ft M^

The Annals

OF

Scottish Natural History

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED

EDITED BY

J. A. HARVIE-BROWN, F.R.S.E., RZ.S.

MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS* UNION

JAMES W. H. TRAIL, MA., M.D., RRS., RLS.

PROFESSOR OF BOTANY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN

AND

WILLIAM EAGLE CLARKE, F.L.S., F.R.S.E.

KEEPER OF THE NATURAL HISTORY DEPARTMENT, THE ROYAL SCOTTISH MUSEUM, EDINBURGH

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EDINBURGH
DAVID DOUGLAS, CASTLE STREET

LONDON: R. H. PORTER, 7 PRINCES ST., CAVENDISH SQUARE

Ann. Scot Nat. Hist. 1908.

Plate 1.

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The Annals ^bhmo^jc

of <5aU'06N

Scottish Natural History

No. 65] 19 08 [January

IN MEMORIAM: HOWARD SAUNDERS.

With Portrait.

We greatly regret to record the passing from amongst us
of Howard Saunders, on the 20th of October last, at the
age of seventy-two. No name is more familiar to British
ornithologists than his ; and rightly so, for no one in recent
years has given such an impetus to the study of their
favourite science. His successful completion of the fourth
edition of " Yarrell " under circumstances that were peculiarly
trying, established his reputation as a writer on British
birds. But the work by which he will be best remembered
in this country is the well-known " Manual " which bears his
name : a remarkable work, wherein all the essentials con-
cerning the numerous and varied members of our avifauna
are treated of, with wonderful skill and discrimination, in a
single volume. The merits of this book were at once
recognised, and it became the standard authority on the.
subject.

Saunders' reputation as a naturalist by no means rests

upon these important contributions to British ornithological

literature. He devoted many years of his life to the study

. of the Terns, Gulls, and Skuas, and his monograph of these

^' groups published in vol. xxv. of the " Catalogue of Birds in

o> the British Museum," is in all respects one of the best in that

-4 65 B

2 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

great series, and earned for him a world-wide reputation.
He possessed, too, a wide knowledge of PaLxarctic birds ;
wrote the bird section of the " Antarctic Manual " ; was
joint Editor of two series of " The Ibis " ; and was Secretary
of the British Ornithologists' Union. Much more might be
written about Howard Saunders, but enough has been
alluded to to indicate how great is his loss to the science
of ornithology.

As a man and a friend it is impossible to speak of him
in terms too high. His great strength of character, his
amiable disposition, his honourable nature, his helpfulness
to all who sought his aid, won for him a host of friends ;
and we doubt if he ever made a single enemy. The death
of such a man is very greatly to be deplored on many
grounds.

It may interest the readers of the " Annals " to know
that before he died, Mr. Saunders expressed the desire that
Mr. Eagle Clarke should edit such future editions of his
" British Birds " as might be called for, and that all his notes
have been placed in Mr. Eagle Clarke's hands for that
purpose.

NOTES ON BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE SCOTTISH
ISLANDS DURING THE SPRING AND
AUTUMN OF 1907.

By The Duchess of Bedford.

On the 2nd June, I left Invergordon in my yacht for
Orkney. On the 4th, I anchored in Rousay Sound and
visited some of the adjacent islands. Soon after leaving
the yacht, I had a close view of two Great Northern Divers
in full summer plumage. Landing on one of the small
islands, I found nests of the following species, many of
which, owing to the lateness of the nesting season, contained
but one egg. Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull,
Common Gull, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull,
Lapwing, Oyster-Catcher, Black Guillemot, Arctic Tern, and
Eider Ducks. There were two large colonies of Arctic

NOTES ON BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE SCOTTISH ISLANDS 3

Terns, and I looked very carefully to see if I could detect
any Common Terns amongst them, but was unable to do
so. Eider Ducks were very abundant. There were also
many Shags, a few Cormorants, Puffins, and Redshanks.

The two following days were spent on the islands of
Egilshay, Gairsay, Sweyne Holm, and Green Holm. Corn-
crakes were calling in every clover and rye grass field.
Twites were abundant, also Redshanks, Skylarks, Eider
Ducks, Black Guillemots, Common Gulls, Starlings, Common
Guillemots, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Oyster -Catchers,
Rock Pipits, Shags, Arctic Terns, Herring Gulls, and
Meadow-Pipits. There were large colonies of Herring and
Lesser Black-backed Gulls breeding on the Green Holm,
some of the former had chosen the stone slab placed over
the grave of a young fellow drowned there in the " sixties "
as a nesting-place. There was a small colony of Arctic
Terns nesting on Sweyne Holm. Near the cottages were
a few House Sparrows, and in the marshy ground I put
up several Snipe, some of which were still " drumming."
I also noted a good many Lapwings, Hooded Crows, and
Ringed Plovers, a few Rock-Doves, one Turnstone, and a
Golden Plover. A Sand-Martin, one of the only two I
saw in Orkney, flew along the shore. Primroses were
growing in abundance on the grassy slopes facing the sea.
On my return to the yacht I again saw two Great Northern
Divers, one in full summer plumage and one immature.
As they remained near the yacht till I left for the Shetlands,
I had a splendid opportunity of watching them.

On the 7th, I was delayed by fog for many hours,
outside the Out Skerries, seeing many Fulmars, Richardson's
Skuas, Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Puffins, Shags, Lesser Black-
backed and Herring Gulls. The Black Guillemot is far
less abundant than in the Orkneys, and the Great Black-
backed Gull much scarcer than the Lesser Black-backed
Gull. One Stormy Petrel, one immature Gannet, and
about six Manx Shearwaters flew past the yacht. In the
afternoon I landed at Collafirth, and pointed out four House-
Martins to a resident, who said they were the first he had
ever seen there. Wheatears were common, several pairs
of Golden Plovers were evidently nesting on the moor, but

4 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

it was too late in the day to look for nests. I also saw
three Red-throated Divers on one of the lochs, many-
Meadow- and Rock-Pipits, and a Corn Bunting.

The following day I walked over to the western shore,
where I again saw several pairs of T^ulmars, three Mergansers
on an inland loch, and the usual Gulls, Guillemots, etc., the
Black-headed Gull only being absent, and the Great Black-
backed Gull very scarce. Returning to the yacht, I had
a close view of a pair of White Wagtails at the foot of
Roer Water Burn. In the afternoon we left for Cullivoe,
Yell. Off Outsta Ness, I saw five Eider Ducks, which are
scarce here comparatively ; many Fulmars, Richardson's
Skuas, and the usual sea birds.

June 9 : I landed on Unst. Great numbers of Kitti-
wakes were flying down the Sound in one continuous stream.
Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Black Guillemots, Herring Gulls,
Common Gulls, Richardson's Skuas, Puffins, Common
Guillemots, Razorbills, Starlings, Meadow-Pipits, Rock-
Pipits, Skylarks, and Shags, were all abundant. There were
a few Eider Ducks, Mergansers, and Oyster- Catchers in
all the little bays. Three pairs of Curlews and a few
Lapwings seemed to be nesting on the moor. Twites are
always to be seen near the houses. In addition to the
above, one Ringed Plover, a few Arctic Terns, and two
pairs of Hooded Crows, were all that I saw.

In the afternoon we left for Balta Sound, seeing nothing
of note on the way except Gannets. I walked over to
Burra Firth on arrival, but the weather being very stormy,
I only saw a few Sparrows about the houses at Haroldswick,
and one or two Wrens. June lo being again very stormy,
I could do little bird-watching. I bicycled over to the
Loch of Cliff, seeing the following birds, six Swallows, two
Corn-Buntings, one Dunlin, several Richardson's Skuas, and
many Wheatears, Twites, Lesser Black-backed and Herring
Gulls, Oyster-Catchers, Starlings, and Meadow-Pipits.

June II: I bicycled again to Loch Cliff and walked
up Hermaness to see the colony of Great Skuas. On
the way up, I passed a large colony of Richardson's
Skuas with one pair of Great Skuas amongst them. The
watcher told me that he knew of forty-two nests of the Great

NOTES ON BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE SCOTTISH ISLANDS 5

Skua. Though exceedingly tame they were not at all
pugnacious, even though I had a small dog with me. I
attribute this to the fact, that none of the eggs were as
yet hatched. The watcher's hut is peculiarly favourably
situated for defending his proteges, as within a few yards
he can practically survey the whole nesting area. On my
return a hen Wigeon flew round me, as if nesting on the
marshy ground between Loch Cliff and Burra Firth. Un-
fortunately, I was pressed for time and could not stay
to watch her. Thousands of Kittiwakes had collected at
the end of Loch Cliff. They were flying in one continuous
stream up Burra Firth, and I counted one hundred
pass me in less than a minute. In the afternoon I
left for Kirkwall, again seeing many Fulmars when out
at sea.

June 12: I visited the island of Damsay, where I
found a large colony of Arctic Terns breeding, but again
no Common Terns, though I looked carefully for them.
There were a great many Common Gulls and Eider Ducks,
but very few eggs, and I think they had probably been
robbed. I also saw four Coots, some twenty to thirty
Shags, a few Black Guillemots, one Richardson's Skua,
three Mergansers, Lesser Black-backed, Herring, and Black-
headed Gulls. A few pairs of Oyster-Catchers (breeding),
one Dunlin, Starlings, Skylarks, and Lapwings. Leaving
Damsay, I landed at Finstown and bicycled over to Strom-
ness, seeing the following rather unusual list of birds for
the Orkneys, most of which were in a small wood belong-
ing to a private house above Finstown. Blackbirds (the
wood was full of them), Song Thrushes, Greenfinches (one
pair), Sparrows, Linnets, Twites, Wrens, Hedge-sparrows
(a pair), Robins (two pairs), Corn-Buntings, Wood-pigeons
(a flock of fourteen in a field near the wood), Yellow-
Buntings, Redshanks, Shags, Dunlins, Rock-Doves, Meadow-
Pipits, Snipe, Ringed Plovers, one Sand-Martin, and one
Common Sandpiper. On my return journey to the yacht,
I came across five Velvet Scoters, to which I got very close
in the launch. In the evening I left for Stornoway.

During my visit to these Northern Islands I had the
great pleasure of watching, at comparatively close quarters.

6 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

one of the few remaining White-tailed Eagles. As its mate
had been shot a few weeks before, I will not assist in signing
its death warrant by revealing the locality.

June 13 : I bicycled over to the Sands of Tong, where
a small colony of Arctic Terns were breeding, and I noticed
two Lesser Terns amongst them. On the shore were two
flocks of Sanderlings, one of fourteen birds and another of
six. One bird appeared to be in perfect winter plumage,
the silvery grey above and pure white below. Others seemed
almost, if not quite, in summer plumage, showing the reddish
chestnut round the neck, and at a little distance the backs
looked almost " Turnstone " colour. The remainder were in
intermediate plumage, showing less red on the neck and the
backs were greyer. The following day, I again saw the
Sanderlings, and three more Lesser Terns, also two Black-
throated Divers and Several Turnstones.

June 15 : I went over to the Flannan Isles. Un-
fortunately thick fog came on just as we approached them,
and I could see nothing of the bird Hfe except in our im-
mediate vicinity. A great many Fulmars were flying about
near the Islands, also Gannets. The Gulls were mostly
Lesser Black-backed and Kittiwakes as far as I could see in
the fog. Puffins, Razorbills, and Guillemots swarmed. One
of the outlying rocks was covered with Shags. One Manx
Shearwater and one Fork-tailed Petrel passed us some way
out from the Islands. Two Eider drakes were sitting on a
ledge of rock. As there was a considerable swell, I was
unable to land by the steps, but climbed up a short perpen-
dicular iron ladder. There was a lot of rabbits on the
Island, which must have an uncomfortable time from the
Puffins. We took two of the Fork-tailed Petrels out of
their nesting-holes. They seemed very dazed and helpless
when first given their liberty. Meadow- and Rock-Pipits
were the only other birds noted under the very unfavourable
conditions. I returned to Loch Carloway for the night,
hoping that the weather might improve and enable me to
return to the Flannan Islands. I spent the afternoon on
Little Bernera, where I saw two Great Northern Divers, both
in immature plumage, also a Swift. Terns were abundant,
but I was unable to make sure of the species. I only saw

NOTES ON BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE SCOTTISH ISLANDS 7

one Black Guillemot, two Eider Ducks, and a few other
common birds.

June 16: As the weather was very stormy, I decided
to abandon my idea of returning to the Flannan Islands,
and to bicycle over to Stornoway (25 miles) whilst the yacht
went round by sea. As the road was extremely rough, and
it rained and blew the whole way, my ornithological observa-
tions were not worth recording, beyond the fact that I
heard the Cuckoo's note at 11 p.m. from the yacht in
Stornoway Harbour.

June 17: I again bicycled over to Broad Bay to see
if the Sanderlings were still there, and found them. The
majority of the Terns on this bay are Arctic, but I distinctly
saw a few Common Terns amongst them. There was a
flock of six Turnstones on the rocks, and in the bay a Great
Northern and also a Red-throated Diver. Both birds were
in full summer plumage and allowed me to get very near
them. There were hundreds of Kittiwakes on Loch Braigh
na Uidhe, and a few Curlews on the shore.

June 18 : I left for South Uist. Just after landing a Hen
Harrier got up close to me, and I saw several Red-necked
Phalaropes near some of the inland lochs, also great numbers
of Dunlin. On the western shore both Arctic and Lesser
Terns were breeding, and in addition to the above I noted
Reed Buntings, House Sparrows, Herons, Blackbirds, Mer-
gansers, Hooded Crows, Twites, Coots, and a few of the
common shore birds.

June 20 : In the morning I went to one of the rocky
headlands and saw two Grey Seals in one of the inlets of
the sea near the yacht. Whilst watching these, six Grey-
lag Geese flew close past me, and a Great Northern Diver in
immature plumage and some Sheldrakes were disporting
themselves in the sea below. I put up two Song Thrushes
in the heather on this rocky, weather-beaten headland a long
way even from any crofter's crops.

On my return journey to Stranraer, on the 21st, I saw
a Fulmar about half-way between Barra and Rum.

The following Notes were made during a short visit to
the Western Hebrides in August : —

8 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Au^^ust 28 to 31 at Barra : There are very large
flocks of Sanderlini^s and a []^reat many l^ar-tailcd Godwits
and Turnstones, many of the hitter quite young birds.
Eider Ducks and Mergansers are here in hundreds, also
Oyster-Catchers. Gannets, which were absent in November,
were now here in large numbers. The White Wagtail
appears to be the only representative of that family, though
there were many young birds which I was unable to identify
for certain. A pair of Hen Harriers might be seen every
evening. Rock-Doves are very abundant, coming to feed
on the corn-fields. Two or three Greenshanks were
generally to be seen in suitable places. Two Common
Terns were still anxious about a young one on some rocks
in the bay. Herons are very common, as they seem to be
everywhere in the Outer Hebrides.

September i, Loch Eport : I saw two Red -throated
Divers in the bay, and many Eider Ducks and Mergansers.
I left at 10 a.m. for Stornoway, calling at the Shiant Islands
on the way. The marshy ground on the largest of those
islands was swarming with Snipe. Most of the breeding
birds had left.

September 3 : During an hour's walk in Broad Bay,
Stornoway, I noticed two Common Terns, a few Turnstones,
Sanderlings, and five White Wagtails (two adults and four
young), in addition to other birds. The Rooks, which I
believe are comparatively recent comers, are here in
hundreds.

September 5, Loch Eport: I saw a Short-eared Owl,
two Greenshanks, several Turnstones, two Merlins, a Red-
throated Diver, and a Kestrel, the first I remember having
seen in the Outer Hebrides, by which I infer that they are
not common.

Returning to Barra on the 8th I saw a Black -tailed
Godvvit. This bird is now in the collection of Mr. W.
M'Gillivray at Eoligarry.

On 26th October I spent a day on Fuday and Barra,
It was a lovely, windless autumn day. The sea was " blue
as blue could be," the sky blue also, with just a few heavy
clouds, which, casting their shadows here and there upon the
Islands, served but to increase the beauty of the landscape.

NOTES ON BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE SCOTTISH ISLANDS 9

I had the Island all to myself, as it is only visited occasion-
ally by men bringing cattle from Barra.

A couple of Mallard, a Heron, and a large number of
Barnacle Geese got up as I landed. Feeling sure that I
should meet with the Geese again later, I made my way
up to the higher ground, hoping to see Snow Buntings,
which I was told had arrived, but was unsuccessful. Twites
and Starlings were the commonest of the small birds. The
Rock-Pipit, which strays a considerable distance from the
shore, was common also, Meadow-Pipits were fairly numerous,
and three Golden Plovers allowed me to get very near them.

The upper ground not being very productive for bird
watching, I made my way down to the shore, keeping a
sharp look-out for the Geese. Half-way down the hill I
saw them in a sandy bay on the N.E. side of the Island.
The sand-hills afford excellent stalking ground, and
I got within forty yards of them, looking down at them
from above. There were 307. Once they caught sight
of my dog and all were immediately on the alert, but
they very soon got bored with watching, and, leaving their
safety to the vigilance of three sentinels, settled down
to the cares of their toilet and sleep. Seeing a great many
birds off a rocky promontory, I disturbed the Geese as little
as possible, and made my way down to it, hiding behind a
rock. I had not been there two minutes before the Geese,
which had only had their suspicions aroused, began to return.
Time after time they flew so close over my head that I could
almost have hit them with a stick — " Che Foo," who under-
stands stalking as well as his mistress, keeping as still as
a rock.

In the bay close to me were large flocks of Mergansers.
Two Red-throated Divers in winter plumage came close in
to the rocks, and I saw another farther out at sea. Many
unsuspicious seals poked their noses up within a few yards
of me, sinking again like floating bottles gradually filled with
water. Great Northern Divers are very numerous, some of
them being still in summer plumage, save for a little whiten-
ing of the chin and upper throat. A few Razorbills, Common
Guillemots, and Black Guillemots (which are now very white
Guillemots) were diving about amongst the Mergansers.

10 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Two or three small flocks of Loncf-tailed Ducks were farther
out in the bay. I notice that when one of these has urgent
business below, all the others immediately follow suit. I
always felt sorry for Simon Peter, who, when he announced
that he was going " a-fishing," was greeted by his friends
with " We also go with thee," and watching the Long-tailed
Ducks I often wonder whether, when one is suddenly
prompted to follow Simon Peter's example, his friends do
not greatly disturb his fishing. The Great Northern Divers,
which generally fish alone or with their wives, whom they
presumably keep in order, seem to have much better sport.

Great numbers of Shags and one or two Cormorants
were sitting about on the rocks or swimming and diving
round them. Common, Herring, and Black -headed Gulls
and Kittiwakes are all plentiful, the last named often hover
and dive into the • sea like Terns after their food. One
solitary Great Black-backed Gull was swimming about in
the distance. Nature never designed his plumage for con-
cealment. The tide having gone out a number of Bar-tailed
Godwits, Curlews, Oyster-Catchers, and Redshanks collected
on the sand, and a Hooded Crow came down in the hope of
finding some luscious morsel.

Having watched this happy family for the best part of
an hour I reluctantly leave them, as there is always the
possibility of seeing interesting birds on the sands of Barra
at low tide. As I rose from my hiding-place I put up a
Snipe within a few yards of me, which must have been
watching me the whole time. A Thrush also got up.
Some of the little rocky islets were covered with seals basking
in the sunshine, and apparently enjoying it as much as I
was. Only rarely when wandering over these lonely islands
is my peace of mind momentarily dispelled. It is no un-
common thing to find oneself suddenly face to face with a
ferocious-looking Highland bull, with nothing but a sand-
hill or heathery " knowe " to get behind should he resent
one's intrusion. But the qualm is but momentary, for he
too has lived a life of peace and freedom, and has not
acquired the manners of the bovine Lowlander, who might
dispute my rights of way.

Landing on Barra, I wandered along the sandy shore

NOTES ON BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE SCOTTISH ISLANDS ii

to see if there was anything of interest amongst the smaller
waders. There are a great many Sanderlings still present,
but very few Dunlins, and I only saw one Knot. The
majority of the small waders were Ringed Plovers. In a
pool amongst the seaweed-covered rocks I saw one Green-
shank, and near it a few Turnstones. Lapwings were
plentiful.

Leaving the shore I walked towards Eoligarry House,
disturbing a Peregrine from its " kill " on the way. Rock
Pigeons were still feeding on the stubble. In the little
graveyard near the house I saw five Redwings. The
cornstalks in the farmyard were covered with Twites and
Tree Sparrows, the latter being here to the exclusion of
their commoner relatives. There were a good many Corn
Buntings also. A few Blackbirds, Thrushes, and a Hedge-
Sparrow completed my list of 43 species seen during
the day.

WoBURN Abbey, Bedfordshire.

BIRD NOTES FROM THE ISLE OF MAY.
9TH SEPTEMBER— 8th OCTOBER 1907.

By Leonora Jeffrey Rintoul and Evelyn V. Baxter.

The Isle of May, situated at the entrance to the Firth of
Forth, is a little over a mile in length by about a quarter of
a mile in breadth, precipitous to the south and west, sloping
to the north and east. The formation is basaltic ; the cliffs
which on the west side of the island rise to the height of
1 80 ft. are, in the nesting season, the home of innumerable
Guillemots, Razorbills, Puffins, Kittiwakes, and a few Her-
ring Gulls, but the crumbling nature of the rock renders any
attempt at cliff-climbing an extremely dangerous under-
taking. By the time we arrived the breeding season was
over and the cliffs deserted, but we were amply compensated
for this deprivation by the fact that the island, which is most
favourably situated for their visits, was resorted to by many
interesting migratory birds : to observe these was the main

12 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

object of our sojourn. Throuc^h the kindness of the Com-
missioners of Northern Lii^hts, to whom we hereby tender
our grateful thanks, we were enabled to spend a month in the
lighthouse, from 9th September to 8th October ; during this
time we saw 73 species of birds, which with 5 other species
sent since our return, are the subject of the following remarks.

Our work was rendered easier by the covert on the
island being very limited ; rough grass clothes most of its
surface with every here and there an out-crop of rock, and
the only shelter afforded to the migrants is that of the
turnips and potatoes grown in the gardens of the light-keepers.
Out of these most of the birds had to be beaten, frequently
only to drop into covert a few yards off. No great number
of birds came to the lantern whil,e we were on the island, but
various solitary specimens struck, and were brought to us
for identification.

Our best days were from the 24th to the 30th September.
The 24th was a clear day with a light westerly breeze, there-
after we had a south-east wind, with haze or fog of varying
density till 2nd October when the wind became south and the
fog lifted. The 26th September was quite the best migration
day ; on that date the Redwings and Bramblings arrived, and
along with these winter migrants there were many birds of
passage — Warblers, Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts, Whinchats,
Reed Buntings, Wagtails, and Ring Ouzels, etc. — all over the
island. As a rule there were not very great numbers of any
one species. Thrushes, Rock- and Meadow-Pipits, Wheatears,
and Bramblings being the only Passeres seen in any great
quantity.

We were particularly anxious to ascertain whether
the Yellow-browed Warbler visited the May on migration.
To our great joy one specimen appeared on Sunday, 29th
September, and we were fortunate enough to secure it next day;
it is the first record of this species for the " Forth " area.
Amongst other interesting visitants were the Barred Warbler
(first record for " Forth,") the Black-cap, Lesser Whitethroat,
Pied Flycatcher, a curious variety of Red -backed Shrike,
the Scarlet Grosbeak and the Lapland Bunting (the two
last mentioned being also first records for " Forth.")

The only mammals seen were the Rabbit and the

BIRD NOTES FROM THE ISLE OF MAY

13

House-mouse ; the former is known to have been on the
island for centuries, and May Island rabbits are said to have
finer fur than those on the mainland.

We owe our very grateful thanks to Mr. and Miss
Maccuish, who assisted us by every means in their power, and
to whose kindly help much of the great pleasure we derived
from our expedition and much of its success are largely due.
We must tender our thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Ross and all
the other lighthouse officials for allowing us to search their
gardens for birds, and for other kindnesses too numerous to
mention, and also to Mr. Eagle Clarke, who helped us with
the identification of our specimens, and with much useful
advice relating to our expedition.

Missel Thrush, Turdus viscivorus. — One bird of this species was
seen on the island on the 17 th and i8th September, and a
specimen was got at the lantern on the night of 3rd October.
Another was seen about the island next day, and two were
observed on 6th October. They were extremely wild in every
case.

Song Thrush, Turdus 7?iustcus. — A great deal of migration was
going on amongst the Thrushes. From the time of our arrival
till 1 8th September we only saw one or two each day, but on
the 18th there were a good many, the main body of which
passed on quickly, for only three were seen on the 19th.
There was a rush on the 20th (S.E. wind, extremely light),
further increased on the 21st (E. wind, fresh), but diminishing
afterwards till on the 24th very few were left. On the 21st
about mid-day a large flock of Thrushes flew over us coming
from the north, ?nd dropped rapidly to earth, the birds utter-
ing a shrill note as they descended. The greatest number
seen was on the 25th September, when the island fairly
swarmed with Thrushes ; very few were seen next day and on
till the 29th when a good many appeared. From the 30th
September to the 5th October, they were present in large
numbers ; on the 6th October only one or two were seen, and
on our last day, the 7th, none were observed. This was the
bird most frequently got at the lantern, and even if they did
not actually come to the light, they might often be seen flying
round in the rays.

Redwing, Turdus iliacus. — Three Redwings came in on 26th
September (S.E. wind, very light), and several were seen on
the 27th, 28th, and 30th September. On ist and 2nd October

14 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HLSTORY

a good many were on the island, and they reappeared on the
5th October, after which day we saw them no more. On the
5th a flock of about twenty, after having been disturbed once
or twice, rose gradually high in the air till they looked like
dots, twittering as they rose, and tlien flew off to the S.W.
straight into the wind.

Fieldfare, Tio-dns pilaris. — One solitary bird of this species was
seen on the 4th October.

Blackiurd, Ti(7-dus me7'ula. — Blackbirds were plentiful on the
island from our arrival till 26th September, from which date
till the 30th only a few were seen each day. They then again
became numerous till 6th October, on which day there were
very few. We found two old Blackbirds' nests on the island :
one in a hole in a stone gate-post, the other on the ground
amongst some w^eeds by the side of a wall.

Ring Ouzel, Turdus torqiiatiis. — The first Ring Ouzel came in on
the 2ist September (E. wind, fresh); the next on 26th
September, and we saw a few daily till ist October. They
frequented the rocks and w^ere very wild and unapproachable,
but often betrayed their w^hereabouts by uttering their loud
"kek-kek" note. Some came in after we left, and three speci-
mens were sent us which had been procured on the loth and
14th October.

Wheatear, Saxicola oenanthe. — Seen every day while we were on
the island. There were a good many when we first arrived
and they increased in number till the 13th September, on
which day there w^ere a great many. After this they gradually
decreased. Wheatears were got at the lantern on several
occasions: on the loth September two, and on the nth one
male in grey breeding plumage.

Whinchat, Pratincola riibetra. — There w^ere two Whinchats on
13th September (W. wind, fresh) in Mr. Ross's garden, one on
14th and 1 8th September, two on the 26th, and one from ist
to 3rd October. These seemed very cheery little birds, flitting
from one potato-shaw to another, chasing each other, or, often,
the Willow-warblers, and never appearing tired after their arrival.

Stonechat, Pratincola rubicola. — Only one seen, a male, not at
all in good plumage, on nth September.

Redstart, Ruticilla phoefiicurus. — Two came in on nth September,
and one was seen on the 13th; then no more till 21st
September when one appeared, lots on the 26th (S.E. wind,
very light), and one or two off and on till 4th October. On
several occasions they came to the light.

BIRD NOTES FROM THE ISLE OF MAY 15

Robin, Erithacics rubecula. — Seen on five occasions during our stay,
viz., several on 12th, 17th, and 20th September, and 4th and
5th October. They were always about the gardens, except on
4th October when we found them frequenting the rocks.

Whitethroat, Sylvia riifa. — Single birds were seen on the nth
and 1 2th September, two on the 13th, and one on 20th, 22nd,
and 23rd September. They usually frequented the potatoes
and turnips in the gardens, and were silent, shy, and difficult to
put out of covert.

Lesser Whitethroat, Sylvia curruca. — One seen in the hemlock-
tangle from 29th September to 3rd October, and one in the
lighthouse garden on the 30th September. A third was
procured by Mr. Maccuish on loth October and sent to us.
They had a low, harsh note, made more noise than any of the
other Warblers, but were more confiding than the last-named
species.

Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla. — A beautiful full-plumaged male
frequented the potatoes and turnips in Mr. Ross's garden on
the 27th and 28th September, and a female was seen in the
hemlock-tangle on 2nd October. They were rather tame, fear-
less little birds. A male was procured by Mr. Maccuish on
the 5th November and sent to us.

Garden Warbler, Sylvia hortensis. — Two came in on 26th
September (S.E. wind, very light) and left again before
morning. They took covert in the turnips and potatoes, and
were difficult to drive out into the open.

Barred Warbler, Sylvia nisoria. — We put a bird of this species
out of a turnip-patch on the 24th September (W. wind, light). It
took fairly long flights when disturbed, but always returned to
the turnips, slipping into them so quickly and quietly from
behind a wall or other shelter, that it was most difficult to
locate, though not at all hard to flush. It was shot at twice,
but in spite of this was found in exactly the same place next
day and secured : it proved to be a female.

Golden Crested Wren, Regulus cristatus. — A female was got at
the lantern on 26th October and a male on 5th November:
they were sent to us by Mr. Maccuish. The light-keepers tell
us that these little migrants frequently come into the houses
and eat freely of the flies on the windows, and that about half-
an-hour after this feast they fall dead.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Phylloscopiis siiperciliosiis. — This most
interesting little Asiatic warbler was first seen on the morning
of Sunday, 29th September (S.E. wind, light). It was in the
hemlock-tangle, where it stayed for a time, and we got an

i6 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

excellent view of it. It was a very neat little bird, and seemed
neither tired nor shy. We then completely lost sight of it, but
either it or another appeared next day out of a turnip-patch,
took fliglits to the telephone wire, then down to the cabbages,
the stem of a dock, and finally to a sow-thistle, where it appeared
to be catching insects, and where we luckily secured it.

WiLLOW-WARFLER, Fkylloscopus trochHus. — One was seen on 12th
September and a good many in the gardens on the 13th (W.
wind, fresh) ; they, however, did not stay long, as there were
none on the 14th. One on the 15th, two on the 20th, a lot
on the 2Tst, and several on the 22nd, one appeared on the
26th, and another from 29th September to ist October.
One got by Mr. Maccuish on the loth October and forwarded
to us.

Sedge- WARBLER, Acrocephahcs schcenobcBnus. — We* put one out of
covert in the lighthouse garden on the loth September, and
one was found dead on the roof of the Hghthouse on the night
of 13th September.

Pied Wagtail, Motacilla lugubris. — This was the only Wagtail seen
on the island ; we saw them constantly from the nth September
to the ist October, in both adult and immature plumage.

Meadow-Pipit, Anthus pratensis. — Seen every day during our stay :
in numbers till the 24th September, then a few till the 30th,
when they reappeared, remaining numerous till 4th October,
thereafter a few each day. On the 25th September they were
doing their parachute flight, with an attempt at song.

Rock-Pipit, Anthus obscurus. — Seen every day in varying numbers ;
a lot till 17th September, when great crowds were on the island.
The numbers diminished in the afternoon, but a good many
remained till the 24th, when only a few were seen. Next day,
however, there were more, and they continued plentiful till 5 th
October when most of them left. Two were taken at the
lantern on the night of 7th October.

Red-backed Shrike, Lanms collurio. — We procured a young
female of this species on the 27th September in a remarkable
stage of plumage which does not agree with any of the
published descriptions. W^e compared it with the Shrikes .in
the Royal Scottish Museum, including young Red-backed
Shrikes which had been procured at Fair Isle about the same
date, but it differed much in plumage from all of them. It
was finally sent to the Tring Museum to be compared with the
specimens in Mr. Rothschild's collection, which is so rich in
Palsearctic birds, and was pronounced to be an abnormally-
coloured young Red-backed Shrike. In this singular specimen

BIRD NOTES FROM THE ISLE OF MAY 17

the head and mantle are plain dark greyish-brown ; the lower
back, scapulars, and upper tail-coverts a little paler, and with
dark vermiculations ; the tail, which is decidedly long (3.25
ins.), is crossed at an inch from its tip by a bar of reddish-
brown ; the under surface is plain white, with a few dark bars
on the sides of the fore-neck and breast and on the flanks.
When alive this bird appeared to be very listless and dejected,
occasionally it dropped into the grass from its place on a wall
or fence, searched for something, and then returned to its
former position, where it would sit for a considerable time,,
sometimes jerking its tail up and down, but always lethargic
and depressed.
Spotted Flycatcher, Miiscicapa grisola. — One seen hawking in
the gardens on the nth and 12th September.

Pied Flycatcher, Miiscicapa atricapilla. — One seen on the island
nth September (S.E.-S.W. wind, very light, hazy). Several
seen 26th September (S.E. wind, very light). They were very
restless and unapproachable little birds, flitting from wall to
rock and back in a nervous, hurried way, and flirting their
wings and tail. One was taken at the lantern on the night of
the 26th, and was most defiant, screaming loudly when held
in the hand.

Swallow, Hirundo rustica. — One seen on the i8th and 24th
September, several hawking over the loch on the 25th, two
on the telephone wires on 28th September, one on the last
day of September and first day of October, and on the 6th
October several flew over going south.

House-JMartin, Chelidon urbica. — Birds of this species were seen
on the 19th and 23rd September.

Siskin, Chrysomitris spinus. — One seen in the lighthouse garden
on the 30th September (S.E. wind, very light). When first
observed it was flying round in jerky circles, high and
apparently very wild ; it then took covert in the garden, and
when beaten out flew off again in a wide circle, but shortly
returned, settled on a sow-thistle and began pulling out the
seeds and eating them; while so occupied it permitted a very
close approach. Next day (ist October) there were two pairs
in Mr. Ross's garden : they were very tame, and each pair
kept very close together.

Greenfinch, Ligurinus chloris. — Two seen loth September, one

off and on from the 12th to the 24th September, and two on

the 25th and 26th.
Sparrow, Passer domesticus. — Several seen every day. We were

told that a pair nested on the island this year for the first

time.
65 C

i8 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus. — Seen most days while we were
on the island; two from the 12th to the 21st September, and
several afterwards.

<^HAFFiNCH, Frin^j:;illa avicbs. — Several on tlie island from 27th
September to 4th October.

Dramhling, Friiv^illa nwntifriu\;illa. — Four arrived on the 26th
September (S. E. wind, very light), and there were large flocks
on the island next day ; these, however, passed on f|uickly,
only a few being seen on 28th and 29th September. Large
tlocks were again on the island from the 30th September to
the 2nd October; on the 3rd none were visible, but one was
present from the 4th to the 6th October. One on ist October
had almost the entire head and neck in the black plumage of
summer.

Scarlet Grosbeak, Carpodacus erythinus. — We procured one bird
of this species in Mr. Macleod's garden on the 25 th September
(S.E. wind, light). When we first saw it, it was eating a moth
among the potato-shaws, and it took short flights, settling on
and amongst the oats, potatoes, or weeds. Every Sparrow
and Meadow Pipit that came near chased it away, but in each
case it returned to the garden after a short flight ; while being
chased it uttered a curious Httle monosyllabic note. It was
in the green type of plumage, and was very tame and confiding.
This is the second known occurrence of this species in
Scotland.

Reed Bunting, Einheriza schaiiiidus. — Three came in on 26th
September, and one or two were seen each subsequent day
till 2nd October, one on 4th October. They frequented the
gardens and were very fearless, sitting on a wall, etc., till we
got quite close, flirting their tails, elevating the feathers of
their heads, and uttering a peculiar single note.

Lapland Bunting, Calcarius lapponicus. — One seen, but not pro-
cured, on the I St October (S.E. wind).

Snow Buntimg, Plectrophaiies nivalis. — The first bird of this species
came in on 15th September (light W. breeze) and stayed till
the 17 th. The next one appeared on the 21st and was
followed by another on 2nd October, which bird we saw on
the two following days. All were fine white males ; the last
one sang a pretty little trilling song as he sat on a stone or
rose to fly. Two more were sent us, that had been killed at
the light during a rush on 5th November ; one was very white
indeed, the other, on the contrary, showed very little white.

Sky-Lark, Alauda arvensis. — One on the island on the 17th
September, several next day, and one or two till the 20th.

BIRD NOTES FROM THE ISLE OF MAY 19

They next appeared on 27th September, and we saw them
most days till our departure ; some came to the lantern on
the night of 3rd October. We used constantly to see them
flying over the island, coming from the N.E. and passing on
without ahghting.

Shore Lark, Otocorys alpestris. — One was got at the lantern by
Mr. Maccuish, at 10.30 p.m. on the i ith October, and sent
on to us.

Starling, Sturnus vulgaris. — Seen every day during our stay :
a few only till 13th September, then a good many till the
25th, when a lot more came in and stayed till 2nd October;
thereafter a good many each day till we left.

Hoodie Crow, Corvus comix. — One on the island from the 28th
September to the 5th October; it was very tired when it first
arrived.

Short-eared Owl, Asia accipitrinus. — Two on the island on the
2nd October (S. wind, light) ; they were seen by Mr. Maccuish
cominsf in from the N.E. about noon.

Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregri/ius. — One bird of this species
came in over the sea from the N.E. on i6th September, going
at a terrific pace, right into the wind. It made several zig-zag
sweeps, coming quite close to us in one of them, and then
went on over the island in the direction of the Bass.

Merlin, Falco cesalon, — One 9 seen near the harbour on the
15 th September.

Kestrel, Falco tin?iunculus . — One or two seen on several occasions
from 13th September to 2nd October. An extraordinarily
tame Kestrel was on the island on the 26th September; several
times it allowed us to come within a few yards of it.

Cormorant, Phalacroccrax carbo. — Several seen most days about
the rocks and in the sea.

Shag, Phalacroccrax gracuhis. — Seen in some numbers about the
rocks and in the sea during our stay on the island. Towards
evening, as a rule, the Shags and Cormorants might be seen
hurrying off to the west cliffs ; there they soared in circles, at
varying heights, settling on the cliffs for a minute as they came
round, and then flinging themselves off and circling again.
Sometimes these flights were level with the top of the cliff, at
others just over the water ; we noticed that when there was a
fresh west wind the flights were higher above the sea than at
any other time.

Gannet, Sicla bassana. — Seen passing throughout our stay ; several
times they fished close off the island, but we never saw one fly

20 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTOKV

over it. As we were lying off the Bass on our return on 8tlv
October we saw some fluffy white young ones still on the
ledges, and also old birds flying about with large bits of sea-
weed in their bills.

Hr.RON, .Irdca cinerca. — Seen on the rocks most days during our
stay.

>L\LLAKD, Anas hoscJias. — Two or three were seen on four separate
occasions. We found a drake almost out of eclipse plumage
lying dead below the telephone wire on 4th October.

Teal, Querquedida crecca. — Single birds were seen on the 28th and
29th September, and the ist and 2nd October.

Eider, Soniafe?'ia mollissima. — A good many in the sea off the
island throughout our stay. There were drakes in many
interesting stages of eclipse plumage. On 5th October a
considerable influx of full-plumaged drakes took place, and
more arrived on the 6th. On this latter date the birds were
very noisy, grunting and cooing loudly.!

\\'00D-PiGE0N, Columba pahimbus. — One flew off the west cliffs
towards the north on the 27th September.

Water-rail, Rallus aquaticus. — One was got on the 26th October
by Mr. Maccuish and sent to us.

Golden Plover, Charadrhis pluvialis. — One seen on the 15th
September (W. wind, light) had still traces of a black breast.
Another was seen from the ist to 3rd October, and one 5th
and 6th October.

Lapwing, Vanellus vulgaris. — One was seen in the lantern rays on
nth September and remained on the island for the two follow-
ing days. The next was seen on the 21st, and five were flying
over from north to south on the 25th. From this date till
7th October we saw them constantly about the island, in greatest
numbers on the 30th September, after hearing them calling a
great deal on the previous night.

Turnstone, Sfrepsihs interpres. — Seen frequently about the rocks,
in greatest number on the 28th and 29th September. On
4th October we saw a Turnstone swim a short way in the
harbour and then flutter on to a rock, where it stood, looking
very draggled.

Oyster-catcher, Hcsmatopus ostralegus. — Seen frequently about the
rocks. A pair had evidently bred there, as on 14th September
we saw a young bird hardly able to fly at all. On several
occasions we saw them in the rays of the lantern.

Snipe, Gallinago calestis, — Single birds seen on the 13th and 2 6ih
September and the ist October respectively.

BIRD NOTES FROM THE ISLE OF MAY 21

Dunlin, Tringa alpina. — One got by Mr. Maccuish on the loth
October and sent to us.

Purple Sandpiper, Triiiga striata. — Seen on the rocks on a good
many occasions between 14th September and 7th October,
only one at first, but five or six later on. On 19th September
we came upon three Purple Sandpipers one of which had a
damaged wing and could not fly. On our approaching the
invalid one of the others flew close by us several times uttering
an anxious little note as it passed.

■Redshank, Totamis calidris. — Seen frequently about the rocks and
bogs.

Curlew, Niunenius arquata. — A few seen frequently about the
rocks and bogs.

Arctic Tern, Sterna niacrura. — Several came in from the X.E. on
the 23rd September ; they lit on the rocks and stayed for a few
hours before passing on.

'Common Tern, Sterna fluviatilis. — Eight or nine flew by (|uite close
to the island on the 19th September. A bird belonging to
this or the previous species flew about in the rays on the night
of nth September. We saw Terns passing on several other
occasions, but not close enough to be certain of the species.

Sandwich Tern, Ster?ia cantiaca. — Several seen passing on the
loth, 19th, and 22nd September.

Black-headed Gull, Larus 7'idibundiis. — One seen 15th September,

Common Gull, Larus canus. — One seen 19th September.

Herring Gull, Larus argentatus. — Large numbers of both mature
and immature birds seen during our stay on the island.

Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus. — Single birds seen on
the 1 6th and 20th vSeptember on the rocks.

Greater Black-backed Gull, Larus marinus. — A good many
mature and immature birds of this species seen throughout our
stay.

Kittiwake, Rissa tridadvla. — Flocks of both mature and immature
birds seen on many occasions during our month. On 23rd
September a big flock was fishing close to the S.E. end of the
island.

Arctic Skua, Stercorarius crepidatus. — Seen constantly, very often
chasing the Kittiwakes, but as soon as the chase was over hunter
and hunted would settle quietly on the sea, frequently in the
midst of a flock of Kittiwakes ; in other cases, after obtaining
his booty the Skua would continue on his way, while one gazed
with admiration at his marvellous powers of flight. The Skuas
sat a good deal on the sea, occasionally swimming, and on one

22 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL IILSTORV

occasion we saw one dive. It had hunted a young Kittiwake
till the latter had (irojjiied a fish that it was carrying; this fell
into the sea about 20 to 30 yards from the rocks where we
were sitting. The Skua lit on the water near his booty, pecked
at it once or twice in a half-hearted manner, and then took no
notice of it for a minute, during which time it sank. The Skua
looked here and there for it, then slightly opening its wings,
dived right under the water very neatly, stayed under for a
moment, and then reappeared minus the fish. This all took
place quite close to the rocks on a perfectly calm day, and we
got a most excellent view of it through our glasses.

S roR:\i Petrel, Procellaria pe/as^ica. — One got at the lantern on the
14th October by Mr. Maccuish and sent to us.

JManx Shearwater, Piiffiuus anglo7'um. — One seen flying near the
island on the i8th and 24th September.

Razorbill, Alca forda. — Seen pretty frequently from 1 ith September
to 3rd October.

Guillemot, Uria troile. — Seen on several occasions in the sea off
the island.

COLINSBURGH, FiFE.

SOME BIRD NOTES FROM THE OUTER
HEBRIDES DURING A MONTH SPENT
THERE, MAY-JUNE 1907.

By P. H. Bahr, B.A., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.

Plate IL

[Continued fro/n p. 215, JVo. 64.)

Oyster Catcher, HcBniatopus ostralegus, Linn. — In spite of the
brave show they make in defence of their nests, few if any
seem to be able to rear their young. All the nests we found
came to grief, as their eggs come next to those of the Ringed
Plover in order of precedence in the Gull's menu. On the
rocky islands, where their nests are obvious, the birds adopt
tactics similar to that of the Common Sandpiper, and by
shuffling and shamming lameness endeavour to lure the intruder
away. On the foreshore and the " machair," on the other
hand, they are not nearly so noisy, and when the vicinity of
their nest is approached slink off to some pool and quite un-
obtrusively pretend to feed. Though commonly an extremely
wary bird at the nest, yet one in particular proved the very
easiest prey to the camera. I had no difficulty with her at

Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist. 1908.

Plate II.

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Ed
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O

►—I

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SOME BIRD NOTES FROM THE OUTER HEBRIDES 23

all, and often I would find that she had returned to her nest
before I reached my hiding-place amongst the sand-dunes.
She always adopted the same tactics, approaching the nest
from the same direction, and in order to distract our attention
would pretend to feed, eventually turning round and running
on to the nest at top speed. The male kept guard on the
borders of an adjacent pool, and would sound the alarm when
any " Hoodie " or other egg-stealer hove in sight. Once we
saw him swimming in this very pool, progressing by jerks in
much the same way as a water-hen. Within a stretch of eighty-
four paces there were nests of four different species, namely,
Oyster Catcher, Pewit, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, and one could
from a certain point of vantage observe all four species sitting
on their nests at once. Out of all these only two of the Pewit's
eggs managed to escape the unwelcome attention of the
Common Gull.

It has often been remarked that migrating flocks of this
species may be seen during the midst of the nesting season.
This year a flock, consisting of fourteen individuals, was
observed on 6th of June, at which date all other members
were engaged in incubation. Towards the middle of June
those pairs whose nesting efforts had been unproductive — a
vast majority, I fear — were to be seen commonly soaring in the
air, uttering shrill cries, and shooting downwards, evidently
having every intention of nesting again. After a while, however,
they appeared to give up the attempt and gathered into small
flocks. One evening I observed two specks in the sky, and
though at a great altitude, I was able to distinguish one as a
Heron ; the other I conjectured to be a Peregrine, and expected
to be witness to an exciting flight. Imagine my disappoint-
ment when I found my Peregrine merely to be an Oyster
Catcher.

Red-necked Phalarope, Phalaropus hyperboreus^ Linn. — Arrived
in detachments at the end of May. The first were seen on
28th May. One pair apparently mated by 29th May. During
the first ten days in June many females arrived, and were
followed later by the males. About the middle of June two
males were frequently seen consorting with one female, and in
one instance two females with one male ; this state of affairs
continuing till our departure on 27th June. No eggs or other
evidences were found after continual search till 26th June,
when quite unexpectedly four newly hatched young were found
on an island inhabited by a large colony of Arctic Terns. At
this time none of the other pairs even had eggs. The young
were being cared for entirely by tfie male, the female apparently
taking no interest in their welfare. His anxiety was quite

24 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL lUSTORY

pathetic, and lie was tame to a ridiculous degree, consenting to
brood his young in front of the camera erected on its tripod,
wholly without a covering of any sort, even with the operator
standing behind. The young were very weak and appeared to
thread their way between the grass with difficulty, but showed
no inclination to take to the water. 'Ihe cock, in paternal
fervour, was constantly seen attempting to Ijrood a clutch of three
Tern's eggs in mistake for his own young. Curious evolutions
performed by the male during the process of courting were
observed. In so doing he would dart with amazing rapidity
above the head of his mate, who was floating placidly in the
water, zig-zag from side to side, uttering a low sort of warble all
the time ; then flit off to the marsh and settling there would
call vigorously to his mate, turning his head from side to
side as if expecting her to follow him. According to my
experience, the male takes just as prominent part in the process
of courting as the female, and he just as often chases and pecks
her, though occasionally she turns the tables and gives him a
very bad time. Owing no doubt to the adverse conditions,
only about one-third of the usual number remained to breed.

Dunlin, Tringa a/pina, Linn. — Advance parties arrived at the end
of May, and braving the elements commenced to nest. The
remainder arrived in straggling detachments early in June. At
that time " scrapes," evidently made by the cock bird, w^ere to
be found on almost every tussock of grass ; but the energy con-
sumed in making these is entirely w^asted, for not one in a
hundred are occupied. The first nest, containing four eggs, was
found on 5th June. This and three others found subsequently
all fell victims to the rapaciousness of the Common Gull, a fact
which gauges the accuracy of that bird's eyesight. During the
breeding season the male Dunlin becomes a most sprightly bird,
and resents the presence of another individual of the same sex.
His attachment to his mate he displays by chasing her con-
tinuously, uttering his characteristic trill. While the female is
incubating he soars to quite a considerable height, and descends
with quivering wings to the same tune. Often two, as if vying
with each other, may be seen thus performing. Often I
watched them courting. The male sidles up to the female and
raises one wing, whereupon she coyly flits off" and he after her,
to repeat the performance. I found the sitting bird easy to
photograph, taking no notice whatever of the camera, but
objecting strongly to our presence in the vicinity. These birds
make no demonstration against the Common Gulls. Even
while taking our pictures one of the latter was always in attend-
ance, and w^e had the greatest difficulty in keeping the contents
of the nest safe. The female was always accompanied to

SOME BIRD NOTES FROM THE OUTER HEBRIDES 25

within a few yards of the nest by the male, who then would
leave her, to mount guard on some favourite knoll. Once both
birds seemed desirous of incubating. The female arrived there
first, and sat gravely for a few seconds, when she was pushed off
by her partner ; and thus engaged we left him.

Common Sandpiper, Totanus hypoleucus^ Linn. — Ubiquitous through-
out the north, so too here it nests in considerable numbers. I
have few notes of any interest regarding this species. All the
nests we observed managed to hatch off in safety without attract-
ing the attention of the Gulls. One bird, in her frantic efforts
to lure us away from her nest, fell into the water, and pro-
ceeded to flap there in much the same way as a duck under
similar circumstances. One young Sandpiper enjoyed the
entirely novel experience of being hatched in our bed, whither
we had taken the egg on retiring to rest. We observed that
the young of this brood remained in the nest for a whole day
after hatching.

Black-tailed Godwit^ Limosa belgica (J. F. Gmelin). — A solitary
specimen in full breeding plumage was seen on 17th June
feeding on a marshy island in one of the lochs in company with
Oyster Catchers and Black-headed Gulls. The other specimens
recorded for this locality have, I believe, been shot in winter.

Whimbrel, Numenius phceopits, Linn. — Were extremely belated on
their migrations. I find it recorded that a flock of twenty was
seen on 31st May, while on 2nd June they were extremely
numerous, and a flock of thirty remained as late as 17th June.
After that stragglers, evidently non-breeding birds, used to feed
in company with Curlew.

Arctic Tern, Ster?ia macrura, Linn. — Arrived late, and began to
nest correspondingly late. The first egg was not found till
8th June, and the full complement was in the majority of
instances not laid till ten days later. We found one colony of
fifty nests on an island, many of which were situated round a
deserted Swan's containing five addled eggs. Here the full
clutch was three eggs, while down on the beach the nests con-
tained two at the most. So well did they defend their nests
that not a single nest was robbed by Gulls. On i ith June I saw
a specimen in winter dress associating with the breeding birds.

Little Tern, Sterna viinuta^ Linn. — I am glad to report that this
delightful species is on the increase. They too were extremely
late in arriving and commencing to breed. One pair had
already arrived by 27th May, but it was not till 20th June
that the first egg was found. They are extremely fond of
bathing, and a charming sight it is to see an affectionate couple
performing their ablutions in some fresh-water pool. They

26 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

adopt quaint little ways when courtinu, at which pastime they
spend the greater part of the day. The male may often be
seen strutting before his partner with a tiny fish in his bill,
first offering it her, and then turning quickly aside as she is
about to snatch the proffered morsel, behaving in much the
same way as his human confrere would under similar circum-
stances. That there are occasionally "odd men out " in this
pairing-off process must evidently occur, for three birds were
to be .seen chasing each other on three consecutive days. The
leading bird carried a small fish, and the two others seemed
quite unable to overtake him in spite of their eagerness. Just
before laying commenced, individual pairs were seen soaring to
a tremendous height, then, half-closing their wings, would
shoot down to a few feet of the water. In doing so they
would call in a characteristic way. Pair after pair would then
mount into the air and repeat the performance. It is curious —
others too have noticed it before — that for a time a colony of
these birds may vanish into space, and their breeding haunts
appear to have been deserted, when all of a sudden the whole
body will appear again, vociferating louder than ever. This bird
is none the less charming from a photographer's standpoint,
since it appears to take no notice of the presence of human
beings, evidently trusting to its protective coloration for conceal-
ment. The bird whose portrait I succeeded in obtaining re-
turned to its nest regularly after an interval of two minutes.

Black-headed Gull, Larus ridibundus, Linn. — Owing to the
protection afforded, is on the increase. In every colony there
are to be found several nests of the Common Gull, who, being
of a less nervous disposition, are always the last to leave their
nests when disturbed, and the first to return. One bird which,
for some considerable time, w^e had under observation invariably-
insisted in first settling on a nest of the former species, where-
upon it would be attacked and buffeted by the rightful owner,
assisted by the efforts of the rest of the colony. Like the
Terns under similar conditions, it is curious to note how the
whole colony acts in concert. Often while peaceably settled on
their nests, acting on an alarm note of one of their number, they
would arise, and a great hubbub, sounding in the distance like
that of a gigantic swarm of bees, would ensue, A minute later
they, as if by common consent, all wheel. For a moment
complete silence reigns, once more to be broken as they
return to their nests. Owing to quarrels innumerable between
the neighbours a great quantity of eggs get smashed, and when
the young are hatched conditions are worse ^still. We were
greatly impressed by the great mortality amongst the young.
Many appeared to die from sheer want ; others we found in

SOME BIRD NOTES FROM THE OUTER HEBRIDES 27

great quantities in the throes of death with marks on their
heads, showing where they had been pecked just behind the
eye. On the tenth day after the young were hatched we found
but one in every five ahve. On disturbing the colony many
of the young swim out into the loch, and when once their
backs become wet they are paralysed, and fall victims to the
ever watchful Common and Greater Black-back Gulls. Yet
they are not difficult to rear. I took six when just ten days
old. They are fully fledged now, and are doing well, yet for the
first week they were fed on tinned salmon ! From the contents
of the stomaclis of young birds examined, it would appear that
they are to a great extent fed on wire-worms and other larvce.

Common Gull, Lams camis^ Linn. — Commoner than the Sparrow
on the housetop, this, in my opinion, is the most destructive
and the blackest thief of the genus. I am fully convinced
that, in view of their immense increase during the last years,
an effort ought to be made to thin their numbers, as the
mischief caused is infinitely greater than that by all the
Ravens, Falcons, and Hoodie Crows put together. It would be
better from every point of view were a little more attention
given to them and a little less to the Falcons and Harriers.
It would appear, from what I was able to observe, that certain
individuals would quarter the same ground in search of eggs
and young birds day after day. I append a list of the number
of eggs which fell victims to their depredations, and it will be
seen that very few out of the total number found managed to

hatch off: —

,. . Number of Number of Number of

ouecies

" ^ ' nests found. efrijs found, eees taken.

-&i3^ '"""^" ^o!r>'^

Riiized Plover

'6

Pewit

Oyster Catcher
Dunlin
Lesser Tern

6 12 9

3 12 4

4 8 3
4 16 16
3 6 I

Red-throated Diver .1 2 i

It must be remembered that this is but a small portion of the
total, as we were only engaged in finding suitable nests for our
purpose, and they were all found, with the exception of the
Diver, on a stretch of ground some one and a half miles in
extent. Besides this formidable array we observed them
snatching young Pewits from in front of their agonised parents,
and broods of ducklings were devastated in four instances.
When such a brood is disturbed one is sure to be floating
overhead, and no sooner have the young raised their heads
above the water, than they are pounced on and borne away. In

28 ANxNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

this way a wliole brood is destroyed in a lew minutes. We found
them waiting on the Greater 151ack-backed (}ull, mobbing him
directly he liad seized his prey, and comi)ening him to drop it,
in much the same way as a Skua. Often unable to swallow
their victims, they would leave them floating on the water. In
spite of these facts, their eggs are not smashed, nor is any
effort made to reduce their numbers. Once having found a
nest, they do not forget its whereabouts, and if driven off once
invariably return. Often they are to be seen catching flies in
the long grass in company with the Black-headed species. The
stomachs of specimens examined contained large cjuantities of
slugs and worms rolled together in a ball by tenacious mucus.
In the act of courting they assume curious positions, pouting
out their chests after the manner of a Pouter Pigeon. One I
saw wheeling and tumbling in the air almost like a Pewit.
Before the young are fledged, it would appear that they leave
the islands on which they were hatched and congregate on
some islet, possibly to evade the depredations of the Herring
Gulls. Thus one small island appeared almost grey from the
number of young birds we found on it, though there were no
signs of a single nest. On other lochs we noted the same thing.

Herring Gull, Larus ai-gentatus, Linn. — It is curious to note the
extent to which the different members of this genus prey
upon each other. Thus whenever a Herring Gull puts in
an appearance it is instantly mobbed by all the Common
Gulls. Large numbers nest undisturbed on an island in a solitary
loch amid the hills. Here each species have their own
particular boundaries : the Herring are confined to the most
exposed end ; in the middle a large colony of Greater Black-
backs, of which more anon ; finally an equally large one of the
Lesser Black-back. On two occasions we swam out to this
island and noted that the young of the two smaller species
were few in number, owing no doubt to the unwelcome
attentions of their larger neighbour.

Great Black-backed Gull, Lai'us marhius, Linn. — On the
island above mentioned there exists a colony of this species,
which for size must have rivalled that mentioned by Mr.
Harvie-Brown in his Fauna of the Outer Hebrides. Here I
counted no less than sixty-two old birds on one island. Here
too we killed no less than thirty-four young in all stages, and
took away four eggs. Many of the young when captured
ejected large slabs of fish, one in particular weighing at least
a pound. All the nests were huddled together in one small
area a hundred yards or so square. One young one whose
primaries were just sprouting survived an immersion of some
five minutes on his swim back to land. I found that he soon

SOME BIRD NOTES FROM THE OUTER HEBRIDES 29

became tame, and succeeded in rearing him. I watched one
pounce on a young Pewit who on his first effort at flying tried
to cross a loch. After having held the unfortunate victim
under water till life was extinct, he tried to swallow it, but
being unsuccessful, flew off, leaving his booty in the water to
be torn to pieces by the attendant host of Common Gulls.
We attempted to photograph this extremely wary bird on its
nest, and as might be expected our efforts did not meet
with much success. The camera, protected by a couple of
mackintosh cloths and hidden as carefully as we could
possibly devise, was left overnight on a small rocky islet in the
midst of the loch. The shore was some 600 yards distant,
and three fishing-reels were used to bridge over the gap. That
night was one of the worst we experienced ; it rained and
stormed, so that I feared that in spite of the mackintoshes the
camera would be ruined. The next morning revealed both
old birds with their " weather-eye " open perched on a rock
close to the nest, while a third member sailed aloft. The
eggs had disappeared — not a trace was to be found. Little
doubt was left in our mind as to the thief. Though
birds are not generally endowed with the sense of smell, yet it
is curious to note that an inveterate egg-stealer like this species
never takes a bad egg, though no marked objection to
incubated ones is shown
Black-throated Diver, Colymlms arcticus^ Linn. — On 29th May
a nest with its usual complement of eggs was found. It was
placed within two feet of the water's edge. Owing to the
terrible weather which ensued, no attempt to photograph the
owner was possible. On 5th June the site was revisited, and
the eggs were found to have hatched off. No signs were seen
either of the old or the young birds, and daily after that
regularly, towards 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the old ones
were seen wending their way from their fishing out at sea
back to the loch. What becomes of the young in the mean-
time I am at a loss to know.

