On the Migration of Birds of East Lotliian. 363 
a specimen, but he gave me at once ample proof what manner 
of bird he was. I saw him at first, a dark object, floating in 
the sea, some hundred yards off. He rose at a distance, and 
flew after a Herring Grull. To my surprise he struck it dead 
at the first swoop, and^ immediately pouncing upon it, shook 
and tore it more as a dog worries, than as a hawk tears. I 
now regret that I shot him while so occupied, as I see 
Yarrell mentions an exactly similar case, where the Skua was 
so engrossed as to let himself be taken with the hand. He 
was much broader and more strongly built than the Herring 
Gull, but had a less expanse of wing. 
Wood Pigeons appeared in November in numbers which, 
unless seen, would seem fabulous, and, however unpopular 
among farmers the opinion may be, I firmly believe many 
of these birds come from abroad. It is only in exceptional 
years, however, that the influx from beyond seas is large. 
This year it was prodigious, and the newly-arrived multi- 
tudes were at first quite ignorant of guns. Wood Pigeons 
are the locusts of Scottish agriculture. Next in number 
have been the Thrushes, which are unusually abundant. Of 
these, the Fieldfare, the most numerous and yet the weakest 
of its tribe, has hitherto escaped the storms of frost and snow 
which invariably strew the fields with their dead. I presume 
it is chiefly the first year s birds which are so easily starved. 
What has struck me as the most remarkable incident 
with regard to the Thrushes is, that I have, for the first time, 
heard the song of the Missel Thrush. 
Mr Wood, in his ''Natural History" (Birds), describes the 
Missel's song as "rich, loud, clear, and ringing, and that it 
is heard in the roughest and most inclement weather." 
Now, though the Missel is one of our most familiar birds, I 
never heard it utter a sound save its harsh scream of w^arning 
and alarm, till this winter. I was riding to the fox-hounds, 
when I was startled by a bird-song that I was instantly 
certain I had never before heard. I turned aside and rode 
in the direction, and was astonished to find the voice was 
that of a Missel perched on the top of a tree. The notes were 
as Mr Wood describes — less varied than those of the song- 
