. 
Red-backed Shrike {Lanius colhirio, Linn.)— A bird of 
this species in skin, was forwarded to me for identification, 
by A. Nicol Simpson, Esq. of Mayfield, Arbroath^ early in 
September last, which had been shot on the coast some miles to 
the west of Arbroath, near Ethie, on the 13 th of the preceding 
month, August, 1890 — proving on inspection to be a female of 
the second year, not having quite attained the adult plumage. 
Hybrid. — A very curiously-marked Mallard {Anas boscas), 
doubtless a cross between the Mallard and Pintail Duck {Anas 
acuta), which was in company with a common Mallard, were both 