Red-throated Diver, Colymbus sepiejitrionalis^ Linn. — A nest
was found in exactly the same position as last year, that is on a
small island in full view of the public road. It contained but
one egg, the other having been robbed by Gulls. Last year
I was successful in obtaining several studies of the old bird
as she left the water and settled on the eggs, eventually
becoming so tame that I was able to make exposures when
standing in full view only some thirty yards distant. But our
attempts this time were not crowned with success owing to
many unforeseen circumstances. First of all the bird was
unaccountably alarmed by the camera, which on the last

30 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

occasion slie had viewed with indifference. Once, however,
she faced the lens and sat for a few minutes, but becoming
scared, shuflled off auain. In the meantime some wandering
Gulls had espied the eggs and were hovering dangerously
near. At the sight of these both old birds rose from the water
and vociferating loudly flew after them. In doing so they
espied us in our lair, 'i'hen the game was up, for they left the
loch at once. We had other causes for annoyance, for a
couple of women tending their cows had become overpowered
by curiosity, and had drawn near with their whole herd,
thus effectually putting a stop to any further attempts. For no
sooner had one cow become disentangled from the string
than another would blindly run into it. On approaching the
nest the bird would swim swiftly inshore, push itself breast
foremost up the bank, and waddle^ not shuffle along the ground
as generally described, on to the eggs. Before settling down
she would stand upright and arrange the eggs beneath her.
On leaving she w^ould slide dowm the incline into the water
and dive noiselessly. While the hen was sitting the male would
be within thirty yards. He would accompany her to the land-
ing-place. Often she would approach the island by a series
of long dives, remaining as long as a minute and a half under
water. When alarmed she would raise her wings above her head
and dip her head under water in a peculiar way in the intervals
of eyeing the camera, evidently an outward and visible sign of her
uneasiness. I wish to draw attention to a habit of this Diver
of which mention will be found in the " Ootheca Wolleyana,"
vol. ii. p. 415. This I have had the opportunity of observing
once last year. The bird was descending from some hill loch
to the sea to fish, hurtling dowmwards with incredible speed,
and the noise made by the air rushing through the primaries
sounded like the roar of an express train.

Little Grebe, Podiceps fluviatilis^ Tunstall. — Undoubtedly on the
increase. I have seen pairs in even the most barren and
uninviting-looking lochs. In 1906 I found a nest with five
eggs, and this year one with four, among the reeds.

NOTES ON COLEOPTERA FROM ST. KILDA.

By Prof. T. Hudson Beare, F.R.S.E., F.E.S.

Two collections of Coleoptera have recently been made on
the island of St. Kilda ; the first w^as made by Mr. James
Waterston, B.Sc, of Edinburgh, who was on the island from

NOTES ON COLEOPTERA FROM ST. KILDA 31

June 17 to July 17, 1905, the weather during his visit
being very fine ; and the second collection was made by
Mr. C. Gordon Hewitt, M.Sc, of Manchester, during a visit
of four weeks' duration in July 1906 — the weather during
Mr. Hewitt's visit was very bad, and made collecting at times
anything but enjoyable.

I have had the pleasure of identifying Mr. Waterston's
captures, and Mr. Hewitt has kindly sent me a complete
list of his specimens, with notes on localities, etc., and he
desires to express his thanks to Mr. J. R. Hardy of the
Manchester iMuseum for assistance in identifying his captures.

Mr. Waterston informs me that the whole of his collection
was made on Hirta, which is the main island, or St. Kilda
proper. Most of the captures were made under stones, under
bits of wood above tide-mark, on dry-stone dykes, in birds'
nests on the cliffs, in dried grass on the top of the island,
in carrion, and under dung, and a few by sweeping long grass.

In the table below I have indicated Mr. Waterston's
captures by (VV.) and Mr. Hewitt's by (H.).

As there are very few records dealing with the fauna of
this isolated and out-of-the-way spot, it has been thought
desirable to give a complete account of the whole of the two
collections : —

List of Species and Notes.

1. Carabiis catenulatiis^ Scop. — 2 specimens (W.).

2. Notiophilus biguttatus^ F. — 4 specimens (W.).

3. Notiophilus aqiiaticus, L. — Common (H.).

4. Nebria brevicollis^ F. — 6 specimens (W.) ; and (H.).

5. Nebria gyllenhali, Sch. — i specimen (W.).

6. Dyschirius globosus^ Hbst. (H.).

7. Fterostichus niger^ Schal. — 3 specimens (W.)

8. Fterostichus nig7'ita^ F. — 2 specimens (W.) ; and (H.).

9. Calathus cisteloides, Pz. — 4 specimens (W.) ; common on Cairn

Mor (H.).

10. Cahithus inelanocephalus^ v. nubige?ia, Hal. — i specimen (W.).

11. Aiichomenus albipes, F. (H.).

12. Olisthopus rotundatus, Pk. — 3 specimens (W.).

13. Trechus mifiutus, F. (W.) "^ 9 specimens in all of the two

14. Trechus obtusus^ Er. (W.) j species.

15. Patrobus assimilis^ Chaud. — 4 specimens (W.) ; and (H.).

16. Hydroporus pubescens, Gyll. — Very common in the marshy

places (H.).

32 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HLSTORY

17. Hyd7-opo)-us fernigitieus^ Steph. — i specimen (W.).

18. Agabus bipustulatus^ L. — Common. Some of these are very

narrow, and are probably the variety A. solieri, Aub., which
Sharp calls the "dimorphic Alpine form" of A. bipustu-
latus. (H.).

19. AnaccE?ia globulus^ Pk. — 3 specimens (W.); common with

Hydroporus piibescens and Agabus bipustidatus (H.).

20. Helophorus dorsa/is, Marsh. (H.).

21. Helophorus ccneipe?i>tis, Th. — i specimen (W.) ; and (H.).

22. Helopho7'us affifiis, Marsh. (H.).

23. Cercyon flavipes, F. — i specimen (W.).

24. Megasternum boleiophaguni, Marsh. — 4 specimens (^V.).

25. Akochara nitida, Gr. — Under dung at top of Glen (H.).

26. Homalota fungicola^ Thoms. — i specimen (W.).

27. Tachyporus chrysomeihius, L. — 4 specimens (W.) ; and (H.).

28. Tachyporus hypnorum, F. — i specimen (W.).

29. Tachinus rufipes, De G. — 8 specimens (W.); and (H.).

30. Quedius fuligiiwsus^ Gr. — 4 specimens (W.).

31. Quedius boops, Gr. — 2 specimens (W.).

32. Ocypus okns, Miill. — i specimen (W.).

33. Ocypus ater, Gr. — 3 specimens (W.).

34. Philonthus varius^ Gyll. — 2 specimens (W.).

35. Philonthus albipes, Gr. — Under stones on Boreray. Fowler

gives this as scarce in Scotland. (H.)

36. Xantholijius tricolor^ F. — Not a common Scotch species (H.).

37. Othius fulvipennis, F. — 2 specimens (W,).

38. Lathrobium elongatum^ L. — Under stones on Runadone (H.).

39. Lathrobium fulvipeiine^ Gr. — 2 specimens (W,).

40. Stenus 7iitidiusculus, Steph. — i specimen (W.).

41. Oxyteliis rugosus, F. — 2 specimens (W.).

42. Lesteva longelytrata^ Goez. — i specimen (W,).

43. Micralymma brevipe?i?ie, Gyll. — This maritime species is found

at the top of the Glen (H.).

44. Homaliuin co7ici?tnuin, Marsh. — i specimen (W.).

45. Megarthrus depressus, Pk. — i specimen (W.).

46. Silpha rugosa, L. — i specimen (W,).

47. Cholera morio, F. — 3 specimens (W.).

48. Bryaxis hceniatica, Reich. — In marshy places. A rare Scottish

species according to F"'owler. (H.)

49. Enicmus viinutus^ L. — i specimen (VV.).

50. Cryptophagus scanicics^ L. — On Cairn Mor (H.).

51. Atomaria anaiis, Er. — i specimen (W.).

52. Cytilus varius, F. (H.),

53. Siinplocaria semistriata^ F. — 2 specimens (W.).

54. Aphodius lappo?iuj?ijGy\\. — In dung. A mountain species. (H.).

55. Aphodius r2{fipes^ L. — Common (H.).

56. Ciyptohypnus ripaT'ius, F. — 11 specimens (W.) ; and (H.).

NOTES ON COLEOPTERA FROM ST. KILDA 33

57. Athous hcemorrhoidalis^ F. — 7 specimens (W.) ; and (H.).

58. Helodes 7?nnuta, L. — 5 specimens (W.)

59. Chrysomela hypericin Forst. — i specimen (W.).

60. Crepidodera ferricginea^ Scop. (H.).

61. Apion hcemotodes^ Kirb. — 7 specimens (W.).

62. Apion rubens, Steph. — In cultivated area (H.).

63. Otiorhynchns dlajidus, Gyll. — 7 specimens (W.). This sub-

alpine species is common as in the rest of Scotland. (H.)

64. Barynotus schonherri, Zett. — 3 specimens (W.).

65. Ceuthorhynchics ericcB^ Gyll. — 2 specimens (W.).

dd, Ceuthorhynchus quadride?is, Panz. — i specimen (W.).

The only previous references to captures of Coleoptera
on St Kilda which I can find are : — {a) A brief note by the
late Mr. C. W. Dale (" Ent. Mo. Mag.," xx. 214, 1883),
where the capture of Nebria bi'evicollis, F., and PterosticJms
striola, F., is recorded ; and {b) an article by Mr. John
MacGillivray in the " Edin. New Phil. Jour.," xxxiii. 47-70,
1842, where the following captures are noted: Elaphrtis
lapp07iicus, Gyll. (" in the Glen ") ; Morychus ceneus^ Er. (Mr.
MacGillivray adds that both these were then recent ac-
quisitions to the British fauna) ; Carabus gi^anulatus, L., and
C. catenidatiLs^ Scop. ; Elaphrus aipreus, Duft. ; Dascilliis
cej'vinus^ L. ; Corymbites ceneus, L., and C. aipreus, F., and
C. tessellatus, F. ; and Geoti'upes sylvatiacs, Pz. It will be
observed that none of the beetles in the above two lists,
except Carabus catenulatus and Nebria brevicollis, v/ere found
by Mr. Waterston or Mr. Hewitt.

In Dr. Joy's list (see p. 34) 35 species not given in the
above are enumerated, making a total of 1 1 1 species so far
recorded from St. Kilda.

The University of Edinburgh, December 1907.

NOTES ON COLEOPTERA FROM ST. KILDA,
MAINLY COLLECTED FROM BIRDS' NESTS.

By Norman H. Joy, M.R.C.S., F.E.S.

Last year, when studying the beetles that occur in the

nests of birds, I thought it might be possible to obtain some

species of special interest by examining the nests of sea-

65 D

34 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

birds from outlying parts of the British coast. Through
Mr. Newstead's kind help I got into communication with a
man who visits St. Kilda every year, and I arranged with
him to send me nests of the Gannet, Cormorant, or any
other he could get. At the same time I thought it worth
while to give him a bottle for any beetles he might pick up,
and instructed him to get me some hay-stack refuse and
some sheep's dung. He carried out these instructions well,
getting me Gannets', Cormorants', Fulmar PetreLs', and
Rock-Pipits' nests. I was disappointed in finding nothing
very rare in the beetle line ; but one flea, taken in the
Gannets' or Cormorants' nest, turned out to be new to
science, and was described under the name Ceratophylhis
borealis, sp. nov., by the Hon. N. C. Rothschild, in the " Ent.
Mo. Mag.," xviii. ii. It was extremely interesting
examining this mass of rubbish, although some of it — the
Cormorants' nest, for instance — was by no means pleasant
to the olfactory nerves. This year I obtained more nests
and some moss, or rather " sphagnum." Altogether I am
able to record 49 species from the island. Most of these
are generally distributed species, but some are decidedly
local, and one, viz., Hoinalota cavifrons, Sharp, rare.

By this method of collecting I am able to record some
of the smallest British beetles from St. Kilda, which would
never be noticed except by a specialist, and I would suggest
that besides giving bottles for beetles to friends who may be
visiting these outlying islands, they should be instructed to
pull up a bagful of moss, etc., and fill another bag with hay-
stack refuse.

The following is a list of the beetles I have taken from
St. Kilda : — Carabus catenidatus^ Scop. ; Pterostichus niger^
Schall. ; Calathus cisteloides, Panz. (these were the only three
in the bottle I supplied) ; Cercyon littoralis, Gyll. (very
common in Gannets' and Shags' nests made of seaweed) ; C.
flavipes, F. ; Megasternum boletophagum^ Marsh. ; Aleochara
moesta, Grav. (these were named for me by Mons. Fauvel) ;
Hoinalota circellaris, Grav., H. cavifrojis. Sharp (sphagnum) ;
H. trinotata^ Kr. ; H. nigidcornis^ Thoms. ; H. sericea^
Muls. ; Myllcena brevicornis, Matth. (sphagnum) ; Tachyporus
chrysomelimiSy L. ; Tachinus rufipes^ De G. ; 7'. laticollis, Grav. ;

NOTES ON COLEOPTERA FROM ST. KILDA 35

Quedius fuliginosus^ Grav. ; Q. violochinus^ Grav. ; Q. umbrinus,
Er. ; Ocypiis olens, Mlill. ; Philonthus ceneus^ Rossi ; P.
cephalotes, Grav. ; P. fiinetarius, Grav. ; XantJiolinus linearis ^
01. ; Othiiis melanocephaliis^ Grav. ; Steniis brunnipes, Steph. ;
Hoinalium riviilare^ Payk. ; H. ripariiun^ Thorns. ; H. nifipes^
Fourc. ; H. concinniim^ Marsh. ; Calyptoynerus diibiiis^ Marsh,
(hay-stack refuse) ; Choleva inorio^ F. ; C. nigrita, Er. ; C.
watsoni, Spence ; Scydmcenus collaris^ Mull, (sphagnum) ;
Euplectiis ambiguus^ Reich (sphagnum) ; Ptenidiuvi evanescens^
Marsh; ^P. atomai'oidcs^ Mots. ; Trichopteiyx thoracica,V^ 3.\t\. ;
^Orthoperus atoums, Gyll. ; Mycetcea hirta, Marsh ; Eniamis
minutiis, L. ; Silvanus surinainensis, L. ; Cryptophagiis pilosiis,
Gyll. (very common in a Cormorant's nest and in hay-stack
refuse) ; C. uinbratiis, Er. ; C. scaniais^ L. ; ^''' Atoinaria iinmda^
Er. ; A. analis, Er. ; Apion cnieiitatuui, Walt, (several speci-
mens breeding out of Rumex in a Cormorant's nest).

The species marked * are apparently new to Scotland.

Bradfield, Berks, 6tk C<r/. 1907.

PROPOSED DEALER'S RAID ON THE BIRDS
OF ST. KILDA AND THE OUTER HEBRIDES.

[We have to thank a friend interested in the protection of
our native birds for the loan of the following circular. — Eds.]

" 34 Lloyd Street,
" Greenheys, Manchester.

" Dear Sir — I intend during the forthcoming nesting season
to make an extended tour through the Hebrides in order to
collect a comprehensive series of sea birds — their young and
eggs. Thinking you a probable subscriber, I put my scheme
before you in detail.

" I propose to start early in May and to return in
September, making St. Kilda (where the majority of the
specimens are to be obtained) my headquarters, and visiting
the Islands of the Hebridean group for certain specimens
from time to time.

" The abundance of Bird life in these Islands enables me
to guarantee for the sum of ;^i 5 the large and representative

36 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

collection of which I append full particulars, but the arduous
nature of the work compels me to limit the number of my
subscribers to ten. The specimens would be delivered in
the form of first-class cabinet skins with full data attached
to each. Apart from the educational value of such a series
of British Birds, many are likely to greatly increase in value
owing to their growing scarcity [the italics are ours. — Eds.]
and to the increasing stringency of the Wild Bird protection
laws.

" Having made a short but successful collecting trip to
St. Kilda this year, I have every confidence in my ability to
carry the scheme to a satisfactory issue.

" As references I have pleasure in giving you the names
of Dr. W. E. HOYLE, M.A., D.Sc, Director of the Manchester
Museum ; and Ben H. Mullen, Esq., M. A., Director of the
Royal Museum, Salford.

" The guaranteed series of Birds comprises : — [Here
follows a list of twenty-five species of birds to be supplied,
in most cases in adult, nest-feathered, and nestling plumage.
The species include the St. Kilda Wren, a bird specially
protected by an Act of Parliament, and the much persecuted
Fork-tailed Petrel].

" Such other specimens as may be collected, in addition to
the specified series guaranteed above, will be divided amongst
the subscribers. A clutch of eggs will be sent with each
series of ' Sea Fowl ' by — Yours respectfully,

" Harry Brazenor."

[We do not print the above as a gratuitous advertisement
for the enterprising Manchester dealer, but as a means of
making known to Proprietors, and the Society for the Pro-
tection of Birds, Mr. Brazenor's intentions. — Eds.]

J UNCUS BALTICUS, WILLD.
By Arthur Bennett.

The interesting note by Dr. Trail in last year's " Annals,"
p. 2 5 I , caused me to look up some of the recorded stations. In
the following habitats I have given the distances roughly : —

J UNCUS BALTIC US, WILLD. 37

Caithness, 109. — Wester Loch, i^ miles from the sea,
Dr. Ward, sp. Robert Dick also found it by the margin of
a loch 6 miles inland (Durran ?).

Elgin, 95. — Kellas on the Lossie, 10 miles; and
Cuilleachan and Freeburn ^ on the Findhorn (96, Easterness),
18 miles from the sea, Messrs. Stables and Gordon, 1832.^
St. Andrews -Llanbryde (Elgin), "where the sea formerly
reached," Dr. Gordon.

Easterness, 96. — Ardclach on the Findhorn, Dr. Play-
fair, sp., 7 miles from the sea.

S. Aberdeen, 92. — Loch of Park or Drum, on the
south side, 1 2 miles inland. I have a specimen gathered
here in 1872 by Dr. Roy. Can it be traced to a later date,
and is there any reason why it has become extinct ?

All the other Scottish stations seem near the sea, but in
W. Sutherland (108) it occurs at 2^ miles inland, Han-
bury, sp.

In Europe most of its stations are near the sea, but it
grows on the shores of Lake Ladoga (itself almost an inland
sea, 450 sq. miles in area) in Russia.

" In Norway it grows at Ibbestad, at 2 I 5 metres above
the sea ; and Mr. O. Holmberg has this year found it half-
way between the sea and Sulitelma, probably more than 20
miles from the sea. In Sweden it is both a coast and a
subalpine species ; in Nordland between the sea and the
subalpine region ; at Pajala, 80 miles N. of the Gulf of
Bothnia ; and at Jockmock, Swedish Lapland, about the
same distance." — Dr. Nordsted m litt.

In N. America it grows round the Great Lakes, Lake
Winnipeg, and Knee Lake, Keewatin, Canada ; but a variety,
niontanus, Englm., extends from Red River across the prairies
to Donald on the Columbia. The plant of the coast has
a panicle much more compact than that from the Great
Lakes ; ^ and I notice a tendency to the same in Scottish
specimens that grow only a short distance inland.

On my specimens from Ardclach are many examples

1 [This locality is between three and four miles from, and nearer the sea than,
where I found the plant, and is about 960 feet above sea-level. I had overlooked
the record.— J. W. H. T.]

2 " Flora of Moray," 12, 1839.

3 Macoun, "Cat. Canadian PI." iv. 56, i888.

38 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

of the white larval cases of a small moth. On sending
specimens to my friend, Mr. Thurncl, he tells me they are
made by the larva; of one of the species of the genus
Coleophora/ i.e. either C. ccespitiiiclla, C. obtiisella, or C. ad-
jiinctclla, " but which of these I am not prepared to say ;
but on the whole I am not far away in stating that your
larvae are probably C. obtuselia. I have found it commonly
on the Essex coast on J. inaritimus^ L. But the interest
in this is that neither of the last two species have been
found farther north than Yorkshire."

Although there is a great family likeness amongst the
members of this big genus, they are interesting from the
fact that their larval cases are often exceedingly curious in
shape and construction, and they feed on a great variety
of plants. Mr. Thurnel names 30 "as a few among
them." So Dr. Trail's note introduces a new moth to
Scotland.

There is another interesting Scottish Juncus, /. filiformis^
L. This is recorded as found by the Loch of Loirston,
Kincardine, where it was found by Dr. Dickie in 1850.^ I
have specimens gathered by " Covestone Loch, Aug. 10,
1850, ex herb.., J. Taylor." This is simply another name
for the same loch. Dr. Dickie gives the loch as being " two
miles from the sea, and 250 feet above its level." I also
possess specimens gathered there in August 1885 by Messrs.
Fox and Hanbury."

Although this is the only record for Scotland oi filiformiSy
yet it may be expected in other parts of the country, as it
is abundant in Denmark and Finland, extends from South
Sweden to Nordland in every province, is dispersed over
Norway and Finland, occurs also in Iceland, and hybridises
with balticus in Skane. It occurs sparingly in Belgium, and
is rare in Holland.

^ The genus contains nearly eighty British species.

2 "Guide to Aberdeen, Banff, and Kincardine," 167, i860.

^ [It is not rare on the damp stony margins of the small loch, which is about
270 feet above the sea and barely a mile from it, but it does not appear to
extend to pools in the neighbourhood. I find it grows freely in my garden, but
does not fruit well there, — J. W. H. T.]

Croydon, November 1907.

PLANTS OF SUTHERLAND AND CAITHNESS 39

PLANTS OF SUTHERLAND AND CAITHNESS.
By G. Claridge Druce, M.A., F.L.S.

In the July of 1907 I spent a short time in the dehghtful
air of the north, first working the neighbourhood of Invershin,
in East Sutherland, then that of Inchnadamph, in the
western division of the county, with its splendid range of
limestone cliffs. Here many alpines come much lower
down than we are accustomed to see them, for instance
Carex capillai'is^ a variety ialpina) of Festuca ovina^ and Dry as
octopetala being characteristic plants as low as 250 feet.
The Wych Elm and the Holly, as well as the White Beam,
appear thoroughly native. The physical features, especially
from a geologic point of view, are extremely interesting.
The season was too backward to allow of any critical study
of many species, the Hawthorn being in full bloom on the
14th July ; and this perhaps prevented my success in finding
Gentiana nivalis^ which has been recorded for this neighbour-
hood. The beauty of the mountain masses of Suilven,
Canisp, and Quinag adds much to the delight of the district.
I then worked the ground round Altnaharra and the rocks of
Ben Hope, and spent a short time at Tongue. At Bettyhill
the abundance of Oxytropis uralensis is a great pleasure ; and
a curious feature is presented by the drifting sand being
thrown up so as to cover a sloping cliff, to the height of at
least 200 feet. On such a place a little farther inland the
sand is covered with masses of Dryas octopetala from base
nearly to the summit. The sand is a glistening micaceous-
looking substance, which, however, we were told burns
to lime, thus explaining the occurrence of such a typical
gypsophile as Dryas on an arenaceous soil. The same stone,
locally called whinstone, from which the sand is derived is
common on Ben Hope, thus accounting for the prevalence of
Galium sylvestre, Draba incana, etc., on that hill. On the
grass-covered cliff-tops, in full exposure, occurred a new
form of KcEleria britannica ; and in slightly moister places
Primula scotica abounded.

The pleurostichous Thrift, 5. linearifolia, was the only
form observed. On the less accessible cliff-tops where the

40 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

birds frequent, and which are covered with their excrements,
the leaves of the Thrift become larger ; and Riimex Acetosa
and Plmttago inaritinia appear to benefit by the excess of
nitrates, so luxuriant do they become. In the fissures of the
gullies Ligiisticuin scotiauii is frequent, and the large flowers
of Matricaria inodora, \^.x. pJiceocepJiala^ are a great adornment.
AntJiyllis abounds on the edges of the more sunny cliffs,
where there is little competition. On the flat tract of low-
land sand a form of Vicia sepiuvi^ which is small and quite
appressed to the ground, is common. In the almost bare
moist sand by the river Carex incurva and a slender form of
C. arenaria occur. In the marshes and on the moister parts
of the cliff turf Orchis latifolia of a magnificent colour is to
be seen. Rosa spinosissiina occurs on the rocks, but the
season was too backward to make it worth while to collect
the varieties of the Roses which are numerous here.

In Caithness, which I only visited in order to collect the
Calamagrostis which has been recorded by Mr. A. Bennett
as C. strigosa, I found the plant which Prof Hackel named
neglecta for me some years ago in the old locality on the site
of Loch Durran, but alas, sadly dwindled in quantity, and it
is practically doomed. Near it Mr. A. J. Evans showed me
the still smaller patch of " strigosa " in Grant's locality.
Subsequently, I visited Loch Watten where I saw " strigosal^
in the locality visited by Hanbury and Marshall, in very
considerable quantity, and in excellent condition. I also
found the same plant by Loch Scarmclett in considerable
quantit}^, the locality being 89 feet above sea-level. I
have not yet made a critical examination of these plants to
see if two species occur ; but I may say the term " csespitose,"
which is given as a character of C. strigosa by Messrs. Groves,
does not fit any of these plants, the Caithness plants
having an extensively creeping rootstock, so intermixed wdth
the rhizomes of sedges, etc., as to prevent any adequate
rooting specimens being obtainable for the herbarium.
Later on I will report on them.

Thalictrum dunense, Duvi. — Plentiful on the sand-dunes at Betty-
hill.

Thalictrum alpinum, Z. — East side, Ben More, Assynt 107.

PLANTS OF SUTHERLAND AND CAITHNESS 41

Ranunculus acris, Z., var. tomophyllus (Jord.). — A very characteristic
plant, with broad segments to the lower leaves, which are
densely hairy, and with rich golden -yellow blossoms, occurs
by the coast at Bettyhill, Tongue, and more rarely in barren
soils at Inchnadamph. It also occurs on the Ross-shire coast
near Ullapool, and on the Caithness coast at Reay, etc. It
may be a distinct species, as it has a different facies from the
plant of Jordan, to which it has been referred.

R. Steveni, Andrz. — Altnaharra 108; Invershin 107.

R. scoticus, Marsh. — Near Loch Meadie 108.

Caltha radicans, Forster. — By the river at Invershin, East Sutherland
107; by a stream at Inchnadamph, and at Bettyhill 108. I
saw C. palustris also at Bettyhill. C. radicans occurs, Herr
Domin tells me, also on mountains in Bohemia in considerable
quantity.

Trollius europaeus, L. — was in beautiful flower at Inchnadamph on

July 20.

Arabis petraea, Lam.^ var. hispida^ DC. — On the cliffs of Ben Hope
108. The var. *grandifolia^ Druce, occurred there also, but
very rarely.

Draba incana, Z., var. ^contorta (Ehrh.). — On the cliffs of Ben Hope
108. The type occurred in Traligill Glen, Inchnadamph, and
on the cliffs of Blar nam Fiadhag 108, and on the coast at
Golspie tio7.

*Erophila verna, DC. — Invershin, East Sutherland 107.

*E. stenophylla, yi?^^. — Invershin 107.

*Cochlearia alpina. Sweet. — Ben More, Assynt 108.

C. grcenlandica, L. — Invershin 107 ; Tongue 108.

Brassica alba, Boiss. — Invershin 107 ; Tongue 108.

Viola canina, L. — Bettyhill 108; also *var. cakarea, Reichb.

V. tricolor, L. — Very beautiful at Invershin, also at Altnaharra 108 ;
*var. vivariensis (Jord.), Invershin 107, Inchnadamph 108.

Polygala vulgaris, L. — A beautiful large deep-blue-flowered plant,
was common on the limestone about Inchnadamph, and a
prostrate form on the sand at Bettyhill.

Silene maritima, Sin. — Abundant on the sea-cliffs, and fairly constant
in character 108, Golspie 107.

S. acaulis, L. — Descends to 500 feet near Inchnadamph, east side
of Ben More 107.

Lychnis dioica, L. — A small dark-flowered form, was seen on the
limestone in Traligill Glen 108.

42 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Cerastium tetrandrum, Curt. — Near Ivershin ^loy. Plentiful on
the coast at Tongue, Bettyhill, etc. io8.

*C. semidecandrum, /. — Invershin 107.

C. arvense, L. — In fields between Invershin and the coast *io7.

Stellaria Holostea, Z. — On the cliffs of Ben Hope 108.

Arenaria leptoclados, Guss. — Invershin "^lo;, Tongue -^loB.

A. norvegica, Gu?i?i. — In flower July 14, in the original station 108.
I failed to find any on the hills above Inchnadamph, although
in physical features they strongly remind one of the Ben Bulben
plateau, where its congener A. ciliata attains an altitude of
1950 feet.

A. sedoides, Kittel (Cherleria). — Plentiful on Ben More, Assynt 108,
and also on the eastern side 107.

Sagina subulata, Presl. — Rather common on Ben Hope, also at
Altnaharra, at Inchnadamph, and at Bettyhill 108.

Spergularia media, Presl. (marginata). — Tongue 108.

Spergula sativa, Boenn. — Altnaharra io8 ; Invershin, Lairg 107,

Anthyllis Vulneraria, Z., *var. marituna^ Koch. — To this variety
must, I think, be referred a striking form seen on the cliffs of
Ben Hope 108.

Oxytropis uralensis, DC. — In immense quantities at Bettyhill and
Farr Point, and in magnificent bloom, not only in bare sand,
but in turfy places on rocks, preferring full exposure.

Vicia Cracca, Z., var. incana, Thuill. — At Bettyhill.

V. sepium, Z. — As a very dark-flowered small form near Inchna-
damph, and Ben Hope, and also (forma prostrata) as a
small prostrate plant growing in almost bare sand at Bettyhill
108.

V. angustifolia, Z. — Invershin 107.

V. tetrasperma, Moench. — Invershin *io7.

Pyrus Aria, Ehrh. — Growing out of the limestone precipices of
Blar nam Fiadhag 108.

Alchemilla vulgaris, Z., var. filicaidis (Buser). — ^Invershin 107 ; var.
glabra., DC, Ben More, Canisp *io8.

Rosa tomentosa, Sm. — Invershin, Lairg 107.

R. dumalis, Bechst. — Bettyhill '^108.

Pyrus Aucuparia, Ehrh. — Cliffs of Ben Hope 108.

Crataegus Oxyacantha, Z. {monogy?ia only). — In full flower on July
14 at Inchnadamph.

PLANTS OF SUTHERLAND AND CAITHNESS 43

Saxifraga oppositifolia, Z. — In the village street, or at least on the
rocks between the houses, near the sea-level at Bettyhill, also
on Ben Hope, Ben More, etc.

S. hypnoides, Z. — On the eastern side of Ben More, Assynt "'107,
as well as in the rocks on the western side, and on Quinag 108.

Ribes Grossularia, Z. — Growing on the limestone cliffs of Blar nam
Fiadhag 108, perhaps bird-sown; but in that case there is a
possibility of Pyrus Aria being sown in the same way, but
with less probability, since the latter is much less frequently
in culture than the former,

Sedum roseum, Scop. — At the sea-level, or near it, at Bettyhill, etc.
108.

Drosera obovata, M. and K. — At Invershin '"107, and Altnaharra,
near Rheidhachaistel, and near Mudale 108, with both parents,
D. a?iglica being in beautiful flower.

Epilobium angustifolium, Z. — Cliffs of Ben Hope, Ben Loyal, etc.
108.

Pimpinella Saxifraga, Z., var. major., Koch. — At Bettyhill.

Ligusticum scoticum, Z. — Rather frequent at Farr Head 108.

Galium sylvestre. Poll. — Common on the limestone about Inchna-
damph and in Glen Traligill, and about Ardvrick Castle, but
ceasing directly the limestone gave way to other rocks. On
Ben Hope, and at Bettyhill, in several forms 108.

Asperula odorata, Z. — On the cliffs of Ben Hope to8.

Antennaria dioica, Br.^ var. ^^pedicellata, F. B. White. — Beinn an
Fhuran, Canisp 108.

Gnaphalium supinum, Z. — Ben More 108 and 107.

Bellis perennis, Z. — A discoid form occurred at Altnaharra 108.

Matricaria inodora, Z., var. phceocephala, Rupr. — On the sea-cliffs
at Farr, etc. ; and in some places where there is much sea-bird
excrement it becomes, as does Ruinex Acefosa, very luxuriant.

Senecio aquaticus, Hiids. — Bettyhill 108, with large dark yellow
anthodes, also near Castleton and Watten, Caithness 109.

Arctium minus, Bernh. — Invershin *io7.

Centaurea Scabiosa, Z. — Not only as the var. Gelmii, Briq., but in
several intermediate forms, so far as leaf-cutting goes, about
Tongue and Bettyhill.

Hieracium Pilosella, Z., var. nigrescens^ Fr. — Inchnadamph.

H. anghcum, Z>., var. longibracteatmn., F. J. H. — Common about
Inchnadamph, also on Ben Hope, and near Bettyhill.

44 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL liLSTORV

H. iricum, Fr. — Very luxuriant at Bettyhill, also by the Traligill at
Inchnadamph.

H. caledonicuni, F. J. If. — Probably this on Ben Hope io8.

H. subhirtum, F.J. IT. — Ben Hope, also probably H. 7'iva/e, F. J. H.

H. pollinarium, F. /. H. — At Bettyhill.

H. murorum, Z., var. asymmetricum (Ley). — Ben Hope *io8, var.
micracladiutn (Dahlst.), Glen Traligill, var. subtenue (W. R. L.),
Ben Hope io8, probably this, H. pretenerum, Almq., Ben Hope.

H. crebridens, Dahlst.^ forma. — Ben Hope.

H. sarcophyllum, Stenstr. — Probably this on Ben Hope.

Tragopogon pratense, Z. — Mr. Watson queried this as being native
in W. Sutherland, but it appears to be thoroughly so in the
drifted sand at Bettyhill io8.

Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi, Spreng. — Sea-level at Bettyhill io8.

Statice linearifolia, Laterr. — On the cliffs of Ben More, Assynt,
Canisp, Quinag, Ben Hope, and on the coast generally io8.
No holotrichous form was noticed.

{To be cojitinued.)

ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO THE TOPO-
GRAPHICAL BOTANY OF SCOTLAND.

By James W. H. Trail, A.M., M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S.
{Continued from JVo. 64, p. 232.)

Leguminos^.

Lupinics nootkatensis, Sims. Well established by the Nairn river.
Its vice-county distribution as a denizen in Scotland is at least
88, 89, 91, 92, 96, III ; Z. albus, L., 83 cas.

The following species have been recently recorded as casuals on
rubbish or on cultivated ground : —

Ononis 7?iitissi7fta, L., 83.

Trigo?iella arabica, Del, ^t, ; T. aziirea, C. A. Mey, ^^i^ ', T.

Besseria?ia, Sen, 83 ; T. crassipes, Boiss., 83 ; T. F(Enum-

gr cecum., L., 92 ; T. gladiafa, Stev., 83 ; T. laciniata, L., 83.
Medicago ciliaris^ Willd., 83 ; M. disciformis, DC, 83 ; M. littoraiis,

Rhode, 83 ; JZ. sphcerocarpa., Bert., 83 ; M. torjiata, Willd.,

83 ; JZ turbitiata, Willd., '^i.

TOPOGRAPHICAL BOTANY OF SCOTLAND 45

Melilotus infesta, Guss., 2>2,.

TrifoliujH agrariiim^ L., 83; T. Ckerleri, L., 83; T. hirtum^ All.,

^2,', T. i?ivolucratum^ Ortega, 83 ; T. nigresceiis^ Viv., 83 ; T.

panno7iicum^ Jacq., 83; T. picrpureum^ Lois., 83; T. resupina-

tuntj L., 92 ; T. subterraneiim, L., 83 ; T. suffocatiwi, L., 83.
Lotus ornithopodioides, L., 83 ; L. Tetragonolobiis^ L., 83.
Astragalus sesameus^ L., 83.

Hippocrepis multisiliquosa, L., 83 ; H. unisiliquosa^ L., 83.
Hedysaricm coronariwn, L., 83.
Scorpiurus suicatus, L., 92.
Galega officinalis, L., 83.
Cicer arietinu7?i, L., 83.
Vicia amphicarpa, Dorthes, 92 ; V. dasycarpa, Ten., 92 ; V. Ervilia,

Willd., 85, 92 ; V. lutea, Z., 92 ; V. mofianthos, Desf., 92.
Lathyrus annuus, L., 92 ; L. Aphaca, L., 92 ; L. latifolius, L., 92 ;

Z. sativus, L., 92.

RoSACEiE.

Potentilla argentea, L. and P. fruticosa, L. Casuals in 92.
Alchemilla vulgaris, Z., var. filicaulis, Buset', 84, 85, 94, iii, 112.
A. argentea, Lam., Zt,\, 112 (Pf).
Arenionia ag?'imonioides, DC., 81.

Rosa. — In the "Journal of Botany " for May 1907, pages 200
to 210, is a paper on " British Roses of the viollis-tojnentosa
group," by the Rev. Augustin Ley, in which these are
distributed among 1 8 forms, " which, exclusive of varieties,
may legitimately be assumed to be of equal value and
termed species. The arrangement into two species, mollis
and tomentosa, the latter with numerous varieties, melts
away when the group is studied, although, as divisional
names, these still remain advantageous."

Of these forms the author includes the following as found in
Scotland, authenticating most as seen by himself from the
vice-counties.

R. po7?iifera, J. Herrm. (Roxburgh), 80.

R. mollis, Sj}i., 76, 77, 80, 83, 85, S>^, 92, 95, 97, 108.

R. submollis, A. Ley,f.n., 72, 73, 74, 76, 79, 85, 87, 2>2>, 95, 96,

97, 104, 108.
R. omissa, DesegL, 73, 76, 85, 86, 88, 90, 106, no.

var. resinoides, Crepin, 72, 73, 74, 80, 85, 87, ZZ, 89, 90,
96, 97, 98, 106.
R. pseudorubiginosa, Lejeune, 72, 88.

R. suberecta {Woods), 74, 76, 80, 81, 87, 89, 92, 95, 96, 97, 98,
104, 105, 106, 108.

var. glabrata, Fr., 96, 97, 106.
R. pseudomollis, E. G. Baker, 97, 98, 104.

46 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

R. Andrzeiovii, Steven ex Bcsser; Perth, 92, 95, 96, 97.

R. uncinata, F. A. Lees, 96, 98, 106, 108.

R. sylvestris, Li?idley\ 80, 96.

R. tomentosa, Sm., " Distribution general."

R. farinosa, Rau.^ Perth.

R. cinerascens, Dumort., rare, Perth, 106.

R. cuspidatoides, Crcpi/i, 95.

R. obovata {Baker), 83, 92.

Of the other roses the only additional record is —

R. glauca, Vi//., 112 (rare, W. H. B.).
Pyrus Aria, Ehrh., var. rupicola, Syme, 94.

Saxifragace/e.

Saxifraga oppositifolia, Z., 102 ; S. iijubrosa, L., 84.

Astilbe japonica, A. Gray, 83 cas.

Ribes alpi?ium, L., 92 ; R. Jiigrum, L., 81.

Haloragace/e.
Callitriche hamulata, Kuetz,, var. homiophylla, Greti. atid Godr., 88.

Lythrace^e.
Lythrum Salicaria, Z., 927.

Onagrace^.

Epilobium obscurum, Schreb., 112 (Fair Isle).

E. alsinefolium x montanum, 94 ; E. alsinefolium x obscurum, 94.

E. alsinefolium x palustre, 94.

E. anagallidifolium x obscurum, 94.

CEfwthera purpurea, Curt., and CE, tenella, Cav., casuals in 83.

Cucureitace^.
Ecballium Elaierium, A. Rich., 83 casual, as seedlings.

Umbellifer^.

Carum Petroselinum, Benth. and Hook., 81 cas.

Chcerophylliim 7iodosum, Lam., 83 cas.

Scajidix aicstralis, L., and 6". pinnatifida, Vent., casuals in 83.

Crithmum maritimum, Z., 102.

Meum Athamanticum, Z., 94.

Levisticum offici?iale, Koch., 92 and 94, escape.

Peucedanum Osiriithium, Koch, 112.

Cap?iophylhcm dichotomum, Lag., 83 cas.

Caucalis arvensis, Huds., 83 cas.

TOPOGRAPHICAL BOTANY OF SCOTLAND 47

CAPRIFOLIACEiE.

Symphoricarpus racefnosiis, DC, 9 if, 92!.

RUBIACE^.

Galium palustre, Z., var. Witheringii {Sm.), 112 (Fair Isle).
Aspertda arvensis^ L., casual in 91 and 92.
Crucianella angustifolia^ L., 83 cas.

Valerianace^.

Valerianella enocarpa, Desv., and V. rimosa, Bast., casuals in 83.
Fedia CornucopicE, Gaertn., 83 cas.

DlPSACACE^.

Dipsacus sylvestris, Z., 83 cas.
Scabiosa inaritima^ L., 83 cas.

COMPOSIT^E.

Solidago lanceolata^ L., 82 cas.

Erigeron acre, Z., 94.

Xanthiiwi strumarium, L., 83 cas.

Lasthenia glabrata, Lindl., 83 cas.

Achillea Millefolium, Z., var, lanata, Koch.^ 112 (Fair Isle).

Anthemis mixta^ L., 83 cas.

Chrysanthejnum macrophylhwi^ Waldst. and Kit., 83. '

Artemisia maritima, Z., 837 ; A. lo?tgifolta, Nutt., and A. sericea,
Weber, casuals in 83.

Xera?ithemum annuiwi, L., 83 cas.

Car duns Tiigrescens, Vill., 83 cas.

Oftopordon iliyricum, L., and O. tauricum, Willd., casuals in 83.

Centaurea Cya?iiis, L., 112.

Crepis virens, Z., 112! ; C. tectoriwi^ L., 92 cas.

Hieracium Pilosella, Z., var. concinnatum, F. J. Hanb., 94 ; var.
nigrescens, Zr., 94.

H. anglicum, Zr., var. acutifolium, Backh., 94.

H. iricum, Fr.^ 94.

H. alpinum, Z., segr., "known certainly for 90, 92, 94, 97; con-
firmation is desirable for other records " (E. F. L.).

H. nigrescens, Willd.., var. gracilifolium, F.J. Ha^ib.^ 94.

E. F. Linton gives for the true H. nigrescens only 88 as certain,
90 X 92 as practically certain, 72 as probably correct, the
records for 94, 97, and 108 as belonging to H. curvatum,
Elfstr., and the others (85, 89, 98, 105) as ''sub nube for the
present."

48 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

H. Schmidtii, Tausch.^ var. crinigerum, Fr., 94.
H. argenteum, /'>-., 94.

H. pseudonosmoides, Da/i/st., 92, 94, 104.

H. buglossoides, Art\ Touv.^ " 106, 107 are the only records for this
species ; most others referring to the preceding species "
(E. F. L.).

" H. silvaticum, Gouan^ ^ggr." Rev. E. F. Linton points out that
Gouan's plant is not equivalent to H. murorum, var. fi silvaticum,
of Linnceus, as understood in English works, and that therefore
"all except 73, 103" is too general a distribution for H. sil-
vaticum, Gouati^ which includes only a few scarce and very
local varieties ; and he questions " very strongly " phaeotrichum,
Dahlst.^ as having been found in Britain.

H. variicolor, Dahht.^ 94.

H. serratifrons, Almq.^ var. Stenstroemii, Dahlst.^ 94.

H. petrocharis, Lintoji^ 90.

H. sagittatum, Lindeb.^ var. subhirtum, F, J. Hanb., 90 ; var.
lanuginosum, Lonnr., 84.

H. sarcophyllum, Ste?istr.^ 94.

H. euprepes, F. J. Hanb.., var. clivicolum, F. J. IIa?ib., 94, 96.

H. eustalis, Li?ito?i. "Omit 92 ; I have withdrawn the plant as not
identical" (E. F. L.).

H. duriceps, F. J. Hanb. " The counties from which this has been
recorded must all be struck out except 98, 108, and 112"
(E. F. L.). Most of the gatherings recorded from other
counties as H. duriceps "proved to be H. viicracladium.,
Dahlst., and in course of time came to be so recorded "
(E. F. L.).

H. pinnatifidum, Lonnr.., 96.

H. angustatum, Lindeb.., var. elatum, Lindeb., 94.

H. sciaphilum, Uechtritz., var. strumosum, Ley^ 80.

H. truncatum, Lindeb. "To the best of my knowledge 112 is the
only genuine record " (E. F. L.).

H. stictophyllum, Z)<2/z/i-/. "I can confirm 72 and 73, also no,
and can add 108; but can find no data for 86, 99, 102, 105.
Omit 97 ; this record belongs to H. spars if oliiim., Lindeb."
(E. F. L.).

H. sparsifolium, Liftdeb., 94.

H. strictum, Fr., 96.

H. corymbosum, Fr.^ 94; var. salicifolium, Lindeb.., in.

H. auratum, Fr.., 94.

H. umbellatum, Z., var. linariifolium, Walbr.., 74 (J. M'A., /.
E. F. L.) ; var. coronopifolium, Fr.., 72.

Taraxacum (officinale, Weber), croceum, Dahlst., 112.

Lactuca Scariola, L., 83 cas.

i^To be co}iti?iued.)

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 49

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES.

Rare Birds at Fair Isle. — Since my note in the last number
of " The Annals," the following uncommon birds have occurred at
Fair Isle, concerning which full particulars will be given in our next
number: — Short- toed Lark [Cala?idrelia brachydacty/d) ; a small
flock of Little Buntings (Emberiza pusilld) ; several Yellow -browed
Warblers {Fhylloscopus superciliosus), Bluethroats {Cyanecula suecicd),
and Wood Larks {Alauda arbored)\ and a Black Redstart {Ruticilla
titys). — Wm. Eagle Clarke.

Rose-eoloured Starling in Argyllshire. — A fine male Pastor
roseus was found dead by Mr. Baird, of Bonawe, during the early
days of autumn. — "Oban Times," 31st August 1907.

Male Reed- Bunting Incubating. — It may be worth recording
that on 25th May 1907, when passing through some tussocky grass
near the margin of Loch Eldrig, Wigtownshire, I flushed a male
Reed-Bunting i^Emberiza schoeniaihis) from a nest containing five
eggs. It then went through the time-honoured pantomime of feign-
ing cripple, which I do not remember to have seen performed by
the male bird of any species, unless it were a nightjar, the sex of
which I could not distinguish. — Herbert Maxwell, Monreith.

Marsh Titmouse in Aberdeenshire. — There were one or two
Marsh Titmice {Farus pahcstris\ together with a good many Coal
Tits, on some spruce firs beside the river Don, near Alford, on 21st
August, and on the same day it was noticed that a good many
Willow Warblers and Spotted Flycatchers were on the move. —
J. H. GuRNEY, Keswick, Norfolk.

[A similar account of a single bird near Newburgh, in the
extreme east of the county of Aberdeen, is given by Sim in his
"Fauna of Dee" (p. 85); and likewise one seen by Geo.
Sim, of Gourdas, on 2iid February 1896 {loc. cit.). A. G. More
included it as an Aberdeenshire bird, and is quoted by R. Gray
('"Birds of the W. of Scotland," p. 106). But proof of it nesting
anywhere east of the watershed of Dee is still required. — J. A. H.-B.]

Red-breasted Flycatcher at the Bell Rock Lighthouse. —

Writing from the Bell Rock, Mr. Robert Clyne tells me that on the
25th October a small bird came to the lantern, along with a few
Blackbirds and Thrushes. From the front view he had of it through
the glass, it resembled a Willow Warbler ; but there were no super-
ciliary markings, and the greenish brown plumage was a little lighter
in colour round the eye. On going outside to try and catch it for
examination, the bird escaped, leaving half its tail feathers in his
hand. These he fortunately preserved and sent to me. If Mr.
Clyne was only destined to secure a few of the stranger's plumes,
65 E

50 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HLSTORY

he could not have secured any which, in this case, would have
revealed the secret of its identification with greater certainty than
the pretty black and white feathers which form the tail of this little
bird. This species has not occurred previously on the east coast of
the mainland of Scotland, for the young male recorded for Berwick-
on-Tweed, on the 5th of October 1883, was captured on the south
side of the river. Mr. Clyne is to be congratulated on the fact that
his efforts have led to the detection of this interesting visitor at
his lonely station. — Wm. Eagle Clarke.

Spoonbills in the West of Scotland. — Two specimens of the
Spoonbill i^riatalea /euco?-odia), obtained in November last, have
been forwarded to Mr. Bisshopp, of Oban, for preservation. The
first of these was an immature male from the Island of Canna ; the
second was from the Island of Inchkenneth, Loch-na-keal, West
Mull. Both were duly recorded in the " Oban Times."

Flock of the Glossy Ibis in Orkney. — On 24th September a
flock of nineteen or twenty Glossy Ibises {Ibis fakmellus) appeared
at Sandwick, in Orkney, a small township about four miles inland
and about eight miles from Stromness, where they frequented some
marshy ground. The man who discovered them did not think of
shooting them at first, and so for three days they remained in peace,
but on the 27th until ist October he shot two or three each day
as they were feeding in a burn, until he had accounted for no less
than ten. They were very wary and rose high in the air when
disturbed. Most of them were sent to Mr. Malloch, of Perth, and
it would be interesting to know whether they were old or young
birds. I do not think there are a dozen records of this bird having
visited Scotland, and the occurrence of a flock of them in Orkney is
most unusual, as I believe the species has only occurred twice
before in these islands : viz, a young bird near Stromness, on
19th September 1903, which I mentioned in the "Field" at the
time, and another near Kirkwall as long ago as September 1857,
exactly half a century ago. — H. W. Robinson, Lansdowne House,
Lancaster.

[The specimens sent to Mr. Malloch are, we are informed, all
immature birds. — Eds.]

Glossy Ibis at Speymouth. — This bird was seen on the Lein
Burn by Mr. John Smith, of Garmouth, who shot at and wounded
it. He kept it alive for several days, w^hen it died and was cast
away. Mr. James Geddie, hearing that a strange bird had been
shot, rescued it and had it preserved. I got the specimen a few
days afterwards for the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, and it is
now at Gordon Castle. The back and upper parts are black with
greenish reflections ; and the head and neck are buff-coloured with
some dark feathers in them. — George Muirhead, Fochabers.

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 51

Note on a Young" Gannet. — A strange bird visited Strathmore
at the latter end of September, and was fed wholly on mice ; indeed,
it would take nothing else. It only lived for a fortnight, and little
wonder. Its identity puzzled the person with whose fowls the bird
associated. The colour of the plumage was different to anything
he had previously seen in the vicinity. Feathers of the bird were
brought to me after it had been dead a fortnight. Failing to
identify it from the feathers, I cycled up to see its remains, and
was surprised to find it to be a Gannet, in first year's plumage.
Seldom, indeed, are Gannets of this age seen in Lochbroom — and
w'hy I cannot conceive. Never were there more mature birds of
this species seen in Lochbroom than this year, and rarely was
there a better herring fishing in the loch than in the past autumn.
— J. T. Henderson, Lochbroom.

Early Nesting* of the Shag. — This year the Shags {Phalacrocorax
graculus) started nesting remarkably early in Orkney. They com-
menced building their nests in January, and the first eggs were
found on 24th February, on the Island of Sule Skerry. The
weather during these months was very stormy, but not cold, and
perhaps this latter fact had something to do with their early nesting,
which was much earlier than had ever been known in Orkney before.
— H. W. Robinson, Lansdowne House, Lancaster.

Nesting" of the Quail in Scotland. — Mr. Harvie - Brow n's
editorial to Mr. H. N. Bonar's note upon the Quail {Cotur7iix co7n-
munis) nesting in East Lothian during the late most inclement
summer ("Annals," October 1907, p. 248) is apt to be misunder-
stood by persons who have not studied the habits of this desirable
little bird or followed the records of its visits to the United Kingdom.
It does not follow that the East Lothian Quails had any connection
with those turned down in Stirlingshire. Quails turn up in the
most unlikely places and at uncertain times. Who, for example,
would have expected Quails to nest in Fair Isle? Yet Mr. Eagle
Clarke obtained eleven eggs in that diminutive and remote island
in 1905. When I was a boy, about the year 1855, Quails were
quite common and resident in Galloway. I was told that they had
appeared in quantities after a great gale in 1839, and partridge
shooters seldom returned without a few Quail in the bag. But they
gradually diminished in numbers, becoming rare after 1862, and I
have not seen one on the wing since about 1874. There is prob-
ably nothing unsuitable in British soil or climate to the nature of
Quails. The chief cause for its irregular appearance seems to be the
position of these islands, lying outside the regular track of migration ;
wherefore only wanderers or storm - driven flocks find their way
hither. All their needs for feeding and breeding may be satisfied ;
they may remain stationary for several seasons ; but sooner or later
the inveterate impulse comes upon them ; away they go to winter

52 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

under the sun, and it may be years before another immigration takes
place. — Hp:rhkrt I\L\x\vkll, Monreith.

Woodcocks and Blackgame in Dumfriesshire. — It is gratifying
to read Mr. Gladstone's note ("Annals," October 1907, p. 249)
about the increasing number of Woodcocks bred in Dumfriesshire.
This is the direct outcome of the Wild I'irds Protection Acts.
Previous to 1880, March and April were the months when most
Woodcocks were shot on the seaboard of Wigtownshire, as I can
testify to my shame. We thought that they were birds collecting
for emigration ; whereas they were confiding immigrants, proposing
to rear their young in our inhospitable woodlands. But it is sad to
read that in Nitlisdale, as elsewhere in Scotland, no mercy is shown
to immature birds in August. Were I still in Parliament, I should
introduce, and back myself to succeed in carrying, an extension of
the statutory close time from its present termination on 31st July
to ist October. Will no legislator undertake the task? The
House of Commons is always sympathetic to proposals for the pro-
tection of wild animals, provided they are not promoted in the
interest of landlords. Meanwhile, it is in the power of County
Councils to obtain an order from the Home Secretary or the Secre-
tary for Scotland, extending or reducing the close time for any wild
bird.

In another category are Blackgame, whereof the steady diminu-
tion demands serious attention. Nithsdale used to be the most
famous resort of this noble fowl. The five best years at Drumlanrig
yielded the following returns : —

1861
1865
1869
1870
1871

The best day's bag, shot by ten guns on Sanquhar, contained 247
Blackgame, of which 200 were cocks. Now, I am told, 20 or 30
brace is considered a fair bag. Let Blackgame have the same
close season as our other polygamous gamebird, the Pheasant,
namely from ist February to ist October, instead of the present
unreasonable one from nth December till 19th August. Who
would not blush to floor Pheasants before they got their full
plumage ? Yet it is a common practice, especially among those
who hire Scottish shootings, to massacre Blackgame poults when
they cannot take wing without a struggle. — Herbert Maxwell,
Monreith.

Note on the Waterhen. — On 23rd October, when shooting in
a flooded meadow, one of the beaters found a Waterhen {Gallinula

1586 Blackgame

1530

))

1508

5)

i486

53

1429

5J

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 53

chloropus) sitting at the side of a small stream. He tried to catch
it with the crook of his stick but failed, and it slid into the water.
It then swam down the stream under water for about fifty yards,
using its wings as a man uses his arms in swimming. We headed
it off, and it then swam up stream in a similar manner — when it
came to the surface it was nipped up by a retriever. It was a
sight I had not seen before, and all present were astonished at the
length of time the bird swam below water. — Hugh S. Gladstone,
Capenoch, Dumfriesshire.

Black-tailed Godwit and Great Grey Shrike in Fife. — On the

shore at St. Andrews, on the 5th of December, we saw a Black-
tailed Godwit {Li??iosa belgica). It was standing at the edge of the
sea with a Bar-tailed Godwit (Z. lapponicd)^ and they allowed us to
come quite close and examine them for some time through our
glasses ; they then took flight, and the white upper tail-coverts and
black tail of belgica were extremely noticeable. On the 28th
November a Great Grey Shrike was procured here : it turned out to
be an adult male. — Evelyn V. Baxter and Leonora Jeffrey

RiNTOUL.

[According to "The Field" (23rd November, p. 937), a Black-
tailed Godwit was shot on the Beauly Firth during the previous
week. — Eds.]

Sabine's Gull in the Firth of Forth. — On 31st August last
(1907) I had an excellent view, with the aid of binoculars, of
an immature Sabine's Gull {Xenia sabinii) from the deck of the
Roslin Castle shortly after leaving Elie for Leith. It followed the
steamer for some distance, occasionally coming within 50 to 60
yards of us, but did not mix with the other gulls which were
eagerly picking up bits of bread, etc., thrown to them. This is the
second time I have seen a Sabine's Gull in the Forth (see " Annals,"
1896, p. 257), and it may be recalled that a specimen was shot at
North Berwick early in October 1877. — William Evans, Edinburgh.

Angler Fish in the Tay. — On the loth of October last I
received from a man in Errol a specimen of the Angler Fish or
Fishing-frog {Lopliius piscatorius) which I have preserved for the fish
case in the museum. The species is common enough on the East
Coast, and is often to be seen on the sands at Carnoustie. The
interest of the present specimen is that it should have been taken
alive at Port Allan (on the Tay), which is not much more than
eight miles east of Perth. — A. M. Rodger, Perth.

Lepidoptera from East Ross and other Localities in the North
of Scotland. — The following is a further list of species which have
not been recorded so far north, or in East Ross, in Barrett's " British
Lepidoptera," and which I have taken within an eight-mile radius
of Swordale, either in larva or imago state, this year ; —

54 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Lucania pallens^ Miami liferosa, Noctua avgur^ N. baja, Am-

phipyra tragopo(:;onis, Mania typica, Calymyiia t}-apezina, Orthosia iota,

O. jfiaciie?ita, Dianthcecia capsincoia, D. cucubali, Epiuida itigra,

Agriopes aprilina, Aplecta Jierbida, Hadena protea, Gojioptera iibatrix,

Eiigoiia ainiaria, Acidalia aversata, Hybertiia nipicapraria, H.

progemmaria, H. defolaria, Afiisopteryx a^scularia, Eiipithecia sub-

fuivata, E. cas/igata, E. fraxinata, E. vuigaia, E. absinthiata, E.

abbreviaia, E. togaia, Meia?if/iia rubiginata, Pyrausta ostrinaiis,

Botys fofjicaiis, B. Ititealis, Hydrocampa symphcelis, Piatyptilus

ochrodadylus, P. go?iodactyius, Ambiypiiiiis acanthodactyiiis, A.

pimctidactyius, ApJiomia socieiia, Pandemis corylana, Steganoptycha

rameiia, Lit/iographia cifiereajia.

An exceedingly wet week-end spent at Balmacara, West Ross,
in June, resulted in the capture of the following species, in the
larva state, all which appear to be unrecorded for that district : —
Calymnia trapezium, Amp/iipyrata tragopogo/iis, Agriopes apriiina,
Plusia festuccB^ Hypcena proboscidalis, Phigalia pilosaria, Eupithecia
abbreviata, Cida7'ia fuivata, Hyberjiia defoiaria. The year before, in
June T906, I took one imago oi Phytometra cena.

At Dornoch, at the end of September, I got larvae (also un-
recorded) of the following : — Bisto?t betuiaria, Notodonta dictcEa,
EupitJiecia centaureata, E. absiiitJiiata.

A few days spent in the neighbourhood of Wick in September
resulted in the following still more northerly records : — Smerinthus
popuii, Notodofita ziczac, Riimia C7'atcEgata, Odontopera bidentata,
Cabera exanthemaria^ EupitJiecia fraxinata, Hypsipetes impluviata,
Cidaria miata, Cidaria coryiata.

An afternoon's beating in some oak woods close to Inverness
was rewarded with one larva of N'ola confiisaiis, and one larva of
Sarothripa 7'evayana, together with many other commoner species. —
Dorothy Jackson, Swordale, Ross-shire.

