ROLLER. 
145 
Fissirostres. 
T. MEROPIDyE. 
THE PtOLLEK. 
Coracias garrnla. 
Tlie single instance of the occurrence of tins bird in Slietland 
recorded l)y Thomas Edmondston in his list, is doubtless the 
one referred to by the Eev. F. 0. Morris and other authors. 
It has been met with upon several occasions, the last of which 
I believe was at the end of October 1869, when one which 
had been in the island of Sanday was shot by Peter Anderson, 
one of the light-keepers, who kindly gave me the wings. An 
Unst man, happening to see them, instantly remarked their 
similarity to those of a bird he shot about ten years previously 
at Norwich, in that island. From the straightforward and 
accurate manner in which he detailed all that he could re- 
member about the bird, I have not the slightest doubt that it 
was an example of the Eoller. 
II. HIRUNDINIDyE. 
THE SWALLOW. 
HirvMclo rustica. 
This welcome bird comes to us in autumn and spring, though 
in very small numbers. In June 1867 I knew of a nest and 
eggs in a byre-roof at Petista, in Unst, and have heard of a 
few other well-authenticated instances of its breeding in Shet- 
land ; but such instances are very rare. Notwithstanding the 
bright sunshine of autumn, the Swallows seem but ill at ease 
when they pay a visit at that season, sitting among the shrubs 
or upon the house-roof ; and wlien they do venture upon a short 
K 
