BIRDS. 
225 
In Mr. L. Dunbar's List, a godwit, most probably of this 
species, is mentioned as having been killed at Freswick by 
Mr. Wormald on October 25th, 1878. 
320. Limosa melanura {L.). Black-tailed Godwit. 
Ohs. — We would like to know what became of the specimen, 
said to be of this species, recorded by " IsTether Lochaber " 
(the Eev. Alex. Stewart of Ballachulish) as having been 
shot near Helmsdale {Inverness Courier, December 26, 
1881). Macleay of Inverness in all his experience has 
only had one or two examples of this bird in his shop, and 
it is an extremely rare species in Scotland.^ 
321. Numenius borealis (Foist.). Esquimaux Curlew. 
322. Numenius phaeopus (L.). Whimbrel. 
Spring and autumn visitant ; not very rare on the east coast. 
We can obtain no definite or trustworthy account of 
this species breeding in the county, notwithstanding Mr. 
Dunbar's statement {Ihis, 1865, p. 435). It occurs during 
spring migration on the north coast, and was supposed to 
retire to the interior to breed, but there is every reason to 
doubt this, and to believe it leaves by a more northerly 
track. We have before criticised all previous records (Proc. 
Nat. Hist. Soc. Glasgow, 1875, p. 111). An egg handed to 
us as having been taken on an island in Glen Coul, Assynt, 
and as belonging to this species, is — however like a whim- 
brel's — not authenticated, and may quite well be a deformed 
one of the common gull. The texture is not that of a 
whimbrel's egg. 
The whimbrel was observed, however, in May 1882, in 
Badcall Bay, Edderachyllis, a single bird — by Mr. J. C. 
M. Wallis — no doubt, however, only on migration. 
^ It was corroborated by a "distinguished ornithological friend in the south." 
Why not have given his name ? Such records lose all their value by these 
vague modes of adducing evidence. 
P 