Amblyptilus punetidaetylus. — On 4th September 1907, the
gardener of a neighbouring estate drew my attention to the numbers
of this small moth which were resting on the inside of the window-
pane in his toolshed. Much puzzled at finding this insect in such
a strange situation, I searched round the shed for some clue to its
entry, and came upon a basket of cowslips which had been kept for
seed, and noticed that the handle and sides of the basket, as well
as the withered stalks, had a number of pup^ of this species
attached to them. On further examination I found the seed-vessels
to be almost all bored through by the ravages of the larva, nothing
but the larval excrement being left in its place. Surely this is a new
food-plant of this species. Barrett only mentions the flowers of Stachys
sylvatica and Salvia gliitinosa, and on the Continent on the seeds
of Acquilegia vulgaris. — Dorothy Jackson, Swordale, Ross-shire.

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 55

Cheipidium museorum {Leach) and Chernes rufeolus {Simon)
in the Tweed Area. — On the 19th of September last, while staying
at Haswellsykes Farm, Peebles, I found the small Pseudo-Scorpion,
Cheiridiiim 7jmseorum^ common on pieces of wood, etc., which
seemed to have lain undisturbed for a considerable period in the
stable-loft. Specimens have also been obtained on subsequent dates
both by my friends Messrs. G. A. and R. B. Whyte and by myself,
the habitat always being the same. Several nests were discovered
on 19th October, one with two young. I believe it is generally
understood that C. museorum never has more than from two to
three young.

On 19th September last I also obtained my first record here for
Cherries rufeolus^ one mature specimen being taken from some chaff
in one of the stalls. Mr. R. B. Whyte took four of the same species
from under some stones on the floor of the same stable on ist
October. — Alastair Urquhart, Edinburgh.

Sirex noetilio, F., in Forth. — It appears that the Wood Wasp
which it has been the custom to record in this country under the
name of Sirex juvencus is not the true S. Juvejicus, F., but kS. noetilio,
F. {cf. Rev. F. D. Morice's remarks in " Ent. Mo. Mag.," 1904,
p. 34). I have submitted a specimen ( 9 ), which was caught on a
felled pine at Penicuik in September 1906, to Mr. Morice, and he
says it is nocfilio and no\.Ju7'encus. Other specimens in my collec-
tion from Dalmeny and Gosford clearly also belong to this species.
— William Evans, Edinburgh.

BOTANICAL NOTES AND NEWS.

OBITUARY NOTICES.

Edward A. L. Batters, B.A., LL.B. — The death of Mr. Batters has
been a grievous blow to British algological study ; for there seemed
every reason to expect many years of energetic and successful in-
vestigation among the seaweeds of our coasts, and the publication
by him of the book or books on his favourites that he had showed
himself so fit to write and that are so much required, embodying the
advances made in this field in other regions along with his personal
discoveries. It is known that he intended to prepare an algological
flora of the British coasts ; but the manuscript was not advanced
enough to be of service.

Born in December i860 at Enfield, he was educated at King's
College School, London, and at Cambridge, and afterwards studied
law at Lincoln's Inn. But, possessed of private means, he did not

S6 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

follow law as a profession. While a child he spent the summers at
Berwick-on-Tweed with his mother, from whom he inherited a love
of seaweeds and fossils. She died when he was seven years old ; but
he retained his love for seaweeds. Becoming early acquainted
with Mr. K. M. Holmes, he was assisted by him in his earlier
difficulties, and brought into relations with other algologists. In
1889 he i)ublished his first imjjortant paper, the admirable 'List of
the Marine Algae of Berwick-on-1'weed,' extending to 171 pages of
the " Berwickshire Naturalists' Club's Transactions," and illustrated
by 5 plates. This was followed in 1891 by a ' Hand-List of the Algae
of the Clyde Sea Area,' which appeared in the " Journal of Botany " ;
to which in subsequent years he contributed short papers on new
and critical species, several belonging to new genera characterised
by him, while other papers on new forms were issued in the
'• Phycological Memoirs," in the "Annals of Botany," and in
" Grevillea." In 1902 was published in separate form a " Catalogue
of the British Marine Algae," which had appeared as a supplement
to the " Journal of Botany." Its title does not adequately express
its importance, as it embodies his views on their classification and
gives a very full statement of their local distribution. He formed a
very large herbarium of British seaweeds, a good exotic collection,
and a great number of microscopic preparations. There is reason
to hope that these collections will be acquired for the British Museum
Herbarium. A biographical notice by A. and E. S. Gepp, with
a portrait, is given in the " Journal of Botany " for November
1907.

During the years 1905 and 1906 the Botanical Society of
Edinburgh lost several Fellows, of whom obituary notices are given
in the addresses of the President, Professor Balfour. Among those
Fellows the following were students of the flora of Scotland : —

Patrick Neill Fraser. — One of the oldest Fellows, he took an
active interest in the work of the Society, and devoted especial
attention to the Ferns, of which he possessed a very fine collection of
living plants and a large herbarium, now in the Herbarium of the
Royal Botanic Garden. His collection of herbaceous plants was
also exceptionally fine.

Rev. James Farquharson, D.D., Minister of the parish of Selkirk.
A brief notice of him appeared in this journal in 1906 (p. 188);
but to it a little may be added. In 1876 he published a " List of
the Flowering Plants and Ferns observed in Selkirkshire," and also a
paper " On the Leafing of Certain Trees, etc.," being a record of
observations made in 1861-76 on the leafing and flowering of the
Scots plane, the Norway plane, and the common lime. The effects
of winters 1878-81 on gardens and shrubberies of Selkirk formed
the subject of another essay. In 1883 he found Carex divisa on

BOTANICAL NOTES AND NEWS 57

Holy Island. In 1878 he contributed to the " History of the
Berwickshire Naturalists' Club " an account of the " hained ground,"
of 300 acres of the old Ettrick Forest, at Bowhill, where the " hain-
ing," or enclosure of the ground from cattle and sheep, had allowed
the growth of the indigenous trees and bushes.

Frank Townshend, F.L.S. — Though not directly associated with
the investigation of the flora of Scotland, Mr. Townshend gave
ready and valuable aid to those who sought his help in determining
the various forms of the critical groups that he especially studied
(^Euphrasia and Ranunculus acer), and Scottish botanists shared that
aid in the investigation of local floras.

Cordieeps ophioglossoides in Peeblesshire. — This rare fungus
was found last September by Mr. Rupert Smith at Stobo, near
Peebles. The only other record of it being found in Scotland is
Crosbie, West Kilbride, where it was gathered by the late Prof.
Thomas King and Mr. D. A. Boyd, who recorded it in the
" British Association Handbook of the Natural History of the
Clyde Area."

At some of the fungus forays last autumn several interesting
fungi were collected. At Gosford, East Lothian, the Jew's-ear
fungus, Hirneola auricula-Judce^ was found in hundreds growing on
elder trees, and in one instance more than a dozen specimens were
seen growing on a fallen plane tree, Acer pseudo-platanus^ and
probably this is the first time this fungus has ever been found
growing on the plane tree. In the old Caledonian forest at
Dalkeith, where the beef-steak fungus is so common, a very large
specimen of Tremella foliacea was found, and great quantities of
Bulgaria inquinaris on the trunks and branches of cut timber. At
Arniston, Midlothian, Leotia lubrica was got in its old station, where
it is still plentiful. — A. B. Steele, Edinburgh.

Rosa hiberniea, Sm., in Banffshire. — In the beginning of
September last Mr. W. G. Craib sent me for determination a small
parcel of roses which he had collected in the district around Banff.
Amongst them was a specimen of what seemed R. hiberniea^ Sm.
This w^as gathered at Mill of Melrose, in the parish of Gamrie, two
or three miles to the east of Banff. At my request Mr. Craib
sent on other specimens which put the matter beyond doubt.
R. hibertiica, Sm., var. glabra, was discovered by Prof. Trail a few
years ago in the same parish, but on its eastern border, and has
been recorded by him in the "Flora of Buchan." Mr. Craib's rose,
however, is not the glabrous, but the hairy form, similar to the
original R. hiberniea of Belfast. So far as I know, there is only
one other station for this form in Scotland, viz. near Ormiston, on
the boundary between Mid and East Lothian. The Ormiston rose
is hairier than that of Gamrie, and indeed the hairs in the latter

58 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

seem to have a tendency to wear off, though it cannot be said to
be glabrescent. There are some other slight differences between the
two, but in all their main characters they agree with each other and
with the Belfast rose. The fruits in both are abortive to such an extent
that I have not seen any sufficiently advanced to make sure whether
the sepals become erect or not, and until this point be determined,
one cannot decide whether the second parent is H. duvietorum^
Thuill, or R. coriifolia^ Fr. There can of course be no doubt that
the other parent is R. pwipifiellifolia^ Sm. — W. Barclay.

Casuals near Aberdeen. — During the year 1907 I have con-
tinued to keep a watch on the plants that spring up on rubbish
deposits around Aberdeen. The most productive site has for a few
years been on the Links east of Old Aberdeen, where quantities ot
town refuse have been deposited to form a drive along the coast
and a football ground on a low part, which has thus been raised
above the level of the highest tides. The football ground has for
some time received almost all the refuse ; and a sparse vegetation
has grown on parts of the surface, where not destroyed by new
deposits. During 1907 I have found, among numerous other
casuals, the following, none of which has been previously recorded
from this part of Scotland : — Sisyiiibrmm Coluinnce^ J^cq., (3^ ; S.
tanacetifolium^ L., a ; Erysiimcm repandimi, L., a ; Lepidium incisutn^
Roth., /? ; Silene C7'etica, L., a, weed in my garden, among straw-
berries ; Medicago littoralis^ DC, /? ; Melilotus sulcata^ Desf., y ;
Trifolium Thalii^ Vill., a; Apium leptophyllum (DC), F. Muell., a;
Schkiihria tsopappa, Benth., /3 ; Senecio arabicus, L., y ; Centaurea
melitensis, L., y ; Statice Siiworowi^ Regel, a ; Phleum tenue^ Schrad., y.
Of casuals previously recorded from near Aberdeen, but extremely
rare here, I found on the football ground Sisymbriuin Sophia^ L., /5,
and Hordeu7n 7?iurinum, L., a. — James W. H. Trail.

Fung"! from the Isle of May. — During their sojourn on the
Isle of May for the purpose of witnessing the migratory movements
of birds, the Misses Baxter and Rintoul collected the following
species of Fungi, specimens of which they submitted to me for
identification : —

Tricholoma grmnmopodiiun^ Clitocybe dealbata^ Pholiota mutabilis^
Naucoria se7niorbicularis^ N. melinoide, Stropharia cerugifiosa,
S. seffiiglobata, Psilocybe fcenesecii^ Panoeolus separates, Hygro-
phorus pratensis, H. virgineus, H. coccineus, H. psittacimis^
Clavaria ineqiialis^ C. fusiformis, Calocera viscosa, Bovista
plumbea. A. B. Steele, Edinburgh.

1 The frequency of occurrence is denoted by a for one example, ^ from two
7 several.

CURRENT LITERATURE 59

CURRENT LITERATURE.

The Titles and Purport of Papers and Notes relating to Scottish Natural
History which have appeared during the Quarter — October-December 1907.

[The Editors desire assistance to enable them to make this Section as complete as
possible. Contributions on the lines indicated will be most acceptable, and
will bear the initials of the Contributor. The Editors will have access to the
sources of information undermentioned.]

ZOOLOGY.

Some New European Insectivora and Carnivora. By
Gerrit S. Miller. Ajui, and Mag. Nat. Hist., November 1907,
pp. 389-398. — Putorius erminea ricinse, a new sub-species, is
described from specimens obtained in the islands of Islay and
Jura ; and Felis grampia, a new species of Wild Cat, from examples
obtained at Inverness.

Black-tailed Godwit and Shoveller on the Beauly Firth.
Alick Ross, The Field., 23rd November 1907, p. 937. — A specimen
of each killed " during the past week."

Nesting of the Lesser Tern (Sterna minuta) in the
Outer Hebrides. Percy F. Bunyard, Zoologist, October 1907,
pp. 386-387. — Two eggs found on i8th June on the island of
Kirkibost, N.W. side of North Uist. Note on same subject by
J. A. Harvie-Brown, Zoologist, November 1907, p. 432.

Lepidoptera in Glenshian, Inverness-shire, in July 1907.
James J. Joicey and A. Noakes, Ent. Mo. Mag., November 1907,
pp. 255-256. — Ninety-four species recorded.

ToRTRix SEMiALBANA, Gn., IN ARGYLLSHIRE. T. A. Chapman,
E7it. Mo. Mag, November 1907, p. 258. — Refers to specimens
taken in July 1857 near Lochgoilhead.

Occurrence of Gelechia streliciella, H.S., in the High-
lands. C. T. Cruttwell, Ent. Mo. Mag., October 1907, pp.
235-236. — Several specimens obtained at Aviemore. A further
note on these specimens is given by Eustace R. Bankes.

Gelechia solutella, Z., ab. Cruttwelli, n. ab. By Eustace
R. Bankes, M.A., F.E.S., Ent. Mo. Mag., November 1907, 244-
245. — One specimen taken by Canon Cruttwell at Aviemore.

Coleophora marginatella, H.S. (?) in Scotland. Eustace
R. Bankes, Ent. Mo. Mag., November 1907, pp. 257-258. — One
from Braemar and three from Aviemore, all taken by Canon
Cruttwell.

Micro- Lepidoptera in the Highlands. C. T. Cruttwell,
Ent. Mo. Mag., November 1907, pp. 256-257. — A list of species
captured at Braemar and Aviemore.

6o ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

CoLEOPTERA AT AviEMORE AT Easter. By Prof. T. Hudson
Beare, B.Sc, Ent. Mo. Mag., December 1907, pp. 272-273. —
Twenty-two species recorded.

A Fortnight in the Highlands. By H. St. J. K.
Donisthorpe, F.Z.S., F.G.S., E7it. Record, October 1907, pp.
229-230. — A record of Coleoptera captured in various Scotch
localities, including Rannoch, Aviemore, and Nethy Bridge.

Coleoptera in the Highlands. C. T. Cruttwell, Ent. Mo.
Mag., November 1907, pp. 251-252. — A long list of species taken
at Aviemore and Braemar.

OcYPUS cyaneus, Payk., in Scotland. Thos. G. Bishop,
Ent. Mo. Mag., November 1907, p. 251. — A male captured near
Grantown-on-Spey in June 1907.

OcYPUs cyaneus in Scotland. Horace Donisthorpe, Ent. Mo.
Mag, December 1907, p. 275. — Taken by Col. Yerbury at Nairn.

Cryptophagus subdepressus, Gyll., a new British Beetle.
By Norman H. Joy, M.R.CS., F.E.S., Ent. Mo. Mag., October
1907, pp. 225-226. — Two specimens captured on young fir trees
near Strathpeffer, Ross.

Henoticus serratus, Gyll., from Scotland. Richard S.
Bagnall, Ent. Mo. Mag., October 1907, p. 234. — Found at
Arrochar, Loch Long, in July 1906.

Chrysomela marginata, L., on Arthur's Seat. T. Hudson
Beare, Ent. Mo. Mag., December 1907, pp. 274-275. — Several
specimens taken in June and July 1906.

Myrmecophilous Notes for 1907. By H. St. J. K. Donis-
thorpe, F.Z.S., F.E.S., Ent. Record, November 1907, pp. 254-256.
— Formica sanguinea taken at Aviemore and Nethy Bridge, Staphy-
linus stercorarius at the Forth Bridge, Othius myrmecophilus at
Nethy Bridge, Piezostethus formicetorum at Rannoch, and Uro-
trachytes formicarius on Arthur Seat, Edinburgh.

Notes on the Hymenopterous Family Agathidid^e. By
Claude Morley, F.E.S., Entomologist, October 1907, pp. 217-
220. — Microdus clausthalianus recorded from Barr, in Ayrshire
(Dalglish.)

Notes on British Braconid/e, V. By Claude Morley, F.E.S.,
Entomologist, November 1907, pp. 251-254. — Macrocentrus mar-
ginator recorded from the Isle of Arran (Waterston), Possil Marsh
(Dalglish), and Balmoral (Duncan).

The Myriapods (Centipedes and Millipedes) of the Forth
Area — Continuation. William Evans, Froc. Roy. Phys. Soc. Edin.,
vol. xvii. No. 3 (August 1907), pp. 109-120. — Deals with the
Symphyla and Diplopoda, eighteen species.

CURRENT LITERATURE 6i

Hydrachnid^ collected by the Lake Survey. William
Williamson, Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin.^ vol. xxvii. pt. iv. No. 30, pp.
302-307, figs. 1-7. — Eighteen species, belonging to twelve genera,
recorded from various localities.

Scottish Hydrachnids — species collected during 1906.
By William Williamson, Trans. Edin. Field Nat. and Micro. Soc.y
session 1906-7, pp. 393-394. — Twenty-six species recorded, of
which seven are new to Scotland.

The Re-discovery of Apus in Britain. The Field, 26th
October 1907, p. 765. — This note refers to specimens obtained by
Mr. Frank Balfour Browne in two pools on Preston Merse, near
Southwick, Kirkcudbrightshire.

BOTANY.

Summer Excursions of 1906. Froc. Ferthsh. Soc. Nat. Sc,
iv., pp. cxxxviii-cxliii. — Near Ochtertyre were found Strobilomyces
strobilaceiis, Cortina?'iiis bolarius, and other rare fungi.

RuBUS mucronatoides. By the Rev. Augustin Ley, M.A.
Journ. Bot., 1907, pp. 446-447. — Described as a variety of R.
mucro?iatus m Rogers's Haiidbook of British Rubi, but here regarded
as a distinct species. It has been recorded in Scotland from Nairn
(96) and Rosemarkie (106).

Note on the Flora of the Black Isle. By Rev. Canon
Spence Ross. T and F. E. B. S., xxiii. pp. 251-252. — Enumerates
Finguicula grandiflora near Fortrose and near Ferintosh, Atropa
Belladon7ia near Cromarty, and Corallorhiza near Fortrose.

Note on Pinguicula vulgaris, Linn., and its variants
TOWARDS grandiflora. By Dr. Wm. MacLean. T. and F. E. B. S.,
xxiii. p. 251. — Relates to forms observed in the Black Isle, Ross-
shire, in 1905.

Note on Juncus effusus, var. spiralis. By Magnus Spence.
T. and F. E. B. S., xxiii. p. 233. — Records its being "pretty
common in Orkney."

Alien and Casual Grasses found near Edinburgh. By
James Eraser. T. and F. E. B. S., xxiii. p. 239 and pp. 255-256.
— Twenty-one species recorded, about half not having been found
in Scotland previously.

Lastr^a remota from the Ben Lomond district. Exhibited
(9th May 1907) by W. B. Boyd. T and F. E. B. .S., xxiii. p. 281.

Note on Petalophyllum Ralfsii and Pallaviciniahibernica.
By Bertram Cockburn, Ph.C. T. and F. E. B. S., xxiii. pp.
279-280.

62 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

On the Riccl'e of the Edinburgh District. By William
Evans, F.R.S.E. T. a?id F. E. B. S., xxiii. pp. 285-287, t. 3.

Notes on New Diseases on Picea pungens (on buds, due to
an Ascomycete) and on Abies pectinata (on leaves, due to an
Ascomycete). By Dr. A. W. Borthwick. T. and P. E. B. S.,
xxiii. pp. 232-233.

Warty Disease of the Potato (^CJirysophlyctis endobioticd).
By Dr. A. W. Borthwick. Notes froj?i the Royal Botanic Garden^
Edifiburgh, pp. 11 5-1 19, t. 23. — The destructive "Black-Scab,"
first observed within the British Islands a few years ago in Cheshire,
is now recorded from Scotland.

Pleurotus decorus, from Drumnadrochit (96), exhibited.
T. and P. E. B. 6"., xxiii. p. 235.

BOOK notices.

A Natural History of the British Alucitides. Vol. i.
By J. W. Tutt, F.E.S. London : Elliot Stock, 1906. Price
£1 net.

This is the first of two ponderous volumes which are to treat of
the so-called " Plume Moths," and although bearing a separate title
they really form vols. v. and vi. of the author's great work on the
British Lepidoptera. Although issued at short intervals it is obvious
that the materials for these exhaustive volumes must have been
accumulating for a long period, and we read in the preface that
the notes for the present one were commenced twenty years ago.
It would thus be difficult to imagine any person better prepared or
more competent to produce a thoroughly good account of these
interesting, if neglected, insects than the present author. If Mr.
Tutt be spared to complete his second volume in the same style,
and we sincerely hope that he will, the British entomologist will
possess the best account, by a long way, of the " Plume Moths "
that has ever been produced.

As in previous volumes, we are treated to a first part containing
a portion of a general history of Lepidoptera, and in vol. v. there
are two chapters in part i., the first dealing with hybridisation, and
the second with "mongrelisation."

These chapters are of much interest, and should be read by all
students of variation and heredity.

The second and systematic part of the book is treated in the
same masterly fashion as in the previous volumes, and in conse-
quence of the increased difficulty met with in studying these tiny
moths the accounts (one might well call them monographs) given of

BOOK NOTICES 63

the twenty species are of proportionately high value, and represent
practically all that is known about them.

It would perhaps be out of place for us to criticise the techni-
calities of classification, nomenclature, and other details gone into
in this splendid volume. We are quite content to accept the
author's dicta on these difficult points, for he has studied the subject
as probably few (if any) have done. We shall only say, therefore,
that the student of Scottish Lepidoptera must use the volume, and
the oftener he consults it the greater will be the benefit he derives
from its 558 closely printed pages.

Gilbert White of Selborne. By W. H. Mullens, M.A.,
LL.M. London: Witherby & Co., 1907. 2s. 6d. net.

The text of this brochure formed the subject of a lecture
dehvered before the Hastings and St. Leonards Natural History
Society. As an epitomised account of Gilbert White and his work,
it is a most excellent production, and will rank among the best of
its kind ever penned. It is extremely tastefully printed, and is
illustrated by a series of plates, reproduced from photographs,
depicting the entries in the parish register relating to White's birth
and death, his tombstone, the "Wakes" in his time and to-day,
Selborne church, etc. The concluding pages are devoted to a
bibliography giving particulars of the most important editions that
have been issued of the celebrated classic — " The Natural History
and Antiquities of Selborne."

The Home- Life of some Marsh Birds. Photographed and
Described by Emma L. Turner, F.L.S., and P. H. Bahr, B.A.,
M.B.O.U. With 32 plates, and many text illustrations. London :
Witherby & Co., 1907. 2s. 6d. net.

This work affords a series of remarkably pleasing peeps into the
home-life of a number of birds — the Great Crested Grebe; Coot;
Snipe; Water Rail; Red- throated Diver; Bearded Tit; Sedge, Reed,
and Grasshopper Warblers; and the Black-headed Gull. The plates,
which are exceedingly well reproduced, have been very cleverly
secured, the subjects evidently being quite unconscious that they
were " being taken," and consequently are depicted in very interest-
ing attitudes, or engaged in the performance of various domestic
duties. The letterpress, in which is given a number of sketches
from pen and ink drawings, is attractively written and very
appropriate.

Mammals of the World. By W. F. Kirby, F.L.S., F.E.S.
With an Introduction on Structure by W. Egmont Kirby, M.D.
With 30 full -paged coloured plates. London: Sidney Appleton,
1907. 6s. net.

Of the various groups of which the animal kingdom is composed,
there is none which lends itself to more attractive treatment than the

64 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Mammals, and a popular work, at a popular price, and with coloured
illustrations was certainly a desideratum. The book under consider-
ation aims at supplying this want, and does so with partial success.
A great deal of useful information is afforded about a large number
of species, and on the families and orders to which they belong ;
but the author has not, we think, treated his subject as attractively
as he might have done. The chapter on Structure is rather too
technical to be in consonance with the elementary aim of the
volume. The coloured plates, each of which figures several species,
must be considered satisfactory, when the very reasonable price of
the book, which is very nicely got up, is borne in mind.

The Sense of Touch in Mammals and Birds, with Special
Reference to the Papillary Ridges. Walter Kidd, M.D., F.Z.S.
pp. viii+176. With 164 Illustrations from Drawings and Micro-
photographs. London: A. & C. Black, 1907. 5s. net.

The sense of touch is here discussed in relation to the capillary
ridges and the papillae of the corium. The mode of treatment is
purely anatomical and intended to demonstrate the great variations
in the epidermis and corium on the palmar and plantar surfaces.
The complexity of the ridge patterns in different regions — digital,
palmar, and plantar — is found to be in close correspondence with
the activity and function of the respective parts, a generalisation
especially borne out by a comparison of the palm and sole of the
baboons with the digits, of the digits of the gibbons with the palm
and sole, and of the terminal phalanges of man with any region of
any animal. The microscopic studies are concerned only with the
outlines of the papillae of the corium and the papillary ridges, the
degrees of development of which are closely related. The author
shows that the differentiation of these papillae and ridges increases
with the higher development of the species examined, and he holds
that, although they certainly serve as aids to the prehensile efficiency
of the limb, this is a secondary function, the nature and arrange-
ment of the ridges, and the intimate and essential connection of the
papillary ridges with the sensory papillae of the corium are more
compatible with the view that the ridges primarily subserve the
sense of touch. Considerable attention is devoted to the " imbri-
cation " of the papillary ridges, an arrangement w^hich increases the
discriminative sensibility of the skin, and the nature of the papillary
ridging of the foot in relation to its aid in the maintenance of equili-
brium is also discussed.

It is evident that great care has been bestowed upon the observa-
tions on which the conclusions are based, and upon the preparation
of the figures with which the book is w^ell illustrated. The numer-
ous facts would have been rendered more easy of access had an
index been provided.

The Annals

of

Scottish Natural History

No. 66]

1908

[April

WHALING IN SCOTLAND FOR 1907.

By R. C. Haldane, F.S.A. (Scot.).

The season of 1907 has been a very productive one, whales
appearing in large numbers and showing no signs of diminu-
tion, the number killed at each station being : —

B.
musculus.

B.

sibbaldii.

B.

borealis.

Sperm.

B.
biscayensis.

Megap-
tera.

Bottle-
nose.

Norrona Co.
Shetland Co.
Alexandra Co.
Buneveneader Co.
Olna Co. .

87

39

83

96

many

I

9

2

24
18

19

II

79

4

6

24

I
4

I
I

305, etc.

12

151

10

24

5

2

BaL/ENOPTERA MUSCULUS.
The particulars of these whales are : —

Number

of Bulls

killed.

Average
Length.

Number

of Cows

killed.

Average
Length.

Proportion
of Bulls
per cent.

Proportion
of COH'S

per cent.

Norrona
Shetland
Alexandra .
Buneveneader
Olna .

47

23

50

63

many

ft. ins.

59 4
58 6
62 2

60

40
16

33

■-> 'J

ft. ins.

63
62 8
62 4

64

54-0
59-0
60.0
65.6

46.0
41.0
40.0

34.3

183, etc. 60

122

63

59-6

40.3

66

B

66 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

By the kindness of Mr. Theodore Salvesen of Leith I
am able to give the results of whales killed at Captain Bull's
station at Nordfjord, East Iceland, for 1906. This is inter-
esting for comparison : 12 B. sibbaldii^ 23 B. imisailus^ 25
Mcgaptcra^ I B. Iwrcalis. Mr. Salvesen also sends me the
catch made at the Thorsvig station at Faroe : 3 B. sibbaldii^
24 /). inusciilns^ 18 B. borealis^ 3 Bottle-nose.

Norrona station had Finner cow whales of lengths of
70, 70, 70, 71, 72, 70, 72, 70 feet, but the two largest
bulls were ^^ feet each.

Shetland station had cows of 72 and 73 feet, but the
largest bull was 65 feet.

Alexandra station had cows of 71, 70, 70 feet, the two
longest bulls being 70 and 69 feet.

Bunaveneader station had cows j ^^^ 7^) 7^) 70, 70 feet
the three largest bulls being 69 feet each. Taking these
with what I have recorded in former years, there can be no
doubt that cows of B. inusculus attain a greater size than
the bulls ; and on an average of all the bulls and cows the
latter will be found, as a rule, to be about 3 feet longer than
the bulls.

Migration.

The migration of whales is a difficult subject to handle,
for we know really very little about the movements of most
whales. All that I attempt to do is to put the little I
know before the reader and allow him to draw his own con-
clusions.

In the Antarctic, Megaptera, B. sibbaldii, and B. inusculus
are very common. Sperm Whales are scarce, though often
seen near the River Plate. Balcena biscayensis is said to be
found near the south coast of South America during March,
April, and May. Again, on the west coast of Africa, Sperms
and Balcena biscayensis are found. Off the coast of Brazil,
Megaptera are numerous. Off Tristan da Cunha, Sperm
and Atlantic Right Whales are said to be abundant. In
south latitudes Finners, Blue Whales, Megaptera, Bottle-
nose, Sperm Whales, and Atlantic Right W^hales are all
seen. But the Balcenoptera borealis does not seem to be
known. It is but right to mention that the Dundee

AYHALING IN SCOTLAND FOR 1907 67

whalers in 1892 ^ did not meet the Atlantic Right Whale;
nor is it mentioned among those described by Dr. Wilson
in the " Natural History (Vertebrata) of the Voyage of the
' Discovery. ' " I am informed by Norwegians that it is to
be met with near the South Shetlands. I take it that
Balcejia biscayensis is the same as B. australis^ which Mr.
Beddard seems to think the case. It is probable that it
keeps clear of the ice.

But it is the migration of whales in the Northern
Hemisphere, and especially in our own seas, to which I
want to call attention.

Bal^na biscayensis.

This year the Buneveneader station has got 24 of these
whales. None have been got at any of the Shetland
stations, though, as I mentioned in the " Annals " for
January 1907, one was got by a Faroe whaler 50 miles
west of Shetland in 1903. In 1906 this Harris station
got 6 of these whales. They seem to pass about a degree
west of St. Kilda and the Flannen Islands to Iceland, Saxa
Fjord and Brede Fjord on the west coast being favourite
resorts for them; in the latter 14 were once got in one
season." From there they are supposed to pass down
the Western Atlantic to Bermuda, where many winter,
but probably many go farther south. From there it seems
as if they worked northward again, till in summer they once
more passed west of St. Kilda. Goldsberg says one was
shot on the Arctic coast of Norway, and that old bones
have been found at Finmark. Hjort says they must at one
time have gone to Norway, probably following the course
of the Blue Whale, B. sibbaldii. One Norwegian name for
this whale is the " Gulf Stream Right Whale." I can only
hear of one of these whales having been killed off the
Faroes.

Physeter macrocephalus.

This last season Bunaveneader station got 4 Sperm
Whales. Olna station got 6. This shows that these

1 W. G. Burn-Murdoch, "From Edinburgh to the Antarctic."
- "A Book of Whales,"' p. 133.

68 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

whales follow the coast of Scotland much in the same
course as the .Atlantic Right Whale, but after passing
Scotland they go more to the east and then pass by the
Faroes to Iceland, after which they probably go south
towards Bermuda, or even to the South Atlantic.

The total killed off Scotland and Shetland being —

1903.

Norrona Station

I

1904.

Alexandra ,,

I

1905.

Olna „

I

)>

Buneveneader Station

3

1906.

» >)

I

1907.

>> jj

4

>»

Olna „

6

this shows that they are but rare visitants at most in these
seas, but they have been killed off the coast of Finmark in
Norway, and off Faroe and Iceland.

They, especially the cows, like to keep to the warmer
parts of the sea, just outside the tropics, as the only cow
Sperm killed so far in British waters is the one got at
Buneveneader in 1905. They may be said to be found
in nearly every part of the world, from the seas off the
Azores, South Africa, New Zealand, Chili, to Japan. The
stomachs of those got at Olna in 1907 were absolutely
empty, containing only some fish-hooks. Off Harris they
feed on Sharks, Octopus, and a fish called " Moonfish " by
the Norwegians, 7 or 8 feet long by 2 feet deep, probably
a species of Sunfish. The Sharks off Harris are often of
large size, but that does not protect them from the Sperm
Whales.

Megaptera.

These whales do not seem to be frequenting the seas
round Scotland and Shetland as much as they once did.
Not that they are diminishing in numbers ; the catch at
Iceland given above disproves this. Off the coast of Brazil,
and about South Georgia, they are in great numbers, one of
the most common whales. My impression is that when
migrating they follow a course something like that of the
Sperm Whales. Mr. Salvesen received from Captain Bull
a harpoon found in the blubber of a Megaptera killed off

WHALING IN SCOTLAND FOR 1907 69

Iceland. It is a curious thing, 10 inches long, composed
of a round rod with a loose harpoon-head into which one
end of the rod fits. On the other end of the rod are two
india-rubber rings, and the place where a third has been.
It most likely has a South American origin, and shows what
great distances these whales travel.

Bal^na biscayensis.

The extraordinary success of the Buneveneader station
in capturing 24 of these rare whales is said to have been
exceeded by a Company using a floating factory and fishing
near South-West Africa, who are said to have got 42 of
this species.

The Buneveneader whales consisted of —

12 cows— 48, 48, 47, 44I, 44, 49, 47, 47I, 47, 48 J, 46, 47 J

feet long ;
12 bulls— 47I 46, 45, 46J, 45, 45 J, 46, 48, 45, 43, 47, 46

feet long ;

the cows having an average length of 47 feet and the bulls
45 feet. The cows had an average girth of 36.6 feet, the
bulls of 33.7 feet. As is usual with most whales, the cow
is larger than the bull.

The whalebone is worth about ;^400 a ton ; but the
yield is much less than that of the Greenland Right Whale,
as the bone is shorter, generally from 7 to 8 feet, the
weight of bone being about 6 to 7 cwt. per whale.

Bal.^noptera sibbaldil

The Buneveneader station, as I have said, got six bulls
of 69, 80, 73, J 6, 81, 71 feet long, or an average length of 7 5
feet.

The three cows were 82, 79, and 78 feet — an average of
79.6. The large cow had a girth of 50 feet, the largest bulls
42 and 45 feet.

The Norrona cow was 68 feet long.

These " Blue Whales " seem more common off Faroe
and Iceland, also off Finmark, than they are off Scotland.
Off Shetland they are decidedly rare, the Buneveneader

70 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Station, Harris, being the only one that falls in with them
in any numbers.

They are said to go very far north, to the neighbourhood
of the ice, and seem to pass along b}' Iceland to Newfound-
land, wliere they are common ; 96 having been got in the
season of i 906, according to the return of the Department
of Marine and Fisheries. In the season 1904-5 the return
of Blue Whales (there called Sulphur Bottoms) was 263.
The Inspector of Whale Fisheries there attributes the
falling off in numbers to either scarcity of whales or that
they are shyer and more difficult to approach ; but owing to
the heavy tax on the stations many of the steamers are
being sold to go to Japan, which may account for part of
the smaller catch.

BAL/ENOPTERA musculus.

I had several opportunities for studying the colour of
these whales in the sea. The conclusion I came to was
that the effect of light makes a great difference. One
morning I saw on one side of the steamer a whale which
was absolutely sepia in colour ; on the other side was a
whale so dark grey that it seemed to be black. Neither of
these were killed.

Speaking, however, to one of the managers of the
stations, he assured me that there really was considerable
variation in colour. He thought there were distinct
varieties of Finner whales — a large brown whale, the dark
grey one, and a smaller black variety. The manager of
another station said there were different varieties both of B.
musculus and B. sibbaldii. This is an interesting question,
and should be investigated. It shows how little we really
know about whales. At the same time one finds trout in
the same loch of different colours in different places, yet one
could not call them varieties, the colour being due to the
nature of the bottom of the part of the loch where they live.
It may possibly be that the colouring of w^hales is affected
by the nature of the sea.

It was only in August 1907 that whales were found
which were living upon herrings. This is easily explained,

WHALING IN SCOTLAND FOR 1907 71

as herrings were very late in appearing on the west coast of
Shetland.

I could only hear of three Pennella balcenopterce having
been observed this year. But a curious parasite, somewhat
resembling a taenia, was found under the blubber of a
whale's abdomen. The flenser said it was living when
taken out. I sent it to Professor Arthur Thomson, Marischal
College, Aberdeen.

Finners are plentiful at South Georgia, about 55° S. lat.,
as are also B. sibbaldii.

On 3rd August two whales were brought to the Alexandra
station, which had been feeding on a small species of Gadus
about the size of anchovies.

In the uterus the head of the fcetus lies next the vagina.

I got the sexes of foetuses kept for me, and, taking the
average of B. musculus and B. borealis, I find the proportion
of males and females is just equal. As more bull whales
are killed than cows, it confirms me in my opinion that the cow
whale is more timid than the bull and avoids danger. To-
wards September the size of the fcetus increases greatly, and
leads me to think that birth takes place in October and
November. Among the contents of the stomachs of B.
musculus^ cuttle-fish are found ; one observer reporting
" small white fish," probably the species of Gadus referred
to above. Owing probably to the cold spring, the first
Finners had an unusual quantity of blubber, and the farther
one goes north the fatter the whales get.

There has been more outcry this last year that killing
whales injures the herring fishing ; yet no one can explain
why it should do so, and most say there is no proof that it
does so. The complainers seem to forget that the migration
of fishes, and especially of herrings, is a complex and little
understood subject. Temperature, currents, salinity of the
sea, must all be considered ; while, to quote from the Second
Report of the North Sea Investigation Committee (1907,
p. 28) : " In the northern area of the North Sea, during the
summer months, we thus have the inflowing salt Atlantic
water bounded by surface layers of Continental coast water
on the one side and of fresh Scottish coastal water on the
other. The changes in the relative distribution of these

72 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

various waters from one season to another form a most
interesting problem in connection with the study of the
North Sea — a problem which Professor i^cttersson believes to
have a most important bearing on the migration of the
herring."

I am now able to add that the Olna station got 79
B.lwrealis — 49 bulls averaging 40.5 feet, 30 cows averaging
38.9 feet. The largest bulls were 54, 50, and 50 feet long ;
The largest cows were 5 i and 47 feet long.

There were two B. sibbaldii, 58 and 60 feet, both bulls ;
four Mcgapta'a — one cow, 47 feet; three bulls, 58, 55, and
5 2 feet long, an average of 5 5 feet.

The Sperm Whales were, as usual, all bulls — 58, 63, 54,
59, 58, and 55 feet, an average of 57.8 feet.

Among the B. inusadus killed the longest bulls were 71,
71, 71, 71, 72, and 73 feet; the longest cows were 71, 71,
71, 72, 72, 73, and 73 feet.

LOCHEND, OlLABERRY, SHETLAND.

THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE.— III. REPORT ON
OBSERVATIONS MADE DURING THE
YEAR 1907.

By Wm. Eagle Clarke, F.R.S.E., F.L.S.

Observations on the movements of birds were systemati-
cally carried on at Fair Isle throughout 1907; and, like
those for the preceding year, have yielded results of con-
siderable interest.

It is not, however, my intention to deal with the main
mass of the observations at present ; they are reserved as
a contribution towards a future report on the remarkable
passage movements witnessed at this station, which I hope
to prepare when further investigations have been carried out,

The object of this contribution is to afford such additional
information on certain birds, already recorded for the island,
as may be interesting and necessary ; and to enumerate,

THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE 73

with details of their occurrence, those species which have
been added to the fauna during the past year.

The chief sources of information are the observations
made by Mr. George Stout, who has again earned my
grateful acknowledgments for the thorough manner in
which he has carried out my instructions ; and the investiga-
tions made by myself and Mr. C. Preston Donaldson during
a five weeks' sojourn on the island during the autumn, when
80 species of migratory birds came under our notice. In
this connection, too, I must not omit to mention, and express
my thanks for, the valuable assistance rendered by Mr. J.
W. Anderson and the Lightkeepers.

During the year the movements of no less than i 1 7
species were recorded. Of these, j'j came under notice on
their journeys northward in spring ; while in the autumn
the observations on the movements southwards, and the
visits of a few rare wanderers, related to i 1 1 species. The
identical species known to have visited the island on both
the spring and autumn passages in 1907 were 71 in number.
The new birds added to the fauna were 17, making the
total ascertained Ornis of Fair Isle at the close of the year
to be 160 species.

Foremost among the new birds in point of interest, and,
it may be added, not less so in rarity, is the Siberian Chiff-
Chaff. This species is a summer visitor to the extreme
N.E. of Europe and to N.VV. Asia, and is only known to
have reached our shores on one previous occasion. Several
examples, however, of this inconspicuous species occurred
at Fair Isle in October, and their appearance is of consider-
able importance since it suggests the possibility that the
bird is not a mere accidental visitor, but that further research
may prove it to be a more or less regular autumn migrant
with us, like its Siberian congener the Yellow -browed
Warbler.

The other new birds of the rarer type are the Black-
headed Bunting, the Black-throated Wheatear, and the Short-
toed Lark ; all of them natives of the far south, which should
have flitted farther south. These are additional instances
of those erratic wanderings of migrants to which the Fair
Isle observations have already contributed some remarkable

74 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

records. They are possibly clue to some unaccountable
failure of that special faculty possessed by migratory birds
which leads them unconsciously to proceed along the lines
they should go to reach the seasonal haunts resorted to by
their forebears. The incentive to migrate was, however,
evidently strong within them, or they would not have
reached such a far-off goal as Fair Isle. The weather at the
time was fine and settled, so that the storm-driven theory
does not afford an explanation of these vagaries in migration
phenomena.

Among the remaining novelties are several well-known
though unlookcd for British birds, to wit, the Grasshopper
Warbler, the Wood Warbler, and the Black Redstart ; while
the rest comprise species which are less surprising in their
appearance but are yet to be deemed of considerable interest :
these are the Grey-headed Wagtail, the Hoopoe, and the
Snowy Owl.

A number of species — the Little Bunting, Ortolan
Bunting, Lapp Bunting, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-
browed Warbler, Arctic Bluethroat, etc. — are worthy of
special mention as having again visited the island, and
thereby strengthened their claim to be regarded as regular
birds of passage, not only at Fair Isle but on Scottish
shores.

The repeated appearance, too, of such birds as the Tree
Pipit, Whinchat, Red-backed Shrike, Shore Lark, and others,
which have hitherto been regarded as exceptional in their
visits to the Northern Archipelagos, is not less gratifying,
and is, most assuredly, not less important. On the other
hand, certain species were remarkable for their great scarcity
during the autumn of 1907, among others the Goldcrest
and Woodcock ; while some were either entirely absent
or escaped notice, such as the Pied Flycatcher and Sedge
Warbler.

A considerable number of birds were killed at the lanterns
of the two Lighthouses. The greatest immolation of these
innocents took place on the early morning of October 17th,
when at the South Lighthouse alone not less than 500
Redwings and Song Thrushes; 100 Fieldfares; 12 Ring
Ousels ; many Blackbirds ; a number of Starlings, Bramblings,

THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE 75

and Chaffinches ; single examples of the Woodcock, Jack
Snipe, and Mistle Thrush were found dead near the tower.
The death-roll at the North Lighthouse is believed to have
been equally great, but no attempt was made there to count
or estimate the number of the slain.

It is again my pleasant duty to express to the Com-
missioners of Northern Lighthouses my gratitude for, and
appreciation of, the privileges they so kindly granted to
Mr. Donaldson and myself ; and to Mr. Dick Peddie for
his valued co-operation and advice. Acknowledgments
are also due to Mr. and Mrs. Wallace for their great kind-
ness and attention to us during our residence at the Skaddan
Lighthouse ; and to all our good friends among the inhabitants
of Fair Isle, who most obligingly permitted us to wander at
will over their crofts in search of the feathered travellers
sheltering therein.

In the following list, the species which are numbered
are additions to those included in my previous contributions,
and also to the avifauna of the island.

Specimens of the more interesting species about to be
mentioned have been presented to the collection of British
birds in the Royal Scottish Museum.

144. Carrion Crow, Corviis corone. — A Carrion Crow was seen
continually by us, and we were told that it had been on the
island for some weeks previous to our arrival. It always
associated with the Grey Crows. This species is one of
the additions to the Fair Isle avifauna, and has only been
observed as an occasional visitor to both the Orkney and
Shetland groups.

Grey Crow, Corvus comix. — An example showing a tendency
towards albinism was shot on 20th September. This
specimen had several of the primaries in each wing, the
chin, right nasal plumes, claws, and soles of the feet white.
The bill was tipped with white, and the mandible was
white at the base. The grey portions of its plumage were
paler than usual and were slightly tinged with buff.

Jackdaw, Corvus monedula. — This species had only once
before come under our notice, a pair having been seen on
8th September 1905. In 1907 many arrived on 15th
April, a few appeared late in October, and a single bird was
observed in November.

76 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HLSTORY

Greenfinch, Li^^ur'ums chloris. — Two Greenfinches frequented
one of the geos all the summer, and may have nested there.
This bird usually arrives late in the autumn, and a few
remain to winter on the island ; but it seems to have been
absent during the past season.

Greater Redpoll, AamtJiis rostraia. — A small party of this
large Greenland form of the Mealy Redpoll was seen on
2 1 St September. This race is characterised by its large
size ; the robust form of its bill ; and its sombre-coloured,
heavily-striped plumage. None of the Fair Isle birds
obtained or seen by me in the autumns of 1905 and 1907
showed any signs of pink on the breast.

Linnet, Acanthis cannabina. — The second known occurrence
of this species on the island is recorded for 1 7th August,
when a single example w^as observed. Later in the autumn
several appeared in October, and the last was seen on the
2 1 St of that month.

145. Black-headed Bunting, Emberiza melaiiocephala. — A female
example of this summer visitor to South-Eastern Europe
occurred on 21st September. When first observed it was
perched on some thistles, to which it returned several times
on being disturbed. The contents of its stomach were
found to consist, according to Mr. Grimshaw to whom they
were submitted, chiefly of fragments of the husks of grass,
some seeds (probably of a species of Polygonum)^ fragments
of an earwig, an entire phalangid (harvestman), and portions
of the larva of a May-fly.

This species has only been chronicled as a visitor to
the British Islands on five previous occasions. One of
these, the Scottish record, cannot be regarded as entirely
satisfactory, for the bird was discovered in a bird show in
London in 1887, ^^d was said to have been captured near
Dunfermline in November of the previous year.

Little Bunting, Emberiza pusilla. — On 14th April, George
Stout saw, at the distance of a few feet only, the first Little
Bunting that has ever been detected in the British Islands
during the spring. He is quite certain as to the identity
of the bird, and he speaks with knowledge, for he carefully
examined in the flesh the bird which was procured by Mr.
Kinnear and myself during the previous autumn.

In October quite a number of these birds visited the
island. They were first noticed on the loth, and were
seen until 5th November. No less than nine were observed,
but these probably only represented a small proportion of
those present, for they are extremely difficult to detect amidst

THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE 77

the vast flocks of Twites which they join after arrival on the
island.

The previous records of the visits, few in number, of
this species to our shores, relate to the appearance of
single examples only ; and its appearance at Fair Isle in
some numbers is a remarkable event in its history as a
British bird.

Yellow Bunting, Emberiza citrinella. — This species was
observed in some numbers as a bird of double passage in
1907. In spring it appeared during March and April ; and
in the autumn from mid September to mid November.
During both seasons it participated in the general move-
ments, or " rushes," of migrants.

Ortolan Bunting, Emberiza hortulana. — It would seem from
the Fair Isle records for the past two years that this species
can no longer be considered as the rare casual visitor to the
shores of Northern Britain it was formerly supposed to be,
but must be regarded as a bird of double passage. It again
occurred on the island in some numbers in the late spring ;
and in September several came under our notice at intervals
during the month.

Corn Bunting, Emberiza 7Jiilia7'ia. — In my first contribution
to the Birds of Fair Isle, I described this bird as a resident
species. It certainly bred on the island in 1905, for birds
newly on the wing were observed in September ; but it does
not appear to have nested since. It occurs, however, in
small numbers on both the spring and autumn passages.

Lapland Bunting, Calcarius lapponicus. — The Lapp Bunting
was for the third season in succession observed on the island
in fair numbers throughout our visit. It arrived at a remark-
ably early date, being first observed by George Stout on
25th August, and we saw a small party on ist September, our
first day on the island. The largest number seen together
was thirteen. These birds chiefly frequented rough grass,
the seeds of which formed their chief food, on the higher
ground ; and I have no doubt they were much more
numerous than our observations might lead one to suppose,
as their haunts were only occasionally visited. We saw
them, however, on twelve different days, and after our
departure they were under notice down to 29th October.

146. Short-toed Lark, Callandrella brachydactyla. — The second
Scottish specimen was fortunately detected as a stranger
among a small party of Skylarks on nth November. It
may, George Stout opines, have been present on the island
for some time before it was noticed ; and he mentions that

78 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL IILSTORY

its note was not unlike that of its chosen companions.
When recording the occurrence of the first Scotch example
for the Flannan Isles, I too remarked that when the bird
was disturbed it uttered a note very similar to that of a
Skylark. This bird is a native of Southern Europe, and
is a very uncommon straggler to any portion of the British
area.

Shore Lark, Otocorys alpestris. — The spring passage north-
wards of this species was witnessed during the early days of
!NLarch, and a few returned to the island late in October
and remained for about a fortnight.

147. Grey-headed Wagtail, Motacilla borealis. — This is an
interesting, but not unlooked for, addition to the list of
Fair Isle migratory visitors. It is a species whose presence
on our shores during the periods of its migrations has, no
doubt, long been overlooked, for the bird is a common
summer visitor to Northern Europe, including Scandinavia.
It has only previously been noticed at one Scottish Station,
namely at the Pentland Skerries, where it was obtained in
May 1888. It has, however, been noted on several
occasions on the South Coast of England (where it is even
recorded as having nested), and has once been captured
inland in Yorkshire. Fair numbers visited the Isle during
the latter part of May and early June ; and its southern
passage came under my notice late in September.

In this species the adult male has the crown and nape
dark grey, verging on black on the sides of the head and
lores, and lacks a superciliary streak ; while the female
appears to be indistinguishable from that ol Motacilla fiava^
the Central European summer bird known as the Blue-
headed Wagtail.

Pied Wagtail, Motacilla lugubris. — This is decidedly a scarce
species on passage, and has only, as yet, come under notice
in spring. One was observed late in March, and two single
birds appeared at the end of May ; all, presumably, on their
way north.

Tree Pipit, Anthics trivialis. — This bird again appeared in
numbers in both spring and autumn, and has quite established
its claim to be regarded a bird of double passage. It seems
strange, in the light of the Fair Isle data, that this species
should have entirely escaped notice in the other isles of the
Shetland group, and should have only once or twice been
observed in Orkney. As in the autumn of 1907 it occurred
very late, i.e. down to the fourth week of October.

THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE 79

Great Grey Shrike, Laniiis excubitor. — Our previous informa-
tion regarding this species at Fair Isle related to a solitary
example seen some years ago by Mr. Tulloch, a former
lightkeeper there, who was interested in birds. In April
1907 single Great Grey Shrikes were seen on three occasions
on their northern passage ; and in the autumn several (also
single birds) were recorded for dates ranging from the last
week of October to the second week of November. Several
were obtained, all of which belonged to the variety known
as Z. major. In one of these the white wing - bar was
exceptionally narrow, only showing to the extent of two-
tenths of an inch on the closed pinion.

Red-backed Shrike, Lanius colhirio. — Several occurred on
the spring passage in May ; and a few young birds were
seen by us at intervals during the first three weeks of
September — the first autumn passage of this species which
has come under our notice.

Goldcrest, Reguliis cristatus. — One of the ornithological
features of last autumn was the all but entire absence of
this species, only a single Goldcrest being observed, namely
on 4th November. During my previous visits, this little
bird has swarmed for several days, affording an interesting
lesson in the shifts for a living which have to be resorted to
by migratory birds when e7i voyage. On these occasions
they were observed in numbers creeping about the lichen-
spangled faces of the great cUffs in pursuit of insects, utter-
ing the while their feeble squeaky notes, which struck one
as being tinged with irritability — perhaps a reflection of
their feelings at finding themselves committed to such
uncongenial hunting-grounds ! On the spring migration it
occurred on two occasions in April.

Garden Warbler, Sylvia hortensis. — The Garden Warbler, a
species which was not detected during the spring migration
of 1906, occurred on five dates during the vernal passage
in 1907. It is probably a fairly common bird on both
passages.

148. Wood Warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix. — This bird is a some-
what surprising addition to the gipsy element in the ornis
of Fair Isle ; and it has not hitherto been recorded as
visiting either the Orkney or Shetland groups. Single birds
were captured on the island early in June and in August.

It has, however, occurred on that far-off Atlantic outlier
of the Orcades, Sule Skerry, where an example caught
at the lantern on the night of 27th September 1906 was
forwarded to me in the flesh.

So ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

The Wood \Varbler is only known to have visited
Norway on one occasion, but is found in Sweden up to the
60"^ N. lat. Possibly some of the Swedish birds may move
westwards when emigrating in the autumn, and in this way
reach the Norwegian coast, whence they depart for the
south, travelling by the well-known route which traverses
the British shores.

Chiff-Chaff, Pliylloscopus nifus. — This bird was newly
detected as a spring visitor; one, captured on 24th May,
having been forwarded to me for identification. It is
doubtless more frequent at this season than is supposed,
for it is an easily overlooked species, especially at Fair Isle,
where so many insectivorous visitors resort to the faces of
its twenty miles of lofty encircling cliffs. In the autumn
it was present during the second or third weeks of October.

149. Siberian Chiff-Chaff, Fhylloscopiis tristis. — This Eastern

species has recently been admitted to a place in the
British avifauna on the strength of a specimen captured at
the lantern of the Sule Skerry lighthouse on the night of the
23rd September 1902 ("Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist." 1907, 15).
The ornithological investigations at Fair Isle during 1907
have fully justified the claim of this bird to be regarded as a
British species, for in the past autumn four examples were
captured during the fourth week of October, and as others
were seen it is probable that species was present in some
numbers at the time.

The four specimens referred to were all females. The
first was taken on the 21st October, and the other three on
the 24th.

Since the above was penned I have received for deter-
mination a specimen in the flesh from Orkney, where some
of these birds have evidently passed the winter. On
5th February, Mr. Wm. Cowan, who forwarded the bird
to me, received one of two which had frequented some
nursery grounds at Kirkwall for a fortnight, being first
noticed on 25th January. This bird had killed itself in at-
tempting to escape from one of the greenhouses into which
it had ventured, and had been shut in.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Phylloscopus stiperciliosus — In the
autumn of 1907, this interesting little migrant either did
not occur, or escaped notice, until 13th October when a
single bird was observed. Single examples were also seen
on the 22nd and 29th, and two on the 21st.

150. Grasshopper Warbler, Locustella navia. — Like the Wood

Warbler, this is an hitherto unrecorded bird for the

THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE 8i

northern groups of islands. A female was captured on 29th
May during a rush of migrants. This species has not been
recorded, I believe, for Scandinavia or Northern Europe,
and its appearance at Fair Isle can only be attributed to
erratic wandering (overshooting its range when seeking
summer quarters), or to being carried out of its course by
the influence of adverse weather conditions.

Greater Wheatear, Saxicola leucorrhoa (Gmelin). — The
first Wheatears that came under our notice as immigrants
on their passage southwards consisted of numbers of this
large brightly-coloured race. They arrived during the first
week of September, and their movements continued at
intervals down to the end of the month. Some days they
were very numerous, and their large size was in marked
contrast with that of the native birds. The wing measure-
ment of specimens varied from 98 to 105 mm.; several
males and females reaching the latter dimension. The
adult male at this season has the mantle a mixture of pale
grey and light brown, and the two pretty white stripes
on the side of the head, one extending from the fore-
head over and well behind the eye, and the other from
the chin to under the eye, are conspicuous. I had seen
these birds on my previous visits to the island, but had
never found them so abundant as in the past autumn. In
the spring the northern passage commenced during the first
week of April, and the old males were then remarkable
for the brilliancy of their plumage. This early date for the
northward passage was probably induced by the wonderful
outburst of summer weather experienced during the last
week of March.

The summer home of this race is E. and W. Greenland
and the lands on the opposite side of Davis Straits, and
Iceland ; and it probably winters in West Africa. Its
regular lines of migration are by way of the Faroe and
British Islands ; and I have captured examples at the
lanterns of the Eddystone Lighthouse and Kentish Knock
Light Vessel, when on their southern passage in the
autumn.

151. Black-throated Wheatear, Saxicola occidentalis. — On 25th
September a fine male in winter plumage was detected by
me among the numerous scattered examples of the Common
Wheatear. Mr. Grimshaw, who examined the crop, found
it to contain entirely insect matter, consisting of the larvae
of two noctuid moths and the fragments of several
ichneumons (Hymenoptera).
66 c

82 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

This bird is new to Scotland, and is the third example
which is known to have visited the British Isles ; the others
having been obtained in Lancashire and Kent respectively,
and in the spring. It is not so very extraordinary, perhaps,
that this species should overstep its distribution when mov-
ing northwards to reach its south-western European summer
quarters in spring ; but it is very remarkable that it should
proceed northwards instead of southwards when embarking
upon its autumn journey to winter quarters.

152. Black Redstart, Ruticilla titys. — This bird is new to the

fauna of Fair Isle, and has not hitherto been recorded for
any island of the Shetland group. An immature bird was
detected among a rush of migrants in April, and another,
a female, appeared on 8th November.

This species is only a wanderer to northern parts of
Britain, but is a regular winter visitor, in small numbers, to
the southern counties of England and Ireland.

Arctic Bluethroat, Cyanecula siiecica. — The Bluethroat was
not observed in September, as in our previous visits, but
may have escaped notice owing to the shelter afforded to it
and other migrants by the standing corn. Only two came
under notice during the past autumn, namely, on the 7th
and 9th of October.

Whinchat, Pratincola rubetra. — This once supposed rare
visitor to the Shetlands again appeared during the spring
passage, when it was observed on no less than eight dates in
May and early June, sometimes in fairly considerable
numbers. It did not appear, or escaped notice, during the
autumn movements until 9th October, on which late date a
young male was captured.

153. MiSTLE Thrush, Turdus viscivorus. — The Mistle Thrush is

regarded as a very rare visitor to both Orkney and Shetland
Archipelagos, and has not hitherto been detected at Fair Isle.
During the past year, however, it visited the island in small
numbers in both the spring and the autumn passage move-
ments, occurring in March, October, and November, and is
probably an annual visitor.

Hedge Accentor, Accentor modularis. — This species is
mentioned on account of the great numbers which appeared
on several occasions in April, especially on the 9th, when
hundreds were observed in all parts of the island.

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Muscicapa parva. — I saw a bird
of this species in immature plumage on 2 7 th September. Like
those seen last year, it was extremely shy, wary, and restless,

THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE 83

as are nearly all the woodland and cover-haunting passerines
which visit this shrubless island. As is the case with
most of the insect-feeders among the birds of passage, it
haunted the face of the lofty cliffs, especially those which
tower perpendicularly above the Atlantic on the west side.
Here, under the genial influence of the afternoon sun, flies
and other insects are abundant ; but a more hopeless situa-
tion in which to attempt bird-watching it would be impossible
to conceive, and thus many miles of retreats for migrants are
lost to the would-be observer.

[Red-rumped Swallow, Hirundo rufula. — George Stout
informed me during my recent visit to the island that three
of these birds visited Fair Isle at the end of May 1906,
and of these the bird found dead and recorded (" Annals,"
1906, 205) was one. He noticed these swallows for several
days, being attracted by their red band across their lower
backs, but did not then know the significance of this
character, or of the bird's rarity.]

House Martin, Chelidon urbica. — The Martin was more than
usually abundant in the spring; and was observed, for the
first time since these investigations were instituted, in the
autumn.

Swift, Cypselus apus. — This is another new bird for the
autumn, when several were observed between nth and i6th
September — late dates for this species so far north. They
frequented the face of the high cliffs on the sheltered side of
the island.

154. Hoopoe, Upupa epops. — An adult male of this remarkable

wanderer visited the island on 9th September. It frequented
stone walls, and was very shy and difficult to approach.

Short-eared Owl, Asio accipitrimis. — This owl was first
seen on 28th September, and at intervals throughout October.
On two occasions from forty to fifty were observed.

155. Long-eared Owl, Asio otus. — Two arrived late in October,

along with other immigrants ; and single birds occurred in
November and December. This is an addition to the ascer-
tained fauna of the island.

156. Snowy Owl, Nyctea scandiaca. — One seen on 26th October

is the first example reported for Fair Isle.

Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrines. — In the early autumn
the Fair Isle Peregrines feed almost entirely on young Herring
Gulls. We found the freshly-killed remains of this species
almost daily during our rambles, and on several occasions
disturbed the raptor while still engaged with its kill. The

$4 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

remains of two Woodcocks, recently killed, were also found ;
and one of the Falcons was seen to capture on the wing (by
clutching it) a Ring Ouzel, and to fly off with its victim
apparently still alive.
Turtle Dove, Tiirtur turtur. — A few were seen at intervals
between 9th and 25th May, and again in the autumn about
the middle of September.

157. Golden-eye, Clangu/a j^/audo?i.^K male was seen off the

island on 28th October, and a female was obtained on
27th November. The Golden-eye is new to Fair Isle,
which is devoid of haunts suited to the bird's requirements ;
the few lochs being very shallow and small, and wanting
in this bird's accustomed food.

Velvet Scoter, (Edemia ftisca. — An adult male was observed
in one of the bays on 17th September. This is the second
Fair Isle record.

158. Common Scoter, CEdemia nigra. — Single adult males were

seen on the sea, but close in, on 5th and 9th September.
This species is new to the recorded fauna of the island.

Woodcock, Scolopax rusticula. — The first, a few only, were
seen on ist October, an early date; and one or two were
observed daily down to our departure on the 4th. Later a
small number appeared at intervals down to 2nd November ;
but there was no great autumn flight as in most years.

159. Knot, Tringa canutiis. — This bird had no place in my

previous lists, though it is doubtless a regular visitor to
the extensive rugged reefs which fringe the S.W. corner
of the island, where several were met with during our
recent sojourn. Here one still bearing traces of its summer
dress was obtained late in November.

Green Sandpiper, Totanus ochropus. — Single birds were seen
on five occasions between 31st July and 22nd August.
This is the third year in succession that this species has
visited Fair Isle on its autumn passage, though it has not yet
been detected elsewhere in Shetland nor in the Orkneys.

Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus. — This species was
noted by us as late as 20th September, and a single bird
was seen on loth October. Thus it would appear that it
is not such an early autumn emigrant from Fair Isle as our
previous experience led us to believe.

160. Glaucous Gull, Lanes glaucus. — First seen on 28th October,

and remained off the island all the winter. Although not
previously recorded, this species is, no doubt, a regular
winter visitor to Fair Isle seas.

THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE ' 85

Storm Petrel, Procellaria pelagica. — A bird just able to fly
was captured at the lantern of the Skaddan Lighthouse
at 9 P.M. on 2nd October. This visitor to the light was
fully feathered on its upper surface and neck ; but its wings
and tail had not nearly attained their full length, and its
chest and abdomen were entirely clad in a mass of down.
One would hardly have expected to find such a youngster
on the wing, and perhaps less as a visitor to a lofty beacon ;
and should a bird so attired have alighted on the water, as
seems certain, then its nether plumage would become about
as water-logged as a sponge.

THE BAR-TAILED GODWIT AS A SOLWAY

BIRD.

By Robert Service, M.B.O.U

This species is a very regular visitant to the muddy portions

of the Solway shores (" mud " being relatively greatly scarcer

than " sand " on our long flat stretches) at the normal

migration periods, though but seldom in large flocks. For

a series of years in succession this elegant bird will appear

in autumn in much larger flocks — say 150 to 400 birds,

and on such occasions many large or small parties remain

the whole winter, though the tendency to dwindle in number

as the season goes on is well marked. The whole of

the winters of the '8o's were marked by a continuance of

the Bar-tailed Godwits. The decade following was just as

strongly marked by sharply defined autumn and spring visits

only. In more recent seasons only few have put in an

appearance in autumn, and very seldom have I seen them

at all during winter proper. This current season has been,

up to the present time, remarkable for the large numbers on

the Solway. I heard of them from many localities, but the

first that came under my own observation was on December

1 2th, 1907, not far from the town of Kirkcudbright. Here,

all along the green grass merse that extends from the

Artillery Battery along the eastern margin of what is partly

estuary of the Dee, but mainly inlet of the sea, towards the

86 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Little Ross Lighthouse guarding the narrow entrance, were
long straggling scattered flocks of waders that had evidently
come in from the outlying shores for the comparative
shelter and quiet of the margins of the Manxman's Lake.
Curlews were in great force, and so were Golden Plovers,
Redshanks, and Lapwings, while many Sea-pies were also
conspicuous. But what specially attracted me was the large
proportion of Bar-tailed Godwits. All the members of this
assemblage were very tame, probably to be accounted for
by the buffetings to which the winds of the previous week
had subjected them. They paid little heed when looked at
over the hedge of the adjacent public road from a distance
of ten or fifteen yards. It was quite an unusual experience
to watch at this distance a Curlew stalking along searching
the grass for food, and observation of Bar-tailed Godwits
in like circumstances is unique so far as I am concerned.
Since then. Bar-tailed Godwits have remained numerously
in various of their usual feeding- places in the Solway.
These last few days (i6th January) many have been exposed
in the Dumfries poulterers' windows (and also, I may add,
in those of Carlisle), a thing I have not noticed for many
years past.

But the most extraordinary thing in connection with
the Bar-tailed Godwit, as a Solway species, I have now to
record. During the whole summer season (so-called) of
1907, a flock of the species, estimated to consist of about
200 birds, has remained near to Carsethorn, far down the
estuary of the Nith. My attention was only drawn to this
on 15 th August, and the flock was pointed out to me, too
far off for positive identification, but I saw nothing about
them to lead me to doubt their identification. However,
seeing them at that date proves nothing, for the ordinary
northern parties are regularly back by that time — if not on
the Solway, at all events on the shores of Eastern England.
My informant is Robert M'Call, one of the most experienced
fishers and gunners of the Scottish Solway, and the owner
of a fine little collection of local rarities obtained and
mounted by himself. I obtained full and sufficient con-
firmation of the continued stay all through June and July
from the other gunners and boatmen. Most of the birds

THE BAR-TAILED GODWIT AS A SOLWAY BIRD 87

assumed full breeding plumage, but it was not noticed that
any separations for nesting ever took place. So far as I
can find out, not one was shot, nobody apparently having
thought of breaking the close time.

THE PRESERVATION OF BRITISH BIRDS:

AN APPEAL.
To THE Editor.

Sir — The scope of the work of the Royal Society for the Protec-
tion of Birds is now generally understood, and we feel that the Society
has established a fair claim upon the appreciation of all persons who
have at heart the preservation of the beautiful and interesting avian
fauna of their country.

The appeal with which we, the " Watchers' Committee " of this
Society, are here concerned is the protection at their breeding-
grounds of rare species, such as the White- tailed Eagle, Chough,
Bearded Tit, Kentish Plover, Stone Curlew, Dotterel, Red-necked
Phalarope, Pintail Duck, Roseate and other Terns, and the Great
Skua.

This, the special work of the Watchers' Committee, is taken in
hand each spring and continued through the breeding season. It
is carried out by means of paid watchers, who are stationed in various
places, from the Island in the Shetlands where the Eagles have their
eyrie to the shingle flats of Dungeness, a nesting-place of the Kentish
Plover. In addition to this the Society contributes towards local
funds for promoting similar objects which may require financial aid,
e.g. the Fame Island Protection Fund.

It might be supposed that in the case of some of these birds
their very rarity and maccessibility would prove their best protection.
This unfortunately is far from being so, for there are in this country
a certain number of collectors who under the name of British
Ornithologists are among the worst enemies with which British
Ornithology has to reckon, because it is their ceaseless endeavour
to obtain rare " British-taken " eggs and birds. It is a deplorable
ambition and traitorous to the cause of British Ornithology, but it
exists ; and the high prices paid for authenticated eggs and birds
are a direct incentive to egg-stealing and bird-taking in defiance of
the law for their protection.

It is obvious, then, that the watchers employed by the Society
must be men of high character, and in view of their temptations it
is only fair that they should be well paid. A watcher receives a
weekly salary throughout the nesting season, is provided with a
badge of authority, and where necessary is supplied with field-glasses.

88 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Members of the Watchers' Committee visit the men from time
to time and thus test their reports by personal inspection.

The resuhs of the past five years' work are so encouraging and
satisfactory that the Society can point to birds once on the verge of
extinction, now either greatly raised in numbers, or at any rate spared
to the British Hst.

Contributions available for the Watchers' Fund are needed at
the beginning of each year, and the money is spent with the greatest
possible thought and discretion. At present, owing to limited means,
only the most pressing cases can be met. So far the expenses have
been borne by a very few contributors, and we feel that this is
neither fair nor in the best interests of the work itself, and are
confident that many naturalists and bird-lovers in this country would
gladly help if they knew of the existence of this department of the
work of the R.S.P.B. It is to these that we now venture to appeal.
The ideal possession would of course be a capital sum, the income
from which would each year be available. Perhaps some day a rich
man's benefaction may put us into this desirable position, but mean-
while those who are willing to help by subscriptions may feel sure
of their money being well and wisely spent ; and we may add that
the Society will always be pleased when possible to arrange that any
contributor who wishes to visit a protected spot shall have the
Watcher as a guide.

Subscriptions, marked Watchers' Fund, may be sent to the Hon.
Secretary of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, 3 Hanover
Square, London, W.

We remain, sir, your obedient servants,

Montagu Sharpe, Chairman of

Watche7's^ Committee <

February 12, 1908.

the Council of the R.S.P.B.
E. G. B. Meade- Waldo.
W. H. Hudson.
W. R. Ogilvie-Grant.
W. H. St. QuiNTiN.
A. Trevor-Battye.

A CONTRIBUTION TO THE INSECT FAUNA
OF THE ISLE OF MAY.

By Percy H. Grimshaw, F.E.S.

I HAVE been favoured by the Misses Evelyn V. Baxter and
Leonora J. Rintoul with the opportunity of examining a
collection of Insects made by them in the months of

THE INSECT FAUNA OF THE ISLE OF MAY 89^

September and October of the present year on the May
Island. Since many of the specimens were captured at the
lantern of the lighthouse, it may be of interest to put the
whole of the species on record.

Of Lepidoptera the following species were obtained : —

Xylophasia polyodon, L. — three at lantern, 9th September ;
two at lantern, loth September; one during day, 13th
September. Triph(Bna promtba, L. — one at lantern, 9th
September; three at lantern, loth September; one at lan-
tern, 27th September. Mamestra brassicce, one at lantern,
9th September. Cerastis vaccinii, L. — one at lantern, 9th
September. Apamea ufianhnis, Tr. — one at lantern, lOth
September. Leucania p aliens, L. — one at lantern, loth Sep-
tember. Orthosia lunosa, Haw. — five at lantern, loth Sep-
tember ; one at lantern, i ith September. Orthosia macilenta,
Hb. — one at lantern, 26th September. Charceas graminis,
Linn. — one at lantern, loth September ; one at lantern,
I Ith September; one during day, 7th October. Agrotis
nigricans, Linn. — one at lantern, loth September. Pliisia
gamma, Linn. — one at lantern, i ith September; one at
lantern, 26th September ; one at lantern, 6th October.
Oporabia dilutata, Schiff. — one at lantern, 23rd September.
Cidaria testata, L. — two at lantern, 23 rd September. Several
other Moths were taken, but these are too much damaged to
be determined; on 14th September larvae were found (on
cabbage) of Triphcena proyiuba, Linn., and Hadena oleracea,
Linn., and on the 19th a small Tortricid Moth (undeter-
mined).

The Coleoptera include Geotrupes stercorarius, Linn. —

two specimens, loth September; one on 17th September,
and one on 19th September. Aphodius contaminatus , Hbst,
— one on 17th September; Serica brunnea, Linn. — one
specimen taken at lantern, loth September; Harpalus rufi-
cornis, Fab. — one, 14th September ; and Pristonychtis terri-
cola, Hbst. — one specimen, 19th September.

The four Hymenoptera captured comprise a number of
Ants (males, females, and workers) belonging, I believe, to
the mixtns race of Lasiiis umbratus, Nyl, taken on lOth^
I Ith, and 27th September and 3rd October; also two

90 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HLSTORY

female specimens of Lasms flavus, Deg., and an undeter-
mined Ichneumonid.

DiPTERA are represented by two female specimens of
Tipiila co7ifusa, Wlp., taken at lantern on 19th and 23rd
September respectively, and by the following species captured
during the day : Scatophaga stercoraria, Linn. — two, loth
September; one, 1 ith September; one, 17th September;
one, 2oth September. Eristalis tenax, Linn. — one male and
one female, iith September; one male, 19th September;
one male and one female, 3rd October. Eristalis arbustorum^
Linn. — one male, i ith September. Syrphus luniger^ Mg. —
one female, i i th September ; and three females, 7th October.
Syrphus corollce, Fab. — one male, 1 7th September ; Syrphtis
ribesii, Linn. — one female, 20th September: Ascia podagrica,
Fab. — one female, 3rd October ; Calliphora ejythrocephala,
Mg. — six females, 27th September ; Euphoria cornicina, Fab.
— one female, 3rd October ; and two males, 7th October.
Spilogaster duplicata, Mg. — two females, 27th September ;
Homaloniyia canicularis, Linn. — two females, 27th September;
and Tipula oleracea, Linn. — one male, 14th September.

A single male example of the Common Earwig, Forjicula
auriailaria, Linn., was picked up on loth September, and a
specimen of Machilis uiaritima, Leach, on 3rd October. A
specimen oi Hemerobius s^. was obtained on 17th September,
a Centipede on the same day, and a Phalangid on the 19th,
but I have not been able to identify these specifically.

The Royal Scottish Museum,

Edinburgh, 19M December 1907.

THE FALSE-SCORPIONS OF SCOTLAND.

By Robert Godfrey, M.A.

To Mr. H. Wallis Kew I wish to express my deep indebted-
ness for the invaluable aid received from him in the prepara-
tion of this paper. He has not only examined many of my
specimens, but he has also in a voluminous correspondence
discussed the subject with me in all its bearings, and has
most freely placed at my disposal his unique knowledge of

THE FALSE-SCORPIONS OF SCOTLAND 91

this group in Britain, and has besides, on two different
occasions, read through and carefully criticised and corrected
my manuscript. Whatever claim, therefore, this little work
may have to the attention of other naturalists is due in no
small measure to the help and guidance I have received
from him.

My thanks are also due to Mr. Wm. Evans, Rev. O.
Pickard- Cambridge, Mons. E. Simon, and Mons. Edv.
Ellingsen for help received in the identification of speci-
mens ; and to Rev. James Waterston and Messrs. G. B.
Barbour, H. D. Simpson, A. Urquhart, G. A. Whyte, and
R. B. Whyte for valuable aid in working out the Scottish
distribution.

The present work cannot claim to be more than an
introduction to the study of False-scorpions, but it should
prove a stimulus to the further study of this interesting
group.

Introduction.

False-scorpions belong to the great class Arachnida,
which includes, besides the False-scorpions, the true Scorpions,
the Spiders, the Harvestmen, the Mites, etc. They receive
their popular name from their external resemblance to true
Scorpions, but they are distinguished at a glance from true
Scorpions by the absence of any sting-bearing, tail-like
elongation of the hind-body. They are rather small
animals, measuring from one to four millimetres in length,
and have flask-shaped bodies with six pairs of appendages.

External Features.

In their bodies are recognisable two main parts, long
known as the cephalothorax and the abdomen, but now
more simply termed the fore-body and the Jiind-body re-
spectively. The. fore-body is covered on the dorsal aspect
with a rigid chitinous plate of one piece, the carapace, which
varies in shape, in colour, and in surface texture in different
species. In some genera the side-margins of the carapace
form straight lines, but these may assume any one of the
three possible relationships to one another — converging
forward, parallel, or diverging forward ; where the side-

92 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

margins form straight lines, the front margin of the carapace
is generally truncated. In other genera the side-margins
are more or less curved, and form a rounded or almost
pointed margin in front. Though always forming a single
piece, the carapace is in some genera transversely grooved
by one or two sinuous lines. Again, the carapace may be
beautifully smooth and polished, or it may be more or less
coarsely granulated or tubercled. The ej>es, when present,
are placed symmetrically on each side of the carapace near
the fore-margin, and their number — four, two, or none — has
been regarded as forming a useful aid for the purposes of
classification. But such classification is largely artificial,
for it has been found that allied forms have the eyes
present or absent, and when present they may be distinct
or indistinct, and either four or two in number. The
exceedingly minute mouthy adapted only for sucking, is
situated in front of the fore-body betv^een the chelicerce or
first pair of appendages.

The hind-body is slightly elongated and rounded
posteriorly ; its anterior margin is united with the fore-body
along the entire terminal margin of the latter. There are
twelve segments, eleven of which are distinct and evident
from a dorsal aspect, the twelfth or hindmost segment being
evanescent. Both surfaces of the segments bear transverse
plates — those of the upper surface being termed tergites^
and those of the under surface sternites — but the junctions
of the various segments and the sides of the hind-body are
free of any chitinous covering, and admit of the hind-body's
expanding and contracting considerably. In the case of
gravid females the plates of the segments are very distinctly
separated from one another. The genital opening is situated
behind the coxae of the fourth pair of legs, at the base or
anterior end of the hind-body, and the anus is placed in
the centre of the hindmost segment.

The first pair of appendages, the chelicerce^ project
immediately forwards under the front margin of the cara-
pace. Each chelicera is of two pieces. The inne'r or basal
piece is the larger ; on this the smaller moves and forms
with it a pincer for grasping purposes. Under the micro-
scope the chelicerae are seen to be equipped with certain

THE FALSE-SCORPIONS OF SCOTLAND 93

processes, to which have been given the names of the
jiagellum, the serrula, and the galea. The flagelluin consists
of a series of whip-Hke bristles — at least ten in number in
Chthonius rayi — springing from a distinct projection at the
base of the under side of the fixed finger. The seiTula is
a comb-shaped transparent process, attached to the inner
side of the movable finger. In some cases the serrula is
attached throughout its length to the movable finger, and
in other cases it is attached at its basal half only ; this
character — with which a number of distinctive features are
correlated — has been taken advantage of to form a basis
for classification, creatures having a serrula of the first type
being Pancte^iodactyli, and those having a serrula of the
second type being Heinictenodactyli. In addition to the
serrula, there is in some species, near the extremity of the
movable finger of the chelicera, and directed forwards, a
second transparent process, the galea. Its shape differs in
different species, and in certain of our British genera it is
wholly absent. Where absent, however, it is represented by
a tiny knob, on which the spinning. ducts open out. The
galea is closely associated with the spinning faculty. (See
C. J. With's " Chelonethi," 1906, p. 23.)

The second pair of appendages, the pedipalps, arise on
the under side of the fore-body immediately behind the
chelicerae. Each pedipalp is of six pieces, the basal piece
being the coxa, and the others in order, the trocha7iter, the
femur, the tibia, and the tai'sus. The last-named, of two
pieces, resembles a pair of pincers or nippers, and forms the
most conspicuous feature of the False-scorpions : it consists
of a swollen bulb or hand which is extended forward in a
thin pointed finger, against which the sixth piece, which is
articulated to the apical portion of the bulb, is more or less
closely appressed when the fingers are shut. The fingers
of the pedipalps are furnished with long hairs, which serve
as delicate sense-organs to the creatures in the dark crannies
in which they dwell.

Four pairs of walking legs form the third to the sixth
pairs of appendages. These, in comparison with the
pedipalps, are weak and slender and less deeply coloured ;
each leg consists of coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia, and tarsus.

94 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

The fcDiur (except in Legs I. and II. of Cheiridium) is
always subdivided, either into two distinct pieces, or else
being provided with a small piece, the trochantin^ at its
basal end. The tarsus also is subject to variation in different
genera, and may be of one or of two pieces. The tarsus is
terminated by two distinct claws, between and hindwards
of which is a transparent organ of adhesion, the arolium ;
under the microscope I have watched Chei^nes dtibius walking
along the cover-slide applying these tiny organs at each
step to the glass, and proving to me their usefulness in the
case of creatures that spend a great part of their time in
prowling about in an inverted position on the under surface
of stones and other material.

Haunts.

False-scorpions live generally in obscure places, under
stones or in the crevices of rocks, beneath the bark of trees,
among dead leaves and moss in woodlands, under inverted
flower-pots in conservatories, among the refuse of stables
and mills, and even in the furniture of houses, and in old
books. Owing to their skulking habits they easily escape
notice even where they are most abundant, but, when once
seen, they demand attention by their striking aspect and by
their curious habit of running backwards when disturbed.

Food.

So far as I have observed, False-scorpions live entirely
on animal food. Among the various articles of diet which
I have found them consuming are tiny worms, mites,
molluscan eggs, springtails, a larval centipede, and a beetle.
Although I was convinced that False-scorpions caught their
prey with their large nippers, and was besides assured by
Mr. Wallis Kew that he had repeatedly witnessed them
do so, I had to wait a long time before I actually saw
one seize its prey. Repeatedly in the fields I had come on
various species in the act of sucking their prey, and I had
always found that the False-scorpion was holding its victim
in its chelicerae, and I occasionally watched a False-scorpion
move off, still carrying its prey in its chelicerae. But in

THE FALSE-SCORPIONS OF SCOTLAND 95

such cases I had not seen the first act in the drama, nor
was I permitted to see the last, for I could not induce a
False-scorpion disturbed at its meal to continue feeding when
under observation, and to reveal to me the method it
employs in rejecting the creature whose juices it has sucked
dry.

Method of Feeding.

At last, on 27th May 1905, I obtained the long-wished-
for opportunity of watching the external operations associated
with feeding in False-scorpions. I had brought home some
specimens of Obisiuni muscorum with their embryonic young
attached, and, detaching one of these hemispherical embryonic
masses from a female Obisiuni, I placed it in front of an
adult Chelifer latreillii and waited developments. After
some time the Chelifer touched the mass with its right
pedipalp, then brought its left pedipalp in contact with the
other side, and closing both pairs of nippers on the mass
it drew the latter towards its head ; then relaxing its hold
with its right pedipalp, it gripped the mass at a point
farther from its head, and brought it into contact with its
chelicerae. With these latter it now gripped the mass,
and drew back its pedipalps from the mass altogether. The
food-mass, however, lay over the top of the chelicerae and
prevented my seeing the actual sucking process by which
the creature obtains it nourishment. I began to time the
Oielifer at 8.19 P.M., after it had drawn back its pedipalps.
At 8.25 the Chelifer again brought its pedipalps into
action ; gripping the mass in its pedipalps, it released its
hold with the chelicerae, and raising up the food-mass
with its pedipalps it tested it with its chelicerae, and, as
soon as it had brought these latter into definite action again,
it once more withdrew its pedipalps from the mass. At
8.31 it took hold of the mass again with its pedipalps and
held it aloof from its chelicerae while it cleaned these latter,
the one in the other ; and on again bringing the mass into
contact with the chelicerae it retained a hold with its left
pedipalp for nearly two minutes before it withdrew it. At
8.43 it touched the mass several times with both pedipalps
to steady it. At 8.51 it again gripped the mass with its

96 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

pedipalps to alter the position of the mass, and, having done
so, it retained a hold with its left pedipalp for four minutes.
At 9.2 another CJidifer latreillii that had up to this time
been quietly resting about an inch from the scene began to
move about and presently came round to where the first
was feeding. The feeding CJielifer seemed to know of the
other's approach before as yet this latter was within touching
distance, and stretched forth its pedipalps beyond the mass
on each side, guarding it and defying the second Chelifer
in such a threatening manner that the latter took the hint
and moved off. The first Chelifer once more removed the
mass with its pedipalps, and brought another portion of it
into contact with its chelicerai, then again withdrew its
pedipalps. At 9.10 it repeated this performance, and began
to move off backwards, carrying the mass in its chelicerai
alone. At this hour daylight was beginning to fail me,
and I touched the CJielifer to drive it from the edge of the
box that I might close it up ; it moved off carrying the
mass in its chelicerae, without using its pedipalps at all,
and settled again.

Mr. Wallis Kew, who has watched this feeding process
to a conclusion, says that " after the meal Chelifer latreillii
may be seen to bring one of the great pincers towards the
mouth in the most deliberate manner for the purpose of
removing the remains of the prey."

One species of False-scorpion, the blind Chernes 7iodosus,
lays hold of flies and of other forms of prey many
times too large for it, and, instead of being able to bring
the fly to closer quarters with its mouth, it is itself carried
off by the fly whithersoever the latter pleases, and is often
found hanging by a pedipalp to a fly's leg. Yet in the end
it seems probable that Chernes nodosus^ by patiently waiting,
may get his opportunity of feeding on his carrier when the
fly dies. The whole question of relationship between
False-scorpions such as Chernes nodosus and their carriers
has been fully discussed by Mr. Wallis Kew in the
"Naturalist" for July 1901, pp. 195-215, who writes in his
summary : " The subject will bear further investigation ;
but from the facts now in our possession it seems impossible
to avoid the conclusion that pseudo-scorpions found on the

THE FALSE-SCORPIONS OF SCOTLAND 97

legs of other Arthropods — often relatively gigantic — are
attacking the creatures for food, and that notwithstanding
their diminutiveness they are to be regarded, not as
parasites, but as animals of prey." In my experience some
False-scorpions have great powers of abstinence, and will live
for months in captivity without any food — a fact which, by
the way, strengthens the belief that CJiernes nodosus is quite
able to cling to his huge prey till the latter dies and affords
him the expected feast.

The above observations on Chelifer latreillii clearly
indicate the reason why False-scorpions when feeding do not
retain hold of their food by the large nippers. While engaged
in the slow process of sucking the juices of its prey, the
False-scorpion must be ready to defend itself against an
enemy or a rival, and it keeps its pedipalps free as far as
possible, so that, in a sudden emergency, it may, w^hile still
retaining hold of its prey in its chelicerae, be able to use
its great nippers for defence or attack.

False-scorpions, even to the naked eye, may be seen
passing the fingers of their great pincers through the fingers
of the chelicerae, and under the microscope they may be
observed to pass the fingers of one chelicera through the
fingers of the other. The suspicion at once arises that they
are cleaning these fingers by passing them through the
serrula, but it is no easy matter to satisfy oneself absolutely
as to this. I have watched with great care the newly-hatched
ChtJioniiis rayi under the microscope perform both of the
actions I refer to, but yet, owing to the constant necessity
for focussing under the high power I was using, I could not
positively affirm that the serrula was used in cleaning either
the great nippers or the little ones. My suspicions were
put beyond all doubt, however, on May 24, 1905, by observa-
tions made on Chelifer latreillii. On that day I had noticed
one pass the fingers of the pedipalps singly through the
chelicerae, and later in the day I watched another under the
microscope at the same performance. It passed a finger of
the pedipalps through one serrula, forcing apart the teeth of
the serrula between which it passed as it pushed the finger
through, and then it drew the same finger back through the
serrula of the other chelicera, thus cleaning both sides of the
66 D

98 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

finger. It then repeated the operation with its other fingers,
and also cleaned one chelicera with the other. I did not
clearly see the finger of the chelicera open up the teeth
of the serrula, but the action in this case also was quite
distinctly a cleaning process.

Reproduction.

The habits of False-scorpions during the period of repro-
duction form by far the most interesting episode of their
life-history. These habits are subject to great variation and
must be considered in detail under the different species, but
they may be described here in a general way. The females
of some genera, e.g. Obisiiun and Chthonius, before beginning
to lay, shut themselves up in a compact nest constructed of
earth or other material and lined with silk, and they remain
inside this nest until the young are able to go off on their own
accord. The females of other genera, e.g. CJielifer and Chernes^
carry their larval mass about with them while they continue
to live a free life. The eggs appear at first as a small white
speck on the under-surface of the hind-body, and gradually
swell out in the process of developing till they form a rela-
tively large mass attached to the female. The eggs soon
hatch and give place to larvae of peculiar form, which in the
majority of cases undergo all their changes during the
attachment to the mother ; when the young False-scorpions
are able to begin life for themselves, they are perfect copies
in miniature of the adults. At first these free young ones
are practically colourless, and they only gradually assume
the deep hues of the adult. Subsequently, they moult at
least once, in a nest made for the purpose, before they reach
their adult stage ; and in some species both immature and
adult individuals hibernate solitarily inside nests.

Spinning.

The method of spinning in this group is surrounded
even yet with some uncertainty, but it is known that the
chelicerae play an important part in the spinning processes
of the False -scorpions. Further observations are neces-

THE FALSE-SCORPIONS OF SCOTLAND 99

sary to prove whether or not the spinning faculty is
common to all False-scorpions.

Enemies.

In alluding to the enemies of False- scorpions, I find
myself standing on the verge of another great unexplored
territory. I have had repeated indications of the raids made
by Ichneumons on these creatures, and on August 9, 1907,
I received a hint of the probable method adopted by the
Ichneumons in stinging the False-scorpions. On that day, at
Dalmahoy Crags, I saw an Ichneumon at vv^ork on a Spider's
cocoon. The Spider had selected as the site of her nest an
inequality on the under-surface of a stone, and she had
covered her mass of eggs with a thick layer of silk which
served the double purpose of holding them in position and
affording them the needed protection. On this silken cover-
ing the tiny Ichneumon was resting, her antennae in continual
motion. Suspecting that the Ichneumon was stinging the
egg-mass, I examined her carefully with my lens and saw
her with the greatest ease thrust her sharp ovipositor its
full length perpendicularly through the silk, and, rapidly
withdrawing it, insert it immediately in another spot. She
did this very smartly several times before I disturbed her.
I then opened the silken mass, and found inside eighteen
Spider's eggs, of such small size that it took three of them
to equal in breadth the diameter of an ordinary pin-head.
From this observation I am led to believe that the ichneumon
of a False-scorpion rests on the nest of the False-scorpion, and,
piercing the clay covering of the nest with her sharp ovipositor,
deposits her Qgg or eggs in the embryo mass attached to the
False-scorpion. The young Ichneumon (for only one reaches
perfection) is provided with food in the embryo mass of
the False-scorpion, and is, I should imagine, quite able
to enter the body of the False-scorpion through the genital
pore.

My information regarding the ichneumons of False-
scorpions is practically confined to the pupae. I first found
an Ichneumon's pupa in a nest of O. nmscoriLin^ containing
the chitinous remains of the animal, at Woodcockdale in

lOO ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HLSTORY

West Lothian on April 4, 1903. I handed the pupa to Mr.
James W'aterston, under whose care the perfect insect was
hatched out. Again, on September 15, 1905, at Cambo in
East Fife, I took two pupae from nests of O. musconim, also
containing fragments of the Obisium. These hatched out in
the following spring, and proved to be male and female.
The female appeared first, on February 19, 1906, and the
male on February 26. In each case the little creatures
moved actively about on the day on which they were hatched,
and were on the following day found dead. The time of
hatching of these Ichneumons corresponds with the time at
which O. viuscormn is retiring into her nest for reproductive
purposes. On February 14, 1907, near Dumbarton, I
opened two nests containing the remains of Obisiinu
muscormn and Ichneumon pupaii ; from one pupa the fly had
already emerged, and the other pupa was unfortunately
wasted in my handling of it. And again, on August 9,
1907, at the same spot where I watched an Ichneumon sting
a Spider's egg-mass, I opened an Obisium's nest containing
the remains of the creature, and an empty Ichneumon
pupa.

The perfect insects that emerged from the pupa: obtained
on April 4, 1903, and on September 15, 1905, were forwarded
to Mr. Claude Morley, who identified them as Aptesis
stenoptera, Marsh, and who, in his work on " British
Ichneumons" (ii. 60-61), has created a new genus for
their reception, Obisiphaga stenoptera. It would appear
from my meagre observations that the parasites have a
double period of appearing, and the probability is that at
both periods they seek out reproducing females

ChtJw7iius 7'ayi is also preyed upon by an Ichneumon,
and apparently under similar circumstances, though my
observations here are exceptionally meagre. On September
19, 1903, near Aberdour, Fife, I took an Ichneumon pupa
from a nest of this False-scorpion, in which also the remains
of the host were present. The Ichneumon was forwarded to
Mr. Morley, and identified by him (ii. 213) as Pezomachus
impotens^ Forst.

{To be contiimed.^

Ann Scot. Nat. Hist. 1908

Plate III.

TRITICUM PEREGRINUM, HACKEL, UOV. Spec.

ALIEN PLANTS loi

ALIEN PLANTS.

By James Fraser
Plate III

The following list of Alien Plants, mainly from the neighbour-
hood of Edinburgh, brings the number of such, seen by Mr.
M'Andrew and myself during the last five years, up to about
eight hundred, of which over a hundred are new to Britain.
Many in this list were found previously to 1907 (and since
1903) but have only now been identified.

As will be seen below, I have again to thank Professor
Hackel not only for naming a large number of the grasses
and for interesting and helpful remarks on them, but also for
describing and naming a new species and a new variety.
To A. O. Hume, Esq., C.B., F.L.S., I am also indebted for
many identifications and for much help in various ways.

As in previous papers, the names under each Natural
Order are in rough alphabetical order : an asterisk in front
of a name indicates a new British record : a = once found ;
y8 = twice or thrice, but rare ; 7 = neither rare nor frequent ;
S = frequent ; e = abundant.

RANUNCULACE.^.

'^Ranunculus monspeliacus, Z. Linlithgowshire, e.
*R. spicatus, Z>es/. Leith, /?.

BERBERIDACE^.
Epimedium alpinum, Z. Linlithgowshire, f3.

FUMARLACE^.

Corydalis lutea, Z)C. Near Borthwick Castle, /?.

CRUCIFER.^.

*Brassica oxyrrhina, Coss. Leith and Slateford, /3.

CARYOPHYLLACE^..

Lychnis Coronaria, Desr. Sea-shore at Inverkeithing, Fife, a.
Lychnis chalcedonica, Z. Craigmillar Quarry (outcast), a.

102 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL IILSTORY

MALVACE^.

Malva Alcea, /. Leith and Slatcford, /?.

LEGUMINOS^O.

Medicago obscura, Retz. Leith, fi.

AL obscura, Retz.^ var. spinosa. Leith, ft.

M. SoleiroHi, Duby. Leith, a.

ROSACE/E.

Rubus spectabilis, Pursh. Near Dolphinton, Peebles, e.
Spiraea sahcifoHa, L. New Galloway, 8.

UMBELLIFER^.

*Bupleurum nodiflorum, Sibth. and Sm. Leith, a.

CAPRIFOLIACE^.

Sambucus laciniata. Mill. Near Slateford (outcast), /?.

COMPOSITE.

Anthemis tinctoria, Z., var. discoidea. Leith, ft.

Aster Tripolium, Z., var. discoideus. Leith, y.

Chrysanthemum frutescens, Z. Near Slateford (outcast), ft.

*C. monspeliense, Z. Leith, ft.

Hieracium maculatum, Schrank. Gilmerton, y.

Rudbeckia laciniata, Z. Leith, ft.

Scolymus hispanicus, L. Leith, a.

CAMPANULACE^.

Campanula Medium, Z. Leith, ft.
Specularia Speculum, A. DC. Slateford, a.

POLEMONIACE^.

Gilia multicaulis, Bejith. Slateford, ft.
G. tricolor, Benth. Leith, ft.

SCROPHULARL\CE^.

Collinsia bicolor, Benth. Leith, ft.

Erinus alpinus, Z. Near Dolphinton, Peebles, 8.

ALIEN PLANTS 103

LABIATE.

Ballota ruderalis, Swartz. Leith, a.
Salvia officinalis, L. Leith, a.

LILIACE^>.

Allium carinatum, Z. Linlithgowshire, €.

A. neapolitanurn, Cyr. Warriston (escape), a.

Tulipa sylvestris, L. Linlithgowshire, y.

JUNCACE^.

Juncus tenuis, Willd. New Galloway, 6.

GRAMINE^.

Agrostis nigra. With. Plentiful in a derelict garden, along with
Apera Sptca-Venti, Beauv., at Carnoustie, Forfar.

Apera intermedia, Hackel. Several plants of this species were
found in 1904-5-6, in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, where
it was evidently introduced with foreign grain. This plant
was only recently (1902) discovered on the Erdschias-Dagh
(Mons Argaeus), Asia Minor, by Drs. Penther and Zederbauer,
from whose paper on the Flora of that district in the " Annalen
des K. K. Naturhistorischen Hofmuseums " (Band xx. Nr. 4,
Vienna, 1905) the following description of the plant by Professor
Hackel is taken : —

"Annua. Culmi graciles, 10-25 ^^i. alti, erecti v. ascen-
dentes, teretes, glaberrimi, simplices, 3-4 nodis. Folia glabra
vaginae laxiusculae, laeves v. scaberulae, internodiis breviores
ligula oblonga, 2-5 mm. Ig., obtusa vel acutiuscula, saepe fissa
laminae anguste lineares, obtusiusculje, breves (2-4 cm. Ig.), 1-2
mm. It., utrinque marginibusque plus minusve scabrae, nervis
prominuhs percursae. Panicula linearis, densa, lobata sed non
interrupta, 3-8 cm. Ig., contracta, rhachi laevi, ramis subverti-
cillatis brevibus (primario panicula ca. 4-5-plo breviore), ab
ima basi spiculiferis, spiculis ^qualiter dispositis imbricatis,
quam pedicelli subterminales pluries longioribus. Spiculae
lanceolatae, 2*5 mm. longae, viridul^e v. raro livid^e, glabrae,
rhachilla in stipitem brevissimum (0.3 mm. longum) glabrum
producta. Glumae steriles parum inaequales, lanceolatce, subito
tenuiterque acuminatae : I. 2 mm. Ig., i-nervis, IL 2.5 mm.
Ig., 3-nervis, setaceo-apiculata, utraque obtuse carinata, laevis,
herbaceo-membranacea ; gluma fertilis lanceolata, 2 mm. Ig.,
herbaceo-membranacea, integra, paullo infra apicem aristam
exserens rectam scabram quam gluma 3-plo longiorem, dorso

I04 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

scaberrima, i-nervis, callo nuda. Palea glumam subaequans,
ovalis, obtusa, 2-nervis, inter nervos sulcata. Antherae 3,
1.5 mm. Ig. (quam palea paullulo breviores)."

An interesting paper on this plant, with comparison between
it and A. interrupta^ Beauv., by Mr. A. 13. Jackson, appeared in
the "Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist." for July 1907.

Bromus commutatus, Bab.^ var. multiflorus Parn. On waste
ground, near Murray field; several.

B. macrostachys, Desf. A form with glabrous spikelets ; Leith and
Slateford ; plentiful.

*B. macrostachys, Desf.^ var. triaristata, Hackel. Leith ; three or
four.

*B. marginatus, Nees. Leith ; one large plant. A perennial,
native of the Western U.S. (California, Oregon, Arizona, etc.).
Identified by Professor Hackel, who points out that my speci-
men from the plant as originally found agrees better with the
type, than do specimens from the same plant grown in my
garden. The latter specimens represent better B. marginatus
latior, Shear, in "Studies on American Grasses" (a larger and
stouter plant than B. marginatus)^ which he first found at
Walla Walla, Washington, and which was again gathered " on
wool waste heaps at North Berwick, Maine." Shear mentions
that it is a very variable species.

B. moUiformis, Lloyd. Leith ; many plants. Identified by Professor
Hackel.

B. secalinus, Z., var. divergens, Rchb. One fine clump at Pettycur,
Fife.

Cynosurus aureus, L. Two or three plants in an old quarry, near
Slateford.

*Elymus canadensis, L. One plant on waste ground at Burntisland
Docks, and one fine plant at Leith. A perennial, native of
N. America, Identified by Professor Hackel.

Festuca ambigua, Le Gall. Several in a sand-pit at Comiston,

Edinburgh.

■^Lepturus cylindricus, Trin. A single plant, at Leith.

*Phalaris brachystachys. Link. One plant at a pit- mouth near
Joppa, several at Leith, a few scores at Slateford. Identified
by Professor Hackel.

*P. intermedia, Bosc, var. angusta. Several at Leith.

*Polypogon maritimus, Willd. Several at Leith and Gorgie, hundreds
(along with P. monspeliensis, Desf.) at an old quarry, near
Slateford, used as a " toom " for clean refuse.

ALIEN PLANTS 105

*Triticum yEgilops, Beaiiv. {^gilops candata, L.). Two fine clumps,
at Leith.

*T. caudatum, G. and G. One plant, Leith, in 1904. This plant
was in error recorded as T. speitoides, var. Aucheri^ Aschers.
and Grbn. in my paper on 'Alien Plants' in the "Ann. Scot.
Nat. Hist." for April 1905.

*T. crassum. Ait. and Hemsley, nov. var. oligochaetum, HackeL
Plentiful at Slateford, several at Gorgie and Leith. Identified
by Professor Hackel, who adds the following remark : " Differt
a typo glumis fertilibus scabridis non tomentellis, aristis
glumarum fertilium in spicula terminali elongatis, in spiculis
lateralibus brevissimis vel ad mucronem redactis. Spica quam
ilia typi minus crassa."

*T. peregrinum, Hackel^ nov. spec. Once found at Leith and once
at Slateford in 1906.

For convenience the description of this plant, by Professor
Hackel, is reproduced below to accompany the figure (Plate HL),
which is from a dried specimen grown from the seed of one of the
original plants.

" Triticum (sub-gen. ^£giIops) pe7'egrifm/n, Hackel, nov.
spec. — Annuum. Culmi graciles, circ. 35 cm. alti, apice longe
nudi, glaberrimi. Vaginae ventricosae, ore plus minus fimbriatae,
ceterum glaberrimi. Ligula brevissima, truncata. Laminae
anguste lineares (6-8 cm. long^, 2-7 mm. latas), acut^, utrinque
pilis mollibus patentibus plus minus conspersae. Spica brevis
(3-6 cm. Ig., 6-8 mm. diam.) sursum attenuata, e spiculis
fertilibus 4-5 constans, adjectis in basi spiculis sterilibus
3 parvis v. minutis, rhacheos articuli subcurvati sursum modice
dilatati dorso complanati, ventre concavi, plus minus scabri,
spicula adjacenie plus minusve breviores. Spiculas fertiles
ovato-oblongae (circ. 12 mm. Ig,, 4 mm. It.), 4-flor£e, floribus
2 inferioribus fertilibus, superioribus sterilibus, decrescentibus,
viridulas. Glumae steriles s.ubaequales, f-f spiculae aequantes,
obovato-oblongae, circ. 7 mm. Ig., sinuato-bidentatae, dentibus
triangularibus acutis v. acutiuscuhs in spicula terminali interdum
(altero v. ambis) in aristam brevem latiusculam productis, inter
dentes interdum denticulum minutum exhibentes, dorso elevato
7-nervis, nervis aculeolato-scaberrimis. Glumae fertiles oblongas,
retusae, bidentat^, dente altero nervum medium excipiente
plerumque in mucronulum crassum obtusiusculum producto,
altero depresso-triangulari, interdum tertio rotundato aucto,
ceterum muticas, 5 -nervis, tota superficie minute scabro-
punctatae. Palea glumam fertilem aequans, oblonga, obtuse
bidentata, carinis setuloso - ciliolata. Lodiculae ciliatae.

io6 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Ovarium apice hispiduliim. Spica cum omnibus spiculis ferti-
libus demum caduca, spiculis sterilibus in culmo manentibus.

Patria ignota, introductam in Scotia prope Edinburgh
(Slateford et Leith Docks), invenit J. Fraser.

Affinis Tritico miitico {^i^^i/opi Diuticce^ Boiss.) quod differt
a nostro spica elongata gracili multispiculata, internodiis
spicula adjacente longioribus, spiculis minoribus angustioribus
oblongis, glumis sterilibus vix dimidiam spiculam aequantibus
apice dilatatis obscure sinuato-denticulatis, glumis fertilibus
obtusissimis subintegris."

Leith, DecejJiher 1907.

PLANTS OF SUTHERLAND AND CAITHNESS.

By G. Claridge Druce, M.A., F.L.S.

{^Co7itinued fro7n p. 44.)

Primula acaulis, L. — In plentiful flower in July.

P. scotica, Hook. — Abundant at Farr, and near Bettyhill, in beautiful

flower.
]^Iyosotis repens, Don. — Invershin 107; Inchnadamph, Altnaharra,

etc. 108.
:\I. palustris. Relh., var. strigulosa, M. and K. — Inchnadamph,
Bettyhill.

M. versicolor, Reichb. — Invershin, Altnaharra, etc.

Veronica officinalis, L. — Luxuriant specimens on Ben Hope.

V. humifusa, Dicks. (V. serpylUfolia, L., var. borealis). — East side of
Ben More 107 ; Ben Hope, Canisp 108.

-''Rhinanthus monticola, Druce. — Near Oykell Bridge 107. Altna-
harra, Strathmore, near Tongue, etc. 108.

Melampyrus pratense, Z., var. ^''hians, Druce. — Base of Canisp, also
near Bettyhill 108.

Pinguicula vulgaris, L. — A pinkish purple-flowered plant grew on
the north side of Creagan Breaca 108.

'^Thymus glaber, Aliller {T. Chamcedrys, Fr.). — Ben Hope, Quinag

108.
'•'T. ovatus, Miner (T. CJuwicedrys, auct. ang.). — Strathmore 108.

T. Serpyllum, L. — Ben Hope.

Galeopsis Tetrahit, Z., var. bifida (Boenn). — Invershin ^107 ; Altna-
harra '"108.

PLANTS OF SUTHERLAND AND CAITHNESS 107

Ajuga pyramidalis, L. — On rocks, under shade of hazel, about 50
feet above sea-level, near Bettyhill 108 ; very rare.

Plantago lanceolata, Z., var. sphcerostachya. — Common on the coast,
as at Bettyhill, Tongue, and also in dry places inland 107 and
108.

P. maritima, L. — A curious variety or state grew on the sea-sand on
Bettyhill 108, with small short fleshy leaves and very thick
root-stock.

Polygonum viviparum, L. — Sea-level at Bettyhill 108.

Ulmus montana, Stokes {U. canipestris^ L.). — Native by the streams
and on rocks about Inchnadamph.

Betula tomentosa, ReitJi [B, ghitinosa). — xAltnaharra '^108.

Quercus sessilis, Ehrh. — Invershin 107, Tongue 108.

Q. Robur, L. — Invershin '''107 (planted).

Populus tremula, Z. — Native on cliffs, Inchnadamph.

Salix alba, Z. — Invershin 107, probably introduced.

S. cinerea, Z. — Tongue 108.

S. repens, Z, — In several forms above Inchnadamph 108.

S. Myrsinites, Z. — In Traligill Glen, and on limestone above
Inchnadamph.

S. herbacea, Z. — Near coast level at Cape Wrath, A. M. Bell.

Helleborine atrorubens {Epipactis atrorubens). — Traligill Glen 108.

Orchis mascula, Z. — On cliffs in Traligill Glen 108, and on slopes
of Ben More, Assynt '''107.

Orchis latifolia, Z. — Inchnadamph, rather variable 108.

O. incarnata, Z. — Near Ardvrick Castle 107, and as the var.
^angustifolia at Inchnadamph 108.

O. incarnata, latifolia. — With the above, but very rare.

O. ericetoruni, Linto?i. — Invershin 107, Altnaharra, Bettyhill, etc.
108 ; Watten 109.

Habenaria conopsea, Br. — Dark-flowered forms at Invershin 107.

H. albida, Br. — Abundant in Traligill Glen 108.

H. bifolia, Br. — Abundant at Inchnadamph.

*H. virescens [ZoHik), [H. chlorokuca, Ridley). — At Inchnadamph
with the foregoing, 108.

H. viridis, Br. — Bettyhill, etc., var. ovata occurs on the Scrabster
Cliffs, Caithness 109, with broadly oval leaves, an analogous
plant to the var. ovata of Liparis which is a seaside form from
Glamorganshire.

loS ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Scilla verna, Hiids. — Abundant on the cliffs at Bettyhill io8.

*Juncus Gerardi, Lois. — By Tongue Bay io8.

'^J. triglumis, L. — Eastern side of Ben More, Assynt 107.

juncoides campestre, Morouf:;^ var. — A dark glossy-glumed plant on
Ben More 108.

J. spicatum (Z.). — Ben More, Assynt 108.

Scirpus lacustris, Z. — Plentiful near Invershin 107.

Eleocharis multicaulis, Br. — Altnaharra 108; Invershin *io7.

Scirpus pauciflorus, Light/ . — Invershin *io7 : Inchnadamph 108.

Eriophorum paniculatum. Druce {latifolium). Rather frequent on the
limestone at Inchnadamph. Is it confined to calcareous bogs ?
It is so according to my experience.

Carex dioica, L. — Abundant about Inchnadamph 108.

C. pauciflora, Light. — Plentiful near Strathmore and at Altnaharra,
also at base of Quinag 108.

C. rupestrisj All. — Abundant on the low limestone cliffs at Inchna-
damph 108.

C. incurva, Light/. — In the damp sand by the river at Bettyhill
108.

*C. disticha, LLuds. — In a marsh by the river at Invershin 107.

C. chordorrhiza, Ehrh. — Plentiful in the locality where the Rev.
E. S. Marshall and Dr. Shoolbred discovered it, and also by
the stream and in a bog higher up the Naver near Mudale
Farm 108.

C. arenaria, L. — A slender form growing with C. inain'a at Betty-
hill 108.

C. rigida, Good. — East side of Ben More, Assynt 107.

C. Goodenowii, Gay.^ var. chlorocarpa (Reichb.) Druce. — Altnaharra,
Inchnadamph, 108; Invershin 107.

C. canescens, L. — Altnaharra, Inchnadamph 108.

C. leporina, L. — Exceptionally common at Altnaharra, with compact
spikes, also at Bettyhill 108; and Invershin 107.

C. aquatilis, L. — The type (var. /^F<7/i-^;z/) at Altnaharra 108; also
at Watten 109.

C. flacca, Schreber. — Slender form on Canisp. A stiff, stout form
with very dark glumes at Bettyhill.

C limosa, L. — Plentiful with C. chordorrhiza at Altnaharra and at
Mudale 108.

C. panicea, Z., var. tuniidida, Laestad. — Canisp 108.

PLANTS OF SUTHERLAND AND CAITHNESS 109

C. capillaris, Z. — Abundant on the limestone, descending to 200
feet near Ardvrick Castle 108.

C. Hostiana, DC. iyHornschuchiana). — Typical at Betty hill, also at
Inchnadamph, etc. 108.

*C. lepidocarpa, Tausch. — Loch Watten and Loch Scarmclett 109.

C. filiformis, L. — Altnaharra, 108.

C. inflata, Huds. {ampullaaa). — Abundant as a large-fruited form
with brownish perigynia at Altnaharra. Var. ^bri(n7iescens
(And.), and as a narrow-leaved plant, var. a?igustifolia, mihi, at
Altnaharra 108, and by Loch Watten 109, as well as near
Invershin 107.

Anthoxanthum odoratum, L. — Ben More, Assynt, var. ? A dark
glossy -glumed form grew on Ben More about 2500 feet in
some quantity 108.

Agrostis canina, Z. — Altnaharra 108.

A. pumila, Z. — Altnaharra 108.

A. tenuis, Sibth. (vulgaris)^ var. — Altnaharra 108.

Avena pubescens, Hiids.., var. ^alpina., Gaud. — Glen Traligill, also
on Quinag, Inchnadamph, 108.

Phragmites vulgaris, Druce. — Invershin 107; and as the var.
subii7iifio7'a .

*Koeleria britannica, Do7nin^ forma — Bettyhill and Farr 108.

Poa pratensis, Z., var. subcarulea (Sm.). — Bettyhill and Altnaharra.

*P. nemoralis, Z. — Invershin.

Glyceria fluitans, Br.^ var. *friHceaj Fr. — Inchnadamph 108.

Festuca bromoides, Z. {scmroides). — Extremely luxuriant at Invershin
107.

F. ovina, Z., var. ^'a/pina, Gren. and Godr. — Abundant on the
limestone at Inchnadamph, descending to 200 feet.

*F. rubra, Z., var. barbata (Hack.). — Ben Hope.

*Bromus racemosus, Z. — Invershin 107.

Lycopodium inundatum, Z. — Canisp, near the base 108.

*L. alpinum, Z. — East side of Ben More 107.

Nitella opaca, Ag. — Inchnadamph 108; Scarmclett 109.

In the foregoing notes, * prefixed to a locality means
that it is not recorded for the vice-county or county in
Topographical Bota?zy.

Oxford.

no ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

ON THE FLORA OF SHETLAND.

By W'lLLiA.M H. Bekby, F.L.S.

In the following lines I have endeavoured to give a
Revision of the Hicracia known to occur in the Shetland
Islands. I have undertaken the task with some diffidence ;
for although the plants have been observed with some care in
their native habitats, and many of the forms have been culti-
vated through a series of years, yet, on the other hand, my
knowledge of even the British forms is somewhat partial, and
had it not been for the ready assistance rendered by the
Rev. W. R. Linton I should not have ventured to describe
several of the forms mentioned below.

Apart from the distinctions which separate the sub-genera,
our Hieracia may be said to possess characteristics rather
than characters ; and it is seldom that a character can be
found which is not at the same time variable within the
species, and also present in a more or less modified form in
other species, allied or distant. Hence the species are not
separated by few or single well-marked characters, but their
determination often depends on the assessing of the aggre-
gate value of a number o{ small differences. Their deter-
mination thus becomes to some extent a matter of opinion,
and it is quite natural that different names should some-
times be given to the same plant by different authorities.

My collection, amassed during the past twenty years, is
now a large one, and many of the plants have been criticised
bv various authorities, both British and Scandinavian. With
the object of getting a more consistent view of the Shetland
forms as a whole, I asked Mr. Linton some time ago whether
he would look through them. Not only did Mr. Linton
accede to my request, but he very kindly examined carefully
such plants as required it, and also favoured me with
numerous notes without which I could not have hoped to
make this account of the group so complete as it is ; and I
take this opportunity of expressing my great indebtedness to
him for his valuable help, as well as for the loan of specimens.
In the case of the varieties of H. crocatiivi and H. strictuin I

ON THE FLORA OF SHETLAND iii

have relied almost entirely on Mr. Linton's notes, not being
myself sufficiently well acquainted with the characteristics of
the types ; while Mr. Linton also rendered special assistance
in connection with H. trimcatum. For my own satisfaction
I have confirmed Mr. Linton's observations, and have
re-examined the various forms both microscopically and
otherwise.

In the "Botany of the Faeroes" (Part II., 1903) Mr.
Hugo Dahlstedt has given an interesting and exhaustive
account of the species at present known, from which it
appears that those islands possess twenty-three forms, of which
two are varieties, while in Shetland we have eighteen forms,
of which four are varieties. The following table shows the
relative distribution of the various groups. The numerals in

Lb lIlUlCdLC LUC IJUllIUCl Ul \

'ctllCLlCS C/tLllU

Faeroes.

ltd . —
Shetland.

Cerinthoidea

12

(2)

■ • •

Oreadea

• • •

4(2)

Vulgata § silvatica

2

1

„ § caesia .

• • •

I

,, § eu- vulgata

4

■ ■ •

Alpestria

2

7(1)

Rigida

3

I

Prenanthoidea

• • • •

I

Foliosa ...

■ « •

3(0

From this comparison it appears that Shetland, with its
far greater diversity of rock formation, possesses five forms
less than the Faeroes ; on the other hand, seven groups and
sub-groups are represented in Shetland against five in the
Faeroes, a circumstance which may possibly have some con-
nection with the same feature. Whether we consider the
number of forms occurring or the great abundance of some
of those forms, the Alpestria are beyond question the
dominant group in Shetland ; and it is very remarkable that
the Cerinthoidea, the dominant group in the Faeroes, and re-
garded by Dahlstedt as an essentially Atlantic type, should
be quite wanting in Shetland, although sparingly represented
in the Orkneys. Mr. Dahlstedt remarks {I.e. p. 627) that
the Cerinthoidea are " met with dispersed over the Shetland
Islands"; but I think that he must have been misinformed on

112 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

the point, as there is not even a record of the occurrence of
any species of this group, except Tate's erroneous one of H.
flocculosuin referred to below.

The rocks and crags on the north shore of Roeness Voe
extend for a distance of some miles, and as the Hieracia
occur from near the sea-level to a height of 450 feet or a
little more, it is very probable that this rich locality will yet
afford additional species ; in the meantime the following are
the forms at present known to occur : —

The abbreviations used are —

U. = Unst. N. = Northmaven.

Hieraciuin Schniidtii, Tausch. — N. North side of Roeness Voe, and
on the lower banks of the Orud Burn. The type appears to
be the less common form.

Var. crinigerin/i, Fries. — N. In many places, north side of Roeness
Voe, Bjorgs of Skelberry, etc.

Var. fealense^ Beeby, var. nov. — Leaves narrower, margins setose,
heads wath numerous glands. H. lasiophyllum, Tate ? — N. In
two places near the croft of Feal, Roeness Voe (Nos. 1045,
1 100). Mr. Linton writes: "Identical with the second example,
forma angnstifolia glandulosa^ in Lindeberg's No. 113. I have
not seen this before from Britain."

The aggregate occurs in a number of localities from Clousta
northwards to the Kattaronis and Bjorgs of Skelberry. The
plants from the latter station (alt. 500 feet) w'ould probably con-
form to Mr. F. N. Williams' conception of the var. crinigeruvi ;
but I can scarcely think that the much more robust forms
growing among granite talus in the same locality, but 100-200
feet lower, are anything but the same.

H. Oreades, Fries, var. siibglabratum^ F. J. Hanb. — Cliva Hill rocks,
north of Brae, Delting, sparingly (Nos. 1097, 1157).

H. silvaticum^ Gouan, var. micracladiiwi^ Dahlst. (f.). — N. Among
crags, west of Feal, Roeness Voe, sparingly (No. 1094).
This is the plant formerly referred to H. duriceps^ F. J. Hanb.,
from which Mr. Linton points out that it is at once distinguished
by the copious glandular hairs on the pericline.

H. farre7ise^ F. J. Hanb. — N. Crags west of Feal, Roeness Voe, in
two places, alt. 400 and 450 feet (Nos. 1095, 1096).

H. breve, Beeby, sp. nov. — Root-leaves broadly elliptic, with a short
broadly winged petiole ; teeth irregular, broadly triangular,
spreading, rather large. Stem -leaves similar, but narrower.

ON THE FLORA OF SHETLAND 113

sessile, and with a broadly truncate base, about 6-1 1, gradually
decreasing upwards. Leaves with numerous bulbous-based
hairs on both sides, dull olive green, paler below, becoming
copper-coloured in decay. Stem stout, 5-12 inches, simple or
nearly so. Ped. densely floccose, with a few long simple and
very few glandular hairs. Heads about 3-5 in a close corymb,
rarely with a short branch below, broad and short, very truncate-
based; phyllaries floccose, with a few simple and a few glandular
hairs, outermost short, ovate sub-obtuse, innermost three
times as long, lanceolate, acute or slightly acuminated, pale-
margined. Flowers lemon-yellow, styles black or nearly so,
ligules glabrous-tipped. N. Among rocks west of Feal, on
the north side of Roeness Voe, extremely scarce (Nos. 1043,
1092).

Considered by Dahlstedt to be " a new form of the Vulgata
section"; but I have reason to think that the plant is hypo-
phyllopodous, in which case it comes near to H. Scullyi^ W. R.
Linton (Alpestria), which is the position Mr. Linton would
assign to it. The latter, however, is a much larger plant,
18-24 inches high, with a "panicle corymbosely branched,
leafy below." Its foliage, too, is of a remarkable grass-green
colour, yellow in decay, and the leaves are quite glabrous on
the upper surface. The flowers are larger, and both they and
the styles are quite different in colour. In cultivation H. breve
branches rather freely, but does not exceed 1 5 inches in height.
It has been referred to H. zetla7idicum both by the Rev. E. S.
Marshall ("Journ. Bot.," 1898, p. 172) and by Mr. F. N.
Williams ("Prodr.," p. 126), but I do not know on what
character. H. zetlandicum differs in its full yellow somewhat
orange flowers, and pure yellow styles, which, however, soon
become tinged with brownish; stem leaves definite, 1-3 only,
irrespective of the size of the plant. The teeth of the leaves
are more directed forwards, often strongly so, and the phyllaries
bear numerous long and short gland-tipped hairs. Root leaves
narrower, with longer and more narrowly winged petioles ; and
finally, cultivation of the two forms, side by side, shows their
mode of branching to be entirely different.

I can only account for the great scarcity of H. breve on the
supposition that the plants seen represented a colony recently
established from wind-borne seed, and that the headquarters of
the plant will be found somewhere further out among the crags
of Roeness Voe. — On granite.

H. zetla?idicu/n, Beeby. — N. Confined to a tract near North Roe,
about 2x1 miles, extending from Burga Taing northwards to
Benegarth, but plentiful in many places within this area (Nos.
1044, 1082, etc.). — On gneiss.
66 E

114 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

H. dovrense^ Fr.

Sub-sp. humidorum, Almq., var. Hethlandiae (F. J. Hanb.). —
Cliva Hill Rocks, Delting, in some plenty (Nos. 1107, 1151).

Sub-sp. demissum, Stromf., var. australius, Beeby, var. nov. —
Considered by Dr. Almquist to be closely allied to the Icelandic
H. demissiim, from which it differs in the more numerous stem-
leaves, the upi)er ones more amplexicaul, and the lower ones
less attenuated towards their base. Pericline short, broad,
truncate-based, blackish, sub-glabrous, with a few glandular
hairs. Ligules glabrous, styles livid. — H. crocatiim, Tate ?

U. In some plenty about the north-east corner of the Loch
of Cliff; Burrafirth Cliffs (Nos. 609, 859, 860).

Sub-sp. demissum, Stromf., var. pidchellifor)7ie, W. R. Linton,
= H. pukhelliim^ auct. brit.

Dahlstedt places this near H. de7fiissiim, while Almquist
regarded it as very closely allied to, but distinct from, the
last, thus assigning it a similar position.

U. Burrafirth ! W. R. Linton. — North-east banks of Loch of
Cliff; by Queyhouse Loch (No. 608).

H. protradum, Lindeb. = H. vidgatimi, Tate. — In many places from
Unst and Yell southwards to Sandsting and Aithsting. The
form with marbled leaves is the more common (Nos. 610, 611,
1093, etc.).

H. subtnoicatum, Beeby, sp. nov. — Pseudophyllopodous ? Root-
leaves? Stem -leaves numerous, about 10-13, lanceolate or
ovate-lanceolate, all sessile, upper clasping with a broad base,
lower less so, with a few medium-sized more or less spreading
teeth, a few long hairs on both sides, and rather many stalked
stellate hairs beneath. Stem purplish red, hairy, especially
below, branching dichotomously, branches sub-erect, 12-25
inches high according to situation. Peduncles sparingly
floccose, with a few simple and glandular hairs. Pericline
somewhat rounded below, outer phyllaries short ovate, inner
lanceolate, all more or less blunt ; the recurved tips violet-
coloured in the living plant, very faintly floccose, otherwise
glabrous. Flowers rather pale, ligules glabrous, styles yellow.

This plant has been referred to H. truncatiim^ Lindeb., by
Dr. Elfstrand and the Rev. E. F. Linton, but that species
differs conspicuously in its glabrous leaves, and in the long,
winged petioles to the lower stem-leaves. It differs also from
the Shetland plant in the following points among others —
stem-leaves fewer, 5-7, broader in the middle, stem glabrous,
phyllaries slightly floccose and senescent, panicle with branches
"arcuato-patentibus," etc. Mr. Linton writes: "In all the
above points Lindeberg's H. truncatutn contrasts markedly

ON THE FLORA OF SHETLAND 115

with your plant. Hence I consider your plant deserves a
name as a separate form."

N. Abundant on the rocky and ferny banks of the Eela
Water burn down to its mouth in Hamar Voe, and on banks
about the shores of the same voe (Nos. 1 105, 1106, 1153, 1154).

H. rigidum^ Hartm., var. Friesit, Dahlst. (f.). — N. Banks of the
Gluss Burn, near Ollaberry, abundant (Nos. 1040, 11 04). Mr.
Linton regards this as best kept here, although not fully
agreeing with the variety named.

If. strictum^ Fries, var. humilius, Beeby, var. nov. — About one-third
shorter than the type ; leaves rather narrower, closer, and
shorter, decreasing more rapidly upwards, lower ones more
attenuated at the base, veins beneath a little darker and more
defined. Heads sub-truncate, with fewer hairs and glands ;
ligule-tips glabrous or nearly so. N. Gelli Gill, near Hillswick
(No. 1 1 56.); Sandsting, Holm in Hamari Water (No. 1633).

If. auratum., Fries, var. t/mlense, F. J. Hanb. — N. Abundant among
rocks in many places on the north side of Roeness Voe,
sparingly on the south side. Rocks a mile north of Mavis-
grind.

If. crocatum, Fries, var. vinacetim, Beeby, var. nov. — Leaves less
parallel-sided than in the type, narrow, much tapering to each
end except the upper ones, more hairy beneath. Stems of a
striking red-violet colour, which is fully maintained in culti-
vation. Stem hairy below, styles livid. N. In many places on
the north side of Roeness Voe (Nos. 1087, 1089, etc.). Mr.
Linton regards this as a slight variety. Dr. Elfstrand a distinct
variety.

Var. congestum, Beeby, var. nov. — A dwarf form 12-15 inches high,
with leaves, broad, short, sub-parallel-sided, much aggregated in
the lower part of the stem, which is of a dull-greenish or some-
times somewhat reddish colour, and is sub-glabrous below. In
cultivation the plant becomes 18 inches high, while the leaves
become even broader in proportion to their length, and the
reddish tint of the stem is nearly or entirely lost. " A distinct
variety" — Dr. Elfstrand. N. Among fine pasture below the
hills north of Burga Taing, North Roe (Nos. 1085, 1086).
Sandsting, Holm in Burga Water (No. 1634). The description
is made from the North Roe plant ; the other is not perhaps
quite identical.

EXCLUDENDA

ff. maculatiim. — Edmondston's record (1839) may have been a boyish
guess at a name for H. protractum, which is the only spotted-
leaved plant known to occur.

ii6 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

FT. miiromm, near North Roe. — Edm. Flo. — This vague locality
may cciually apply to the Bjorgs of Skelberry on the one side,
or to Buiga Taing on the other — to H. Schftiidtii or to H.
zetlandicum. I'or the rest, his H. dulnum (J), H. sylvaticum^
and //. dentiadaium are even more ambiguous.

H.JloccuIosuni, T.ackh. — Tate, in "Journ. Bot.," 1866, p. 6. — The
single example in " Hb. Mus. Brit." cannot, I think, be referred
to this species. It ai)i)ears to belong to the Oreadea-scapigera,
or ])ossit)ly to the Vulgata-silvatica. Mr. Linton includes this
in his " Brit. Hier.," but informs me that he has not seen the
specimen.

H. buglossoides^ Arv.-Touv. — Mr. Linton now considers that the
much-discussed Cliva Hill plant is correctly referred to H.
Onades^ var. siibglabratiwi.

H. gothicu7n. Fries. — Included in Linton's "Brit. Hier.," but neither
Mr. Linton, Mr. Hanbury, nor the writer can find any basis for
the record.

H. rubicundu7ji^ Hanb., var. Boswelli^ Lint. — Included in the
'' Brit. Hier.," on the authority, I believe, of the Rev. E. F.
Linton. Mr. Hanbury refers the plant to H. ScJwiidtii^ and
the Rev. W. R. Linton writes, " I should rather agree with
Mr. Hanbury and refer the plant to H. SchmidtUy In this
case the material is rather scanty.

H. orinie/es, W. R. Lint. — Hanbury, '^Journ. Bot.," 1893, P- i^*
Trail, "Additions, etc.," "Annals," 1906, p. 96. — The remark
under H. biiglossoides also applies to this.

H. stictopliyllum^ Dahlst. — In the " Botany of the Faeroes," p. 642,
Mr. Dahlstedt writes, "I have seen specimens of this form from
... the Shetland Islands (W. H. Beeby)." The plant, how-
ever, is not present in my collection. I wrote to Mr. Dahlstedt
about it last June, but as I have not yet received his reply I
think it best to exclude the species until information is forth-
coming.

H. lasiophylhim^ Tate, see H. Schviidtii^ fealense.
H. duriceps, Hanb., see If. silratiann, niic7'acladium.
H. vu/gafiwi, Tate, see H. protradiun.
H. crocatnm, Tate, see H. demissum^ australius.
H. truncatum^ Lindeb., see H. subtruncatum.

Thames Ditton, December 1907.

[The foregoing was in type last December, but was held over
from the January number owing to want of space. And now we
have to deplore the loss of the Rev. W. R. Linton, who passed

ON THE FLORA OF SHETLAND 117

away on the 4th January after a short illness. Mr. Linton's name
occurs frequently in the above paper, and I feel that I cannot let
the sad occasion pass without once more expressing my apprecia-
tion of his unfailing kindness, so fresh in my memory, as well as of
the very real and sound knowledge which he possessed of the
British Hieracia. His place will be a hard one to fill.

Since Mr. Linton is no longer with us, I think it right to add
a word of explanation concerning one point : after I had written
out the descriptions, etc., I sent the rough draft of the descriptive
portion to Mr. Linton, who looked over it but found no alterations
to suggest. The whole of the introductory portion was written
afterwards, and was not seen by Mr. Linton at all. — W. H. B.]

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES.

Varieties of the Mole. — The varieties received from the Mole-
catchers, who regularly consign such captures to me, during the past
year of 1907 have again been numerous. Yellow and cream in all
shades, those with yellow and buff patches and streaks on the abdo-
men comprise the range of variation, with one exception, which is a
female, with pelage of a uniform shade of bluish lead colour. I
have had this variety before, but never so bright and fine. Again,
as always, no whites in any form. — Robert Service, Maxwelltown.

Large Otter. — An Otter, stated to be 28 lb. in weight, was
killed by Mr. John Tait, Kinbuck (Forth Area) on loth May 1907,
and recorded in " Strathearn Herald." I have once met with an
Otter killed in the Carron River, Dunipace, which weighed 26 lb.
Record weights which are authentic are desirable. — J. A. Harvie-
Brown.

Bird Notes from Tiree. — It may interest you to hear that there
are 14 Mute Swans here. Twelve of them came at the beginning
of July and they were joined later by two others. These Mute
Swans that come here in summer do not stay in winter with
the exception of one pair which has remained here for several
years ; but they do not associate with the Wild Swans.

I have not seen any new birds. The migration season was
about as usual, except that there has been a great scarcity of Red-
wings this autumn. I have not seen half a dozen, whereas they
used to be swarming all over the place in November. [This is
interesting, seeing that Redwings have been unusually abundant on
the East Coast of Scotland, and were recorded as appearing suddenly
in large numbers near Ullapool. — J. A. H.-B.] A good Redwing

ii8 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

year is always a good Snipe year. The ground never was in better
condition for Snipe, but tliey are not at all plentiful.

Wild Swans, and especially Bewicks, are unusually numerous on
all the lochs on the Island. On the East Church Glebe at Gott,
there is a small pool caused by a choked drain ; and there has been
from a dozen to eighteen Bewick's Swans on it daily for several
weeks. The pool is only about half an acre in extent, and is within
I GO yards of the manse door. The Swans don't pay any attention
to the inmates moving about. They must be getting some feeding
of which they are very fond. Previous to being flooded, the place
was a mass of " Silverweed." I wonder if it is the rotting Silverweed
they are feeding on !

The winter has been very mild, and we have not had any frost
or snow up till now, 28th February 1908. It has not been a good
Snipe year. Snipe were never very abundant all winter, although
the ground was in capital order. Golden Plover were thick in
the beginning of October, and they are so also at present with this
bad weather. They are always most abundant when there is nobody
here to shoot them. — Peter Anderson, Tiree.

Pied Flyeateher Nesting in Kirkcudbrightshire. — In the July
" Annals " (p. 183) I recorded the finding of a nest of this species,
and in doing so, hinted that further discoveries were anticipated.
While standing beside the tree in the trunk of which the afore-
mentioned nest was situated, I had noticed a male Pied Flycatcher at
some little distance away sitting upon the top of a wire fence, and
concluded that it was a different bird from the male on which I had
put the glasses only half a minute previously, but of course could
not be sure owing to the rapid and confusing movements of the
birds. But my friend, resident near the spot, and whose name is
not to be mentioned lest it should lead to the locality, continued his
watch and within a few hours unravelled the mystery by discovering
another nest with eggs scarcely one hundred yards away from the
other. It was placed in a position such as a robin would choose —
within a hole in the tree trunk just at the same level as the grass.
My friend, who knows the Pied Flycatcher well in most of its English
haunts, said he has never known of a nest in such a low-down
position before, and says it was exactly similar to many Wrynecks'
that he had seen. It is most gratifying to know that both nests had
their contents duly hatched out and fledged, so that in all prob-
ability we have now a permanent summer colony that in future seasons
will be watched with interest. — Robert Service, Maxwelltown.

Waxvi^ing in BanfTshire. — It will, perhaps, be worth while to
record the fact that a Waxwing {A??ipelis garrubis) was shot at
Garronhaugh, Rothiemay, on 20th November 1906. The specimen
is now in my possession, and is the only one I have ever seen.
— John Yates, Banff.

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 119

Gadwall in the West of Scotland. — A male shot at Dougalston,
by Mr. Riply Kerr, in December 1907. Mr. Kerr had not met
with it on his property previously. One shot on the Dee, near
Castle-DouglaSj on 6th January, is reported by Mr. Hugh S. Glad-
stone.

Pintails in Argyllshire. — Four or five Pintails {Dafila acuta)
were seen on Loch TuUa on 4th June, 1907, by General Stewart,
who is well acquainted with the species. — Chas. H. Alston,
Letterawe.

[It would be interesting to know if the birds were breeding, or
if a small party on passage northwards. — Eds.]

Smew in Dumfriesshire. — On 6th January two immature birds
occurred inland at Dalswinton, Dumfriesshire ; more than ten miles
from the sea. Hard frost prevailed at the time, and they rose from
a ditch, and one, a young male, was shot. — Hugh S. Gladstone,
Thornhill, Dumfriesshire.

The Eider Duck in Solway Waters. — For many years past the
Eider {Somateria 7tiollissi77ia) has been coming into the restricted
waters of the Solway with slowly increasing frequency during the
non-breeding season. It is only seldom that an odd straggler
is noticed in summer. This past breeding season, however, two
pairs remained close in to the rocky shores of Colvend from April
till end of August, and I have a long series of notes of observations
detailing their movements during that period. One of the two
females was often absent, for a few days, but if on domestic duties,
no results were seen. I fully anticipate ere long to hear of success-
ful nesting of Eiders on our shores, more particularly from some of
the quiet nooks of the Wigtownshire coast. — Robert Service,
Maxwelltown.

Siberian ChifT-ChafT and Wood Warbler in the Orkneys.—

Information regarding the occurrence of these birds in the Orkney
Islands will be found on pages 79 and 80 of this number of the
"Annals." — Wm. Eagle Clarke.

Glossy Ibis in Ayrshire. — An immature female example of the
Glossy Ibis {Flegadis falci?iellus) was shot near Irvine towards the
middle of September 1907, and forwarded to M'CuUoch and Sons,
Glasgow, who sent it for exhibition to the October and November
meetings of the Glasgow Natural History and Andersonian Naturalists'
Societies. The bird subsequently passed into the possession of the
Marquis of Bute at Rothesay. There is no record of the Glossy
Ibis having been obtained before in the "Clyde" area. — John
Robertson, Glasgow.

Bittern in East Lothian. — On 8th January last, a male Bittern
{Botaiirus stellaris) was captured alive by a shepherd near Whittinge-

120 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

hame, and taken to Mr. Pow, Dunbar, in whose hands I saw it.
One of its legs had been injured, and its poor condition accorded
with its inabihty to save itself by flight. Though well cared for, it
survived scarcely four weeks. — William Evans, Edinburgh.

Capercaillie in Dee. — I am informed by Mr. J. H. Gurney,
that nine Capercaillies {Tetrao m-oga/Ius) were shot on 9th September
1907, near Alford on the Don. — J. A. Harvie-Brown.

Land-rail at Edinburgh in Winter. — On 13th February I was
told that one of the gardeners here had about ten days previously
{i.e. about the first of the month) discovered a dead Land-rail {Crex
crex). My informant told me that when the bird was found it was
quite fresh, and had been discovered under a thick shrub, where it
had evidently sought protection from the cold. He also told me
where it had been placed, and I at once went and examined it. —
P. M. Campbell, Fettes College, Edinburgh.

Red-necked Phalarope in the Solway Area. — I have to record
a specimen sent me in the flesh on 5th September. It was shot
while swimming in the tide close to the shore at Powfoot, near
Annan. This is the first local specimen I have handled, and I do
not know of another. It seems strange that w^hile the Red-necked
Phalarope {P/ialaropus hyperbo7'eiis) breeds at points to north or
west of Solway, in Scotland, we should practically never see it here,
While the Gray Phalarope breeding a thousand miles farther away
should occur here with comparative frequency. — Robert Service,
Maxwelltown.

Leach's Petrel in Aberdeenshire. — As there are only three
previous records of the occurrence of Leach's Fork-tailed Petrel
{Oceatwdroma leucorrhod) in Aberdeenshire, and the last of these is
for as long ago as 1884, it will probably be of interest to you that
I found an example of that species a few feet above the tide-hne
on the shore about a quarter of a mile south of the Don, on the
5th January 1908. The specimen was quite fresh; it proved to
be a female ; its stomach contained only an oily fluid. It is being
preserved for the Aberdeen University Museum. — A. Landsborough
Thomson, Old Aberdeen.

The Saury or Skipper {Sco??ibresox sauries) in the Solway. —
I look upon this beautiful fish as a rarity in our waters. Doubtless,
it is not really so, because its elongated form enables it to go
through the meshes of anything but a shrimp net. I received a
particularly brilliant specimen from the mouth of the Nith on 19th
September. — Robert Service, Maxwelltown.

Aleoehara spadieea, Er., in Scotland (Tweed Area). — I have a
specimen of this beetle which I took in a mole's nest about a mile
south of Leadburn, and therefore in Peeblesshire, on 30th March

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 121

1905. It has been identified by Prof. Hudson-Beare, and appears
to be the first record for Scotland. — William Evans, Edinburgh.

Bethylus eephalotes, Forst., in Scotland (Forth Area). — Among
some Oxyura (Proctotrypidae) determined for me by the late Mr.
A. J. Chitty there is a specimen of this species taken on Blackford
Hill, Edinburgh, 6th May 1900. The name does not occur in Mr.
P. Cameron's list of Scottish Proctotrypids published in the
''Annals" for last year. — William Evans, Edinburgh.

BOTANICAL NOTES AND NEWS.

OBITUARY NOTICES.

Rev. John Fergusson, M.A., LL.D. — Born in 1834 in Glen
Shee, Perthshire, he spent the greater part of his life in the neighbour-
ing county of Forfar. A student of the University of St. Andrews,
he became a clergyman in the Church of Scotland, and lived for
some time in Glen Prosen, a quoad sacra parish in N.W. Forfarshire.
In 1869 he went to the church of New Pitsligo in Aberdeenshire;
and in 1875 he returned to Forfarshire, to Fearn or Fern, a parisli a
few miles from Brechin, in the basin of the South Esk. He died in
Edinburgh on 6th August 1907. Mosses formed the chief objects
of his interest and for several years he was a keen and successful
student of the British species. In 1869 appeared a paper on the
Mosses of Forfarshire ("Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh," vol. x. p. 245.)
in which many additions are made to the list for Forfarshire, several
of them being new to Britain. To the " Scottish Naturalist," from
1873 to 1879, he contributed several papers from New Pitsligo and
Fearn, chiefly on Mosses, but also on Fungi, and a more general
one on the plants observed in a brief visit to Glen Shee. Other
notes by him appeared in "Science Gossip "and elsewhere. He
intended at one time to produce a work on British Mosses, but
appears to have relinquished the idea. The late Dr. John Roy and
he arranged to issue a Flora of the counties from Banff to Forfar
inclusive. Dr. Roy's share of the manuscript was forwarded for
revisal by his collaborateur, but remained in his hands. For the
last twenty years Dr. Fergusson appeared to have lost interest in
botanical studies. .,

Thomas Barker, M.A., Emeritus Professor of Mathematics, of
Owens College, Manchester. A native of Old Aberdeen, Professor
Barker graduated in 1857 as M.A. in King's College and University
there, having taken a distinguished place as a student, especially in
mathematics. Going to Cambridge, he was Senior Wrangler in

122 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

1862, and was awarded a P\'llowship in Trinity College. In 1865
he became Professor of ^Lathematics in Owens College, then one of
the constituents of the newly formed Victoria University. Here he
taught until i S85, when he resigned the Chair ; and he afterwards lived
at Whaley Bridge and at Buxton until his death, at the age of 69,
in November 1907. Although chiefly a mathematician, he had a
strong taste for the study of plants, especially of the microscopic forms
of freshwater Algas, to which he gave attention during his visits to
Scotland. He did not publish results of his work ; but he gave
a very marked evidence of his botanical tastes in leaving a large
sum of money to Manchester University for the advancement of
botanical and mathematical studies.

Notes on Plants from Scotland. — Miss Fowler of Inverbroom
has found Teesdalia ?iudicaulis^ hitherto not recorded from the vice-
county 105, on shingle by the river at Inverbroom.

Dr. Domin has named a Thyme which I collected at Duns,
Berwickshire, as T. Serpyllum, L., x ovatu??i, Miller. I have Thymus
oi'atu?n^ Miller { = T. Chamadrys of British authors, not of Fries)
from Newton Stewart and Port William in Wigtownshire, and from
Tummel in Mid Perth, also T. glabriim^ Miller {- T. Chamcedrys,
Fr.) from Ben Heasgarnich in Mid Perth, and Ben Laoigh in
Argyll, and Strath Carron in West Ross.

I noticed Bromus leptostachys^ Pers., growing by the Tay, in Perth,
in July 1907. — G. Claridge Druce.

Critical Study of Ranunculus aquatilis, Z., var. y. — In his
very full study of the forms included under this head (" Journ. Bot."
1908, pp. 11-22, 44-52), Mr. F. N. Williams, after a discussion of
the many opinions expressed and varied synonyms, groups them
under the species R. divaricatus^ Schranck ( = R. Drouettii of British
Floras), and R. trichophyllus^ Godron, each with varieties, some of
which include " forms." These are defined, and their distribution
is indicated. Of the British types the following are indicated by
him from Scotland : —

1. R. divarzcatus, Schranck, var. comnmnis, world-wide. Var.
eradicatus (Laestad.), in British Isles found only in lochs of Fingask
in Perth and of Rescobie and Balgavie in Forfar, flowering and
fruiting two to five feet under water, recorded as R. trichophyllus^ var.
de7fiersiis. — N. E. Brown (" Eng Bot.," ed. 3, supp. 1891).

2. R. trichophyllus^ Godron, var. communis. — " In Scotland it
extends north of the Caledonian tanal as far as the Orkney Islands.
South of the Caledonian Canal it is recorded in nine counties " —
Dumfries, Kirkcudbright, Ayr, Lanark, Stirling, Perth, Angus,
Dumbarton, and Buteshire. Var. terrestris. Godron, Nairn.

BOTANICAL NOTES AND NEWS 123

The Prehistopie Flora of Scotland. — There are many problems
with regard to the origin of the flora of every country which cannot
be solved by the most careful study of its existing condition. It
is frequently not possible to ascertain with confidence from what
source, and when, and in what manner certain species immigrated ;
and this is peculiarly the case where man has long been a dweller,
and has efl'ected great changes, as has been the case even in Scotland.
Any light from early sources is most welcome ; and among the
more important sources of light are the investigations of the
tertiary and more recent deposits. Mr. F. J. Lewis has been doing
admirable work in his study of the peat mosses in several districts of
Scotland from the south to the Shetland Islands and the Hebrides,
the results of which are published in memoirs noted in this issue
under " Botanical Literature." Mr. Lewis has been able to show
the very wide occurrence of two forest-beds in the South of Scotland,
of which the lower gave place to an arctic flora, followed by the
upper forest deposits, which in their turn were succeeded by the
existing covering of moors and swamps. In the north he has not
found the lower forest-bed ; the other strata are present in the same
order, except that the single upper forest-bed of the south is repre-
sented by two, between which is Sphagnum peat, from one to three
feet thick, from which wood is quite absent. The upper of the two
layers usually shows Pinus sylvestris, the lower Betiila alba ; and the
intermediate peat yields Salix Arbuscula^ Betula nana^ and other
plants characteristic of a climate unsuited to the growth of trees.
No corresponding true forest-bed was found by Mr. Lewis in the
Hebrides and in Shetland, although Betula alba^ Alnus, and Corylus
occurred in a layer probably corresponding to the lowest forest-bed
of Southern Scotland.

From the investigations of the past three years Mr. Lewis finds
that the following stages are represented in Scottish peat mosses : —

I. Recent peat. 2. Upper forestian, including in Northern
Scotland an upper and a lower forest-bed separated by from one to
three feet of Sphagnum peat with subarctic plants, the upper forest-
bed being the earliest to show extensive Vaccinium-Calluna deposits.

3. Upper peat bog, of existing species of peat bogs and marshes.

4. Second arctic bed, with remains of arctic plants, now existing on
our hills in a few localities only, along with others that indicate that
the climate was not so extremely cold as might have been supposed
from the presence of the arctic alpine plants. 5. Lower peat bog
containing remains of plants like those of present time, except in
absence of Calhaia. 6. Lower forestian containing remains oi Betula
alba, Alnus, and Corylus, along with numerous herbs indicating a
mild climate. 7. First arctic bed containing remains of Betula
nana, Salix, Arbuscula, and other plants of a cold climate. In a
summary, with comparative diagrams of the limits about the sea-level.

124 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

it is shown tliat while the elevation of 2000 feet above the sea may be
taken at present as the normal lower limit of the characteristic arctic
alpine flora, and as the normal upper limit of trees in Scotland,
in each of the two arctic beds the arctic flora practically reached
the sea-level, while in the lower Forestian period the deciduous trees
ascended to at least their present limit, and in the upper Forestian
to over 3000 feet above the sea. Mr. Lewis has not found in the
peat any species that is not still existent in Scotland, but points out
that Salix po/aris has been found in deposits in the Southern Low-
lands that can hardly be younger than the lower arctic bed of the
upland peat. His work is a very valuable contribution to the early
history of the flora, and to the more recent geological history of
Scotland.

Calamag-rostis strigosa, Hartm. — Mr. Druce, at page 40 of the
last number of the " Annals," says, the " Messrs. Groves describe
this plant as cccspilosa. On referring to the last edition of " Babington's
Manual " I find this is so. Wahlenberg in his original description
of the plant as^?7/;/^6'^/r^^<5'i-«, "Fl. Lapponica"t. 2. 29 (181 1), makes
no mention of such a habit, nor does Fries, " Sum. Veg. Scand."
240, 1846; while Anderson in his " Gramin. Scand." 82, 1852,
says, " Rhizoma longe repens, articulatum, stolones foliatos agens " ;
while of stricta he says, "Rhizoma brevissime repens." Blytt, " Norges
Flora" 86, 1861, actually describes it with longer rhizomes than stricta^
which he says has " Rodstoken kort." So I think whether the plant
is strigosa or not it disposes of that objection.

S. Almquist, who described the genus for Hartman's " Skand.
Fl.," ed. of 1879, remarked on a specimen I sent to him, "C
strigosa^ very near the Norwegian form." I have had the plant from
Caithness growing for some years, and it behaved exactly as did
Hierochloe borea/is, as its rhizomes crept extensively in the soil and it
would not flower unless grow^n in a pot. It may possibly be C.
Hartmanniana^ Fries, " Summa Veget. Scand." i. 241 (1846). —
Arthur Bennett.

CURRENT LITERATURE.

The Titles and Purport of Papers and Notes relating to Scottish Natural
History which have appeared during the Quarter — January-March 1908.

[The Editors desire assistance to enable them to make this Section as complete as
possible. Contributions on the lines indicated will be most acceptable, and
will bear the initials of the Contributor. The Editors will have access to the
sources of information undermentioned.]

ZOOLOGY.

Eighteen New European Voles. By Gerrit S. Miller. Ann.
and Mag. Nat. Hist., February 1908, pp. 194-206. Microtus

CURRENT LITERATURE 125

sandayensis westr^e, subsp. n., from Westray, North Orkney, and
Microtus agrestis exsul, subsp. n., from North Uist, are described
in this paper.

Birds observed during Winter of 1906-7. Trans. a?id
Proc. Perthshire Soc. Nat. Set., vol. iv. pt. vi. (1907) pp. 202-203.
A list given (no author's name) of twenty species, with localities
and dates.

On some Bird Remains from the Beach of Ayre, Orkney.
By N. F. Ticehurst, F.R.C.S. Brit. Birds, March 1908, pp. 309-
311. The remains found consisted of those of the Gannet,
Cormorant, Shag, Great Northern Diver, Whooper, Gull sp..
Shearwater sp., and the Great Auk (lower half of a tibia).

Half a Day on Tentsmuir. By Wm. Whyte. Trans, and
Proc. Perthshire Soc. Nat. Sci.^ vol. vi. pt. iv. (1907) pp. 200-
202. Notes on bird-life.

Glossy Ibis in Aberdeenshire. George Sim. Zoologist, 1908,
p. 113. An immature bird shot at "harvest time" in 1907, at
Watermill, Fraserburgh.

Land-rail in Scotland in Winter. "P. C." The Field,
February 22, 1908, p. 320. Specimen picked up dead, but quite
fresh, near Edinburgh, in February.

White-Ringed Plover. J. Whitaker. Zoologist, 1907, p. 387.
One added to Mr. Whitaker's collection was shot at Westray,
Orkney.

On the Age of the Reptile Faunas contained in the
Magnesian Conglomerate at Bristol and in the Elgin
Sandstone. By Friedrich Baron Huene, D.Sc. GeoL Mag.,
March 1908, pp. 99-100.

Large Fish caught in 1907. Zoologist, January 1908, pp.
39-40. A Salmon weighing 61 J lb. caught in the Tay below
Perth, one w^eighing 50 lb. from the Awe at Taynuilt, and one
weighing 47 lb. caught in the Earn, are mentioned.

Deliphrum crenatum, Gray., in Dumbartonshire. George
W. Chaster, January 1908, p. 16. Four specimens (determined by
Mr. Champion) obtained near Helensburgh.

Phorid^ in Dumbartonshire ; with Description of a New
Species. By J. R. Malloch. Etit. Mo. Mag., January 1908, pp.
11-13. Thirty-three species recorded, including P. pubericornis,
which is described as new to science.

A Revision of some Carboniferous Corals. By R. G.
Carruthers. Geol. Mag., January, February 1908, pp. 20-31, and
63-74, plates iv. and v. Zaphrentis omaliusi recorded from
Greenfoot Quarry, near Glenboig, Lanarkshire, and var. densa of
the same species from Crosshousc.

126 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

BOTANY.

Botanical Excursions made hy Professor John Hutton
Balfour, in the years from 1846 to 1872 inclusively, in
Notes of tlie Royal Botanic Ga/-de?iSy Edhibi^rs^/i, 1908, pp. 21-497.
This consists of extracts from the " Excursion Diary " of Professor
Balfour, but with the names of the plants in the several Hsts
arranged as in the " London Catalogue." These lists are drawn
from many counties of Scotland (72, 73, 75, 77, 79-90, 92, 99, 100),
and contain numerous additions to the lists of some of these,
especially near Edinburgh.

Critical Study of Ranunculus aquatilis, L., var. y. By
Frederic N. Williams, F.L.S. {Journ. Bot. 1908, pp. 11-22, 44-52.)
A full discussion and analysis of the forms under var. y, and of
their distribution.

The Subsection eu-canin^e of the Genus Rosa. By
Major A. H. Wolley-Dod. {Journ. Bot. 1908, supplement, pp.
I- 1 6.) An important discussion of this difficult group.

The British Species of Thymus. By K. Domin and A.
Bruce Jackson. {Journ. Bot. 1908, pp. 33-37.) This also is a
critical paper of importance, four types being recognised, viz.
T. ovatus Miller, T. Serpyllu?n, L., T. prcecox, Opiz, and T. glaber,
Miller, all described here.

Helleborine, Hill, v. Epipactis, Adans. By G. Claridge
Druce, M.A., F.L.S. {Journ. Bot. 1908, pp. 8-10.) A statement
of reasons why Epipactis must give place to HeUebori7ie ; and a note
of the names that the British species must in future bear.

SuR LE Plancton des Lacs Ecossais. By H. Bachmann.
{Arch. Sc. Phys. Nat. Geneve., 1906, pp. 63-65.)

The Plant Remains in the Scottish Peat Mosses, Part IIL,
The Scottish Highlands and the Shetland Isles. By Francis
J. Lewis, F.L.S. {Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinb., xlvi., 1907, pp. 33-70,
plates.) Describes results of investigations in valleys in West
Sutherland, in upland districts of the North Esk valley and on
Rannoch Moor, and in Lewis and the Shetland Islands.

The Peat Moss Deposits in the Cross Fell, Caithness,
and the Isle of Man District. By F. J. Lewis. (Report to
meeting of Brit. Assoc, at Leicester, 1907, 8 pp.) Describes results
of sections in the basins of the Halladale, Strathy, and Armadale.

On the Pre-glacial Flora of Britain. By Clement Reid,
F.R.S., and Eleanor M. Reid, B.Sc. {Journ. Linn. Soc. No. 265,
Jan. 1908, pp. 206-227, plates 11-15.) An enumeration of the
plants {147) determined from deposits of the Norfolk and Suffolk
coasts, with photographs of fruits and seeds.

BOOK NOTICES 127

BOOK NOTICES.

A Vertebrate Fauna of North Wales. By H. E.
Forrest. With twenty-eight plates and a map. London : Witherby
and Co., 1907. Price 17s. 6d. net.

Those who are interested in the biological survey of the British
Islands, which has been making steady progress since the days of
Gilbert White, thanks to the voluntary services of field naturalists,
must often have wondered why such a natural and singularly
attractive area as Wales should be lacking a comprehensive work
devoted to any section of its fauna. Even the birds, that fascinating
group in which almost every one is more or less interested, have
not been more fortunate than the other Orders, and one has had
to fall back upon the work of Thomas Campbell Eyton, whose
" Attempt " to ascertain the fauna of the northern portion of the
Principality was written seventy years ago, for collected information
on any section of the Welsh Vertebrates.

Though British Zoologists have waited long, they have, fortunately,
not waited in vain, for Mr. Forrest's book is an excellent one in all
respects. The author has the necessary wide personal knowledge
of his area and its animals ; and to this he has added, through
research, a thorough acquaintance with the scattered literature of
his subject. With these essential data at his command he has built
up a comprehensive book on a well-considered plan, and the result
leaves little, if anything, to be desired.

The Vertebrate Fauna of North Wales is a rich one, especially
in native forms. It comprises 40 species of mammals, 251 birds,
4. reptiles, 6 amphibians, and 150 fishes; all of which are very
adequately and judiciously treated of. The book also includes
sections devoted to the Zoologists of North Wales, the physical
features of the area, bird-migration, etc. ; and the whole forms a
well-got-up volume of 610 pages, which is appropriately illustrated
and provided with a good map.

Mr. Forrest has proved himself to be such an able and pains-
taking author, that we would fain hope that he may be induced to
give us a companion volume on the Vertebrate Fauna of South
Wales : a work which has now more than ever become a
desideratum.

The Moths of the British Isles. Series I. By Richard
South, F.E.S. ("Wayside and Woodland Series.") London:
Frederick Warne and Co., 1907. Price 7s. 6d. net.

This is a delightful little volume, uniform with that on the
Butterflies issued some few months ago. Although small enough
(6^ by 4J inches) to be carried in the pocket, the book contains
343 pages and 159 plates, the latter giving no fewer than 671

128 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

accurately coloured examples, natural size, of every species and
many varieties, toi:elher with carefully executed drawings of the
eggs, caterpillars, chrysalids, and food-plants of the most important.
The text, as we should expect from the authorship, is carefully
and accurately written, and altogether there is a wonderful amount
of information given in such a small compass. Of the figures,
which are most excellent examples of the three-coloured process,
we can only speak in terms of the highest praise. The present
volume deals with the Families Sphingidae to Noctuidae, and is
to be followed by a second series, devoted to the remainder of the
" Macrolepidoptera." It would be difficult to imagine a more
charming gift-book for the schoolboy naturalist, and we can
cordially recommend it as a most beautiful, convenient, and
reliable account of our native Moths.

Wild Bees, Wasps, and Ants, and other Stinging Insects.
By Edward Saunders, F.R.S. London : George Routledge & Sons,
Ltd. Price 3s. 6d.

This little book, by our recognised authority on the Insects of
which it treats, consists of a series of short essays, "only for the
non-scientific." Since, however, reliable information on the habits of
the Aculeate Hymenoptera is not easy to find, we venture to think
that the book appeals also to the scientific reader who, though not
a specialist, desires to know something of this exceptionally interest-
ing group of Insects. The essays are good and full of accurate
information, though perhaps a little unequal. The best, perhaps,
are those towards the end of the book, on "The Distribution,
Rarity, or Abundance of various Species," on "The Development
of Insects from the Egg," and on " Colour." The book is embellished
by four plates, executed in the best " three-colour " style, from
drawings which are unusually beautiful and accurate.

The Annals

of

Scottish Natural History

No. 67] 19 8 [July

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY

FOR 1907

By John Paterson

If the report on the ornithology of Scotland for 1907 lacks
some of the distinction of its predecessors, it is still happily
full of interest. The conditions that obtained during the
year are easy to remember. The first months maintained
the boreal traditions which they inherited from the end of
the preceding year, although the last week of March, a
critical time for the appearance of the first of our summer
visitors, proved to be one of the finest of the year. April
did not bear out the promise of this burst of fine weather,
however, and the same maybe said of May, except the week
from the i ith till the i8th. June proved no better than its
immediate predecessors, and while July was distinguished by
the glorious weather of its second half, the conditions again
became unpleasant with the advent of August. September
gave us the halcyon conditions we like to associate with it,
but the last months did not repeat the harsh conditions of
the same months in 1906.

The conditions obtaining were reflected to some extent
in the ornithological phenomena of the year. The great
numbers of our winter visitors which distinguished the
67 B

130 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

closin<4 months of 1906 continued with us to add a spice to
observation ; the Brambling, for instance, remaining in the
west (Gareloch) till 24th April, and in the east until the ist
of Ma}' — the last a later date than any previously recorded
in these reports. The fine weather in the end of March is
connected with the many early dates to be found reported in
the following pages ; and though April left a good deal to be
desired, the conditions were not such as to discourage our
visitors who came in large numbers, Swallows, Sandmartins,
Yellow Wagtails, Common Sandpipers in force enlivening
our streams in the west at any rate, at a time when in the
present year not a single example of the species named was
to be seen. There was one exception, however, as the
Willow-Wren did not appear in great numbers till May.
The boisterous weather of June, it will be found, is claimed
to have led to an increase in the number of Swallows in
the Outer Hebrides. The absence of abnormal conditions
in the last months of the year probably deprived us of the
great immigrations which distinguished the same period in
1906. The Fair Isle, thanks to the investigations which
Mr. Eagle Clarke has continued there, again supplies us
with much important and curious matter. We may have to
wait some time before we get at the rationale of the occur-
rence of Far Eastern and South-eastern species there; but
the regular appearance of Northern species like the White
Wagtail, Lapland Bunting, and several species of the Finch
tribe, we are not unprepared for, and other blanks in our
knowledge which these investigations have filled up relate to
the passage of such species as the Whinchat, Tree-Pipit, etc.,
almost or entirely unknown hitherto in the Shetlands.

Statements have frequently been circulated about the
variation in the numbers of certain species of our summer
visitors from year to year, but the opportunities which this
annual report presents for supplying students with a useful
and connected body of data on these interesting but obscure
phenomena have not been fully or systematically taken
advantage of. It will be found in the present report that
there are some statements on this subject which seem to be
naturally connected. Further evidence is desired, but care
should be taken by observers not to trust to memory

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY FOR 1907 131

entirely, and to see that the terms of their comparisons are
sufficiently parallel to make the comparisons of value.

In regard to additions to our knowledge of the birds
breeding within our limits, great interest attaches to what
has been published relating to the Great Spotted Woodpecker
and Pied Flycatcher,^ and further information will be looked
for with eagerness. It may be pointed out in this connection
that the phrase " extension of range " is often misapplied, and
that it is necessary to distinguish carefully between this and
" addition to our knowledge," which is another matter.

It would be invidious to mention names in acknowledg-
ment of special services rendered in supplying information
to make the following report possible, but certain localities
are named so often as to make it plain from what quarter
most help is being received. To all contributors cordial thanks
are given for the assistance so kindly rendered. It is hoped
that the report will prove that there is reason for pride in
the loyalty and enthusiasm shown throughout the country.

TuRDUS viscivoRUS (Mistlc-Thrush). — In song (Edinburgh)
before the end of December 1906. In pairs, 9th March.
Lays, 9th April (Kirkliston). Young nearly fledged at Edin-
burgh on 23rd April. Young away near Glasgow, 4th May.
Last in song, loth May (Arisaig). Flock of between thirty
and forty at Port Ellen, Islay, 24th July. In N.W. Mull
twenty or so were observed on ist August, twenty on 19th, a
dozen very \vild on 9th September, and four on lona on nth
and 1 2th. Seen on the spring and autumn passages at the
Fair Isle where it is " probably an annual visitor" (p. 82).

T. Musicus (Song-Thrush). — Before end of December 1906, singing
at Edinburgh. First in song in N.W. Mull on 13th January,
and again at daybreak daily from 17th to 21st. Pairing at
Edinburgh, 17 th February. Singing at Cross wood Reservoir
(950 feet elevation) on 25th February, where first fledgling
seen, 3rd May. Building at Edinburgh, i8th March. Young
newly hatched, Caldwell, April i6th. Ceases singing between
loth and 20th July, thus last heard Edinburgh loth, Glasgow
I 7th, Kirkliston 20th. In the Outer Hebrides, Bahr (A.S.N. H.,
1907, p. 209) found none on islands where gulls breeds and
all seen were of the dark variety. Song only once heard by

^ A paper upon this subject is now ready for press, by Harvie-Brown.
Records are wanting of any summer occurrences anywhere in Clyde, Wigtown-
shire, East Fife, and Forfarshire.

132 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

him, and this attributed to the deterring effect of execrable
weather. In passage at Isle of May in numbers, i8th September
till 5th October (p. 13). Regains song, Kirkliston, 28th
August. In song in N.W. Mull on nth and 12th December;
very many in the Glasgow district in mid-December, which
is unusual. Four singing at Camphill, Glasgow, on 22nd
December (John Robertson).

T. iLiACUS (Redwing). — Last Glasgow record in spring about thirty
at Frankfield, 13th April. Last report from Edinburgh, 14th.
At Skerryvore, on 8th May, a rush with other species from
shortly after sunset till sunrise, very few striking. First main-
land observations, 6th October, Caldwell (Renfrew); loth,
Carmichael (Lanark), in very large flocks, and at Kirkliston on
same date. Much less abundant at last named than last year,
and the same is true of the Glasgow district. A continuous
stream on 19th October in N.W. Mull, which on 20th simply
swarmed. By end of week they had melted away. At
Tarbetness (Dornoch), when thousands were flying round light
on 1 8th, out of 270 birds killed 247 were Redwings. Great
numbers at lantern at Sule Skerry during night on 20th, with
a fresh easterly breeze and haze, and on the 21st thousands
with fog. There were vast numbers in the end of October in
Dumfriesshire. At Tiree a great scarcity, not half a dozen
where they used to have thousands in November (p. 117).

T. PILARIS (Fieldfare). — No spring observations call for notice. It
is reported from five localities in May, the latest, on sure
authority, a laggard at Mearns (E. Renfrew) on 26th. On 2nd
October a rush at the Flannans. On loth, following an east
wind, a great rush at Skerryvore with other species ; several
hundreds killed. Earliest mainland observations, Beith (Ayr),
five flying S.VV. on 9th October. Carmichael (Lanark), loth.
At Sule Skerry on 20th and 21st, great numbers. The main
arrival at Kirkliston was on 25th October, whence they passed
on S.W.

T. MERULA (Blackbird). — Singing at Crossmyloof, Glasgow, 7th
January ; pairing at Edinburgh, 24th February ; building there,
4th March ; laying, 4th April, Gilston (Fife) ; 8th April, Edin-
burgh ; 9th April, Kirkliston; 13th April, Bressay, pair has
three eggs. Sings till T3th July, Kirkliston; 17th, Glasgow;
20th, Saltcoats (Ayr); 29th, Edinburgh, "very late." Heard
again at Kirkliston, 17th September, and Caldwell, 6th October,
"in fine song for half an hour." A female with a white hood,
sparingly speckled with brown, and a small white spot in the
centre of the upper breast, seen at Gilston (Fife) in February.
Pied blackbirds are usually cocks.

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY FOR 1907 133

T. TORQUATUS (Ring-Ouzcl). — 25th February, one seen by Dr.
FuUarton at Lagg, Arran, which was said to have passed the
winter there. 7th April, one in N.W. Mull ; two on 8th, in
song on I oth, on which date Dr. Fullarton says it was numerous
at Levencorrach, Arran. By 7th July, in Mull, young had left
adults — one brood. At Mull on 19th August six observed ; on
29th at Swordale (E. Ross) three to four, evidently migrating,
flushed on moors. Two going S.E. in Mull on Sth September,
a dozen at Sule Skerry on 21st October with other species in
great numbers. Passing Isle of May till 14th October (p. 14).

Saxicola cenanthe (Wheatear). — 19th March, Dumfries; 21st,
Lendalfoot (Ayr) ; 24th, Dairy (Ayr); 27th, Balcomie (Fife);
and five other localities till 31st. 7th to loth May, a large
migration with finches, etc., at Pentland Skerries ; Sth, a rush
with other species at Skerry vore. ist October, Bell Rock (i) ;
7th October, Kirkliston (i); and Isle of May (i or 2); 20th
October, Mull (i). One at Balcomie (Fife), pursuing a weasel.

S. LEUCORRHOA (Greater Wheatear). — Northern passage began in
the Fair Isle in first week of April, where they were seen
abundantly on return throughout September (p. 81).

S. occiDENTALis (Black-throatcd Wheatear). At the Fair Isle on

25th September a fine male (p. 81).
Pratincola rubetra (Whinchat). — Said to be scarcer at Lendalfoot

(Ayr) than usual. 5th May, Mull (i) (6); nth, Lugton

(Ayr); 12th, Beattock. On eight days in May and early June

at Fair Isle (p. 82). 13th September, KirkHston ; 21st, Mull;

22nd, Frankfield (Glasgow). A dozen at Largo, 26th August;

one at Isle of May, 3rd October ; and a young male on 9th at

Fair Isle (p. 82).

P. RUBicoLA (Stonechat). — Five pairs observed in S. Uist (A.S.N. H.,
1907, p. 209). Young flying at Arisaig, nth May.

RuTiciLLA PHCENicuRUS (Redstart). — Sth April, one in garden at
Pentland Skerries; loth, Spiggie, numbers; 21st, Hillfoot
(Glasgow) ; Sth May, Mull, " a fairly common summer visitor "
(A.S.N.H., 1907, p. 247). Lots in Isle of May on 26th
September, when the passage continued till 4th October (i).
5th, 6th, 7th, Sth, 9th October, a rush each day, and on loth
a lot, all at Lerwick.

R. TiTYS (Black Redstart). — An immature one in April and a
female on Sth November, on the Fair Isle, to the fauna of
which it is an addition. It has not been recorded for the
Shetland Isles (p. 82).

Cyanecula suecica (Arctic Bluethroat). — Two on 7th and 9th
October, at Fair Isle (p. 82).

134 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

I'.RITHACUS RUBECULA (Redbreast). — Singing at Edinburgh on 13th
January; recording its song at Clarkston ((ilasgow), loth
February; 22nd jNIarch, laying in Perthshire; 7th April, in
numbers, Pentland Skerries ; many at Spiggie and numbers at
Pentland Skerries, loth. At Caldwell, nest in top of yew
hedge is nicely domed. October 22nd, rush at night at
Lerwick ; 27th, Bell Rock (i); 29th, Flannans (i).

Sylvia ciNEREA (Whitethroat). — 9th May, Lamlash ; iith, orchard
country (Lanark) several; also in Bute and jNIuU same day,
and numerous at last locality, 12th. On last-named date
several east of Glasgow, one recording its song. 21st May,
laying at Kirkliston. At Lendalfoot (i\yr), more numerous
than for many years. In the Outer Hebrides, where Bahr had
seen but one in the previous years, three males came under
observation singing (A.S.N.H., 1907, p. 209). Last nesting,
Kirkliston, July 26th; last in song, 29th. Last in song at
Patterton (Glasgow), 4th August — "a low twitter." Last
appearances — 22nd September, Fairlie ; 23rd, Isle of May.

S. CURRUCA (Lesser Whitethroat). — 7th April, Spiggie (i); this
most elusive of Scottish birds as a nesting species is stated
(A.S.N. H., 1907, p. 185) to have nested at Forfar in the year
now under review, but the narrative published has left some
readers of these pages unconvinced. The writer need only
say that for the past twenty years he has continued, till the
present year, to be beset with reports of a similar nature,
none of which has been adequately supported or proved correct
upon examination. The last argument indicated in support
of such possibilities, based on its occurrence regularly at the
periods of passage, involves so many obviously dangerous
parallels as to reduce it to futility. 29th and 30th September,
and loth October, single birds at the Isle of May.

S. ATRiCAPiLLA (Blackcap). — Single birds at the Isle of May on
27th September, 2nd October, and 5th November (p. 15).
1 8th October, two out of 270 birds killed at Tarbetness
(Dornoch), and single birds at Lerwick, all females, on
19th October (found dead), 21st (which flew into a shop)
and 22 nd October.

S. HORTENSis (Garden-Warbler). — i6th May, Lake of Monteith ;
19th, Rouken (Glasgow). About 28th May, one brought in
by a cat at Pentland Skerries, and occurred on five dates during
vernal migration at the Fair Isle (p. 79). 26th September,
two at the Fair Isle (p. 15).

S. NisORiA (Barred Warbler). 24th September, Isle of May, a
female (p. 15).

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY FOR 1907 135

Regulus cristatus (Golden-crested Wren). — In song, Kirkliston,
25th February; 9th April, great numbers, Lerwick; loth,
many at Spiggie. Conspicuous by its absence at Fair Isle
this year (p. 79), and with the two exceptions above quoted
the references in the reports to the species are always to
trifling numbers.

P. suPERCiLiosus (Yellow-browed Warbler). — 29th September, one
at the Isle of May (pp. 15, 16). Single birds on 13th,
22nd, and 29th October, and two on 21st, at Fair Isle
(p. 80).

P. RUFUS (Chiffchaff). — 2nd April, Dumfries ; 3rd, Lendalfoot
(Ayr). 24th May, one at Fair Isle (p. 80). 19th October,
several, one of which came down a chimney of Symbister
House, Whalsay.

P. TRiSTis (Siberian Chiffchaff). — Four females secured at the Fair
Isle in the last week of October, and others seen (p. 80).
One sent from Kirkwall early in February 1908 {I.e.).

P. TROCHiLUS (Willow -Wren). — Reported on 5th April from
Lendalfoot (Ayr); 14th, Beith (Ayr); 19th, Saltoun ; 20th,
Kirkliston ; 23rd, Dumfries, " a great rush the last two days " ;
but it was not till 7th May that full numbers were reported
from Kirkliston, and in the Glasgow district it was only common
everywhere after the 4th of that month. A nest at Beith in
ivy four feet from ground, and one at Kirkliston at end of a
spruce branch fully nine feet from ground (A.S.N. H., 1907, p.
247). Last nesting, Kirkliston, 19th July. Last occurrences,
loth October, Isle of May (i), and 19th, Flannans (i).

P. siBiLATRix (Wood- Wren). — 12th May, Bute; 13th, Arisaig ;
14th, Mull, where it was in usual numbers in 1907. Single
birds early in June and in August at the Fair Isle (p. 79).

AcROCEPHALUS PHRAGMiTis (Sedge-Warblcr). — One is reported at
Loch Lebo, Caldwell, on 23rd April, — an exceptional appear-
ance, however. loth May, Kinross; nth, Bute; Caldwell
again, "exceedingly abundant this season," 12th; Frankfield
Loch and Bishop Loch east of Glasgow, same date ; " crowds "
at Kilconquhar Loch on 1 3th. These dates show conclusively
that the main body arrived loth to 13th May. Said to be
scarce at Lendalfoot. Nests with four and three eggs re-
spectively, Caldwell, 6th June. Last in song, Kirkliston,
29th July. Last mainland observation, 7th September, Beith,
one young bird. On loth and 13th September at Isle of
May, single birds.

136 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

LocuSTELLA NitviA (Grasshoppcr- Warbler), — On 8th May at
Skerryvore, one, and another at the Fair Isle, 29th (pp.
80, 8'i).

Accentor modularis (Hedge-Sparrow). — At Edinburgh sings on
2 1 St January, builds 31st March, lays 7th April, young hatched
23rd. Still in nest, 6th August. "Any quantity" at Spiggie
anterior to loth April, and mentioned in Mr. Clarke's Fair Isle
paper (p. 82) on account of the numbers appearing on several
occasions in April, especially the 9th, when hundreds were
observed in all parts of the island.

CiNCLUS AQUATicus (Dipper). — 26th February, N.W. Mull, visits
old nest. i6th March, Caldwell, nest and four eggs; 14th
April, Caldwell, five eggs taken from a nest which on 30th
had again five eggs. On 20th May young were nearly full
grown. On 22nd August began singing in ^lull, same date
as last year.

AcREDULA ROSEA (Long-tailed Titmouse). — 23rd March, Perthshire
building ; 7th April, Waulkmill Glen (Glasgow), nest almost
completed; 15th April, has eggs in Perthshire; 15th May,
on Inch-marnock, a nest with two holes, at each of which
young were being fed by their parents simultaneously.

Parus major (Great Titmouse). — At Edinburgh, sings loth
January ; pairing, 1 7th March.

P. PALUSTRis (Marsh-Titmouse). — 7th April, one at Darnley Glen
(Glasgow); 21st August, one or two near Alford, Aberdeen-
shire (p. 49) ; I St November, one at Giffnock (Glasgow).

P. C.ERULEUS (Blue Titmouse). — At Edinburgh, sings 17th January.

Troglodytes parvulus (Wren). — In song, Glasgow, 3rd March ;
Mull, still in song, 21st August.

Certhia familiaris (Tree-Creeper). — In song, Kirkliston, 14th
March ; eggs highly incubated, Lake of Monteith, i6th May.

MoTACiLLA borealis (Grey-headed Wagtail). — In fair numbers in
latter part of May and early June at the Fair Isle, and noticed
again in September (p. 78).

M. LUGUBRis (Pied Wagtail). — In Mull one at least wintered, and
two arrived in full plumage ist March. Singing at Possil
(Glasgow) on 3rd; reappears at Beattock, 21st; one late in March
and two in the end of May at Fair Isle (p. 7 8) ; nest and three
eggs, I St May, Largo ; laying at Kirkliston, 30th April ; seen at
Pentland Skerries on 7th May (2) and 9th (2 or 3); 29th
August, six at Swordale in passage; nth September to ist
October in passage at Isle of May; two, 28th September, and
two, 6th October, at the Bell Rock.

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY FOR 1907 137

M. ALBA (White Wagtail). — In passage, Glasgow district, 24th March
till 4th jNIay ; 6th, Mull, two ; 8th June, Roer Water Burn
(Orkney ?) a pair (p. 4). On coast of North Ayrshire 3rd- 14th
September ; swarming on east and south sides lona, September
I i-i 2th. Clyde, east of Glasgow, half a dozen on 8th ; Flannans,
6-2 1 st, on four dates in small numbers. Last seen, 4th October,
Mull.

M. MELANOPE (Grey Wagtail). — A few wintered in Mull : back in
nesting haunts, Kirkliston, 21st; Caldwell, 25th March. At
Swordale on 12 th April, nest and five eggs. Several came in
at Mull about 25th October.

M. RAii (Yellow Wagtail). — On the Kelvin near Balmore on 21st
April, several ( S )• At Beith, pair feeding young on 15th June.
Last seen, Beith, 29th September (i).

Anthus trivialis (Tree-Pipit). — 8th April, Caldwell (i), and again
on nth (i); two Daldowie (Glasgow), 28th; Mull, ist May;
Kirkliston, 2nd. Last in song at Kirkliston 7th July, and last
seen there 24th August. Occurring at the Fair Isle, where it
is a bird of double passage, till fourth week of October (p. 78).

A. PRATENSis (Meadow-Pipit). — Arrive on Moors, Mull, on 27th
February, but scarce till 31st March, when large numbers seen.
By this date, singing m Glasgow district and East Neuk of Fife.
Many on the Kelvin (Glasgow), 21st April. Between nth
and 1 6th May reported from Arisaig, Bute, and Fife to have
eggs. At lona on 1 2th September, with change of wind to S.E.,
foggy, large numbers seen, " fourteen resting on top of cathedral
tower." "Parachuting" and trying song at the Isle of May,
25th September. Large numbers seen in Mull going south on
27th to 28th October and 7th November. Constantly in
passage at Isle of May, 9th September-8th October.

A. OBSCURUS (Rock-Pipit). — Nests with three and four eggs respec-
tively on iith and 14th May in Bute. Isle of May 9th
September-8th October, there being great crowds on 17th
September (p. 16).

Laxius excubitor (Great Grey Shrike). — In Mull on 20th January,
one, which created consternation among smaller species of birds.
March 9th, one in Mull in snow. Thrice seen in April at Fair
Isle, and several times last week of October till second week
November there (p. 79). At Pentland Skerries one shot 24th
September ; fifteen to twenty miles off the Shetlands one
flew on board a boat on 26th September. It was sent to Mr.
Charles Berry, Lendalfoot. One at North Berwick on 12th
October. One seen at Gilston (Fife) 4th November, and one
(S) procured there 28th. Two others reported about this
date from Colinsburgh, one being shot. One was picked up

13S ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

dead on 2nd December at Auchnasheen, where it had dashed
against a dining-room window.

L. coLLURio (Red-backed Shrike). — Several in May and a few
young birds in September at the Fair Isle (p. 79), and an
abnormally coloured young one on the Isle of May on 27th
September (p. 16).

MusciCAPA ATRiCAPiLLA (Pied Flycatchcr). — Added to the fauna
of Kirkcudbrightshire as a nesting species (A.S.N. H., 1907,
p. 183 and I.e. 1908, p. 118), and also to that of Ayrshire
(A.S.N.H., 1907, p. 247). One on the nth, and several on
26th September, at Isle of May (p. 17).

M. GRisoLA (Spotted Flycatcher). — nth May, Bute; 15th, Lahill
(Fife); T7th, Mull (2), and it "appeared to be more numerous
as a nesting species this year " there. Laying at Kirkliston
1 2th June, and still nesting there 5th August, where it was
last seen i8th September.

M. PARVA (Red-breasted Flycatcher). — On 27th September an
immature one observed at the Fair Isle (pp. 82, 83). One
at the Bell Rock on 25th October (pp. 49, 50).

HiRUNDO RUSTicA (Swallow). — 30th March, Lendalfoot (Ayr);
31st, Dumfries; 5th, 6th, and 7th April, at Dairy (Ayr);
7 th, at Beith and Duddingston. For a fortnight thereafter
no records, but from 20th April till 14th May, reported from
sixteen localities. More numerous in Mull as a nesting species
than last year, and " seems to have been especially numerous
this year " in the Outer Hebrides, which is attributed to the
stormy weather blowing them out of their course (A.S.N.H.,
1907, p. 210). On the day (5th May) they arrived Lahill
(Fife), they were collecting material for nesting. Second
brood left nest in Mull on 13th September, but young still
in nest at Kirkliston 21st. Left Caldwell during night of
25th-26th. A brood which left the nest in Mull on 27th
September left the locality on 6th October. After middle
of October, reports are 19th, Thornliebank (E. Renfrew) (2);
23rd, Lerwick, "rush"; 7th November, Suleskerry (i).

Chelidon urbica (House-Martin). — 2nd April, Lendalfoot; 3rd,
Duddingston ; 14th, Rescobie Loch, and thereafter a break
till 30th, when it appears at Samuelston on Tyne and
Lamlash. In numbers at Fairlie (Ayr), ist October, and
last seen Kirkliston, 3rd. One found dead under telegraph
wire on i6th October, at Dairy (Ayr). Single birds at the
Flannans on the 3rd and 4th November. More than usually
abundant in spring at the Fair Isle, and observed for first time
in autumn (p. %t^).

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY FOR 1907 139

CoTiLE RiPARiA (Sand-Martin). — ist April, Dumfries and Kilbirnie
Loch; 2nd, Lendalfoot ; 3rd, Duddingston ; 7th, Beith and
Common on the Kelvin, and Clyde 2ist-2 4th. Latest date
observed, 14th September, Fairlie.

LiGURiNUS CHLORis (Greenfinch). — Several large, sombre-coloured
birds wintered; on 27th February, in Mull, a dozen brighter
coloured and smaller arrived. In song in Edinburgh 28th
February. Laying at Kirkliston 9th May, and last nesting there
nth August. At Caldwell in song till 4th August; 21st
September, a hundred, Mull ; 9th October, at Lerwick in
numbers ; 4th November, three in Mull at seeds of Arctium
Lappa.

CoccoTHRAUSTES VULGARIS (Hawfinch). — On 1 8th March one shot
at Touch, Stirlingshire (A.S.N. H., 1907, p. 182), and on
25 th April one picked up dead at Smeaton-Hepburn, East
Lothian {I.e. p. 181).

Carduelis elegans (Goldfinch). — One in Mearns (E. Renfrew),
22 nd December.

C. SPiNUS (Siskin). — i8th April, Kirkliston (i); 30th September
(i); ist October (4); Isle of May (p. 17); 25th November,
Swordale (a pair), and 6th December (6).

P. MONTANUS (Tree-Sparrow). — " Decidedly on the increase here-
abouts [Largo and Colinsburgh]. We constantly see them
in places where we have not known them heretofore." Several
on the Isle of May in September and October (p. 19); nth
May, South Bute, two pairs.

{To be contifiued.)

FOOD OF THE BLACK-HEADED GULL.

By T. G. Laidlaw, M.B.O.U.

During a considerable number of years I have watched the
Black-headed Gull {Larus i-idibundiis) in order to ascertain
of what its food was chiefly composed. This is not such an
easy matter to decide as one might imagine, as its food is
extremely varied, and, like several of its congeners, it may
be said to be omnivorous. Nothing in the way of animal
matter that it is capable of swallowing seems to be rejected
— whether it be in the form of worms, larvae, flying insects,
fish, or mice, all seem to be greedily taken.

140 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

In the spring, when the fields are being ploughed, worms
constitute a large proportion of its diet, together with various
grubs, etc., which the operation serves to unearth.

Later, when grain is being sown, some, at least, take to a
graminivorous diet. On several occasions, at this period, I
have examined specimens that have been shot, and found
every one to contain more or less corn in their crops.

Flying insects constitute a considerable portion of its
food during summer. Many times I have seen them gorged
with crane flies which had just emerged from the pupa stage
in haugh-land or fields of coarse grass. The good they do in
this respect is very great. A large number of moths are
also taken. The gulls may be seen for hours in the evening
hawking over the fields, and they are quite expert at capturing
even the swiftest flying insects. It is capable of exerting
considerable wing power. Several years ago I was much
interested in watching it feeding on the caterpillar of a
moth which was exceedingly numerous on the birch trees
along the shores of Loch Shin in Sutherlandshire. The gulls
kept flying round and round the trees, and were continually
picking the caterpillars from the twigs or from the threads
by which many were hanging suspended in mid-air. Their
evolutions while so engaged were exceedingly interesting and
graceful, and in a manner suggested the flight of the nightjar.

During a " rise " of Ephemeridae on a river or stream
the Gulls levy a considerable toll on the insects, and where
they are numerous and the hatch of fly small, not many of
the latter escape. On the Tay I have seen more than a
hundred Gulls, common and black-headed, all busily engaged
during a rise of duns and yellow-sallies, and also at other
places have witnessed numbers taking May flies and March
Browns. Anglers have a distinct grievance against them
in this respect.

The injury in this way to fishing, however, is not so
serious as in the actual destruction of the fish themselves.
On a certain stream in the south of Scotland, which contains
quantities of parr and small trout, numbers of Gulls may be
seen any day during the spring and summer industriously
hawking up and down, backwards and forwards, over the
shallows, and ever and anon making a dash at a fish. If the

FOOD OF THE BLACK-HEADED GULL 141

water be of any depth the fish very often escapes, but still
I have seen a number caught, and during a season the
quantity destroyed must be considerable.

The Black-headed Gull is not to be compared with the
Tern as a capturer of fish. A good place to observe its
powers, or limitations, of diving is afforded on the Tay at
Perth. A considerable stream runs in a covered drain under
the South Inch, and enters the river a short distance south
of the railway bridge. As the stream is constantly carrying
down kitchen and other refuse, a large number of Gulls
congregate at the outlet, and at a distance of a few yards it
is amusing to watch the efforts they make to secure food
that may be floating a foot or so below the surface of the
water. They plunge down like a Tern, and as they strike
the water the wings are extended vertically over the back,
and although their bodies may be quite submerged, there is
always a portion of the wings, usually from the carpal joints
to the tips, above the surface. I have never seen them go
completely under the water, and an object a couple of feet
down is quite beyond their reach.

There is a trait in the habits of the Gull that I do not
remember to have seen recorded. During the winter and
early spring they consistently rob the Lapwings of their food.
A Gull will take up a position close to a feeding Lapwing,
and when the latter picks up a worm or grub, the former
immediately flies towards it, and forces it to drop the morsel,
which is then appropriated by the robber. This is a very
common habit of the Gull in this district.

The Black-headed as well as other varieties of Gulls
have increased enormously in many districts, owing to
protection ; and it has become a question whether that
protection should not now be relaxed. There is a danger
when a species becomes too numerous for its natural food-
supply, that it may be forced to adopt some undesirable habit,
and to avoid such a risk it appears desirable that it be
removed from the list of protected birds. As it has few
natural enemies, there is no danger of its numbers being very
materially reduced.

In conclusion, I consider it, on the whole, to be an
extremely useful as well as an extremely beautiful bird.

142 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL IHSTORV

DISTRIl^L'TION OF THE WOODCOCK IX THE
CENTRAL DISTRICTS OF THE FORTH
AREA IX THE SPRIXG OF 1908

P,y J. A. Harvie Brown, F.R.S.E., F.Z.S.

During this spring of 1908 a careful eye as usual has been
kept upon the numbers of Woodcock nesting in our coverts
in Central Scotland. Nothing abnormal occurred or was
reported until the i6th May. Then, it was told: Wood-
cock appeared in quite exceptionally large numbers in several
of the woods usually frequented by the birds in the nesting
season. Gamekeepers searching for and "lifting" pheasants'
eggs, reported unusual numbers of Woodcocks rising singly
or in pairs, as was the case also in 1902, after similarly
severe spring weather, and when, it may be remembered —
when repeated, — that quite an abnormal quantity were dis-
covered nesting. In 1903 and 1904 only the usual number
of pairs were found nesting, but in 1905 again still larger
numbers were known to have nested all over the central
counties of Scotland, and especially in the west of the
county of Stirlingshire and also within the " CLYDE " area.

No fewer than 65 nests were found on one property, and
45 on the next, and quite a number even on the island of
the Lesser Cumbrae. The statistics for all the Clyde
area have been most minutely w^orked out and plotted on
large scale maps by the Messrs. Buchanan for that year,
viz. 1905.

The first phenomenal, or unusual, appearance of the
birds in the central districts of Stirlingshire was in May
1902, and at the same time equally great numbers of
Snipe nested in favourable localities wnthin the same area.
The Woodcocks succeeded in hatching off and rearing their
late broods of young ones, as they had better shelter in the
coverts ; but the Snipe sustained great losses, and many
young were found dead within a few feet of the broken egg-
shells in the open.-^ That year 1902 — it should be remem-

^ These birds not having availed themselves of better shelter, but principally
occupying dry ground of a knoll facing the north-east.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE WOODCOCK IN FORTH AREA 143

bered — there were 17° of frost recorded on the night of
2nd-3rd May over the greater part of Scotland from Suther-
land and Caithness southward : and thereafter long-continued
and persistent blizzards of sleet and snow and dreadfully
inclement weather, and with winds equally cold from the
north-east and from the south-west over the Atlantic, con-
tinued right on into late June, as I pointed out at the
time.

How far the results of crowding of these species to the
milder central districts of Scotland in that year is due to
such a widespread and antagonistic state of affairs at and
after the critical time of the nesting operations, or is purely
due to mere local influences, is not proved to full satisfaction
by the records of one year only. But as regards the facts
themselves there can be no doubt. Nor can doubt remain
that there is natural truth in the " storm driven theory,"
whether the driving occurs at the initial start of a movement,
or during its progress at intermediate stages, or at the
localities of arrival, or by a combination of all these circum-
stances. There may be one other " deduction," viz. that,
due to the same conditions which prevailed over north and
south of the central districts of Scotland the birds delayed
their northward flight ; and when they did arrive, found the
conditions in Central Scotland more favourable. But this
meets with the very pertinent criticism : But would a
delayed movement nearly tzuo months after its regular
time take place at all} — i.e. would such a movement — even if
first nests were destroyed or early broods sacrificed furtJier
south, — i.e. would the homing impulse still act two months
late, or induce a still further flight northward ? I fancy
not, but rather the reverse ! ^

Coming to the present season, we are well aware that
this spring of 1908 many Grouse and also Pheasants' eggs
have been found frozen and addled at the time of the great
frosts in April. Forty Grouses' eggs were found in one day
on one of our low-lying mosses in the county, and on higher
lying ground on my own hill there is good evidence that

1 The spring movement is from S.W. or S. to N.E. or N. But a "homing
impulse " would scarcely act in 2^ further direction to the north after destruction
of their first cgs or broods, but wotdd act in the reverse direction.

144 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

many Grouse lost their early (April) layings ; and in a
particular well-heathered hollow many Grouse were put up
singly and in pairs, where they had evidently taken shelter.
The\' were sprung zi'it/iout the aid of dogs — a sign easily read
by experienced people that things were abnormal, and not as
they should be. It is patent to the most ordinary practical
observers that phe7io)}ie7ial results Jiave take7i place due to the
unseasonable severity of our spring of 1908. Even the
most superficial observers, and those whose opportunities of
outdoor field observation are not as good as they were
formerly — like my own, — cannot escape coming to the
conclusion and expressing it with many variations something
like this : " This season is very late ; everything is struggling
for life " ; and notes having equal significance are referred to
generally by others {vide "Zoologist," May 15, 1908, p. 192,
by Mr. Julian G. Tuck for an example).

I think field observers may have noticed that Woodcocks
frequent woods most abundantly, both in autumn and in the
nesting season, which have something of north in their
exposure — and our best covers in Central Scotland have
N.E. exposures, — to which rule, however, there are excep-
tions due to other favouring circumstances, such as age and
kind of cover growth. But it has been observed also that it
has been only in exceptionally cold N.E. blizzards and snow
and frost storms occurring late in April and May, and con-
tinuing cold and ungenial far into the season, that Woodcocks
have been unusually abundant and nesting on exposures
facing the south and south-west. Whilst such covers may
hold a regular number of nests in normal seasons, these
same covers will be {Jiave bee7i !) found to hold four or five
times as many nesting pairs in abnormally cold seasons,
such as 1902, 1905, and in the present spring of 1908.
This has been clearly and unmistakably the case, and fully
ascertained to be so over a considerable tract of Central
Scotland.

Such records and relations of facts may not be considered
of much value or usefulness by superficial observers. That
is, however, no reason why they should not be placed on
record provided they have been carefully and accurately
ascertained, and always allowing that sufficient care has

DISTRIBUTION OF THE \VOODCOCK IN FORTH AREA 145

been taken to put their accuracy beyond doubt, and credit
given that that has been the case. Deny the credit, or fail
to read any significance in the facts, then their importance
is forgotten, and the facts themselves relegated to the " waste-
paper baskets of the brain " ; or otherwise they may be
wilfully ignored.

Since the above was written (May 1 8) further informa-
tion has been conveyed to me. Thus, a neighbour tells
me that while " no actual count has been made, or precise
estimates arrived at " on the properties of Duchray in the
north-west of this county or at Torwood, which latter is
immediately to the north of this place, " there can be no
hesitation in recording that this season has been a great
year for nests ; but so far I have not seen a young one, so
conclude the eggs were all spoilt." The principal nesting
grounds on Torwood face the north and north-east.^

Here follows an interesting note from my friend Mr. VV.
E. Frost of Crieff. He writes : " From Ferntower or the
' Knock of Crieff' much feiver than last year [the italics are
mine. — J. A. H. B.], when they were especially abundant.
The best covers face the south. Strowan^ which comprises
the north side of Tirleum Hill, and the Strath from
Monzievaird to Comrie, in extraordinary numbers this year
— so Captain Stirling, the laird, told me on Saturday "
(May 23). These remarks, however, relate to February.
" When he was out shooting rabbits he put up a bird
almost every thirty yards, but he did not shoot." He tells
me that he once '^aw a Woodcock carrying two young at
one time.^

My next letter in chronological sequence has much of
interest, one from Mugdock Castle in the south-west of the
district where the favourite Woodcock covers face the south
and south-west, and where the observations given are exactly
parallel with those made here in 1902, 1905, and again in

^ A nest of Golden Plovers' eggs was watched for some time by my hillkeeper ;
and when at last he felt convinced they were deserted, on examination he found
them cracked by the frost and useless, only one instance of many similar
experiences.

^ "Now," Mr. Frost continues, "the author of 'Woodcock' in 'Fur,
Feather, and Fin ' series, records an instance of this, but adds : ' I believe this is
the only record in which the parent bird has been seen carrying two young ones
at the same time' " (/;/ ///. May 26, 190S).

6^ C

146 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

1908. lUit I am holding this and later correspondence
over during the course of further inquiry, and because this
paper has already reached so great a length to date of
going to press.

AN AMBICOLORED TURBOT WITH EYES
APPROXIMATELY NORMAL IN POSITION.

By James Ritchie, M.A., B.Sc.

At an early stage in their life-history Flat-fishes give up
the symmetrical mode of swimming possessed by their larval
forms and, toppling to one side or the other, adopt the
peculiar habit which characterises the adult. Normally in
the horizontally swimming adults the upper surface is
pigmented and bears both eyes, v/hile the under surface is
both colourless and eyeless. But occasionally specimens
are found of which both sides are coloured ; and where the
pigmentation of the under surface is complete it is generally
associated with deformities in the dorsal fin and in the
position of the eyes. So well known, indeed, is this associa-
tion between complete pigmentation and eye-abnormality
that Couch, referring to the Common Flounder, says that
such a variation has " occurred so frequently in some districts
as to have raised the suspicion of its being truly a distinct
species." ^

In the Turbot, however, examples of complete two-
sided pigmentation are rather unusual, although a partially
coloured under surface is by no means so rare. The present
example, kindly sent me for examination by Mr. Tom Cook,
fishmonger, Edinburgh, was caught, in May of the present
year, off the Berwick Bank at a depth of some twenty
fathoms. It is a moderately-sized male Turbot {Rhombus
maximus)^ 492 mm. in length from tip to tip, and 306 mm.
in greatest breadth (excluding the fins). The body propor-
tions and the number of fin-rays are normal, but both sides
are completely pigmented. The upper surface is of a very
dark olive-brown with slightly paler, irregular patches half-

1 Couch, J., " Fishes of the British Islands," vol. iii. p. 198.

AN AMBICOLORED TURBOT 147

way between the lateral line and the anal fin. The under
side is of the same colour as the upper, but the dark portion,
which spreads as a continuous patch over the greater part of
the surface, is bordered by paler bands running close to the
bases of the dorsal and anal fins, and coming to an end 3
and 6 cms. respectively from their hinder terminations.
The posterior margin of the operculum also is distinguished
by a paler border stretching for a short distance above and
below the right pectoral fin ; and that fin itself, as in a
specimen described by Messrs. Cunningham and MacMunn,^
has on its outer surface a narrow edging of white 5 mm. in
breadth. The inner surface, that turned towards the body,
is without pigment. Except for the pectoral fin no portion
of the fish is colourless, but we cannot affirm that the colour
on both sides is symmetrically distributed, unless, indeed,
the paler shades whose distribution has been noted above
are due X.Q post-moi'teni changes. On both upper and under
surfaces dermal denticles are scattered with similar frequenc}^,
but those on the under surface are much worn — an evidence
that the fish had long adopted the mode of swimming
common to its kind.

Only a slight notch separates the anterior portion of the
dorsal fin from the head, the free ray-bearing portion
measuring but i i mm. The dorsal eye, instead of lying on
the top of the head, has crossed over the ridge, its position
approaching that assumed in a normal specimen. The
interorbital distance, however, is greater than usual, for,
taking as a standard the transverse diameter of an eye, the
eyes are almost two diameters apart, while the normal space,
according to Day,"- is only one diameter. Further, the
upper eye lies, not in line with the notch, but opposite the
attached portion of the fin, which is adnate for 6 mm. in
advance of the anterior border of the eye (see Fig.).

Oi those cases of which I have been able to see descrip-
tions, this resembles most closely that of a Brill recorded by
Cunningham and ]\IacMunn ^ from notes supplied them by

^ Cunningham, J. T., and MacMunn, C. A., "On the Coloralion of the
Skins of Fishes " ; Phil. Trans. 1S93 (London, 1894), p. 803.

2 Day, F. , "Fishes of Great Britain and Ireland,'' vol. ii. p. 12.
^ Cunningham and MacMunn, /.r., p. 80.

14S

ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Mr. Ilolt. But there the under side was ahnost colourless.
A Turbot secmingl)' similar to the present one was described
and figured by Duhamel du Monceau in 1777/ but I have
been unable to refer to the original account According to
Prof. Bateson's summary, however, both sides were coloured,
a slight notch was present at the anterior end of the dorsal
fin, and the upper eye was '' figured as in its normal place!' '^

■i^X^ *•-•:,■■ -.

HEAD AND ANTERIOR PORTION OF DORSAL FIN OF AMBICOLORED TURBOT.

But in sketching such a specimen as appears in our text-
figure, it would be a simple matter for the artist unintention-
ally to lessen the interorbital space, thus creating a close
likeness to normality so far as the eyes are concerned. And
some such explanation may account for the apparently
normal position in Duham.el's figure.

In typical " cyclopean " malformation, excellent figures
of which are given by Traquair,^ Cunningham,"^ and

1 Duhamel du Monceau, " Traite general des Pesches," 1777, iii. sect. ix.
p. 262, pi. iii. figs. 3 and 4.

^ Bateson, W. , " Materials for the Study of Variation," London, 1 894, p. 470.

■^ Traquair, R. H., "On the Asymmetry of the Pleuronectidce," Trans. Linn.
Soc. (I.), XXV. pi. 31, figs. 8 and 9.

* Cunningham and MacMunn, I.e., pi. 54, figs. I and 2.

AN AMBICOLORED TURBOT 149

Filhol,^ and of which an example is shown in a stuffed Turbot
in the Royal Scottish Museum, the anterior attachment of the
dorsal fin ends behind the eye, while the eye itself lies on the
top of the head, overhung by the free projection of the fin. In
such cases it has been argued by those and other writers that
the fin has become detached owing to the detention of the eye
on the top of the head ; and such an explanation would seem
to apply to the present case, in spite of the doubt cast by Prof.
Bateson upon its validity in the case described by Duhamel.

That the movement of the right eye from the under to the
upper surface was in some measure delayed, is indicated by the
fact that, in a well-grown fish, it has not reached its normal
proximity to the left eye. It is reasonable to assume either
(i) that the eye was temporarily arrested on the top of the head
(it has been arrested there so frequently in other cases), and
that thus it became impossible for the fin to continue its
growth and still to retain its attachment to the head ; or (and
I suggest this as the more probable explanation, since it avoids
postulating an arrestment followed by a resumed migration)
we may assume (2) that the eye commenced its migration
at a period later than usual in the development of the fish,
that the fin had already extended so far forward that it
abutted against the eye migrating across the top of the head,
and that, continuing to grow forward, it was compelled to
separate from the head. If we suppose that the fin had
extended still further forward, the migrating eye may even
have been forced to pass underneatJi its anterior portion,
which, thus detached, would be unlikely at a subsequent
stage to regain its attachment In either case the eye, once
over the ridge, continued its migration, and the attached
portion of the fin, freed from obstruction, was pushed forwards
by the increase of the elements of which it was composed.

Another possible explanation — which, however, fails to
account for the abnormal distance between the eyes — is
that the separation of the fin is an isolated variation, a
phenomenon comparable to the detachment, occasionally
found in the Skate," of the anterior portions of fins.

1 Filhol, "Description d'un cas de monstruosite observe sur un Rhombus
vulgaris (Cuv. )," Bull. Soc. Phil,, p. 55. Paris, 1890.

2 See Traquair, R. H., " Note on an abnormally developed Thornback,"
Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., i., 1892, p. 29.

150 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

As regards the association between complete ambi-
coloration and arrested migration of the eye, Httle is known.
That the former depends directly on the latter is far from
obvious, although it is possible that both may be correlated
with a tendency in such forms to retain their vertical mode
of swimming for a longer time than usual. This combination
of characters may indicate a *' throw-back " to some unknown
ancestral form, but such a supposition cannot fully explain
the phenomena, and it would seem more satisfactory to
adopt Bateson's view,^ that, associated with the reversion,
is another phase of discontinuous variation, tending, by a
process of symmetrical repetition, to reproduce on the under
the characters of the upper surface.

Since this note was written ~\\x. Cook has informed me
that a second ambicolored Turbot from the Berwick Bank,
and one forwarded from Aberdeen, have been exhibited at
the Xewhaven Fish Market. Each of those, my informant
states, had completely pigmented under surfaces, associated
with a notched dorsal fin ; and in them, as in the example
I have described above, the dorsal eye had passed distinctly
over the ridge of the head and lay opposite an attached
portion of the fin.

Natural History Department,

The Royal Scottish Museum.

THE OAR-FISH, OR KING OF THE HERRINGS,
REGALECUS GLESNE (ASCAN.)=:i^. BANKS 11
(CUV. AND VAL.), ON THE COAST OF EAST
LOTHIAN.

By William Evans, F.R.S.E.

The occurrence of an Oar-fish in Scottish waters, or indeed
anywhere, is an ichthyological event of no ordinary
interest. It is therefore a real satisfaction to me to be
able to record the occurrence of one 13^ feet in length

1 Bateson, W., I.e., p, 472.

THE OAR-FISH, OR KING OF THE HERRINGS 151

on the coast of East Lothian, at the mouth of the Firth
of Forth, in May of the present year. The circumstances
are as follows : —

About mid-day on Saturday, 23rd May 1908, three hours
or so after full tide, a fisherman gathering bait came upon
this specimen lying among the rocks about a mile east of
Dunbar, close to where the stream which issues from Brox-
mouth Park enters the sea. Though, according to my
informant, dead, and, unfortunately, considerably mutilated
about the head, it was quite fresh, and could only have been
a very short time stranded. In all probability it had come
in with the morning tide in a dying state, and sustained the
injuries referred to by being tumbled about on the rocks.
Never having seen anything like it before, and thinking they
had secured a prize, the fisherman and two of his mates, to
whom he had reported his discovery, carried the creature into
Dunbar, by means of cords fastened round its long silvery
body. In the evening it was exhibited in the Corn Exchange
Hall at a nominal charge, when hundreds of people went
to see it. Sunday intervening, it was not till Monday
morning that news of the fish reached me. On arriving at
Dunbar by the forenoon train, I learned from Mr. D. Bruce
that it had been removed to a shed at the harbour, where I
soon had the pleasure of inspecting an undoubted Oar-fish
measuring, as already stated, I3:|- feet in length. Prepara-
tions for carting it to Haddington and other places for
exhibition were being made ; but these were fortunately
arrested by the arrival, during the afternoon, of Mr. P. H.
Grimshaw from the Royal Scottish Museum, for which
institution it was purchased by him, and dispatched the same
evening to Rowland Ward, Ltd., London, to be preserved
and mounted.

Unfortunately, the specimen, like practically all the others
that have been described, is imperfect as regards those re-
markable appendages about which precise information is so
much needed. Nevertheless the following description of it,
based on my own examination, supplemented by some further
details kindly supplied by the taxidermists, may perhaps
prove useful : —

Sex, male ; this was determined by the taxidermists.

152 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Total length, i 3 feet 6 inches, of which about 7^- inches
represents the head.

Greatest depth (height) — at about 4 feet from head —
9^ inches, exclusive of dorsal fin, which is about 3 inches
high.

Greatest thickness not measured, but, I should say, about
2i inches when I saw the fish.

Vent about 5 feet from tip of nose.

Diameter of eye i-J- in. ; iris silvery white.

Dorsal fin, continuous (?) from top of head to within
about 2^ inches of the caudal extremity, and consists, the
taxidermists tell me, of 301 rays ; this includes the long
rays of the occipital crest, of which very little remains, but
the fishermen assured me that when found the animal had
" horns " a foot and a half long on its head ; these, it is to
be regretted, they did not take pains to preserve.

Caudal fin, apparently none, but the caudal extremity,
though wonderfully good, was not entirely free from damage ;
it corresponded in outline with that given in the best figures.
Of course there was no anal fin.

Ventral fins (the long " oars " ) broken off at 3 to 4
inches from their bases, and looking like quills with the web
stripped off.

Pectoral fins also considerably torn, but apparently con-
sisting of about a dozen rays.

Colour, all over (dorsal fin excepted), at first of the
brightest silver, "just like a new shilling," I was told ; but by
the time of my visit it had dulled considerably. Hancock
and Embleton's comparison with " bright tin-foil or white
Dutch metal " suits it very well. Only the very faintest
traces of a few darker streaks and spots could be detected,
and the men said they had never noticed any. The rays
and upper edge of the dorsal fin were crimson tinted.

Nothing was found in the stomach.

The men kindly allowed me to take a photograph of the
fish, but it is not very suitable for reproduction. I give,
however, an outline copy of it with the missing parts of the
crest and oars indicated by dotted lines.

Some twenty-five specimens of the Oar-fish are reported
to have occurred in Britain, about one-half of them on the

THE OAR-FISH, OR KING OF THE HERRINGS

153

north-east coast of England. Eleven or twelve, it would
appear, have been obtained in Scottish waters, but the
present is the first authentic example from
the Firth of Forth. The Scottish records
given in Day's "British Fishes" (1884) are as
follows : —

One 12 ft. 9 in. long, exclusive of head,
which was gone, Moray Firth, i 2th November
I 82 I (not 1812) ; cf. Fleming's " Brit. Anim."
p. 205.

One 1 2 ft, Crovie, near Macduff, March
1844.

One II ft. ic in., Bay of Cromarty, 17th
September 185 i.

One 1 5^- ft., cast ashore at Keiss, near
Wick, 14th December 1853 (the date is taken
from the minute-book of the Royal Physical
Society).

One 12^^ ft., came ashore alive at Dunnet
Bay, Caithness, July 1877.

One 12 ft. 9 in., found dead, but quite
fresh, on sands at the mouth of the Eden,
St. Andrews, 21st August 1880; stuffed and
now in St. Andrews University Museum. An
earlier example, however, 7 ft. 2 in., but im-
perfect, occurred at the West Rocks, St.
Andrews, in April 1861. (R. Walker, "Ann.
and Mag. Nat. Hist," 1862, p. 13.)

To the above, Sim in his " Vertebrate
Fauna of Dee" (1903) adds four as under.
Two Aberdeen newspapers are cited for the
records, but the author of the " Fauna " does
not say whether he saw any of the specimens
himself, and no descriptions are given, which
seems a pity : —

One II ft 4 in. long, caught at Fraser-
burgh, 8th February 1884.

One 17 ft. I in., got in a stake-net near
Buckie, April 1884; sent to Aberdeen University, but not
preserved.

(2)^

,^1

154 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

One about 12 ft, washed into Sandhaven harbour 25 th
January 1891.

One 16 ft. 3 in., captured in the estuary of the Findhorn,
April 1S96, and sent to the British Museum.

According to a statement made to Mr. Eagle Clarke a
few years ago, by the harbour-master at North Berwick, it
seems probable that a specimen " about i 5 feet in length "
was washed ashore to the east of that town many years ago
— say 1840 to 1845. No contemporary record, however,
of the occurrence appears to exist {cf. Eagle Clarke, " Ann.
Scot. Nat. Hist.," 1900, p. 13).

The fullest description of any British specimen is that
given by Hancock and Embleton, in the " Annals and Maga-
zine of Natural History" (iv. N.S. 1849, P- i) '^ith 2 plates),
of one which was captured off Cullerecoats in Northumber-
land on 26th March 1849. The best all-round account and
figure of the species are probably those to be found in Prof.
F. A. Smitt's edition of " A History of Scandinavian Fishes,"
published in 1893. Several supposed species, including
RegalecHs glesne (Ascan.), R. gi'illii (Lindr.), and R. banksii
(Cuv. and Val), are there united under the first-mentioned
name. The discrepancies between them as regards ratio of
depth to length, number of rays in dorsal fin, etc., have been
variously accounted for. A suggestion of M'Coy, that the
more slenderly built ones are males, receives some support
from the Dunbar specimen, which Is a male, a fact of much
interest, seeing that hitherto only females have been noted
from the Atlantic region.

" The King of the Herrings," says Smitt, " lives in
very deep water, its species being perhaps identical in
all the oceans ; but of its usual manner of life we know
nothing. Occasionally it appears at the surface, and in
the superstitious imagination of the sailor takes the form
of ' the great Sea-serpent.' " It seems probable that those
w^hich come to the surface do so as the result of sickness or
disease.

This notice, it should be said, has been drawn up at the
suggestion of Mr. Eagle Clarke, Keeper of the Natural
History Department of the Royal Scottish Museum.

THE FALSE-SCORPIONS OF SCOTLAND 155

THE FALSE-SCORPIONS OF SCOTLAND.

By Robert Godfrey, M.A.

( Contijiued from p. 100.)

Modes of Distribution.

The various methods of distribution remain one of the
many interesting problems requiring investigation in this
group of creatures. Being destitute of wings, False-scorpions
lack the means of transit employed by many other creatures,
and, having no organs that can perform the function of wings,
they are forced to be to a great extent sedentary in their
habits, and any marked extension of their range must take
place with their passive concurrence rather than through
their active agency. .

Probably the wind plays an important part in the dis-
tribution of these creatures. This was first suggested to me
by an unusual action on the part of a ChtJionius rayi ; this
species when tampered with generally avoids smartly the
cause of annoyance, but, on the occasion referred to, the in-
dividual with which I was experimenting did not run off as
usual, but simply drew its pedipalps close to its fore-body,
and assuming as compact a position as possible, allowed me
even to roll it over, and led me to infer how readily it might,
in a listless position of this kind, be carried by the wind a
considerable distance.

On a later occasion, March 31, 1904, I actually saw a
false-scorpion carried off by the wind. I had opened a
tenanted nest of Chthoniiis tetrachelatiis, and was preparing
to examine the creature more carefully with my lens, when
to my chagrin I saw it — in the motionless attitude which it
was still assuming — gently caught up and carried away by
a gust of wind.

In the case of our commonest species, Obisiiim muscorum,
there can be no doubt that it makes assisted passages from
one locality to another on leaves blown about by the wind.

The method in which Chemes nodosus is carried on flies'
legs to new quarters shows how one species may accidentally

156 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

extend its rancfc. In the few recorded cases where
specimens of Chcmes uodosus have been found in a book or
among papers, it is quite likely that they have reached
such positions after having slipped from the leg of their
carrier.

Man unwittingly takes a large share in the distribution
of False-scorpions. Through his agency, species which dwell
among plant-mould and in the refuse of mills and of stables
are carried from place to place. Species also which live in
wood — whether on the natural tree or on the finished
article of joiner)^ — are also to some extent indebted to him
for their extension of range.

' Scottish Distribution.

The number of Scottish species (July 1907) is twelve,
a number which ought to be considerably increased as
interest in the group extends. In this number not a single
species of the forest group — the tree-haunting Chernes — is
included, but it is unlikely that such a gap exists in our
native fauna. A careful examination of the old trees that
are left to us as relics of the ancient Scottish forests ought
to result in the discovery of several species of False-scorpions
not as yet on the Scottish list. The sifting of the
materials of ant-heaps ought in Scotland as elsewhere to
lead to the detection of False-scorpions living there as
guests, and the careful examination of refuse in our gran-
aries and stores at seaport towns would very probably lead
to the discovery of several exotic species living and thriving
in Scotland.

Much work remains to be done in tracing the distribu-
tion of the species in Scotland. From " Forth," " Clyde,"
and "West Ross" eight species are known ; "Argyle" and
" Tay " have five each ; " Solway " has four ; " Tweed " has
three ; " Moray " and the " Inner Hebrides " have one each ;
while the five faunal areas of " Shetland," " Orkney,"
"Outer Hebrides," "Sutherland," and "Dee" are wholly
unrepresented. These facts are sufficient to show how
comparatively unworked Scotland still is in this particular
branch of natural history.

THE FALSE-SCORPIONS OF SCOTLAND

157

Table of Distribution.

In the following Table of Distribution the faunal area
is given first, in small capitals, as WEST Ross ; under this
the counties are arranged in italics, as Ross ; and under
the counties are given the various localities in each, in
ordinary type.

Chernes nodosiis (Schrank).

Forth . . Midlothian — Edinburgh Botanic Garden, Aug. 27,

1895 (J. F. Jeffrey). Shop in Edinburgh,
Aug. 1900 (Alex. Baxter).

West Ross
Tay . .

Forth

West Ross
Clyde

Tweed

Clyde

Chernes dubii/s, Cambridge.

Ross — Balmacara, two, Aug. 27, 1906 (R. B. Whyte).
Fife — Balcomie, common, Sept. 1905.

Fife — St. David's to Aberdour, abundant, March 22,
1902, etc. Kilminning, Sept. 1905.

West Lothian — Bonnytoun Hills, and quarry near
Northbank, April 12, 1901, etc.

Fast Lothian — North Berwick Law, five, May 1 9,
1903.

Cherjies pafizeri {Q. L. Koch).

Ross — Balmacara, abundant in byres, Aug. 1907.

La?iark — Stable in Walls Street, Glasgow, June, July,
Sept. 1907.

Peebles — Haswellsykes, Sept. 24, Oct. i, 1907
(A. Urquhart).

Chelifer ca?icroides (Linn.).

Lanark — Stable in Emily Street, Glasgow, abundant,
April 1907. Stable in Walls Street, adult male,
June 28, 1907 ; three adults, one immature
and three very young, Sept. 14, 1907.

Forth

Chelifer latreillii^ Leach.

Fife — Rosyth Castle island, five, Nov. 11, 1905.

Elie, July 1905 (Evans), and over twenty, Sept.

14, 1905. Kilminning, abundant, Sept. 1905.
East Lothia?! — GuUane Point, many, Oct. 14, 1905,

etc. North Berwick, thirteen, May 23, 1905.

158

ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

West Ross
Clyde
Tay . .
Forth

Tweed

Cheiridimn 7nuseoru7n (Leach).

Ross, Balmacara, Aug. 26, 1907 (G. A. Whyte).
Ayrshire — Toft's Meal IVtill, Dairy, June 29, 1907.
Fife — Stravithie, Sept. 25, 1905.

Fife — Kirkmay, Crail, abundant, Sept. 1905, etc.

Dunfermline, common, Oct. 1905 (Evans).
West Lothian — Bo'ness, one, June 20, 1901.
Midlothian — House in Edinburgh, common, June

21, 1905.
East Lothian — Smeaton, E. Linton, in old trunk,

March 1906. Dunbar, Newhouse Farm, May

1906.

Peebles — Haswellsykes, four, Sept. 18, 1907 (A.
Urquhart).

West Ross
Argyll .

Clyde

SOLWAY

West Ross
Argyll .

Ldeoroncus cambridgii (L. Koch).

Ross — Balmacara, Aug. 1906.

Argyll — Oban, April 1906. Maiden Island and
Kerrera, April 1906. Ben Cruachan, April 2^^^
1903 (James Waterston). Barbreck, three,
June 30, 1900. Cantire, Ronachan, Dec. 1905
and Jan. 1906.

Argyll — Loch Fyne, Shirvan, common, Aug. and

Sept. 1904.
Bute — Island of Arran, Aug. 1906 (R. S. Bagnall).
Ayr — Portincross, eighty-two noted from Nov. 1903

to April 1904.

Kirkcudbright — Kippford and Rough Island, Jan.
1907.

ObisiiDii 77iaritimum, Leach.

Ross — Balmacara, one, Aug. 27, 1907.
Argyll — Loch Fyne, Shirvan, Sept. 1904.

West Ross
Argyll .

Obisiuni 7?iuscoru7n, Leach.

Ross — Stromeferry and Balmacara, Aug. 1906.
Skye — Ben Cailleach, common, Aug. 16, 1906.

A7gyll — Taycreggan, Loch Nant, Oban, July 1901.
Maiden Island, April 10, 1906. Connel Ferry,
Black Lochs, April 17, 1906. Cantire, Ron-
achan, Dec. 29, 1905.

THE FALSE-SCORPIONS OF SCOTLAND

159

Clyde

SOLWAY .

Moray .
Tay . .

Forth

Tweed

Argyll — Loch Fyne, Shirvan, common, Sept. 1904.

Island More, Sept. 14, 1904.
Dumbarton — Balloch, Dec. 21, 1906. Dumbreck,

Feb. 14, 1907. Kilpatrick Hills, July 20, 1906.
Renfrew — Parklee, March 12, 1907. Erskine,

July 30, 1906. Balgray Dam, July 7, 1906.
Lanark — Bothwell, July 5, 1906. Hamilton, Low

Park, July 9, 1906.
Ayr — Portincross, etc., winter of 1903-4.

Kirkcudbright — Kippford, common, Jan. 1907.
Rough Island, Jan. 7, 1907 (R. B. Whyte).

Inverness — Rothiemurchus Forest, common, Aug.
1904.

Perth — Bonskeid, April 1901. Glen Ogle and
Lochearnhead, July 1903, etc. Crieff, April
1903.

Fife — Balcomie, Newhall, Boarhills, Sept. 1905.

Fife — St. David's to Aberdour, March 1902, etc.
Isle of May, April 1908 (Evans).

Dumbarton — Castlecary, May 25, 1907.

West Lothia?i — Abercorn, April 8, 1899. I have
noted it practically everywhere in this county,
— Dalmeny, S. Queensferry, Carriden Glen,
Bo'ness, Kinneil, River Avon, Linlithgow Bridge,
Preston, Woodcockdale, Crawhill, Livingstone,
Ecclesmachan, River Almond.

Midlothian — Hailes Quarry, Nov. i, 1898. Also
at Edinburgh Castle Rock, Dreghorn, Oxenford,
Kirknewton, and Pomathorn.

East Lothian — Boglehill, Kilspindie, Luffness, and
Canty Bay, 1903.

Beriuick — Grant's House, five. May 10, 1907 (James
Waterston).

West Ross .
Argyll .
Clyde

• •

Chthonius tetrachelatus (Preyss.).

Ross — Balmacara, wooded hillside, common, Aug.
1907 (G. A. Whyte).

Argyll — Oban, several, April 1906. Maiden Island,
adult in nest, April 10, 1906.

Argyll — Loch Fyne, Shirvan, common, Aug., Sept.
1904. Loch Riddon, Ormidale, Aug. 1906
(R. S. Bagnall).

i6o

ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

SOLWAY

Tay .

Forth

Renfrew — Parklee, two immature, in nests, March 1 2,

1907. _
Ayr — Portincross, Jan. and March 1904.

Kirkcudbright — Kippford, common, all in nests,
Jan. 1907.

Fife — Balcomie, Sept. 1905.

Perth — Stronvar, fourteen, July 21, 1904.

Fife — Culross, two, April 26, 1901 (W. Evans).

Crail, very abundant, Sept. 1905.
West Lothian — Kinneil, six, August 17, 1901

(W. Evans).
Midlothian — Edinburgh Botanic Garden, common,

August 1904, etc.
East Lothian — Dunbar, Newhouse Farm, May 28,

1906.

West Ross
Argyll .
Clyde

SOLWAY .

Tay . .

Forth

Chthonius rayi, L. Koch.

Ross — Balmacara, in great abundance, Aug. 1906.

Argyll — Oban, one, April 1894 (W. Evans).

Argyll — Tighnabruaich, one, June 11, 1907.

Kirkcudbright — near Dalbeattie, adult in nest,
Jan. 3, 1907 (G. A. Whyte).

Fife — Kinkell, two adult and two young, Sept. 25,
1905.

Fife — St. David's to Aberdour, very common, May
16, 1902, etc. Crail, in tomato frame, in vinery,
and by the shore, Sept. 1905. Kincardine-on-
Forth, six, April 27, 1901 (W. Evans).

West Loihia?i — Kinneil, one immature, June 24,
1901.

Midlothian — Muirhouse, two, Oct. 5, 1903; four,
April 1907 (G. A. and R. B. Whyte). Edin-
burgh Botanic Garden, two, March 30, 1907
(G. A. and R. B. Whyte).

East Lothian — Kilspindie, five, Sept. 26, 1903.
Dunbar, Newhouse Farm, two in stackyard,
May 27, 1906.

Forth

Chthonius orthodactylus (Leach).

Midlothian — Morningside, one, Sept. 1897 (W.
Evans).

THE FALSE-SCORPIONS OF SCOTLAND

i6i

o

•SI

1)

>

c

<5

c
o
1-1

s

3

Q

c

c

o

5

IE
s

3

Q

o

c

.2

IS

o

.2

■5

*— »

c
o

a:

3

-a
o

1)

C/2

Cheiridiwn ??ncseortcm

Chernes nodosus .
dubhis .
panzeri .

C/ie/i/er caiicroides
latreillii

Ideoroncus ca?nbridgii .

Obismm mai'itiinum .
jmisconcm

Chthonhts rayi .

tetrachelattis
orthodactyhis

X

X
X

X

X
X

X
X

X

X

X

X
X

X
X

X

X

X
X

X

X
X

X

X
X
X

X

X

X
X

X
X

X
X

X

X

X
X

X
X

X
X

X
X

X

X
X
X

X
X

X

X

X
X

-

X
X

(Z^? ^^ cofttinued.)

HYDRACHNIDS FROM THE ISLAND OF TIREE.

By Wm. Williamson.

During a few days' stay in the Island of Tiree in August
1907, I obtained some specimens of Hydrachnids in the
neighbourhood of Scarnish. The collection embraced only
three species, of which two, Thyas lofigirostris^ Piersig, and
TipJiys liliaceus, M tiller, have not been recorded before for
Scotland.

Thyas longirostj'is, Piersig. — This species was briefly
described by Piersig in 1895 i" the " Zoologischer Anzeiger; "
a more complete description is given in his work on the
German Hydrachnidae — " Zoologica," Heft 22, 1897- 1900.
T. longirostris^ Piersig, may be recognised by the shape of
the piece of chitin which accompanies the unpaired median
eye. In the species already recorded as occurring in
Scotland, viz. T. venusta, Koch, and T. extendens, George,
the chitin takes the form of a small ring in the centre of
which the median eye is placed. In T. longirostris, however,
67 D

i62 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

the chitin lies along the median line and is pointed at both
ends. The entire edge is thickened so that the median eye
appears to lie in a space surrounded by a ridge. The
pigment body resembles a double star in shape. T,
longirostris has already been recorded for England and
Ireland.

Tiphys liliaceiis^ Miiller. — This species was mentioned
by Miiller in his " Prodromus," and in his treatise in 1781
on the Danish Hydrachnids, he gave it the name oi Hydrachna
liliacea. The only other species of Tiphys on record for
Scotland are T. ligulifer^ Piersig, which constituted a new
British record, and T, cassidifonnis, Haller, both found near
Oban.

In 1835, Koch, who is responsible for some complication
in Hydrachnid nomenclature, used the generic name Tiphys,
which he replaced in 1837 by Acercus. Haller in 188 1
changed the name to Forelia. Oudemans in 1897 reverted
to Tiphys. In the same year Piersig adopted the name
Acercus, which he discarded in 1900 for Tiphys. In 1906
Koenike adopted Haller's name of Forelia for the genus.

Dr. Sig Thor in Norway, Dr. F. Koenike in Germany,
and Dr. R. H. Wolcott in Nebraska, U.S.A., have reviewed
the evidence for the correct name for this genus. Thor
holds that the names Tiphys and Acercus are properly re-
ferable to species other than those embraced in the genus
under consideration, and that consequently Haller's name
Forelia, with F. cassidiformis as type, must take precedence.
Koenike also upholds Forelia, but he has changed the specific
name from cassidiformis to parniata. Wolcott, on the other
hand, rejects the claims of Acercus and Forelia, and supports
the use of Tiphys, designating T. liliacens as the type species.
In this connection it is interesting to note the opposite
views in regard to Koch's work of two such authorities as
Sig Thor and R. H. Wolcott

Sig Thor, in the "Nyt Magazin for Naturvidenskaberne "
for 1903, says, "Die Gattungen Acercus und Tiphys waren
schon friiher von Koch hinreichend charakterisirt." Wolcott
in " Studies from the Zool. Lab. of the University of
Nebraska," No. ()6 (also "Trans, of Amer. Micro. Soc,"
xxvi. 214), says, "Koch in 1835 described and figured

HYDRACHNIDS FROM THE ISLAND OF TIREE 163

several species under the generic name Tiphys, neither
characterising the genus nor specifying a type.^ In 1837
he substituted Acercus for Tiphys, which he thought pre-
occupied, but in this he was in error, as has since been shown ;
here he designated no type, but used T. sagulatus^ a species
not since recognised, to illustrate the genus."

At present I cannot say anything in support of either
of these opinions, as I have not yet been able to see the
descriptions and plates published by Koch from 1835 to
1 841. However, the name Tiphys is used here, as I find
it convenient to follow the nomenclature of " Das Tierreich,"
Lief. 13, 1 90 1.

Hydryphantes ruber, De Geer. — This species along with
varietal forms has already been recorded for Scotland. I
found several specimens of it near Scarnish. Like Thyas,
Hydryphantes possesses a median eye accompanied by a
characteristic chitinous plate, but it differs from Thyas in
the absence of the dorsal chitinous plates with which the
latter is more or less equipped.

4 Meadowbank Terrace, Edinburgh.

THE HIGH ALPINE FLORA OF BRITAIN.

BEING A LIST OF THE FLOWERING PLANTS AND
FERNS FOUND AT A THOUSAND METRES AND
UPWARDS ON THE MOUNTAINS OF THE BRITISH
ISLES, WITH AUTHENTIC REFERENCES AND CRITI-
CAL NOTES.

By Frederic N. Williams, F.L.S.

The present List is intended to be a basis for an account
of the High Alpine Flora of the British Isles. The
altitudinal range of British plants has not, in its varying
aspects, been studied with the fulness and scientific
method which have been brought to bear on the mountain-
plants of Central Europe. This is due to several causes.
The Flora of the Alps has always excited the interest of

^ The italics are mine.

i64 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

botanical travellers and of alpinists who have been through
a course of scientific studies ; and John Bell's tabular
scheme of the distribution and range of the plants of the
Alps, a model of its kind, has unfortunately not found
imitators in other countries, with the exception, perhaps,
of the exhaustive and critical study of the Arctic Flora
of Norway by J. M. Norman, Royal Commissioner of
Norwegian Forest-lands — a masterly digest of phyto-
geographical research and investigation.

The List here given includes those plants only which
are found to occur at looo metres and upwards (that is,
beyond 3280 ft.). A list is given below of the 6y peaks
which attain this height in Scotland, with 3 in
Caernarvonshire and 2 in Kerry, with heights given in
metres and in English feet. The heights here given are
taken from the ordnance maps and from the most recent
topographical statistics. There is no hill in England
itself which reaches a height of 1 000 metres, the highest
summit being Sea Fell Pike, in Cumberland, which is
977.2 metres. There will therefore be no reference in this
List to any altitudinal range in the English counties.
In six only of the Scottish counties are there mountain
peaks which exceed 1000 metres — Argyllshire, Perthshire,
Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Inverness-shire, and Ross-shire.
These are the only Scottish counties in which localities and
heights are cited. Three counties are excluded whose
highest summits fall a little short of a thousand metres —
Sutherland, in which Ben More of Assynt rises to 997.6 m. ;
Stirlingshire, in which Ben Lomond rises to 973 m. ; and
Angus in which the highest point is Driesh, one of the
Braes of Angus, 947 m. The Snowdon range in
Caernarvonshire exceeds the limits at three points, the
actual summit of the chain, known as Ur Wyddfa, Carnedd
Llewelyn, and Carnedd Dafydd ; the peak of Glyder Fawr
falls short of it by little more than a metre.

The following is a list of the 6j summits in the British
Isles which exceed a thousand metres, drawn up as far as
possible from examination of the official ordnance maps.
They are given in two series in parallel columns. In the
first column, grouped under counties, the heights are given

THE HIGH ALPINE FLORA OF BRITAIN

165

in English feet ; in the second column, the series begins
with the loftiest summit, then in descending order until a
thousand metres is reached, the heights being given
in metres. Where, as in several cases, the mountain forms
part of a county boundary, it is included for the purpose of
this List in the larger county. Thus, several peaks on the
Perthshire border are included in Argyllshire, and most of
those on the Banffshire border are included in Aberdeen-
shire or Inverness-shire. The greater part of Ben Macdhui
is in Aberdeenshire, but as Corrie Etchachan, high up on
the northern slope (frequently mentioned as a locality for
Alpine plants), as well as the actual summit of the mountain,
are in Banffshire, it is for convenience included in the latter
county. Ben Lawers, on account of the accessibility of all
points of its area, is probably the best known mountain in
the Highlands. The portion of it that comes within the
scope of the present flora begins at 700 ft. (perpendicular)
below the summit ; and the earliest records of plants
gathered near the top are those of James Dickson, J. T.
Mackay, W. MacRitchie, Robert Brown, and Don, from
1789 to 1794. Some indication of the limited scope of
this high Alpine flora may be illustrated from the case of
Perthshire. The area of Perthshire is given as 2588
square miles, but the area of the county above 3000 ft. is
estimated at only 16 square miles. Those mountains are
starred (*) which are specifically mentioned in the following
pages. It is thus evident that much remains to be done
in working out the aistribution of plants on the higher parts
of the Scottish mountains.

Aberdeenshire.

* Cairn Toul, 4241 ft.
*Ben-na-Bourd, 3924 ft.
*Ben Avon, 3843 ft.

* Cairn Gorm of Derry, 3788 ft.
*Loch-na-gar, 3786 ft.

Cairn-na-Glasha, 3484 ft.
Ben lutharn, 3424 ft.
Cairn Bannoch, 3314 ft.
Sgurr Soch, 3300 ft.

^Ben Nevis, 1342.9 m.
*Ben Macdhui, 1309.4 m.
*Braeriach, 1294.8 m.
*Cairn Toul, 1292.7 m.
'•'Cairn Gorm, 1245.6 m.
*Aonach Beag, 1238 m.
*Aonach Mor, 1219 m.
*Ben Lawers, 12 14.3 m.
*Ben-na-Bourd, 11 96 m.

i66

ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL IILSTORY

Hani FSH IRK.
*Ben Macdhui, 4296 ft.

Forfarshire.
*Glas Maol, 3502 ft.

Invernp:ss-shire.

*Ben Nevis, 4406 ft.
*Braeriach, 4248 ft.
*Cairn Gorm, 4084 ft.
*Aonach Beag, 4060 ft.
*Aonach Mor, 3999 ft.

Ben Mheadoin, 3883 ft.

Sgurr-na-Lapaich, 3773 ft.
*Ben Alder, 3757 ft.

Creag Meaghaidh, 3700 ft.

Cralich, 3673 ft.
*Sgor an Dubh, 3658 ft.
*Ben Alder Forest, 3569 ft.

Sgurr-na-Cichie, 3410 ft.

Ben Attow, 3383 ft.

Ladhar Beinn, 3343 ft.

Meall Thionail, ^2>3^ ft.

Ross-shire.

Carn Eige, 3877 ft.
Mam Soul, 3862 ft.
Sgurr Mor, 3637 ft.
*Ben Dearg, 3547 ft.
An Teallach, 3483 ft.
Ben Luighach, 3456 ft.
Sgurr a' Chaoruinn, 3452 ft.
Ben Wyvis, 3429 ft.
Ben Eay, 3309 ft.
Ben More, 3305 ft.

Argyllshire

*Bidean-nam-Bian, 3768 ft.

Ben Veedan, 3766 ft.

Ben Lui, 3708 ft.

Ben Cruachan, 3689 ft

Clach Leathad, 3602 ft.

Stob Chabhair, 3563 ft.

Ben Starav, 3541 ft.
*Ben Creachan, 3540 ft.
*Ben Dorean, 3523 ft.
*Ben Dothaidh, 3425 ft.

Ben Mheadoin, 11 84 m.

Carn Eige, 1 182.5 m.

Mam Soul, 1 178 m.
*Ben Avon, 11 72 m.
*Ben More, 1 1 72 m.
*Ben Ein, 1167 m.
*Cairn Gorm of Derry, 1155 m.
*Loch-na-gar, 1 154.7 m.

Sgurr-na-Lapaich, 1 1 5 1 m.
*Bidean-nam-Bian, 1 149.2 m.

Ben Veedan, 11 48 m.
*Ben Alder, 1144 m.

Ben Lui, 1 131 m.

Creag Meaghaidh, 1128 m.

Ben Cruachan, 1125 m.

Cralich, 1 120 m.

Ben-y-Gloe, 11 19.3 m.
*Sgor an Dubh, 1115.4 m.

Sgurr Mor, 1109 m.

Clach Leathad, 1098 m.
'"^Snowdon, 1088. i m.
*Ben Alder Forest, 1088 m.

Stob Ghabhair, 1086 m.
*Schiehallion, 1081 m.
*Ben Dearg (Ross-shire), 1081 m.

Ben Starav, 1080 m.
*Ben Creachan, 1080 m.
*Ben Heas-garnich, 1076 m.
*Ben Dorean, 1074 m.
*Glas Maol, 1068 m.

Cairn-na-Glasha, 1062.3 m.
*Carnedd Llewelyn, 1062 m.

An Teallach, 1062 m.

Ben Luighach, 1054 m.

Sgurr a' Chaoruinn, 1052 m.
'''Glas Thulachan, 1049.9 m.

Ben Wyvis, 1045 m.
*Carnedd Dafydd, 1045 "^•
*Ben Dothaidh, 1044 i^-

THE HIGH ALPINE FLORA OF BRITAIN

167

*Ben Achallader, 3399 ft.

Ben Avere, 3362 ft.
*Buchaille Etive Mor, 3345 ft.

Ben Ime, 3318 ft.

Perthshire

*Ben Lawers, 3984 ft.
*Ben More, 3843 ft.
*Ben Ein, 3827 ft.

Ben-y-Gloe, 3671 ft.
*Schiehallion, 3547 ft.
*Ben Heas-garnich, 3530 ft.
*Glas Thulaclian, 3445 ft.

Carn Mairg, 3419 ft.
*Meall Ghaordie, 3407 ft.

Chabinn, 3354 ft.

Ben Udlaman, 3306 ft.
*Creag Mhor, 3305 ft.

Ben Dearg of Atholl, 3304 ft.

Caernarvonshire

*Sno\vdon, 3571 ft.
*Carnedd Llewelyn, 3482 ft.
*Carnedd Dafydd, 3430 ft.

Kerry

*Carn Tual, 3414 ft.
*Beenkeragh, 3314 ft.

Ben lutharn, 1044 m.

Carn Mairg, 1042 m.
*Carn Tual, 1041 m.

Sgurr-na-Cichie, 1040 m.
*Meall Ghaordie, 1039 m.
*Ben Achallader, 1036 m.

Ben Attow, 1031 m.

Ben Avere, 1025 m.

Chabinn, 1022 m.
'^Buchaille Etive Mor, 1020 m.

Ladhar Beinn, 1019.6 m.

Meall Thionail, 10 19 m.

Ben Ime, 1013 m.
^Beenkeragh, 10 11 m.

Cairn Bannoch, 10 11 m.

Ben Eay, 1009 m.

Ben More (of Ross-shire), 1008 m.
*Creag Mhor (of Perthshire),
1008 m.

Ben Udlaman (of Perthshire),
1008 m.

Ben Dearg of Atholl, 1007.7 i"^""-

Sgurr Soch, 1006 m.

None of the three British Gymnosperms ascend to 1000
m., nor do any of the Dicotyledonous trees. The following
notes on the limits of sallow, birch, and aspen in Scotland
may be of interest. The birch and the sallow (earliest
flowering of the British willows) both ascend to 610 in. on
hills of the Atholl district of Perthshire, and no higher else-
where in the Highlands ; though Dickie says that, at 670
m., on the summit of the ridge north from Mount Keen in
Aberdeenshire he saw " the dead remains of birches, far
larger than any growing at lower altitudes on other
mountains of the district." Watson also says, " On Ben
Nevis, under the snow-rocks of the northern precipice, I
observed a seedling almost at the upper limit of Ejupetrum
nigrum, there, in consequence of the cold, humid, sunless
situation, failing between 2700 and 3000 feet." On hills of

i68 ANxXALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

the AthoU district also, the aspen does not get higher than
640 m., though the tree is common in the Highlands.

As compared with Scotland, alpine plants descend to
lower levels in Ireland. So, as a matter of contrast in the
following List as regards altitudinal range, the descending
level reached by those Scottish alpine plants which occur in
Ireland is given, and is taken from the second edition of
" Cybele Hibernica." In the matter of bibliography, the five
works subjoined are frequently cited, and to save space in
reference are quoted in the abbreviated form appended to
their titles : —

H. C. Watson, " Cybele Britannica," vols, i-iv (1847-59) — " Cyb.
Brit."

N. Colgan and R. W. Scully, " Cybele Hibernica," ed. 2 (1898).—
"Cyb. Hib."

G. Dickie, " Botanist's Guide to the Counties of Aberdeen,
Banff, and Kincardine" (i860). — Dickie.

"Scottish Naturalist," — continued (after 1890) as "Annals of Scot-
tish Natural History"(i87i-i9o8). — "Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist."

F. B. White, "Flora of Perthshire" (edited by Prof J. W. H.
Trail, 1898).— "Fl. Perthsh."

Among British county-floras Dr. White's work occupies
an unique position, not only in many features associated with
its compilation which are far in advance of previous local
floras, but in the admirable series of observations of the
altitudinal range of plants made personally by means of the
aneroid barometer, which considerably enhance the value of
the work as a contribution to British Geographical Botany.
It is this feature of the flora which not only suggested the
preparation of the present paper, but supplied data for com-
paring the details of altitudinal range of plants in other
Highland counties, and has provided the basis for the present
contribution to the subject. Watson's altitudes must be
accepted with some misgiving, and only where more recent
observations are not available. Many of those which he
vouched for personally were made more than seventy years
ago, before Vidie's invention of the aneroid barometer ; and
the information which he received second-hand was frequently
from unreliable sources. Watson used an old-fashioned

THE HIGH ALPINE FLORA OF BRITAIN 169

sympiesometer, a barometric instrument ill adapted for
measurements on mountain ascents, which, even when ad-
justed for temperature at each stage of ascent, is not suited
for exact observation. As an illustrative instance it may be
mentioned that in his time Ben Macdhui was reputed to be
the highest mountain in Scotland. The arrangement here
followed is that of Torre and Harms's Index to Engler and
Prantl's "System" for families and genera, and the last German
edition of Koch's "Synopsis" (1892- 1907) for species — for the
most part ; but in the reverse order, beginning with the
highest groups of flowering plants, as is usual in British
floras. A good deal remains to be done in working out
the distribution of the high alpine plants on the Scottish
mountains, as the unstarred names in the list of summits
show. It is hoped that the present outline of recorded data
may serve as a basis for botanical alpinists, who may com-
bine the exercise of climbing with field-study, considerably
to enlarge its scope.

{To be continued})

ADDITIONS TO THE FLORA OF THE

ORKNEYS.

By Arthur Bennett, F.L.S.

Mr. M. Spence, a resident on the islands, has lately sent me
numerous specimens of Orkney plants to look over, among
which I have found a few additions to the recorded species.
With these I have added some others which have accrued
since the Supplement to " Top. Botany," ed. 2.

Ranunculus Steveni, Andrz., Trail.
R. sceleratus, L., Dr. Grants ex Spence !.
Fumaria purpurascens, Pugsley, Trail.
Trifolium dubium, Sibth., Spence^ sp.

In rounded brackets in " Top. Bot." ; but Mr. Spence says
certainly wild.

jLupinus nootkatensis, Donn, Trail.
Alchemilla filicaulis, Buser, "Ann. Scot. N. Hist" (1906), 122.

170 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

A. pratensis, Schmidt, "J. Bot." (1895), iii.

Spergula arvensis, L., I'ar. sativa, Boenn., Sy^fie, herb. !

Thymus eu-Serpyllum, Fr., Marshal/^ sp.

Salsola Kali, L., Spcnce^ sp.

Orchis ericetorum Linton, "J. Bot." (1901), 272.

Carex muricata, L., Spe?ice, sp.

C. rigida. Good, Fortescue in List.

Bromus racemosus, L., Trail.

Equisetum pratense, Ehrh., Spe?ice, sp.

Deerness, in the Mainland, 1907. An interesting addition to
the Orcadian Flora, not yet gathered in Shetland by Mr. Beeby ;
but occurs in Caithness! and the Outer Hebrides!. Also in the
Faroes (Rostrup) and Iceland ! (Groenland).

In Northern Europe it occurs throughout Finland and Russian
Lapland to 69"" (Wainio). In arctic Norway to 71° 7' (Th. Fries),
but does not seem to reach the extreme north in Russia proper.

Since the publication of the " Comp. Cyb. Brit.," 1869, wherein
the highest altitude for this species given is 1200 feet, it has been
found at 2500 feet (Ben Lawers, Maojicar, sp.), 2700 feet in Mid
Perth {Marshall, "J. Bot." 1891, 118), and at 3100 feet in Mid
Perth {Macvicar). In Norway it is found at 2500 feet {Nor7?ian).

Goodyera repens, Brown. " One plant found on hilly ground near
Stromness. Do not think it an escape." — Spence.

The finding of a single specimen cannot be considered as
admitting the plant as an Orcadian species. Still there is no reason
why it should not grow as far north, as it occurs throughout Sweden,
up to Lapland ; in North and South Norway ; and is distributed
through Finland, and Lapland, except the four northern provinces,
in which few stations are on record. It occurs in West Ross, East
and West Sutherland, but is not on record for Caithness or the
Outer Hebrides. [In Scotland, so far as I have seen, it is almost
absolutely restricted to woods of conifers ; hence its occurrence in
Orkney is unexpected. — J. W. H. T.]

Archangelica officinalis, Hoffm. " In considerable numbers growing
on the roadside in the village of Pierowall, Westray." — Spence, sp.

In the Faroes this species is not only found in the cultivated
parts, but in large masses, and very fine in the talus of the Bird-
cliffs, and also grown in small gardens (Kvan-yards) near the houses.^
It also occurs in Iceland " here and there," where it is also cultivated.
It is said to be abundant in the northern parts of that island.^

1 Ostenfeld, "The Land- Vegetation of the Faroes," 1908, p. 1004.

2 Babington, 'Revision Fl. Iceland,' "Lin. Soc. Journ." xi., 1871, 30.

ADDITIONS TO THE FLORA OF THE ORKNEYS 171

Ostenfeld calls the Faroese plant A. officinalis ; but Nyman
and others refer it to A. jiorvegica, Rupr. I thought the Orkney
plant might be this, but Ruprecht^ says, "^. sativa similis, sed
semina rotundiora." Then there is A. iitoralis, Ag. in DC. =
Angelica litoralis, Fr. ; which Fries says in his " Flora Scanica," 1835-
1856, has "fructu inflato, nucleis liberis." These two seem native,
while the other seems to belong to a cultivated race, which may be
indigenous in East Europe and Russia. Mr. Spence writes that
the scent is very strong, and clings to the hands and clothes for
some time. He suggests the probable origin of the plant in Westray
as seeds from the Faroes, a fish-merchant in Pierowall importing
salted cod from these islands, which is brought in smacks direct to
Westray.

NEW AND RARE MOSSES.

By James Stirtox, M.D., F.L.S.

In continuation of my researches into the minute structure
of mosses, mostly in a barren state, wherein I attach
much greater importance to their areolation than has
hitherto been done, I have to record several which show, in
this respect, peculiarities of sufficient importance to warrant
their separation from those already known. As an illustra-
tion of this I shall describe here a curious moss. In this
instance the areolation of the leaf serves as the most im-
portant factor in its discrimination, more especially as the
general colour and, to a less extent, the habit of the plant
would lead one, at first blush, to associate it, if not to
identify it, with Rhacomitriinn heterostichiim.

Grimmia fuliginea {n. sp.) — In laxly aggregated tufts, at first
of a greenish yellow above, quickly assuming a tawny-yellow colour,
but of a dirty brown below ; stems upright from a half to one
inch in length, simple or dichotomously divided, but occasionally
emitting short irregular branches ; leaves closely arranged around
stem, somewhat incurved in a dry state, straight and nearly up-
right but flaccid when moistened, narrowly ovate lanceolate,
terminating in a long, nearly entire, hyaline hair, about half the
length of the leaf proper ; nerve also of a tawny -yellow colour,
narrow near base, latit., .04 to .05 mm., broadening somewhat

1 " Flora Samojed, Cisural," 1845. Zl •

172 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

upwards to middle, thence narrowing to summit, margin smooth ;
reflexed in the lower two-thirds, reflexed near middle as much as
.035 mm., ])lanc in upi)er third, and there thickened by one or two
transverse couples of cells ; cells at central base detached, bluntly
obloni:, with smooth, straight walls and granular contents having
besides large, ])ellucid nuclei, .04-.055 by .009-.012 mm., outwards
broader and becoming attached, as well as from three to six short
longitudinal marginal basal rows of cells, sHghtly tawny, and having
clear homogeneous contents, .035 -.04 by .011 -.014 mm.; upper
cells near middle of leaf irregularly oblong or oval with dark
granular contents, separated from one another by considerable
intervals, also tawny, .013-.018 by .006-8 mm., a little shorter near
apex. All the upper cells have somewhat irregular lateral walls, but
are not sinuose. This moss clearly belongs to the genus Grimmia^
although it still bears traces of its origin from Rhacoinitrium in the
irregular outline of the upper cells, etc.

I have hitherto found this plant only in two places near Arisaig,
viz., on stones slightly covered with earth, but have failed to detect
ijiflorescejice of either kind.

Grimmia in^qualis {71. sp.) — In widely spreading flattish tufts
of a deep or dark green colour above, dark or nearly black below ;
stems from a half to nearly an inch long, slender, simple or
fastigiately branched above ; leaves spreading a little when moistened,
nearly upright or only slightly incurved when dry, dark green, ovate
lanceolate with slightly blunt apices (latit., .05-.07 mm.), hair-point
short, denticulate, at times apex muticous ; nerve narrow, .04-.05
mm., broad near base, becoming a little broader upwards, then
tapering to apex, from pale turning soon to brown ; pagina unistra-
tose in lower half, thereafter one marginal transverse couple of
cells, upwards two such couples, and not unfrequently an additional
detached couple nearer nerve ; margin of one side just above
pellucid base, broadly reflexed from .03 to .045 mm., narrowing
upwards until the reflexed part is only the breadth of two cells,
when it joins on to the posterior row of the duplicate or bistratose
part of margin ; the other margin plane throughout ; cells at central
base oblong, granular, ultimately pellucid .035-.05 by .008-.012
mm.; outwards cells broader and shorter, about one- fifth of the
lowest part of leaf pellucid ; upper cells roundish darkly granulose,
separate, .006 - 9 mm., diam. On stone walls, Garscube near
Glasgow ; near Forth Bridge at Dalmeny (J. M 'Andrew).

I cannot recall another instance of such a peculiarity as this
where one margin is plane and the other broadly reflexed, and, near
apex of leaf, where this narrow reflexed margin is joined on to the
thickened portion of margin.

Propagula have been seen on the nerve, near the base, slightly
stalked, single or in clusters of two and three, spheroid or some-

NEW AND RARE MOSSES 173

what irregular in outline, about .035 mm., diam., at first dark green ^
then brown.

In July of 1863, on almost the first occasion of a visit to the
summit of Ben Lawers, I picked up a small Mnium whose leaves
are almost an exact counterpart in size and shape, as well as in the
abbreviated nerve, of those of the pretty little M. hy77ienophylloides
from Norway ; but as the upper margin of the leaf has double
spinulosities this moss must be classified under a different section,
and near M. orthorrhynchum.

Mnium gracilentum {n. sp.) — In laxly aggregated tufts or
scattered, stems about half an inch long, mostly simple, of a deep
red colour, slender, bare below, or with a few minute scale -like
leaves, while above, the leaves are rather closely aggregated and
somewhat crisped when dry, spreading a little when moist, broadly
rotundato-ovate, much narrowed at the base, bluntish at the apex
with a short acute mucro, length, .02 mm. ; margin in the lower half
or thereby plane, entire, composed throughout its length of two,
rarely three longitudinal rows of long narrow cells with thin walls,
.08-. I by .006-. 008 mm., while the upper margin has a double row
of short, bluntish, one-celled spines ; the rest of the cells of the
pagina are nearly uniform throughout, viz., bluntly or roundly
quadrate with thickish walls, .016-.022 mm. across, a very little
larger near the base; nerve slender, latit. near the base .05-.06
mm., tapering upwards, and ceasing below apex by about .08 mm.;
margin, spine, and nerves become ultimately a deep red colour.
Average dimensions of leaf, 1.6 by i.i mm. On the ground near
the summit of the mountain.

The species of the genus Philonotis have throughout a series of
years exercised ray ingenuity to discriminate them. Amongst those
of later years that have attracted my attention is the following. It
was found in 1867 near the summit of Ben Lawers, and although
its peculiarities were noted at the time it was laid aside and only
rediscovered the other day. It is evidently allied to Ph. adpressa
(Ferg.), but the differences between the two are manifest and very
peculiar.

Philonotis heterophylla, 7i.sp. — Tufts lax and often ex-
truding its stems through other mosses. Not unfrequently the
upright stems were seen to arise from a horizontal stock thickly
covered with red radicles. These upright secondary stems are
from one to two inches long, either simple, or sparingly and
shortly branched, or occasionally dichotomously divided. In the
lower half of the stem the leaves are laxly disposed around it, but
closely appressed both in a wet and dry state, broadly ovate, concave
with either sharp or bluntish apices, rounded at base as well as
narrowed at point of insertion, margins only narrowly reflexed near

174 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HLSTORY

base, otherwise plane, thereafter spinuloso-serrate to apex ; usually
one-plied on each side of nerve near the base. Upper leaves are
quite different. They are still slightly concave and broad below as
well as appressed to stem, but are prolonged in a narrow, acute,
slightly spinulose or rather nodulated acumen which becomes
longer in leaves towards the apex of stem, length from .12 to .3 mm. ;
this acumen is slightly recurved, with a bias to one side, constituted
almost entirely of extended nerve, while the upper part of leaf
proper is spinuloso-serrate ; margin of one side narrowly reflexed
(.016 mm.) to near apex of leaf, while the other side is very broadly
reflexed in lower two-thirds to the extent, in middle of reflexed
portion, of .07 to .1 mm.

The areolation of the upper part of the loiver blunt leaves
approaches that of P. adpressa in size and shape, viz., cells oval or
bluntly oblong, .027-.035 by .012-.015 mm., while the correspond-
ing cells in the upper leaves are similar to those of P. fontana,
viz., slightly bent, linear, .03-. 03 8 by .006-8 mm. The large
bluntly triangular, hyaline papillae usually arising from the centre of
the nearly hyaline basal cells, are in an exaggerated degree, viz.,
.02 mm. broad at base and height — from .01-.015 mm., while the
upper papillae are of usual size or a little longer, .004-6 mm., and
arise usually from the lower extremities of cells. The nerve is thick
near base, .08-. 11 mm. broad, and tapers rapidly.

Taking into account the size of the leaf, I have never seen the
margin so broadly reflexed on one side as in this moss, and, I may
add, in any moss of whatever size. The reflexed portion is constant
and shows best the large papillae. This broad reflection is evidently
the cause of the long acumen being dragged back as well as to the
same side. Barren. Ph. seriata was also got in 1867, near the
base of the 7nountain.

Amblystegium compactum (Sulliv.) is certainly present in two
localities in the West of Scotland, viz.. Loch Killisport and Cardross
on the Clyde ; and the specimens approach more closely the
originals from America than the others sent to me from the North
of Scotland. Besides, those from Cardross have a few capsules,
while in other three instances I have found archegonia and
antheridia in apposition in the same bud ; in other words the
species is synoicous.

On almost every occasion of a visit to the West Coast of
Scotland I have come across a small, pretty moss, but as it was
invariably barren I refrained from giving a description of it. My
hopes in this direction never died out, as on three separate occasions
I found inflorescence in the shape of compact, rather elongated
buds containing archegonia and antheridia. It was noticed, how-
ever, that the antheridia w^ere small, pale and entire, while the
archegonia were much larger, of a deep red colour throughout,

NEW AND RARE MOSSES 175

and the usual trumpet-shaped apices were open. Has the unequal
development, as to time, of these so-called organs of generation
anything to do with the invariably sterile condition of this moss ?
According to the Darwinian theory the answer might well be in
the affirmative.

Amblystegium geophilum, n.sp. — Tufts dense, extended, green
above turning to a yellowish green through time, abruptly and con-
tinuously rufous below ; stems upright, pale, from half an inch to
nearly one inch long, slightly branched below, as a rule irregularly
pinnate above, leaves almost always slightly secund, spreading a
little, and straight when dry, scarcely changing direction when
moistened, rather broadly ovate lanceolate, longly and slenderly
acuminate, average length of entire leaf (acumen included) one
mm., length of acumen from .25 to .4 mm., margin plane entire,
but in the upper part slightly incurved, so as to render the leaf
concave there ; nerve very slender, composed of very narrow,
elongated cells w^hich soon turn yellow^ often reaching half-way,
but not unfrequently these narrow cells are only to be detected
near the base ; cells at base bluntly cylindrical, detached and
separate, with thickish walls, .025-.04 by .004-5 nim., varying little
outwards to margin, but upwards longer and a little broader, as well
as assuming a bluntly fusiform shape, while the cells nearer apex
are sharply fusiform, separate, longer, .04-.055 by .0045-.007 mm.,
Aler spaces well defined, of oval or slightly oblong, separate,
granular cells which also soon turn yellow, .012-.017 x .006-8 mm.

The tendency of the nerve to become yellow would seem to
argue in favour of association with A, filicinum. The margin shows
at times minute irregularities arising from the protrusion of
individual cells, but otherwise it is quite entire. This moss is
singularly constant in its characters and appearance as well as size.
It grows almost invariably on sandy earth mixed with the debris of
sea-shells.

Often growing closely associated with the preceding I have
found in three localities another very minute moss which I cannot
identify with any other. It almost rivals in size the two smallest
of the genus, viz., Amblystegium Sprucei and A, co7ifervoides^ and
yet it presents peculiarities which mark it, in my opinion, as a
distinct species. Unfortunately it has hitherto been found only in
a barren condition.

Amblystegium perminimum, 7i.sp. — In dense, at times widely
extended, rather convex tufts, pale green above with here and there
indications of a reddish tint, abruptly and continuously red below ;
stems filiform, reddish, procumbent at the margins of the tuft,
nearly erect, and about one-quarter of an inch long in the centre ;
simple, dichotomously divided below or irregularly and shortly

176 ANxVALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

branched in the upper half; leaves very minute, on an average
.2 by .oS mm., erect and closely appressed when dry, spreading
a little when moistened, concave and broadly ovate, almost cordate
below, so as to give a beaded or rope-like appearance to the whole
stem much as in Gri??imia torquata \ shortly and rather broadly
acuminate, with a bluntish rounded apex ; cells of the pagina
roundly oblong, or merely oval with thickish walls, distinct and
separate, small, .011-.016 by .006-9 mm. marginal cells in one or
two rows, smaller, oval, .008-.011 mm. in the long diameter, in
upper half of leaf cells a little longer (•018 mm.), margin plane,
but as a rule shortly incurved quite at base, entire or occasionally
rendered slightly irregular by protruding marginal cells ; nerveless,
except rather frequently a middle row or two of narrow cells in
lowest fourth (.024 by .004 mm.), soon turning yellow, may be
said to constitute a nerve.

This moss differs widely in its areolation from the two mentioned
above, in the breadth of the leaf below, in the broader and shorter
acumen, as well as in the concavity of the lower half. On sandy
earth close to the sea.

Cynodontium gracilescens (Web. and Mohr.), which has long
been looked for, has at last been found, but only with young fruit.
The papillae, which give a distinctive character to this moss, are on
both sides of the pagina, are broad at base, bluntly conical, and
from .003 to .005 mm. in height. They are also seen on the back
of the nerve although more sparingly. They are apt to collapse as
my continental specimens indicate. Near Balmaha, Loch Lomond,
30th March, 1907 (L. W. Stirton).

ADDITIONS FOR 1907 TO CENSUS OF
SCOTTISH HEPATIC^.

By Symers M. Macvicar.

The present paper contains 97 records of species examined.
Most of the specimens were found in 1907, but a few were
collected in previous years. Scapania obliqiia (Arnell)
Schiffn., a plant perhaps too nearly related to 5. uliginosa to
be considered specifically distinct, is an addition to the
Britannic flora. Lophozia Baueriana, which was previously
recorded as a variety of L. Floerkii, is now given as a
species.

ADDITIONS FOR 1907 TO CENSUS OF SCOTTISH HEPATIC/F 177

72. Dumfries.
Lophozia badensis, S. M. Macvicar.

75. Ayr.
Microlejeunea ulicina. Miss K. B. Macvicar.

Marsupella aquatica.
Lophozia Muelleri.
Sphenolobus minutus.
Anastrepta orcadensis.
Plagiochila spinulosa.

Nardia obovata.
Lophozia excisa.
L. barbata.

Lophocolea heterophylla.
Chiloscyphus polyanthos
Cephalozia lunulaefolia.

78. Peebles.

{S. M. Macvicar.)

Bazzania tricrenata.
Lepidozia Pearsoni.
Scapania subalpina.
S. graciHs.

79. Selkirk.

{S. M. Maancar.)

C. curvifolia.
Cephaloziella byssacea.
C. bifida.

Scapania nemorosa.
Madotheca rivularis.

80. Roxburgh.
{S. M. Maroicar.)

Aneura multifida.

Aplozia crenulata, var. gracillima.

A. pumila.

Lophozia Muelleri.

L. ventricosa.

L. bicrenata.

L. excisa.

L. incisa.

L. quinquedentata.

L. Floerkii.

Sphenolobus exsectaeformis.

Chiloscyphus polyanthos.

Cephalozia lunulaefolia.
C. curvifolia.
Cephaloziella byssacea.
C. myriantha.
Kantia Trichomanis.
Scapania purpurascens.
S. undulata.
S. irrigua.
S. curta.

Lejeunea cavifolia.
Anthoceros lasvis.

Riccia Lescuriana.
Lophozia badensis.

67

82. Haddington.
(/ M'A?idrew.)

Scapania compacta.

E

178 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

87. West Perth.
Lophozia inflata. J. IIu7itcr.

88. Mid Perth.

(5. M. Macvicar.)

Marsupella Pearsoni. Lophozia Baueriana.

Lophozia badensis. Scapania obhqua.

89. East Perth.
Gymnomitrium alpinum. J. FeTgusson.

90. Forfar.

PelHa Neesiana, G. West and Miss H. Ogilvie,
Nardia Breidleri, P. Ewiiig and W. You?ig.
Lophozia badensis, A. Croall.

91. Kincardine.

(/. Sim.)

Metzgeria conjugata. Marsupella Funckii.

Gymnomitrium alpinum. M. aquatica.

92. South Aberdeen.
Lophozia longidens. J. Sim,

93. North Aberdeen.

Lophozia Baueriana, J. M''A7idi'ew.
Kantia Sprengelii, D. Lillie.

96. East Inverness.

Marsupella Jorgensenii \ ^ j^_ ^^^^ .^^^
Diplophyllum ovatum J

97. West Inverness.

Lophozia Baueriana, Miss K. B. Marvicar.
Scapania obliqua, S. M. Macvica?-.

98. Argyll.

Harpanthus scutatus, W. West.
Scapania obliqua, 6". M. Macvicar.

ADDITIONS FOR 1907 TO CENSUS OF SCOTTISH HEPATIC/li 179

99. Dumbarton.

Scapania obliqua, S. M. Macvicar.
Radula aquilegia, C. Scott.

108. West Sutherland,

D. Lillie.

Lophozia incisa. Lepidozia Pearsoni.

Saccogyna viticulosa. Ptilidium ciliare.

109. Caithness.

Lophozia badensis ) ^ j..,.
L. barbata |

no. Outer Hebrides.

Lophozia badensis, P, Ewing.
Chiloscyphus polyanthos, /. WaterstoJi.

III. Orkney.

{D. Lillie.)

Jamesoniella Carringtoni. Cephalozia lunul^efolia.

Lophozia INIuelleri. Bazzania tricrenata.

Sphenolobus minutus. PtiUdium cihare.
Chiloscyphus pallescens.

112. Shetland.

Pallavicinia hibernica ) 7. f,.

Blepharostoma trichophyllum y'
Nardia compressa, W. H. Beeby.

{D. Lillie)

Conocephalum conicum. L. alpestris.

Marchantia polymorpha. L. quinquedentata.

Blasia pusilla. Radula aquilegia.
Lophozia Muelleri.

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES.

The Birds of Dumfriesshipe : A Contribution to the Fauna of
the Solway Area. — We are informed that a book on this subject is
in course of preparation by Mr. Hugh S. Gladstone, M.A., F.Z.S., etc.

Any information regarding the birds of this county that any of

i8o ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

our readers may have, would be much welcomed by Mr. Gladstone ;
and should be addressed to him at Lannhall, Thornhill, Dumfries-
shire.

Prosecution under the Wild Birds Acts. — In Stranraer Sheriff
Court on May 14th, Thomas Inglis, gamekeeper, Barnoorkrie, was
charged with a contravention of the Wild Birds' Protection Act by
having in his possession five Ravens which had been recently taken.
He pleaded guilty. The Plscal asked that the birds should be
forfeited and disposed of. Ravens were in much request as pets,
and a good market could be found for them. No good object
would be gained in liberating them, for he was told that after a
considerable period of captivity they would be incapable of provid-
ing for themselves. Accused said he took the birds in ignorance.
He had always been accustomed to destroy them. Slieriff Watson
imposed a penalty of 6s. for each bird, 30s. in all, with the alterna-
tive of seven days, and ordered that the birds should be forfeited
and sold.

Bird Notes from Fife. — A Golden Oriole $ was got at Mark-
inch about May loth. Its plumage is in very fine condition, but
the bird was very emaciated. The head is greenish yellow ; back,
yellowish green ; wings, blackish brown with a faint green sheen and
a yellow speculum ; tail feathers, black with yellow tips, the latter
colour extending some way up the inner webs of the feathers, the two
centre tail feathers dark greenish and rather acuminate. Under-
parts greyish white, striated longitudinally with dark grey ; flanks
yellowish, under tail-coverts yellow, bill red-brown.

We are enabled to report a Scops-Owl $ through the kindness
of Mr. Harry Gilmour, who informed us of its capture. It was got
at Montrave on the i6th May.

A Great Grey Shrike was seen at Gilston on the 22nd April. —
Leonora Jeffrey Rintoul and Evelyn V. Baxter.

Increase of Goldfinches in Central Scotland (Forth) and Siskins'
Nesting. — A correspondent informs me in lit, April 30th, 1908,
of the increase of Goldfinches which have been so rare of
late years in the district. He writes : " I have seen one every day
feeding for some eight days regularly at one locality in 1900."
Also at another locality in Forth, " two feeding on thistle-tops in
September." At a third, " one passed me quite close last season."
He also speaks of their former comparative abundance at several
localities he was personally acquainted with on the south side of
the Firth of Forth, when he was a boy — e.g. Preston Hall estate :
a nest of young got away at Gorebridge, and " I caught two of
them; and in 1885 I caught one near Cockpen Church. In 1888
my father got a nest in an alder tree near Crichton Castle, and the
old birds (also caught) brought up the young ones in the house."

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES i8i

Siskin. — The same correspondent writes: "I also got the
Siskin's nest — the only one I ever knew to breed hereabout. It was
in a Scots fir about 20 feet up on a branch. I caught the old ones,
and they brought all the young up in the house." He proceeds to
give a bad account of the loss in eggs of Pheasants and Grouse
caused by the cold spring of this year — frost and snow. "Forty-
five eggs of Grouse were picked up in one day all spoiled. Such
as were sittitig were not so bad." — J. A. Harvie-Brovvn, Dunipace.

Oeeuprenee of Wild Canary in the Forth Area. — A wild
Canary {Serhtus caiiarius) was captured by Mr. Robert Johnstone
in company with Linnets at Springkerse, near Stirling, at the end
of November 1907. Bird still in his possession, alive and healthy
(May 29th, 1908), at No. 11 Randolph Road, Stirling. No
appearance of previous confinement, and bird remains still rather
wild or untamable. Seen alive and identified by me. — J, A.
Harvie-Brown, Dunipace.

White Wagtail in Orkney. — On March 17th I saw a specimen
of the White Wagtail {Motacilla alba) on the telegraph wires near
Stromness, Orkney, close to where the Sandwick road joins the
main road from Kirkwall to Stromness. Mr. Eagle Clarke men-
tions the species as occurring abundantly on both passages in
Shetland, but I think this is the first time it has been recorded for
Orkney. — H. W. Robinson, Lancaster.

Breeding of the Tree-pipit in the Glenshee district. — I am

sending you a note to record the breeding of the Tree-pipit with
me here some 800 to 900 feet above sea-level in the Glenshee
district. The nest contained six yellowish - brown eggs, very
strongly marked at the thick end. From the bird's behaviour I
fancy the young will be hatched very shortly. As this is the first
nest I have found here, though I have seen the birds during each
of the last three years, I am unable to say if the colour and marking
is the usual type hereabouts or not. The Greater Whitethroat is
also breeding with me. I am recording the Tree-pipit simply
because Mr. A. H. Evans, who is with me, thinks that a record of
its breeding at this altitude may be of interest. — J. M'L. Marshall,
Blairgowrie.

An Invasion of Cuckoos. — Usually, and as far back as
I can remember, this was not a great resort of Cuckoos. I could
always find Cuckoos in the season, and knew where to look for
them on the open moor or fields. This year, however, they are
everywhere, and most uproarious ; and, from whatever cause, most
discontented and restless — and anxious-minded. All I can thiiik
is "no wonder!"; but perhaps some one can "put his finger on
the spot" and account for such an invasion, and so late in the

l82 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

season, who does not mind being charged with treason to Baconian
principles. It will be interesting also to ascertain whether this
multiplication of " Cuckoo ! Cuckoo ! " is common to this with
other areas north and south. I can well remember, without refer-
ring to notes, that in 1905 Cuckoos were also superabundant, noisy,
and restless on the open grounds up Glen Dochart of Tay as
late as the 22nd May — a season of very backward nature, though
not so severe as this 1908 opening has been. — J. A. Harvie-
Brown, Dunipace.

Turnstone in Scotland in June. — When on Luinga Bheag, off
Arisaig, on 8th June, Mr. Duncan M'Naughton, Perth, and I saw six
Turnstones, Strepsilas interpres^ L. We first of all put up four, while
later on we disturbed another pair. The birds were by no means
shy, and we got within short distance of them on more than one
occasion. — J. B. Dobbie, Edinburgh.

[When Mr. Wm. Macgillivray of Eoligary, Barra, was paying me
a visit a few weeks ago, he informed me of the residence of a flock
of from ten to twelve to fifteen Turnstones at a certain reach of
shore in the Outer Hebrides. He had told me before of their
remaining all summer there after putting on the full summer dress.
This was some three years ago. Since then the same flock, or vary-
ing slightly in number, has frequented the same reach of shore
persistently both during winter and summer. It is by no means
unusual to find these birds in almost or quite perfect summer dress
amongst our Western Isles, and even at certain localities nearer to
the west coast of the mainland. During many years' personal
acquaintance with the West generally I have scarcely ever missed a
season without seeing these birds singly or in pairs, or in small flocks,
well on in June and sometimes even after midsummer. — J. A.
Harvie-Brown.]

Snowy Owl in South Uist. — A fine specimen of this noble
Arctic bird was shot at the farm of Milton, South Uist, in October
1907, and is now in the collection of Outer Hebridean birds in
the possession of Sir Reg. Cathcart, Bart. — J. A. Harvie-Brown,
Dunipace.

The Scops-Owl in Forth. — Slowly but surely the list'of " Forth "
birds increases. The latest addition is the Scops-Owl {Scops gm\ a
specimen of which was obtained in a small wood called " The
Fluthers," on the estate of Lundin, near Largo, Fife, the property of
Sir John Gilmour, Bart, of Montraive, on i6th May last (1908).
The head keeper on the estate was walking through the wood when
the bird flew over his head and he shot it. A few days afterwards
I had the privilege of examining it in the bird-stuffer's shop in
Edinburgh. It proved to be a female, and was in good plumage ;
length about 7^ inches, wing from flexure 6| inches, base of bill

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 183

to tip of ear-tufts if inch. For the facts connected with the
capture of this specimen I am indebted to Sir John Gilmour, who
has also kindly asked me to record it for him.

In the second edition of Saunders' "Manual" (1899) only five
occurrences of this pretty little Owl in Scotland are mentioned,
namely : one in Sutherland in May 1854, two near Perth in May
1864, one in Aberdeenshire in September 1891, and one in Orkney
in June 1892. Since then three have been reported from Shetland
— two in April 1900, and one in August 1905 ; but only one of
them can be said to have been identified with certainty {cf.
"Annals," 1900, p. 184, etc. — William Evans, Edinburgh.

Greenland Falcon at the Flannan Islands. — On the 8th of

March a Greenland Falcon visited Eilean Mor, and raided the
Guillemots until it was shot. The bird, a fine adult, is now in
the collection of British animals in the Royal Scottish Museum. —
W. Eagle Clarke.

Osprey, etc., in Shetland. — Mr. T. Henderson writes me he
saw a pied Flycatcher, an Osprey, and any number of Fieldfares
"lately" — i.e. in May — around Spiggie. This appears to be good
evidence of the lateness of arrival of some species. He adds :
" There has been a lot of the smaller migrants about lately during
the east winds. The Osprey has frequented (Loch) Spiggie for
a week now, and the other day he was seen to capture a large
trout, and wing his way toward Fitful." — J. A. Harvie-Brown,
Dunipace.

Bitterns in East Lothian. — My friend F. G. Thatcher sent me
on 24th April the head and wing feathers of a Bittern {Botaurus
stellaris) which he had found lying dead on Gullane Links. From
the state of the head the bird must have been dead at least a
month, probably more. This makes the third Bittern which has
occurred in East Lothian this year, as Mr. Geo. Clark of Luggate,
on 29th February, flushed a bird from the same spot where he
secured the wounded one mentioned by Mr. W. Evans in the April
"Annals." He writes me that he is absolutely certain of its
identity, and when he saw it he believed that it was the wounded
Bittern which he had taken to Mr. G. Pow to be cured of its
wound, as it had been determined to release this bird whenever it
was able to take care of itself. But on communicating with Mr.
Pow he replied to Mr. Clark that the Bittern had just died. The
fact that two birds should have occurred in the same spot within
a few weeks is somewhat remarkable. Of course there is a possi-
bility that the Gullane Bittern may be the same bird as the
second one seen by Mr. Clark. — H. N. Bonar, Saltoun, Pencait-
land.

[Mr. H. Geoffrey Thatcher informs us that the Bittern men-

i84 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

tioned in the above note was found by him on the 6th of
April at the side of a large marsh at Aberlady. It appeared to him
to have been dead about two months, though it was in a fairly
perfect state, most of the feathers being intact. — Eds.]

Gadwall in Aberdeenshire. — As the Gadwall {Ajias strepera)
seems to have been only once obtained in " Dee," it may be of
interest that we saw two birds of that species in the estuary of the
Don at low-tide on ist September 1907. The birds were close to
the bank when we first saw them, and we had ample time to note
the distinguishing points of their plumage as they swam slowly to
midstream. One (if not both) of the birds had the " under tail-
coverts spotted black on white " characteristic of the female. —
Lewis N. G. Ramsay and A. Landsborough Thomson, Old
Aberdeen.

Pintails Increase in Shetland. — It may be remembered that
Mr. T. Henderson of Spiggie found Pintails nesting in the south of
Shetland, and retained some young birds he captured at the nesting-
place ("Annals S. N. Hist." 1907). Mr. Henderson now writes me
regarding an increased number of nesting pairs there. He writes :
"There are four or five pairs to be seen. They seem to be
increasing." — J. A. Harvie-Brown, Dunipace.

Protection of the Woodeoek in the S.-W. of Scotland. — May

I call the attention of the readers of your magazine to the fact that,
under their Wild Birds' Protection Order for 1908 to 191 1, the
three County Councils of Wigtownshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, and
Dumfriesshire have combined in prohibiting the taking or killing of
the Woodcock between the first day of February and the first day of
October in each year. Their eggs were, of course, already protected.
The Woodcock has shown of late years such an increased tendency
to nest in the south-west of Scotland, and is such an early breeder,
that this extension of " close-time " for the month of February was
most called for. As regards the extension from ist August to
ist October, it is generally agreed that horne-bred birds migrate
from where they are bred before ist October, and I think that in
coming to their decision to protect the Woodcock as they have
done, the three County Councils have considered the welfare of the
bird at the expense of local sportsmen. But they would gladly see
the " order " made applicable to every county in Great Britain and
Ireland, and if possible to the whole of Europe ! ! ! With similar
protection throughout the kingdom there can be no doubt that the
numbers of Woodcock would increase proportionately ; and is it too
much to hope that the good example now set by Wigtownshire,
Kirkcudbrightshire, and Dumfriesshire may be followed generally
elsewhere in a similar broad-minded and unselfish manner? — Hugh
S. Gladstone, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire.

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 185

Black Tern on the Tweed. — While walking down Tweedside on
30th May I saw a Black Tern i^Hydrochelidon nigra) flying backwards
and forwards over the river just above Peebles. The bird was an
adult in full summer plumage, and was, as far as I could see, alone.
It frequented a quiet and smooth part of the river, and made
frequent swoops towards the surface of the water, appearing to take
flies on the wing. — R. Preston Donaldson, Edinburgh.

Little Auk in the Firth of Forth in March. — On 9th March
last a female Little Auk {Mergulus alle), evidently newly dead, was
picked up on the shore at Gullane Point, Haddingtonshire, and
taken to Mr. J. Lamb, who kindly forwarded it to me the same day.
Though thin in the body its plumage was in excellent condition,
and showed some approach towards the summer dress. — William
Evans, Edinburgh.

Large Assemblage of Great Northern Divers and a Moulting
Bird. — On 6th March a flock of over forty Great Northern Divers
{Colymbus glacialis) was observed in Hoy Sound, Orkney, such a
large assembly being somewhat unusual, as they are generally seen
singly or in pairs, eight being the largest number I had previously
seen together, namely, during the same week in March three years
ago. Possibly as the time for their departure draws near they
collect thus into flocks. On Sunday 5th April there was a specimen
in Stromness harbour almost in full summer plumage, the head
alone being not quite perfect. On the following day, the 6th, I saw
large numbers of them off the south end of Graemsay, considerably
over a hundred altogether. The largest lot was a flock of twenty-
four or twenty-five, but these I could not get near enough to see the
colour of their heads properly. I saw another flock of thirteen,
another of eleven, another of eight, two of six, four of five, and
a number of lots of three, a few pairs, and several single birds.
With the exception of the large flock, I was near enough to see the
colour of the plumage of all the others with the glasses, and only
one bird was in full summer plumage, one of the flock of eight,
none of the others seen having the head changed at all. The
large assemblage seen on 6th April seemed to almost melt away, so
mysteriously did they disappear, as after sailing among them for
about half an hour the last had vanished, and during the rest of the
day we only saw one other, and that four or five hours later. All
the birds seen were within half a mile of one another, and their
disappearance was all the more remarkable as the sea was compara-
tively calm at the time, with only a ruffle on its surface, thus
allowing birds to be seen at a great distance. — H. W. Robinson,
Lancaster.

Four-bearded Reckling in the Sound of Mull. — A fine speci-
men of Enchelyopus cimbrius was captured on the 25th of March

i86 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

about three-quarters of a mile off Ardmore Head, Sound of Mull,
in from forty to fifty fathoms. The fisherman who brought it to me
said that he had never met with one like it previously. The first
ray of the anterior dorsal fin was unusually developed, being
2.25 inches in length. I am indebted to Mr. Eagle Clarke for
naming the specimen, which is now preserved in the Royal
Scottish Museum, Edinburgh. — D. Macdonald, Tobermory.

[Though this fish is common in the Clyde area it has not often
been detected elsewhere on the west coast north of that district. —
Eds.]

Quedius longieopnis, A>., in Forth. — Among some Coleoptera
which I collected at Callander in the spring of 1900, I find there is
a specimen, taken on 20th April, of this rare Staphylinid. The only
previous Scottish records seem to be from Solway, where a very
few examples have been taken, and a doubtful one from Clyde.
Unfortunately, I have no note of the habitat of the Callander
specimen. — William Evans, Edinburgh.

Death's Head Moth, in Kirkcudbrightshire. — The occurrence
of this fine species on the Scottish side of the Borders is always of
interest, owing to the fact that it has, I think, a very uncertain status
as a native species, although, of course, there is no doubt at all that
from time to time native-laid and native-hatched specimens are
occasionally in some numbers. But I believe these are in all cases
the produce of immigrant females, and that all such die out without
founding a native race. On 22nd May I had a fine female sent
me, captured on that date at Carsethorn in Kirkcudbrightshire
upon the sails of a small schooner that had entered the harbour
there. It was alive, lively, and in very fair condition when I
received it. — Robert Service, Maxwelltown.

BOTANICAL NOTES AND NEWS.

Sagina Reuteri, Boiss. — The recent discovery of this pearl-wort
in several counties in England, in situations where it is most unlikely
that it owes its occurrence to human agency, seems to leave no
room for doubt that it is native in Britain, and that it has escaped
notice owing to its resemblance to allied forms. It is treated in
Babington's "Manual" (ed. ix.) and in Druce's list as a variety
of S. apetala, but in the " London Catalogue," ed. x., as a distinct
species. It was first found near Madrid by Reuter, in 1841, and
described by Boissier as a native of Spain ; but it has not apparently
been observed elsewhere in Southern Europe. When first
detected in Britain it was observed only near railways, or in other

BOTANICAL NOTES AND NEWS 187

places that suggested a casual origin ; but, as mentioned above, it
has recently been found where there is no reason to suppose
it an alien. All the plants observed were covered more or
less with hairs and glands, as in Boissier's type. In the Journal
of Botany in April 1908 (pp. 109-111) there is described and
figured a new variety, named glabra by Messrs. W. Ingham and
J. A. Wheldon, who found it on Skipwith Common in Yorkshire
and Strensall Common. This variety is quite eglandular.

S. Reuteri has not been detected in Scotland, but, in view of
its distribution in England, it seems likely to occur here. Its
resemblance to the species of Sagina related to apetala makes it
advisable to examine these carefully both in herbaria and in the
living state.

It was first noted as British in the Botanical Exchange Club
Report for 1892, Boissier's original description being quoted ; but
there is no good description readily accessible in British floras. It
differs from S. apetala in its erect sepals appressed to the ripe capsule
and its shorter peduncles ; from S. ciliata in its blunt short sepals ;
from S. procumbens by its central stem elongating and flowering, and
by its peduncles of the capsules being often erect.

The usual form has the peduncle short and densely glandular,
and is so described in Babington's " Manual " ; but the var.
glabra is eglandular, and often has the peduncle curved as in
S. procu7?ibens.

A Simple Method of recording Local Distribution. — Experi-
ence soon proves the advantage of using methods that give accurate
records in brief space, with little trouble, and that are not liable to
be rendered useless by loss of the key to the method. One that I
have made use of for some time with good effect may prove useful
to others. It is based on the use of the Ordnance maps on the
scale of an inch to a mile. I have these ruled with narrow lines of
" waterproof ink " along each minute of latitude and along the even
numbers of the minutes of longitude. Thus the map is divided into
parallelograms nearly i\ mile from east to west and ij from south
to north. Along the sides of the map the spaces are lettered with
capitals from A to P, beginning at the south. So along top and
bottom, beginning at the east, the spaces are lettered from a to ?/.
Thus to record the occurrence of any plant in a space, all that is
required is the official number of the map and two letters. A
more exact record is given by adding a small parallelogram with a
dot in the relative position. Relative abundance is indicated by
the letters a, p, y, 5, e, these being used to denote frequency of
locaHties and frequency in the localities, the first letter referring to
number of localities, the second to frequency in these. Thus a
denotes in only one locality, or once in each locality ; /?, in few
localities or rare in the localities ; y, not common, yet not rare ; S,

i88 ANXALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

common to plentiful ; and e, abundant and more or less excluding
other species. A single one of these letters denotes that it applies
to both localities and frequency in these. The date of observation
is noted in the usual short way. Taking an example, Rtibus idceus, L.,
var. obtusifolius (Will.), 76 Hd, ay, 17.9.4, denotes that I found
the plant in one locality, in several examples, on 17th September
1904 ; and a reference to the map shows the locality to be on the
borders of the parishes of Kemnay and Kintore in South Aberdeen.
—J. W. H. Trail.

CURRENT LITERATURE.

The Titles and Purport of Papers and Notes relating to Scottish Natural
History which have appeared during the Quarter — April-June 1908.

[The Editors desire assistance to enable them to make this Section as complete as
possible. Contributions on the lines indicated will be most acceptable, and
will bear the initials of the Contributor. The Editors will have access to the
sources of information undermentioned.]

ZOOLOGY.

Common Shrew in Skye. P. A. Buxton. Zoologist, May
1908, pp. 189 and 190. Female trapped at Sligachan on September
18, 1907.

Notes on the Birds of West Renfrewshire (Caldwell
District), 1907. T. Thornton Mackeith. Zoologist, June 1908,
pp. 230-233.

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Bridge of Allan. Frank
J. Pullar. The Field, May 2, 1908, p. 748. Specimen found dead
on April 21.

Tengmalm's Owl in Shetland. Erik Hamilton. The Field,
April 4, 1908, p. 583. An adult female taken on January 4.

Large Assemblage of Northern Divers. H. W. Robinson.
The Field, April 25, 1908. A flock of over forty seen on Hoy
Sound, Orkney, on March 6, and one of over a hundred on April 6
off Houton Head.

Lepidoptera of East Sutherland. M. A. Rollason. Ento-
mologist, May 1908, p. 131. Nine species recorded, supplementary
to those published in the same journal, vol. xl. p. 40.

AnTHROCERA ACHILLE.dE, ESP., ADDED TO THE BRITISH LiST.

By E. A. Cockayne, F.E.S. Ent. Record, April 15, 1908, p. 73.
A colony of this species discovered by Mr. Renton near Oban.

AnTHROCERA ACHILLEA, ESP., AS A BRITISH SpECIES. By J.

W. Tutt, F.E.S. Ent. Record, April 15, 1908, pp. 73, 74. Gives

CURRENT LITERATURE 189

as an additional locality for this new British species the mountains
in Glencoe district, and notes the probability of its occurrence in
Cornwall.

BiSTON HiRTARiA AT FoRRES. J. W. H. Harrison, B.Sc. Ent,
Record^ May 15, 1908, p. 120. Several larvae obtained.

Dysstroma concinnata, Steph., a VALID Species. By Louis
B. Prout, F.E.S. Ent. Record^ June 15, 1908, p. 143. By the
examination of the genitalia of the Arran forms of the so-called
"truncata" the author has been enabled to satisfy himself as to
their specific distinctness.

Notes on British Braconid/e. By Claude Morley, F.E.S.
{continued). Ejtto^nologist, June 1908, pp. 148-150. In this
instalment the following records appear : Meteorus abdominator,
Golspie, August 26, 1900; M. melanostictus and versicolor,
Galashiels.

Some New British Myrmecophilous Proctotrupid/e. By H.
St. J. K. Donisthorpe, F.Z.S., F.E.S. Ent. Record, May 15, 1908,
p. 106. Records Polynema albitarse, Kieffer and Platygaster sp.,
from a nest of Formica rufa at Rannoch.

Notes on Scotch and other Proctotrypid/e. By the late
Arthur J. Chitty, M.A., F.E.S. (edited by Claude Morley, F.E.S.).
Ent. Record, May 1908, pp. 99-102. This paper is chiefly a
criticism of that published in the " Annals " by Mr. Cameron, but
contains many valuable notes.

Diptera IN Dumbartonshire in 1907. F. R. Malloch. Ent.
Mo. Mag., June 1908, pp. 137 and 138. Forty-nine species
recorded, including five new to the British list. Several of the
identifications are due to Mr. J. E. ColHn, who gives a note on the
new British species.

Notes on certain Mycetophilid^e, including several
Species new to the British List. By F. Jenkinson, M.A. Ent.
Mo. Mag., June 1908, pp. 129-133. Mycothera semifusca, Mg.,
taken at Logie, on the Findhorn, September 14 and 15, 1905.

Two New British Diptera : Pegomyia esuriens, Mg., and
P. UNiviTTATA, v. Ros. By A. E. J. Carter. Ejit. Mo. Mag.,
June 1908, pp. 128 and 129. Examples of both species were
taken at Comrie, Perthshire, in July 1907.

Notes from the Gatty Marine Laboratory, St. Andrews.
No. xxix. By Prof. M'Intosh, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S., etc. Ann.
and Mag. Nat. Hist., May 1908, pp. 373-387, pi. xvii. This
instalment includes an account of the British Opheliidae, Scali-
bregmidae, and Telethusae, with references to Scottish occurrences.

190 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

BOTANY.

Scottish Mosses, by David Lillie {Journ. Bot., 1908, pp.
172-173), enumerates additions to the records of Northern counties.
— West Sutherland (108), one variety ; Caithness (109), five species ;
Orkney (m), four species and two varieties; Shetland (112), nine
species and three varieties.

The Subsection Eu-canin/e of the Genus Rosa. By Major
A. H. WoUey-Dod. {/ourn. Bot., 1908, Appendix, pp. 1-64.) A
very full discussion of the various forms, British and foreign.

BOOK NOTICES.

List of British Plants : Containing the Spermophytes,
Pteridophytes, and Charads, found either as Natives or growing in a
Wild State in Britain, Ireland, and the Channel Islands. By George
Claridge Druce, M.A., F.L.S. (Oxford, Clarendon Press, January
1908. 2S. 6d. in wrapper, 3s. 6d. in cloth, interleaved.)

The London Catalogue of British Plants : Tenth edition.
(London, February 1908. George Bell and Sons. gd. in wrapper,
IS. 3d. in cloth, interleaved.)

Of these two lists we may refer first to the familiar London
Catalogue, which has so long been a help to British botanists, but in
recent years had been left behind by the results of critical study of
the flora, especially in certain genera. Comparing this edition with
the ninth, which was issued in 1895, o^^ finds many new names,
some of which are additions to the list, while others have been
rendered necessary by the labours of systematists during recent years
in the effort to arrive at a generally valid nomenclature. The new
edition has 2075 numbered as species, while the ninth had 1958;
but the apparent increase is largely due to the separation as species
of forms treated in the earlier issue as named varieties, e.g. Papaver
Lecoqii. In Rubiis the numbers are raised from 99 to 116; in
Rosa from 20 to 31, mollis and tomentosa being now replaced by
12 numbers; in Hieracium from 104 to 113 ; Euphrasia officinalis^
L., has been replaced by 15 numbered "species"; ^wd. Rhinanthus
Crista-galli^ L., by 7. These examples must suffice to show how
the mass of additions is largely accounted for by the critical study of
certain genera. Besides the increase in the numbered forms there
is a large addition to the named varieties and forms, e.g. under Viola
of the tricolor group. Several hybrids also find a place in the new
edition that were not noticed in the last one. The actual list
occupies 44 pages, or 4 more than previously. To its preparation
the services of specialists have been freely given, and are acknow-

BOOK NOTICES 191

ledged by the editor, Mr. F. J. Hanbury. An attempt has been
made to sift the British flora, distinguishing those that are native
ahens well established, and such as are " casual or only planted,"
but there is no mention of many other casuals that have been put
on record, but are of rare occurrence. All such attempts are certain
to show many cases of different conclusions as to the grades in which
species should be ranked from this standpoint, every list giving the
benefit of the doubt to many old weeds of cultivation, while exclud-
ing others that might be almost equally correctly included. In re-
spect of appearance the highly glazed paper and lighter type render
the tenth edition much less pleasant to the eye than the preceding
editions.

Mr. Druce's " List " is framed on more comprehensive lines
than the " London Catalogue," as it aims at including every species,
native or alien, ranging from the most absolute native to the mere
" ballast waif," that has been recorded from any part of the area
defined on the title-page. It thus includes almost 3000 numbers,
besides a very large number of varieties, " made as catholic as
possible." An abstract gives the following analysis of the numbered
forms: — Native species, 1390; native subspecies (numbered asspecies),
401; species somewhat doubtfully native, 89; aliens now well
established, 144 ; aliens more or less fugitive, 940. A short appendix
adds several, mostly to the last division. While many botanists
object to the inclusion of fugitives, aliens, or casuals, their exclusion
is carried out in a more or less arbitrary way ; and the more logical
method appears to be the admission of all species found growing as
if wild, but noting, as this " List" does, which are aliens. A com-
parison of this "List" with the "London Catalogue" shows wide
divergences in several places, apart from the large number of aliens
in it and not in the " Catalogue." One of the most important of
these divergences is that the " nomina conservanda " of the Vienna
Congress of 1905 "are deliberately ignored when other generic
names which appear to be properly diagnosed have priority." But
leaving out of account questions of nomenclature and the knotty
questions that are involved in them, this " List" will be found very
useful by students of local floras who desire a guide to the names
and places of the numerous aliens often encountered, especially near
seaports or railways, and of which no account is given by British
floras.

Both "List" and "Catalogue" will be found very useful by
botanists interested in the British flora, and both bring into very
clear view the urgent need there is for a new work to take the place
so long and usefully filled by Hooker's " Student's Flora," and
Babington's " Manual."

A Monograph of the British Annelids. Vol. II. Part I.
— Polychseta : Nephthydidae to Syllidae. Eight coloured and Four-

192 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

teen uncoloured PLites. By Prof. W. C. M'Intosh, M.D., F.R.S.,
etc. Ray Society, 1908.

It is with genuine pleasure tliat we call attention to the issue
of a further part — the second dealing with the Polychoeta — of
Prof. M'Intosh's great Monograph. Needless to say, the high
standard of excellence which characterised its predecessors has been
fully maintained. Clear and ample descriptions of the families,
genera (29), and species (75, several of them new), together with
an extensive synonymy, information as to habitats, distribution, re-
production, etc., occupy the 232 quarto pages of text. Considera-
tion of the classification of the Polychaeta is reserved for the
summary. The author claims that amongst the marine bristle-
worms are to be found some "of the most beautifully ornamented
invertebrates ; indeed, many vie wdth the gaudy tints of butterflies
and birds or the burnished splendour of beetles," a dictum which,
we think, no one who looks at the beautiful plates will dispute.
The paucity of localities cited, while due to some extent, no doubt,
to a reluctance on the part of the author to accept records which he
is unable to verify, shows how much there is still to be done in
working out the distribution of this group of animals on our coasts.
The publication of the Monograph, the next part of which, it is
gratifying to learn, " lies ready for printer and lithographer," will, let
us hope, lead to a rapid accumulation of data on this aspect of the
subject. — W. E.

The Annals

of

Scottish Natural History

No. 6S] 19 8 [October

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY

FOR 1907

By John Paterson
( Continued from p. 139.)

Fringilla ccelebs (Chaffinch). — Observed Lerwick several dates
from 29th January till 21st March. Sings at Kirkliston, 23rd
February. In numbers in garden and over island at the
Pentland Skerries on 7th April, with S.E. wind. Many present
anterior to loth April at Spiggie (Shetland). Builds at Kirkliston
22nd, lays 29th. On May 20th at Lahill (Fife) one observed
" pale grey all over except for white on wings which was very
distinct." Last in song, Kirkliston, 14th July. First autumn
movement reported is at the Flannans on 4th September (12).
Singing at Beith (Ayr) on 29th September and 13th October.
At the Bell Rock on 15th October (5); 19th, Mull, large
numbers passing with Redwings; 20th, quite a lot, chiefly
males, at Lerwick; 23rd, several at the Bell Rock. No move-
ments reported in last two months of year.

F. MONTiFRiNGiLLA (Brambling). — The report for 1906 showed
that we had in the winter of 1906-7 a great Brambling season
(A.S.N. H., 1907, pp. 132 and 140). No details can be
given of the numerous notices of occurrences between January
and April 1907 ; it must suffice to say that the species was widely
and generally reported. I saw a party of 20 to 30 on 21st
April, in Cadder Wilderness near Glasgow, but Mr. Alex. Ross
68 B

194 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

saw two at Row (Gareloch) three days later (24th). The
Rev. H. N. Bonar, Saltoun, who sends an interesting narrative
of his experience of this species in the early part of the year
in nine or ten parishes, was fortunate to see a " flock of about
eighty feeding in a newly sown field near Humbie House,
males in splendid i)lumage" on the ist of May. First
autumn appearance, 26th September, Isle of May. Generally
reported tliroughout October and November, but nowhere in
remarkable numbers. In Mull, observed feeding on seeds
of Spircea Uhna?'ia^ Polygonum Persicaria, and Centaurea
fiigra.

LiNOTA CANNABiNA (Linnet). — Nest and five eggs, Bute, 14th May,
and nest with eggs, Lake of Monteith, i8th. A few in
autumn till 21st October, on Fair Isle (p. 76).

L. LiNARiA (Mealy Redpoll). — At Inverbroom, 22nd February (2);
Lerwick on 12th and 28th April (i) ; at the Flannans, 4th July
(i, and 2 later same day) ; at Sule Skerry, 30th October (i).

L. ROSTRATA (Greater Redpoll). — A small party at the Fair Isle
on 2 1 St September (p. 76).

L. RUFESCENS (Lesser Redpoll). — In Mull on nth April, in
song, the first seen for four or five months. A newly acquired
habit of eating sown seed described (A.S.N.H., 1907,
p. 112).

L. FLAViROSTRis (Twite). — At Edinburgh on migration, 27th March;
flock on Sule Skerry, 3rd May; in Bute, 13th to i6th May,
four nests, three with five eggs, one with three ; five nests,
two with six eggs on 5th June in the Outer Hebrides and
four in stunted Sycamores on 27th there (A.S.N. H., 1907,
p. 210). Flock at Lerwick, 29th September, and numbers
on 9th October.

Pyrrhula europ^a (Bullfinch). — At Swordale, East Ross, our
correspondent found a nest with pale pink eggs spotted with
brown and observed "a pair building and the female did all
the work, the male merely looking on." In Mull, 3 ist October,
four at seeds of Scabiosa succisa, and on 7th December four
at seeds of Setiecio Jacobcea.

P. erythrina (Scarlet Grosbeak). — One procured on the Isle of
May on 25th September, the second Scottish occurrence (p. 18).

Emberiza melanocephala (Black-headed Bunting). — One at the
Fair Isle on 21st September (p. 76).

E. PUSiLLA (Little Bunting). — One on 14th April and a number
between loth October and 5 th November, at the Fair Isle
(p. 76).

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY FOR 1907 195

E. MILIARIA (Corn Bunting). — Sings, Possil near Glasgow, 3rd
March ; one in song, a passing migrant in Mull on 20th May;
flocks in Lerwick on 9th, and I5th-i6th June; not as previously
supposed a resident on Fair Isle, though occurring at the seasons
of passage (p. 77). In lona, \vhere it is a common nesting
species, only one family observed on 12 th September.

E. CITRINELLA (Ycllow Bunting). — Sings at Kirkliston, 23rd Feb.,
Edinburgh 4th March ; nest and eggs 15th August, Kirkliston,
and last in song there, 25th. In song in Mull on nth and
again on 28th October. In the general movements at both
passages in Fair Isle (p. 77).

E. HORTULANA (Ortolan Bunting). — Late in spring and in September
at the Fair Isle (p. 77).

E. SCHCENICLUS (Reed Bunting). — A sporadic visitor as well as a
nesting species in Mull. A male incubating in Wigtownshire,
and on being disturbed going through the pantomime of feign-
ing cripple (p. 49).

Plectrophanes nivalis (Snow Bunting). — In varied numbers here
and there till 22nd April. On the Flannans, on eleven dates,
between 27th September and 15th November. The first to
appear on the Isle of May in autumn was on 15th September

(p. 18).

Calcarius lapponicus (Lapland Bunting). — From 25th August till
29th October, at the Fair Isle (p. 77). One seen on the Isle of
May on ist October (p. 18). Frequent on the Flannans 3-14
September.

Sturnus vulgaris (Starling). — At Glenorchard near Glasgow where
many had left their winter quarters on 1 9th January ; all had
gone by 9th March. At Barrhead (Renfrew) on 22nd
January, eight to ten thousand flew overhead. First seen about
Crosswood Reservoir (Midlothian) for season on 26th February.
Reported to be laying at Edinburgh and Kirkliston on 24th
April. More numerous than last year in the Outer Hebrides
(A.S.N.H., 1907, p. 210). At Swordale (E. Ross) in flocks
on 6th August, and on 6th December there the fields quite
black with Rooks and Starlings.

Pastor roseus (Rose-coloured Starling). — One shot at in the com-
pany of Starlings at Dunbeath (Caithness) on nth July. Early
in autumn one found dead at Bonawe (Argyll), according to
the "Oban Times" (p. 49)-

Pica rustica (Magpie). — Eggs at Edinburgh, i6th April. On nth
May at Largo one seen to come down twice to a ]\Iistle-
Thrush's nest and carry off a young bird in spite of the chatter-
ing and swooping of the parents.

196 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

CoRVus MONKDULA (Jackdaw). — At Caldwell (Renfrew) nests in
Spruce Firs visited on 3rd May, were very large and flat, roofed
with sticks leaving only a round hole to admit bird. Two
nests had six and two four eggs. One of the clutches of six
was fresh laid, the other in a nest quite open to the sky was
highly incubated. There were great numbers at Spiggie
(Shetland) on loth April, and many arrived in Fair Isle on 15th

(P- 75)-
C. CORAX (Raven). — Has young in Perthshire 15th April, and
young flying at Arisaig 14th May.

C. CORONE (Carrion-Crow). — Added to the Fair Isle avifauna this
year, one being seen for some time in autumn (p. 75).

C. coRNix (Hooded-Crow). — One in the Fair Isle in September
showing a tendency to albinism (p. 75). Eggs hatching at
Arisaig 14th ISIay. A lot at Swordale on 22nd.

C. FRUGiLEGUS (Rook). — In 1904 a pair built their nest in a
chimney-can at Beith. The nest was pulled out and another
was started, but the shooting of one of the birds put an end to
the experiment for that year (A.S.N.H., 1905, p. 209). In
1907 another attempt was made, but the birds themselves
changed their plans and carried the sticks they had gathered
to a tree near by. Was one of the 1907 birds the survivor of
the 1904 experiment? — Mr. Craig asks. Builds at Kirkliston
26th February, Edinburgh 28 th. Lays at Kirkliston 23 rd
March. On 6th April at Lugton (Renfrew) one nest with two
eggs, three with three each, seven with four, twelve with five,
two with six, one with young. Great numbers at extreme
northern localities (Pentland, Lerwick, Spiggie) 8th to loth
April. At Swordale 24th August, large flocks ; Lerwick, 29th
October, flocks ; Swordale, 6th December, enormous flocks with
starlings. One pale grey at Gilston (Fife) on 24th May.

Alauda arvensis (Skylark). — On loth February a hundred passing
west in snow at Glasgow ; 14th sings Kirkliston, i8th Glasgow ;
nesting in the Outer Hebrides seven miles from the nearest
cultivated land (A.S.N.H., 1907, p. 210). A mimic of the
notes of the Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Oyster-catcher, and Red-
shank {I.e.). Last in song Kirkliston, 15th July, and resumes
song there loth September. Seven in Mull on nth October
(wind S.E.). Marked scarcity there on autumn migration.

Callandrella erachydactyla (Short-toed Lark). — One at the
Fair Isle, nth November (pp. 77, 78).

Otocorys alpestris (Shore Lark). — Some in March and again in
October at the Fair Isle (p. 78). One on nth October at the
Isle of May (p. 19).

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY FOR 1907 197

Cypselus apus (Swift). — First reports Lagg (Arran) 6th May;
Kirkliston and Peebles 7th; Forfar loth, and numerous there
12th, on which date it is reported from North Berwick and
Hogganfield (Glasgow). On 14th some were seen at Largo
going into a nesting hole under the tiles of a house. At time
of and after arrival of Swifts at Pentland Skerries a cold east
wind prevailed, and during this period some were seen to drop
down benumbed. Local birds left Kirkliston nth August, in
passage there almost daily i8th August till 7th September. On
22nd August a very large gathering observed at Otterston
(Fife), (Evans). On 8th, 19th, 20th, numerous in Arbroath
and Forfar. Last occurrences single birds at Skerryvore, 19th,
and Fairlie (Ayr) 22nd September.

'Caprimulgus europ.eus (Nightjar). — Two eggs in the last week of May
in Mull, "earliest here." One dead at Lerwick, 20th October.

Dendrocopus major (Great Spotted Woodpecker). — Reports from
Perth, Stirling, Argyll (A.S.N.H., 1907, pp. 182 and 247)
regarding the nesting of this species. The reference {I.e. p.
182) to the circular holes in the Wellingtonia stems believed
to be the work of this species has caused me to refer to my
notes of a visit to Glendoune, Girvan, on 22nd April 1905, to
call on Mr. Symon the gardener there. Here I find it stated
that " The Tree-creeper, Mr. John Symon pointed out to me, has
found the dry spongy bark of the Wellingtonia useful, presum-
ably for nest building, and I found many — say 9- 10 — places in
the trunks where the birds had hollowed out spaces, some as
neatly rounded as if a body like a hen's egg had been half-
pressed into the soft bark." May this not explain the Loch
Awe and Loch Fyne Wellingtonia holes ?

Alcedo ispida (Kingfisher). — Three pairs on a public part of the
river east of Glasgow^ on 31st March, one picked up dead at
Cardross about this date, and on ist April observed at Rouken
Glen near Glasgow. This species appears to have been moving
freely about these dates. Lays at Kirkliston 21st May.

Upupa epops (Hoopoe). — One on Fair Isle, 9th September (p. '^'^.

CucuLus canorus (Cuckoo). — Lendalfoot (Ayr), 27th April ; Dairy,
30th; Beith, 2nd May; Beattock, 3rd; Auchencairn (Arran)
and Thornhill, 4th ; Caldwell and Gifi'nock (both East Renfrew)
on 5th ; Mull, 7th ; all on the west, comparatively speaking. On
the east at Teasses (Fife), 7 th; and at Cross wood Reservoir, at
Dunbar (where a female was shot as it came in from the sea),
and at Swordale (E. Ross) all on loth. A bad year for
Cuckoos in the Outer Hebrides, only two seen where they w^re
common last year (A.S.N.H., 1907, p. 211). Last heard
calling June 30th, Lugton.

198 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HLSTORY

Asio OTUS (Long-eared Owl). — Several from late October till
December in the Fair Isle (p. 83). Laying at Kirkliston 19th.
March.

A. ACCiPiTRiNUS (Short-eared Owl). — Though comparatively
plentiful in summer of 1906 in Outer Hebrides not one
observed in summer of this year (1907). First autumn
observation 28th September, Fair Isle, where later forty to fifty
observed on two occasions (p. 83). Frequently reported for
north-east localities till 5th November.

Syrnium aluco (Tawny Owl). — Nest with two eggs, 12th April,,
Swordale. One with young, 29th April, Colinsburgh.

Nyctea scandiaca (Snowy Owl). — One 26th October on Fair Isle

(p. 83).
Circus cyaneus (Hen-Harrier). — A female and a young bird were
all that were seen by Mr. Bahr this year (1907) in the Outer
Hebrides, where last year males were plentiful (A.S.N.H., 1907,,
p. 211).

BuTEO VULGARIS (Buzzard). — On May 14th at Arisaig, eggs highly
incubated.

E. LAGOPUS (Rough-legged Buzzard). — One in November at North

Berwick. One shot at Dirleton, East Lothian, beginning of
December.

AcciPTER Nisus (Sparrow-Hawk). — Builds at Kirkliston i8th April,,
lays 30th.

Falco candicans (Greenland Falcon). — One seen 21st January,
Scaliscro, in Lewis ("The Field," 23rd February 1907, p. 307).
One seen in Argyll but exact locality not specified (''The
Field," 26th January 1907, p. 149). One shot at the
Flannans early in April.

F. ^SALON (Merlin). — From 19th August till 30th September at

the Flannans, single birds reported seven dates. One at Isle
of May 15th September, one at Skerryvore i8th, and one at
Bell Rock 27th.

Pandion haliaetus (Osprey). — One seen on the Berriedale River,
Caithness, loth July.

Phalacrocorax graculus (Shag). — A "wholly white one" ia
N.W. Mull (A.S.N.H., 1907, pp. 247, 248). Note on early
nesting in Orkney, first eggs found on 24th February (p. 51).

SuLA BASSANA (Gannet). — Appear at Lamlash (Arran) 30th March.
Very numerous on west side of Mull and Sound of lona nth-
1 2th September. At Wick on 26th September, a lot flying
north in twos and threes. Young in down still on ledges at
Bass Rock on 8th October. One in first year's plumage fed.

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY FOR 1907 199

wholly on mice for a fortnight at Loch Broom, where were seen
more mature birds than in any previous year (p. 51).

Ardea cinerea (Common Heron). — On 21st February, Alan Fowler
counted sixty-three by the side of Loch Broom. Extremely
common this year on fresh- and sea-water lochs in Outer
Hebrides (A.S.N. H., 1907, p. 212).

A. PURPUREA (Purple Heron). — One ( ^ j'uv.) on Thrumster Estate,

Caithness, on i6th September.

Ardetta minuta (Little Heron). — One found with a wing broken
at Lentran near Inverness on 9th June (A.S.N.H., 1907,
p. 248).

Botaurus stellaris (Bittern). — One ( $ ) caught alive, Elliot Valley
near Arbroath, on 21st January (A.S.N.H., 1907, p. 184).

Plegadis falcinellus (Glossy Ibis). — A flock of about twenty at
Sandwick, Orkney, on 24th September. Half of them were
destroyed. The victims were all immature (p. 50). One was
shot on the Lein Burn, Speymouth, date not stated (/.c). One
at Irvine (Ayr) in mid-September (p. 119). One is recorded
in the "Zoologist," 1908, p. 113, as shot in harvest time 1907,
at Watermill, Fraserburgh.

Platalea leucorodia (Spoonbill). — Two obtained in November
from Island of Canna and Loch-na-keal respectively, recorded
in "Oban Times " (p. 50).

Anser cinereus (Gray-Lag Goose). — By 28th May all in Outer
Hebrides had hatched off. On one loch there 147 adults
counted, showing that numbers not diminishing (A.S.N. H.,
1907, p. 212). Flock of Wild "Geese" (sp. ?) at Balcomie
(Fife) 27th March, large flock went north at Largo on loth
April, and " Geese " went north at Inverbroom on May 5th
and 19th. On 5th October at Kirkliston; 6th, Inverbroom;
7th, Kirkliston again ; same date Beattock, and again there
on 8th " Geese " were going south.

Bernicla leucopsis (Barnacle Goose). — Hundreds at the Flannans
on 15th October, two on 17th, and about a hundred on 21st.

B. BRENTA (Brent Goose). — At Fairlie (Ayr) on ist January from

150-200. On 1 6th February at same locality, fifty.

Cygnus musicus (Whooper Swan). — Reported on half-a-dozen dates
from 30th March till 15th April from Grsemsay, Lerwick, and
Spiggie. On 13th December, eight at Kilconquhar (Fife).

C. BEWiCKi (Bewick's Swan). — Remained Bishop Lech, near Glasgow

till end March. First reappearance there 14th November, one
bird shortly after joined by two others.

200 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

C. OLOR (Mute Swan). — A dozen arrived Tiree early in July and
were joined by other two later (p. 117). These birds, unless
one pair, do not remain in winter.

Tadorna cornuta (Common Sheld-Duck). — Bute, May 12th,
nest and nine eggs. Few seen with young broods in Fife this
season.

Anas boscas (Mallard). — Bute, nest and nine eggs, 1 2th May.

A. strepera (Gadwall). — One shot Dougalston (Stirling), December
(p. 119).

Spatula clypeata (Shoveler). — On the increase in the Outer
Hebrides where a nest of eleven eggs was hatched off by 17th
June. A Mallard drake w^as seen in company with a Shoveler
Duck, and in a collection there a hybrid appears to be between
these species (A.S.N. H., 1907, p. 213).

Dafila acuta (Pintail). — Four or five on Loch Talla, 4th June
(p. 119). Two shot Glenorchard near Glasgow, 23rd October.

Nettion crecca (Teal). — Abundant this year in Outer Hebrides
where females seen with young, 20th June. Nest with sixteen
eggs mentioned on the authority of a keeper (p. 213).

Querquedula circia (Garganey). — Baltasound, 14th April, one

Mareca PENELOPE (Wigeon). — Seven observed through April at
Swordale (E. Ross) till 22nd May. Bunch in eclipse plumage
there on 31st August, increasing 6th September, great flocks
23rd. Appeared Fairlie (Ayr) 12th September "rather early."

M. AMERICANA (American Wigeon). — One shot Benbecula, 3rd
January (A.S.N.H., 1907, p. 116).

FuLiGULA FERiNA (Pochard). — At Loch Libo (Renfrew) about 120
on 2nd March, last seen there 23rd. Reappeared 3rd
September (i) and continued in varying numbers, maximum
about fifty on 6th November. One ( (^ ) in Luss Straits, Loch
Lomond, ist June.

F. CRiSTATA (Tufted Duck). — At Mearns (E. Renfrew) on 26th
May nests with four, six, and seven eggs respectively. Nesting
in AVest Lothian for the past ten years (A.S.N. H., 1907, pp.
185, 249). Only one pair seen in Outer Hebrides where four
times that number previous year. Eggs hatched off there by
17th June {I.e. p. 213).

Clangula glaucion (Golden-Eye). — Two pairs remained in Outer
Hebrides till 8th June (A.S.N.H., 1907, p. 213). At Watten
Loch, Wick, several on 24th October. Added to Fair Isle
fauna, two being seen in October and November respectively

(p. 84).

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY FOR 1907 201

Harelda glacialis (Long-tailed Duck). — St. Andrews, 19th April,
a few. One off the mouth of the Kenly (Fife) 29th May.

SoMATERiA MOLLissiMA (Eider Duck). — Very few seen with broods
in Fife this season. Getting common at North Berwick, 9th
February. On the shores of Colvend, Solway, April till end
August two pairs (p. 119). At North Berwick young swimming
on 30th June. Flock of 150 at Machrie, Islay, 2nd August.
Five on 8th June off Outsta Ness where they are comparatively
scarce.

r

(Edemia nigra (Common Scoter). — Two nests found in Suther-
landshire ("The Field," 13th July, 1907, p. 53, and 31st August
1907, p. 435). A pair on 20th and 25th June in the Outer
Hebrides (A.S.N.H., 1907, p. 214). Large flock, St. Andrews,
25th June. Single adult males in Fair Isle on 5th and 9th
September, an addition to the fauna (p. 84).

(E. FUSCA (Velvet Scoter). — Five in the Orkneys on 12th June
(p. 5). One on Fair Isle, 17th September (p. 84).

Mergus serrator (Red-breasted Merganser). — On Mishinsh
Lochs, Mull, where a pair or two nest, one {<$) seen 4th April.
Several in pairs Swordale, 25th April. Nest with two eggs
Bute, 17th May.

M. ALBELLUS (Smew). — Young female from Kirkconnel sent to
Mr. Service on 2nd January. Another in its company when
first seen (A.S.N.H., 1907, p. 113). Immature male, near
Dunbar, 8th January, (/.c. p. 183).

CoLUMBA PALUMBUS (Ring-Dove). — Lays at Kirkhston, 5th April.
Large flocks near Boarhills (Fife) on 29th May. Large flocks
at Swordale, loth August. Young, last in nest, 13th October,
at Kirkhston. Enormous flocks at Swordale, 24th December.

C. CENAS (Stock-Dove). — Lays at Kirkliston, 26th March. One
shot at Beith, 8th April, first for district; Bute, 12th May,
nest with young; Lendalfoot (Ayr), 15th July one shot, first
for district. Kirkliston, 7th October, young in nest.

TuRTUR COMMUNIS (Turtlc-Dove). — A few, 9th to 25th May, at
Fair Isle, and again mid-September (p. 84). Single birds, nth,
15th, and 29th September, at the Flannans.

Tetrao urogallus (Capercaillie). — Nine shot near Alford on the
Don on 9th September (p. 120).

Lagopus lagopus (Willow Grouse). — Attempt to acclimatise at

Craigellachie, Moray, announced (A.S.N. H., 1907, p. 117).
L. scoTicus (Red Grouse). — Nest with ten eggs, Caldwell (Renfrew),

on 29th April, and one with eight eggs in Bute on i6th May.

Eggs highly incubated and young running at Lake of Menteith,

17 th May.

202 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HLSTOKY

CoTURNix COMMUNIS (Quail). — Nesting in East Lothian (A.S.N.H.,
1907, p. 248).

Crex pratensis (Corn-Crake). — Beith, 21st April; New Cumnock,
22nd; Lendalfoot and Dairy, 25th; Caldwell, 28th; Siskin
(Arran), 7th May; Mull, Lugton, and Bute, nth May. All
these localities are in the west and south-west. The sole
record from the east coast prior to i8th May is nth May,
Largo, which is accompanied with the observation, " Very few
hereabouts this season." Very noisy on night of 9th to loth
August at Port Ellen, Islay. ^

Rallus aquaticus (Water Rail). — Nest with seven highly incubated
eggs at Loch Libo (Renfrew), i6th May. Spiggie, 9th April
(i); Skerry vore, i8th September (i); loth October (i); Isle
of May, 26th October (i) (p. 20); Mull, 28th November (i).

Gallinula chloropus (Moor-Hen). — One in Dumfriesshire swim-
ming under water for about fifty yards (p. 53). At Swordale
on 6th April, nest six feet from ground in fir tree with six
eggs. At Caldwell (Renfrew), 1 9th April, nest with eight newly
hatched chicks, " early."

FuLiCA ATRA (Coot). — Laying at Kirkliston last week of March.
Eggs hatching at Lake of Menteith, 15th May.

CEdicnemus scolopax (Stone-Curlew). — A pair at Lerwick on
20th May.

Eudromias morinellus (Dotterel). — Two shot at Gullane on 17th
May — a confounded shame ! A pair in passage in Mull, 19th
(A.S.N.H., 1907, p. 249).

^GiALiTis HiATicoLA (Ringed Plover). — At Bute on nth May,
nest and four eggs; 12th, one with three eggs; 13th, two with
three and four eggs respectively; i6th, two with four and two
eggs respectively. Owing to inclement weather, three eggs was
the full complement in several instances in the Outer Hebrides,
where " it would appear, from an experience during this and
last season, that nesting is not commenced till the end of
May" (A.S.N.H., 1907, p. 214).

Charadrius pluvialis (Golden Plover). — Arrived on Erray Moors,
Mull, on 1 3th March. At Swordale (E. Ross) a few returned
to breeding grounds, 31st. At Skerry vore, May 8th, a rush
with other species.

Squatarola helvetica (Grey Plover). — Two at Fairlie (Ayr), 2nd
February. Passed the winter at Spiggie (Shetland), "very
unusual" (A.S.N.H., 1907, p. n8). On 14th June (3-4) and
2nd July (15) at Edenmouth. Fairlie, October ist (i);
Dornoch (4-5), T2th October.

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY FOR 1907 203

Vanellus vulgaris (Lapwing). — Spring call, Clarkston, Glasgow,
loth February. Several in pairs i6th February, Fairlie (Ayr).
A few seen daily since 20th February, and arrived in numbers at
Pentland Skerries by 4th March. Abundant and vociferous
on Mearns Moor (E. Renfrew) 23rd March. Laying at
Kirkliston 4th April. Seen in flocks at Lake of Menteith,
19th May. At Swordale 20th June in small flocks, 5th July
large flocks. At Bridgend, Islay, 400-500 on i8th July. At
Swordale again on 23rd September in enormous flocks.
Observed on the Isle of May nth September till 7th October,
the greatest number on 30th September (p. 20). One at
Dumbarnie Links (Fife) with two white primaries in each wing.

Strepsilas interpres (Turnstone). — On 13th May a dozen in Bute ;
17th June, Broad Bay, Stornoway, six. On August ist, half-a-
dozen at Laggan Bay (Islay) ; flock at Sule Skerry, nth August ;
twenty-five (adult) in Mull, 15th August; and a great many at
Barra, 28th to 31st August.

H^MATOPUS ostralegus (Oyster-Catchcr). — May nth in Bute,
nest with two eggs ; 12th, one with four ; 13th, three with one,
two, and three eggs respectively. Flock of fourteen on 6th
June in Outer Hebrides when all others were engaged incubat-
ing (p. 23). On 14th June at Edenmouth, large flocks.

Phalaropus hyperboreus (Red-necked Phalarope). — Females
arrived Outer Hebrides 28th May till loth June, and were
followed later by the males (p. 23). One shot Powfoot on the
Annan, the first Sol way specimen (p. 120).

ScoLOPAX RUSTicuLA (Woodcock). — Two to three hundred at
Touch (Stirlingshire) on loth March (A.S.N.H., 1907, p. 144).
More than usually plentiful in Dumfriesshire this season, " and
already (ist September) many have been shot" {I.e. p. 249).

Gallinago ccelestis (Common Snipe). — Drumming at Loch
Libo (Renfrew) on 26th February. In pairs Edinburgh, 17th
March; numerous on 14th April at Mearns (Renfrew); two
nests with four eggs each, one incubated the other fresh, at
Loch Libo on 30th April. Unusual numbers nesting near
Sorn and Muirkirk. At Loch Libo on 20th October Mr.
M'Keith counted 80, on 24th November 247, and believed
there were more, and on 9th December 180. On one day
in November or December, fifteen and a half brace got at
Girlsta, ten miles from Lerwick. Although the ground was in
capital order they were not at all plentiful in Tiree (p. 118).
Reported bleating in the evening at Glenorchard near
Glasgow, on 21st November and 14th December.

G. GALLiNULA (Jack Snipe). — One with two heads reported from
Arbroath, loth to 15th January. "Despite this abnormality [it

204 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

must evidently have survived for several months at least," and
it may also be added crossed " the faem." On September
ist one shot, Glenorchard, near Glasgow. The first shot at
Swordale was on 26th October — "very few this autumn."

Tringa ALPiNA (Dunlin). — A few heard on Mearns Moor (Renfrew)
on 14th April; two at Cross wood Reservoir, 24th. Two pairs
in Mull on 15th May, nest and four eggs Loch Libo (Renfrew)
17th, two nests with four eggs each 26th, and nesting at Swor-
dale 29th. Arrived in the Outer Hebrides end of May and
early in June, first nest there had four eggs on 5th June (p. 24).

T. STRIATA (Purple Sandpiper). — Elie, loth April (i); Balcomie,
6th August (i); 14th September to 7th October on Isle of
May (p. 21).

T. CANUTUS (Knot). — Edenmouth, 9th January, enormous flocks ;
same locality, 14th June, flocks. Fairlie (Ayr), twenty on 2nd
September, " scarce all autumn." A few in Fair Isle
in autumn, an addition to its', fauna (p. 84) ; Edenmouth,
enormous flocks, 5 th December.

Calidris arenaria (Sanderling). — Edenmouth, 21st May (2);
Sands of Tong, flocks of fourteen and six birds respectively on
13th June, and these or others were again seen on 14th and
17th. At Barra, 28th to 31st August, very large flocks (p. 8).
Eighteen at Edenmouth on 27th August.

ToTANUS HYPOLEUCUS (Common Sandpiper). — Dairy (Ayr), a pair
on 13th April; Caldwell (Renfrew), 24th, and thereafter
between 27 th to 30th, pretty generally reported.

T. ochropus (Green Sandpiper). — Single birds on five occasions
between 31st July and 22nd August at the Fair Isle (p. 84).

T. CALIDRIS (Redshank). — Returned to nesting quarters at Cald-
well on 2nd March; Crosswood Reservoir (950 feet) on i8th
(i); coming into the Glasgow district, 24th; numerous on
Mearns Moor (E. Renfrew) on 14th April. Nest and four
eggs, 29th April, Fife. In Bute on nth May nest and four
eggs; 13th, nests with four and two eggs respectively; i6th,
nest with four young.

T. CANESCENS (Grecnshank). — Fairlie (Ayr), 17th August (i); near
Salen, Mull, i8th September, (3); Lerwick, 28th October,
several; Cromarty Firth, 23rd November (i) ; Swordale (E.
Ross), 6th December (i); Ryat Dam (E. Renfrew), 15th
December (i) ; Cromarty Firth, 24th December, one still there.

LiMOSA LAPPONiCA (Bar-tailed Godwit). — At Edenmouth on 14th
June, large flocks in winter plumage and very noisy. A flock
of about 200 remained all summer near to Carsethorn far

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY FOR 1907 205

down the estuary of the Firth (p. 86). A great many at
Barra, 28th to 31st August (p. 8). Many remained in Solway
through the winter of 1907-1908 (p. 7).

L. BELGiCA (Black-tailed Godwit). — Near Glasgow on 4th May
(3) (A.S.N.H., 1907, pp. 184-5). ^^^ ori 17th June in Outer
Hebrides (p. 25). Eoligary, Barra, 7th September (i) {/.c.
p. 250). One at St. Andrews, 5th December (p. 53). One
shot on the Beauly Firth in November ("The Field," 23rd
November 1907, p. 937).

NuMENius ARQUATA (Common Curlew). — Heard for first time for
season at Caldwell on 3rd March ; in considerable flocks in
West Forfarshire on 8th ; large influx to moors in Mull on
nth; has eggs at Leadburn, 4th May; Bute, 19th ; and has
young at Caldwell on 27th. On 26th June large flock by the
shore, Swordale. Near Glasgow on 27 th October, passing on
emigration N.E. to S.W.

N. PHiEOPUS (Whimbrel). — On 8th May at Skerryvore a rush with
other species. Four in Bute on 12th; eight at the Flannans,
28th. Extremely belated in the Outer Hebrides where a flock
of thirty remained as late as 17th June (p. 25).

Sterna cantiaca (Sandwich Tern). — Largo Bay going W. to E.,
three or four on 7 th May. At Swordale, 7 th September, a few ;
Isle of May, loth, 19th, and 22nd September, several (p. 21).

S. FLUViATiLis (Common Tern). — First reported North Berwick, 4th
May. Largo Bay passing W. to E. in parties up to twenty
on 7th May. A few "Terns" at Pentland Skerries on 12th May
and large parties settle for nesting, 2oth-2ist. Over 400 nest-
ing at Tarrsgeir, off Islay, in July. Leaving Sule Skerry daily
about 9th August. Very few nests about Largo this year.

S. MACRURA (Arctic Tern). — First appearance, Lerwick, 25th May.
Arrived late Outer Hebrides, first egg on 8th June (p. 25).
Two large colonies in Rousay Sound on 4th June (pp. 2-3).
A large colony on Damsay island on 12th June (p. 5). Dis-
appeared from Lerwick, 2nd September.

S. MiNUTA (Lesser Tern). — At St. Andrews, loth May, three or
four. Increasing in Outer Hebrides where they were extremely
late in arriving, the first egg being found on 20th June

(P- 25)-
Xema sabinii (Sabine's Gull). — One off Elie on 31st August
(p. 53). One at Skerryvore on 30th November.

Larus ridibundus (Black-headed Gull). — Assumes hood Glasgow
and Kirkhston, 24th February. Arrive Mull with hoods on 9th
March ; local birds not hooded. At Lake of Menteith all had

2o6 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL IILSTORY

eggs, 1 8th ALiy. Seemed to be more at the great gullery at
Harelaw Dam (Renfrew) than formerly. Increasing in the
Outer Hebrides but great mortaUty in young, as on tenth day
after hatching only one in five were alive.

L. CANUS (Common Gull). — Pair returned to breeding-ground,
Swordale, on 3rd April. Two nests with two eggs each, Bute,
13th May. The "most destructive and the blackest thief of
the genus," judged by its depredations among the eggs of
other species in the Outer Hebrides (p. 27).

L. Fuscus (Lesser Black-backed Gull). — First pair for season in
Glasgow Harbour, 20th March. First seen in Mull on 22nd
April, which is later than usual. Large colonies of this species
and the Herring Gull breeding on the Green Holm early in June
(p. 3). Seen until 20th September, and a single bird loth
October, at the Fair Isle (p. 84).

L. MARiNUS (Great Black-backed Gull). — Much scarcer than the
Lesser Black-backed Gull in the Shetlands (p. 3). A great
colony in the Outer Hebrides described, sixty-two old birds
being counted on one island and thirty-four young being killed
and four eggs taken (p. 28).

L. GLAUCUS (Glaucous Gull). — Seen on Fair Isle 28th October, and
remained off the island all winter (p. 84).

L. LEUCOPTERUS (Iceland Gull). — One at Skerryvore, 8th March.
One North Berwick, 3rd April. A young one at the Flannans
on 1 2th September.

RissA TRiDACTYLA (Kittiwakc Gull). — At Unst on 9th June, great
numbers were flying down the Sound in one continuous
stream, while on nth at Barra Firth they were flying up
similarly, one hundred being counted in less than a minute

(p. 5)-

Megalestris catarrhactes (Great Skua). — One seen about two
miles north of Lendalfoot (Ayr), by Mr. Charles Berry, on
22nd October — new to "Clyde." Forty-two nests on Hermaness

(P- 4).

Stercorarius crepidatus (Arctic Skua). — On 30th August at St.
Andrews, 30-40. One seen diving on Isle of May (p. 22).
Several in the Firth of Forth, 8th October.

Alca torda (Razor-Bill). — In great numbers at Sule Skerry on 15th
May. Bass Rock, young, 30th June. A few young off Stafl'a,
only species off nest on i8th July. Seen frequently on the
Isle of May till 3rd October (p. 22). On 26th October a few
off Barra (p. 9).

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY FOR 1907 207

Uria troile (Guillemot). — Very numerous at Sule Skerry on 17th
May. On 26th October a few off Barra (p. 9).

TJ. GRYLLE (Black Guillemot). — At Pentland Skerries a number
in summer plumage, " winter birds are grey." Far less
abundant in the Shetlands than the Orkneys (p. 3).

Fratercula arctica (Puffin). — One immature in a dying condi-
tion came into the courtyard at Pentland Skerries on 7 th
January. Returned to Craigleith on 7th April, the same day
as last year. Numbers swimming about at Pentland Skerries,
none yet in rocks, nth April. Great numbers off Sule
Skerry on 9th, and landed on i6th April. Sitting on rocks
at Pentland Skerries, 13th. Getting scarcer at Sule Skerry,
9th August.

CoLYMBUS GLACiALis (Great Northern Diver). — Bute, 14th April (i).
Three at St. Andrews on 19th April. On 26th October off
Barra, very numerous (p. 9).

C. ARCTicus (Black-throated Diver). — One shot off the mouth
of the Don, Aberdeenshire, 30th January (A.S.N.H., 1907,
p. 250). Nest with usual complement of eggs on 29th May
in Outer Hebrides (p. 29).

C. SEPTENTRiONALis (Red-throated Diver). — Arisaig, 14th May,
laying. One hurtling down to sea with incredible speed in the
Outer Hebrides, "and the noise made by the air rushing
through the primaries sounded like the roar of an express
train " (p. 30).

PoDiciPES CRiSTATUS (Great-crested Grebe). — One at Spiggie
(Shetland) on nth January, "the first seen here." Pairing
at Harelaw Dam (Renfrew) on 23rd March.

P. AURiTUS (Slavonian Grebe). — At Arisaig on 13th May in full
summer plumage. Two at St. Andrews, 5th December.

P. NiGRicoLLis (Eared Grebe). — One (c?) at Dunbar, 3rd January
(A.S.N.H., 1907, p. 183).

P. FLUviATiLis (Little Grebe). — One at Mishnish, Mull, 28th
February. Lays at Kirkliston, 14th April. Has eggs at Lake
of Menteith, 15th May. In "song" at Hogganfield, Glasgow,
22nd September. "Undoubtedly on the increase" in the
Outer Hebrides (p. 30).

Procellaria pelagica (Storm Petrel). — Heard among stones and
holes, 23rd May, Sule Skerry. One found on the shore at
Kilnaughton, near Port Ellen, Islay^ 4th August. One just able
to fly caught at Skaddan Lighthouse, Fair Isle, 2nd October

(P- 85).

2o8 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

PuFFiNUS ANGLORUM (Manx Shearwater), — Flying about the lantern
at Skerryvore on 20th April. Appeared within the Sound of
Mull, opposite the entrance to Loch Sunart, on loth August,
in unprecedentedly large numbers — several hundreds. " There
is not much contraction of the wings when this species dives
or rather plunges in at an acute angle. It emerges with
wings outspread and usually proceeds to flight at once, so that
the instant cannot be definitely stated when progress in the one
element has ceased and commencement made in the other "
(D. Macdonald). On ist August at least a hundred in Firth
of Forth (Fife). On 31st August a good many as far up as
Inchkeith and close to Leith.

Corrections. — P. 135, under P. rufus insert "Lerwick" before "district";
p. 137, under A. pratensis for "fourteen nesting" read "fourteen,
nestling."

Acknowledgments for assistance are due to the follow-
ing among others : — In the Northern group of localities —
The Lightkeepers, Sule Skerry ; John B. Henderson,
Tarbetness Lighthouse ; J. R. Lawrence, Pentland Skerries ;
John S. TuUoch, Lerwick ; T. Henderson, jun., Spiggie. On
the East of Scotland — Annie C. Jackson, Swordale ; Lewis
Dunbar, Thurso ; the Lightkeepers, Bell Rock ; Thos. F.
Dewar, M.D. D.Sc, Forfar ; W. F. Little, Crosswood
Reservoir, West Calder ; Wm. Evans, Edinburgh ; William
Binnie, Edinburgh ; S. E. Brock, Kirkliston ; Rev. W. Serle,
Duddingston ; Rev. H. N. Bonar, Saltoun ; Leonora Jeffrey
Rintoul, Lahill, Largo ; Evelyn V. Baxter, Gilston, Colins-
burgh ; W. M. Inglis, North Berwick. In the West and
South- West — Robert Anderson, Flannan Islands ; James
Tomison, Skerryvore ; D. Macdonald, Tobermory ; Hugh
S. Gladstone, Capenoch, Thornhill ; Robert Service, Dum-
fries ; Lady Fowler and family, Inverbroom ; James Bar-
tholomew, Beattock ; T. Thornton Mackeith, Caldwell and
Loch Libo ; John Robertson, Robert Wilson, Thomas Wilson,
Alexander Ross, Glasgow ; John Craig, Beith ; Chas. Berry,
Lendalfoot ; Dr. Niel Fullarton, Lamlash ; Rev. J. D. W.
Gibson, Carmichael.

1 1 50 Cathcart Road, Glasgow.

Ai^fN. Scot. "Nat Hist O^t 1908

3 Shetland Isles n

eOMilesNEo f Orknt^^ Fair!."

shetland ]sles
Winters

Veil,

<i}

58^

57

Westra
ORKNEY

Wl NTERS

■^tl.

Minch

'Y fifth Prevailing
^ SE.Windk

N R t\ H

1861

1868- 9

SEA
1886

59

SouthJ
Uistf

56

Ca.n

Tire

:oiL^

!?2

Staffa

Ilona^
7/ y"/ c

say-

-ht-

4'

1889

55

MAP OF

SCOTLAHB

TO ILLUSTRATE

G.SP. WOODPECKERS'

Resuscitation in
Scotland

SINCE 1841 - 51

55

RI S H S E

For previous

of EXTINCTION
See

Zoologist, l880,pp.85-89
Ann. S.N. Hist., 1892, pp. 4-l7

GLAND

J Bartholomew i Co Idmr r- i a <^ i-.ii

raunal Areas thus ..^.w— County Boundaries thus

N.B. Large immigration to Ireland Scale of English Miles

generally, but not in E. of Scotland.

10 20 30 *0 SO

The dates on the East Coast, viz., 1861, 1868-9, 1886, 1898, show the principal
autumn-winter irruptions.

Crosses — X X — show the extensions to the west in autumn and winter.

■^ — indicates reported summer occurrences at or within the old nesting range.
But none have occurred since Mr. Robert Gray wrote.

ffl — shows formerly occupied areas in the nesting season (see papers on
Extinction).

O? — indicates Reports of occurrences in N. of England or doubtful records
elsewhere.

O — represent accredited summer records.

— give actual records of nesting for which I hold authority.

I do not attempt to plot all details of autumn and winter occurrences in the
east, because that appears unnecessary, and besides the scale of the Map does
not permit it. But I give those on the west side marked by crosses.

The Kilmarnock record, 1894, is quoted from "The Annals Kilmarnock
Glenfield Ramblers," No. 5.

The earliest actual records are on the extreme south in 1888 {and. H. A.
Macpherson, Solway).

SUMMER RECORDS.

1888— Nested in Solway. (H. A.
Macpherson, "Zool." xviii. 344.)
1893 — Nested at Duns, Tweed.
1894 — Nested again, same place.

{v. "Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist.".)
1896 — Nested at (O?) Dalmeny,
Forth. Seen by Mr. Chas.
Campbell's father. ( " A. S. N. H . "
p. 19.)
1898 — (O) seen at Halmyre, Tweed.
("A.S.N.H." p. 182), and.
Mr. T. G. Laidlaw, who adds
that 2 birds were seen in Castle
Craig woods, ' ' about two years
ago " — say 1896.
1899 — (X) One shot at Inverlael,
N.W.H. ("A.S.N.H." p. no,
and my vol. on that area.)
A series of autumn and winter
records is given by Mr. W. Evans,
who fully reviews the subject to date,
and speaks of the irruption of 1868,
when Mr. Robert Gray states that he
had handled no less than 60 specimens.
These include the above record at
Inverlael, and two occurrences in Shet-
land are at Scotscalder and Auchen-
gill, Pentland Area.
1 90 1 — Nested and took off young

near Penicuik, Forth.
1 90 1 — Nested in Selkirkshire, Tweed,
where there is good reason to
credit that this was not the first
season they nested there {and.
Chas. Campbell).
1 90 1 — O Seen and heard for first
time at Presmennan Loch, by
Mr. C. C. Tunnard, when fishing,
and also the first for many years

gives evidence that it probably
bred in E. Lothian for a con-
siderable time prior to this date.

1902 — One shot (X)Inverawe, Argyll,
Mr. Bisshopp of Oban says the
first he has had sent in for four-
teen years,

1903 — Nested and took off young in
East Lothian, Forth, and the
same birds again probably in
1904 took off young.

1904 — Nested and took off young in
Roxburghshire, Tweed. Young
bird caught in August.

1904 — Lewis, Outer Hebrides. A
bird seen climbing a telegraph
pole at the side of the road which
crosses the island of Lewis in the
direction of Loch Roag.

[1906 — Loch Awe, Argyll. (O)
Borings distinct, and again fresh
ones in 1907.]

1907 — Two winter records of birds
obtained at Inverary in 1841 and
1875. Both birds are, or were,
in the possession of the late duke.

1907 — Polmaise, Forth. Two pairs
reported as having frequented the
woods for at least two years, and
again reported in 1908.

1907 — Crieff, Tay,i and Drumtochty,
and between Crieff, Methven, and
Perth.

1907, 1908 — Callander, Forth.
Nested and hatched off young
both seasons.
As already mentioned I have very

full particulars from many of my

correspondents in Forth, Tay, and

also from the southern areas.

at any season. But Mr. Evans

1 Since my volume on Tay appeared, I had a letter from Mr. J. B. Dobbie, in
which he writes as follows : — "From the accuracy of the information of my friend
Mr. MacNaughten, now resident in Perth, I am sanguine that he will be able to
procure useful information. He told me the Great Spotted Woodpecker regularly
nested at Murthly. " This would be prior to the date of 1906. J. A. H.-B.

6Z c

210 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

THE GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER'S RESUS-
CITATION IN SCOTLAND SINCE 1841 OR 185 1.

By J. A. Harvie-Brown, F.R.S.E., F.Z.S.

Introduction.

In the following paper I have given merely a summary of
carefully sifted information, which I hold is sufficient for the
purpose of tracing the steps of advance of the species
under treatment.

For all the records plotted on the accompanying sketch
map, I hold authority, as communications from my corre-
spondents. But these are too long (however interesting many
are) and too diffuse for publication here.

Indeed, I have prepared and originally intended for press,
the whole subject duly chronicled down to date, from which
the accompanying map was worked up. The paper I now
offer is much shorter, and has been written from the results
plotted on the map, and, as I have already indicated, will
suffice to show the lines of the advances made by the species
during the past twenty years from the south to the north.
I do not in this place enter into the question of what species
or subspecies the present invaders belong to, nor into the
cognate question of what species or subspecies or
geographical race formerly populated the North of Scotland
beyond the Grampians. I am content to await developments ;
and my interest lies in the former of the two questions, and
whether they will occupy the old northern haunts, or leave
them to a more northern geographical race. Therein I con-
sider the true interest lies at the present time, and allied
to that, of course, the other question also. Students of
geographical distribution of European birds will under-
stand what is left unsaid in this place ; and perhaps also
realise that we are on the verge of a new philosophy, as
shadowed forth in the prospectus of yet another book of
British birds, with more of the aspects of sport and com-
merce, and perhaps socialism, than pure science.^

As a sort of text to this paper and in further illustration,

^ So there is less pleasure in ' sowing pearls ' than formerly.

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER'S RESUSCITATION 211

I give the facsimile of one of the forms used by me for re-
gistration, as perhaps some people might desire to use
them for the sake of uniformity and comfort in filing.
This I give only as an example, as I am reminded that
there is expense connected with printing such in running
type. They are, however, not intended for universal printing,
but for private usefulness. I have used them myself for a
number of years now, and can truly say I have personally
found them useful. I do not know whether others have
adopted their use or not. All I can say is what I have said ;
and as it is said here, it is now public property generally, to
do with it what the public chooses ; or leave it alone if not
of sufficient interest to them.

Though I cannot here mention all of my correspondents
to whom I am indebted for these data and all others
which are plotted on the map, yet I cannot omit to
thank those who have specially interested themselves.
Amongst these are the factor at Duns Castle, Mr. J.
Ferguson ; and Mr. A. H. Evans ; Mr. W. Evans ; Mr. H. S.
Gladstone and Mr. Service for Dumfriesshire and Solway ;
Miss Baillie Hamilton, Callander ; Her Grace the Duchess
of Bedford, Mr. W. E. Frost, and others for south of Tay,
and up the Tay valley.

If I do not mention all by name, I trust they will believe
me when I assure them that they are not omitted for the
reasons given — elsewhere referred to — as that is a system
with which I cannot feel the slightest sympathy.

Taking the accompanying sketch map as our reference
sheet, it will be seen that the Great Spotted Woodpecker has
in its advances covered a broad area of wooded and suitable
country between the Solway Firth and the East Coast.
Abundance of evidence of summer occupations, O, and of
actual nesting records, ©, showing from the river Nith east-
ward to Berwickshire, and thence reaching north through
Tweed counties into those of Forth upon the south shore of
the Forth.

It will be seen also that these birds appear to have
shunned the country to the west of the Nith, but few
summer records reaching us from Kirkcudbright, and none at
all from Wigtown or northward through Ayr, or to any of

212 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

the Clyde counties south or north of the Clyde Firth. This
negative evidence therefore seems to extend to all the
western portions from Solway to Clyde inclusive.

On arriving in summer at the Firth of Forth, we find
the Lothians all being populated well up to the roots of the
Lammermoors and round the eastern end of the range by
Haddington, and they then follow the wooded and suitable
country westward, and pass on north through central
Scotland — Forth to Tay.

But, on the other hand, we have no account of any
summer visitants to any localities whatever in Fife, Kinross,
or anywhere on the east side of the Firth of Forth, even at
its narrower parts — say from Kincardine Ferry to Stirling.
Although we do have clear enough evidence of their summer
presence, only just across the water at Dunmore.

From central Scotland the advance can be easily traced
through the wooded tracts of Torwood (?), Polmaise, Touch,
and Sauchie (?), and as far up as the roots of the hills at
Callander. The only evidence of any overflow from east to
west is at Loch Awe, where, two summers in succession, at
least * borings ' have been found, — but see square brackets
ante.

From Stirling via Airthrie Castle grounds at the root of
the eastern spur of the Ochils, v/e hold evidence again of the
wooded and low-lying ground being followed — to Callander,
as already shown, and also to the finely timbered slopes
between Crieff and Comrie, and Methven and Perth.

It may be remembered that we clearly showed that
Capercaillies found their way out of Tay via Glen Dochart
to Inverary and Loch Awe, but even yet these birds are
not to be called firmly established, though it is undoubted
that birds have bred there of late years. It would appear
similarly, that the winter Woodpeckers at Loch Awe have
come by the same route.

From the south slopes and wooded tracts between Crieff
and Perth, the birds have reached well up into the Tay valley,
and by 1908 may be said to have got right up to the roots
of the Grampians, at least as far as Murthly and Dunkeld ;
and it is believed about seven or eight pairs are present in
the upper reaches of the Tay. But again, a dearth of summer

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER'S RESUSCITATION 213

records is found east of Perthshire ; and so far as I have
ascertained from several correspondents who are capable
observers, summer records are almost, if not quite absent,
until, in 1904, one pair of birds was reported to have re-
mained all summer in Drumtochty Glen, near Auchenblae,
which lies right up to the eastern spurs of the Grampians.

It will be perhaps remembered that I ventured to prophesy
that Capercaillie would reach into Dee — through the low
passes across this eastern spur or ridge, and descend by
Glen Dye valley, and so down the Feugh Water to
Banchory, Dee, — which they eventually did. It is reason-
able here again to predict that the Great Spotted Woodpeckers,
when they do penetrate farther north — if they do — will
follow the self-same route.

But, when we consider the absolute absence, or great
scarcity of summer records, as yet, through Forfarshire, and
also find a solitary pair right away up in the north-east
corner of Kincardine, this gives us pause.

The question appears to arise — Will these birds eventually
push up and across into Dee ; or will Dee be populated by
an independent influx from oversea ; or will there be a double
influence exerted in such population of the old haunts in
Dee and in MORAY ? It will be interesting to watch for
what may happen.

Or again — Will these birds finally face the open moors
across the lower watershed at Drumouchter and Dahvhinnie,
and so go down the Truim Water to Spey, after the areas
south of the Grampians become congested, and all the avail-
able wooded and suitable areas be taken up as far as the
older timber growth reaches — or say to Blair Athole, and
perhaps to Struan ? Many new plantations are springing
up along the route of the Highland Railway, but it will
be long before these are of an age suitable to the bird's
requirements. Another (unlikely) pass is up Glen Tilt to
Dee.

There is much ground also to fill up both along the
Tummel and Garry, and the Tay and Loch Tay, Glen
Lyon and Taymouth, etc. whether the main advance be via
the junction of Tay and Tummel at Ballinluig, or (which
may participate also) via the Pass of Leny from Callander,

214 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

or from Crieff and Comrie up the Earn, and so on into the
watershed of Dochart and Tay.

We do not now go into Moray or Dee on this opportunity ;
but it is well to relate here that all our replies to inquiries
from any localities north of the Grampians are strongly
negative locally, and collectively so as regards summer
visitants.

Now we have traced the advance along the lines of
least resistance (or most favourable routes) for the birds, it
may be well to speak shortly of the autumn and winter
influxes, or irruptions, and annual visitations from over-sea,
which have taken place at very regular intervals, beginning
about 1 86 1, and recurring, with more or less migration
annually, in smaller quantities, about every seven to eight
to twelve or fifteen years — e.g. 1861, 1868-9, 1886-7,
1898-9, and so on. We have broadly indicated these by
dates in red ink on the eastern divisions of Scotland from
Shetland southwards. Now, by far the largest bulk of the
regular migrations are recorded from localities south of the
Grampians ; and only when the septennial (or at longer
intervals ?) irruptions — caused by congestion at continental
centres — take place with prevailing south-east winds, do the
birds on flight lose control of their powers. And then the
farther isles in the north, even as far as Faroe, receive
unwonted visits, and some numbers of the wanderers.
How many perish far out at sea — i.e. what proportion utterly
fail to " catch up " to land-shelter first of our mainland
west coast, and then of our outer isles — must in great
measure remain a mystery, until simultaneous observations
be carried out by capable observers at many stations.

The stations I would select (were I able to be in all
at once) I have often indicated before, — Isle of May, Pent-
land Skerries, Fair Isle, Flannen Isles, Monach Isles, and
perhaps north-west Mayo in Ireland. Then, Barra, Tiree,
St. Kilda, Skerryvore, Ross of Mull, north coast of Ireland
perhaps at Rathlin Island } and Isle of Man.

These recommendations are selected from experience
gained by the returned schedules of the British Association
Committee's correspondents, and much other experience in the
field, during the larger part of a lifetime devoted to out-door

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER'S RESUSCITATION 215

observation and careful collating of information. If they are
erroneous, that has yet to be proved ; and there is little use,
I fancy, disputing them until proof or disproof be
obtained, which has not yet been achieved by other collections
of facts.

Finally, it is not without some interest to find distinct
negatives of summer appearances at any localities on the
western watershed except those bracketed ones for Loch Awe-
side (Argyll). It is also interesting to receive negatives
from the following districts — Wigtonshire, a great part of
western Kirkcudbright, and the whole area of Clyde, both
north and south of the waterway or firth ; and to observe
how few records of even autumn and winter occurrences have
turned up — and that notwithstanding the fact that there are
active and capable observers located there. And it is also
interesting to know that, according to Mr. W. Evans and
other local observers in Fife, no summer records are forth-
coming in the east of that " kingdom."

It would be of use also if our ornithologists of England
would likewise map off the advances along the length and
across the breadth of that and the adjoining country of
Wales — both as regards nesting, distribution, and autumn
and winter migrations and irruptions.

SPECIMEN SCHEDULE ONLY; WHICH I ADVOCATE.
Copied from Original Record which I retain.

Date and

Number of
Record-form.

Locality and
District.

Species.

5

>-

U

<

V

<

en

>>

c

rt
&
£

u

C

u

(U

(-"

<

With its own or other
Species.

1)

-a

1

1)
>

a
a.

E

Flying in which direc-
tion when seen or
shot.

If caught or killed at
light, on which side
— N., N.E., N.W.,
S., S.E.,or S.W.

Direction of Wind at
the time and strength,
and weather.

Prevailing Wind for

past days

past weeks.

Tuesday,

Forth

Great

ad.

6

X

Found

E.

East

2 1 St April

Airthrie Mine

Spotted

dead

Very

1908.

Woods,
Bridge of Allan

Woodpecker

cold

Notes and Remarks.

If along with other Species , mcjition the names of the latter here : — " The speci-
men was found by me on Tuesday, 21st April 1908, lying on a walk dead. It

2i6 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

was quite warm arnl had apparently died from natural causes." The bird was
forwarded to Mr. Macleay, Inverness, for preservation.

Destination of Specimen. — In collection of the recorder, Frank J. Pullar,
Ellend House, Bridge of Allan.

Recorded in " Annals Scot. Nat. Hist." July 1908.

Footnote. — " Remarks" may consist of further Field Dissection or Cabinet Notes

of Recorder. 1

^ These Manifold Books, containing 50 leaves Thick Cream Paper, Printed, and
50 leaves Manifold Paper in each, forwarded to any address upon receipt of remit-
tance of IS. 3d. for each book ; or Pads containing 24 leaves each, all Thick
Cream Paper, Printed, 6d. each. — A. Megson & Sons, Manufacturing Stationers,
Bank Street, Leeds.

ON THE ORIGIN OF THE PRESENT COLONY
OF SCOTTISH GREATER SPOTTED WOOD-
PECKERS.

By William Evans, F.R.S.E.

Now that the Greater Spotted Woodpecker has become
thoroughly estabHshed as a breeding species in the southern
half of Scotland, the interesting question arises, Is it to Eng-
land or to Scandinavia that we owe our present native stock ?
In other words, Have we here an instance of English birds
extending their breeding range northwards into Scotland,
or of Scandinavian visitants settling down in their winter
quarters ? To me the former of these alternatives seems the
more likely, and I believe I have found substantial evidence
in support of it.

Dr. Ernst Hartert has shown (" Novitates Zoologicae,"
December 1900) that the English bird is smaller, and has a
more slender bill than the typical Dendj'ocopus major inhabit-
ing Scandinavia and other parts of Northern Europe, and he
has consequently described the former as a subspecies under
the name of Dendrocopus major anglicus. " Its wing," he
states, " is considerably shorter, the whole bird smaller, the
bill much slenderer, and the underside, as a rule, much more
brownish buff." The wings (carpel joint to tip) of English
males before him measured 128, 129, 131, 132 mm.;
those of females 128, 130, 131 mm. The wing measure-
ment of D. major major he gives as 143-145 mm. in

SCOTTISH GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKERS 217

Sweden, and 138-142 mm. in East Prussia; the bill
being very thick, blunt, and comparatively short ; underside
" white, slightly tinged with buff in freshly moulted plumage,
and frequently stained." The real points of difference are
the wing measurement and the shape of the bill, the colour
of the under parts not being constant.

Did, then, the material exist, i.e. had we a sufficient
series of specimens obtained in Scotland in the breeding sea-
son, there would apparently be no difficulty in deciding
whether our birds are of English or of Scandinavian origin.
But the Woodpecker is a protected bird in this country, and
very properly so, and I should be the last to do or say any-
thing that might lead to the destruction of a single pair. It
so happens, however, that three breeding birds recently
killed in the south-east of Scotland have come under my
notice, and, having made a careful examination of them, I
find all are clearly referable to the English race. The par-
ticulars are briefly these : A beautiful, and — as would appear
from the condition of the reproductive organs — breeding
male, killed near Ormiston, East Lothian, on i8th May last,
has a short wing (5.1 inches = 130 mm.) and the compara-
tively slender bill of D. m. anglicus ; and though the under
parts are whiter than usual and there is a narrow red pectoral
band, Dr. Hartert, who has seen the specimen, says it is un-
doubtedly one of the English race {in lit. 11 vi. '08). To
this race also belong a male and a female shot at their nest,
in which were four well-fledged young, a few miles from
Haddington, on 18th and 1 6th June 1903, respectively.
They differ from the Ormiston bird only in wanting the
pectoral band and being more buffy below. In both the
wing measurement is little more than five inches. I ex-
amined this pair and their brood a few days after they were
killed, and had a good look at them again a couple of months
ago.

The May 1908 bird is of further interest on account of
the well-defined pectoral band to which reference has been
made, no such specimen having, so far as I know, been pre-
viously recorded from the British Isles. Dr. Hartert, how-
ever, tells me he has examined several in Germany, includ-
ing the specimen erroneously referred by Altum to the

2i8 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Algerian form {D. vi. numidiis) in which a red breast-crescent
is normally present.

Besides the examples mentioned above, I have seen an
adult female also assignable to the English race (wing 132
mm.), which was killed in December 1907, in a wood a {^\n
miles from Dunbar, where the species is known to breed.

Another adult female, shot in the west of Berwickshire
about the beginning of March 1 906, is a larger bird, with a
stouter bill and a longer wing (144 mm. = 5.6 inches.) Dr.
Hartert, to whom I have shown the specimen, pronounces it
to be a " most typical Swedish bird," and I take it, therefore,
to have been a winter visitor from Scandinavia. So, doubt-
less, were also two specimens in the Perth Museum, of which
Mr. A. M. Rodger has kindly given me the following par-
ticulars : — Ad. c?, Dron, 12th October 1891, wing 5|-
inches. $ ?, imt., near Arbroath, 12th November 1892,
wing also 5-| inches.

The Greater Spotted Woodpecker is now, as has been
said, thoroughly established as a breeding species in south-
east Scotland. Since 1887, when the first brood was
detected in Duns Castle woods, many instances of its nesting
there and in other parts of the country have been observed.
I have myself seen several occupied nesting-holes in the
Tweed and Forth areas, and at the present time I am aware
of six localities in East-Lothian and three in Mid-Lothian
in which it breeds.

A LIST OF SCOTTISH HERONRIES, PAST AND

PRESENT.

By Hugh Boyd Watt, M.B.O.U.

Introduction.

The annexed list is based upon material which has been
collected by the writer towards a history of Scottish
Heronries. The list is compiled upon inclusive principles ;
places where only one or two nests have been recorded
are taken into count, but no locality is given without

A LIST OF SCOTTISH HERONRIES, PAST AND PRESENT 219

authority, either from published works or upon personal
knowledge. The publications mostly drawn upon are the
two "Statistical Accounts of Scotland" (179 1-7 and 1845) ;
the various volumes of the " Vertebrate Fauna of Scotland "
by Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brown and other writers ; local avi-
faunas and histories ; Transactions and Proceedings of
learned societies; and Mr. J. E. Harting's " British Heronries "
in the "Zoologist" (1872, p. 3261). The number of
Scottish Heronries given by Mr. Harting is under fifty, in-
cluding some extinct. More particular knowledge and in-
formation enable over 230 places to be now named, but it
would be erroneous to assume that this means an increase
in the number of nesting birds. All evidence is to the
contrary, but it may be some gratification to know that, so
far as can be judged, the Heron is at the present time as
generally distributed throughout Scotland as it has ever
been, even although no large or populous Heronries now
exist. I do not know that anything can now be seen in
Scotland similar to what is reported of Shaw on the Dryffe
at the end of the eighteenth century, where it is said of
the Heron, " some hundreds are bred yearly " (" Statistical
Account," 1795, xii. p. 580).

The present communication is advisedly restricted to an
unannotated list, but a brief analysis of the "Clyde" section
may be instructive as showing the recent status there, and
indicating what probably prevails in the other areas. There
are 5 i nesting-places named in " Clyde," of which 29 were
unoccupied and 4 doubtful in the year 1899. Of the 18
places remaining, 12 contained 6 nests or more, the
largest number in one place being 35,^ and the aggregate
number of nests in the whole area was approximately

230.

In the list the ^ indicates that the heronry is not now
in existence, but undoubtedly some other places, the names
of which are not thus marked, are not occupied at present.
Definite information is awanting as to their status^ and would
be gladly received by the writer.

^ During a visit to this place in August 1908 I was informed that there are
now 50 to 60 nests.

220

ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

LIST, UNDER Faunal Areas.

Shetland.
" One place " (Saxby).

Orkney.
Black Craig, Stromness. Lyre-geo (Heron-geo).

Glimpsholm. Rothisholm, Stronsay.

Hoy. Sandwick.

Pentland.

Clett, Holborn Head. Ord of Caithness.

Combe Island, Bettyshill. Syre (near), on the Naver.

Moray.

Altyre, Findhorn.

Alvah, Montcoffer Woods.

Carnacnuic, Abernethy.

Cromarty, Bay of.

Darnaway.

Drumin, on the Avon.

Fiag Burn.

Findhorn.

Glen Affric.

Glen Garry.

Glen IMoriston.

Golspie (south of).

Gordonbush.

Kirkmichael, Glen Avon.

Kennethmont (Leith Hall).

Loch Alsh.

Blackhall, Banchory.
Edinglassie, Strathdon.
Haddo House.

Airdrie Wood, Crail.

Arbuthnot.

Blair Castle.
*Clunie Castle.

Earlshall.

Feteresso.

Hill ofTulloch, Atholl.

Inglesmaldie, Fettercairn.

King's Seat, Dunkeld.
^Kinnaird Castle.

*Loch Brora.
Loch Knockie.
Loch Mhuilinn, Glenstrath-

farrar.
Loch Shin.

Loubcroy, River Okyel.
Moy.

Netherdale (Log Wood).
Skibo.

Skuggan Bridge, Carr Bridge.
Sword ale.
Tomatin.
Tomdoun.
Tomvaich.
Turriff (Hatton).

Dee.

^Gight.

Parkhill, Aberdeen.
*Scoltie Hill, Banchory.

Tay.

*Lochaine, Glentilt.

Loch lobhair. Glen Dochart.

Loch Luydon, Rannoch.
^Longforgan (Castle Huntly).

Monteathmont Moor.

Monzie (?).

Strathearn.

Strovvan^ Comrie.'
*Taymouth.

A LIST OF SCOTTISH HERONRIES, PAST AND PRESENT 221

Forth.

Alloa Woods.

Blair Drummond.

Binning Wood.

Callander, Falkirk.
*Cambusmore.

Dalkeith Palace.

Dollar.

Donibristle.

Dunglass Dean, Cockburns-
path.
*Dunipace.

*Dunmore.

^Gargunnock (Micklewood).

Gartmorn Dam.

Loch Chon.

Loch Leven.

Menteith, Lake of.

Old Polmaise.

Saltheugh, Cockburnspath.

Siccar Point, ,,

Tulliallan Castle.

Yester.

Tweed.

Buncle.

Calroust, Swindon.
Cardrona.

Castle Wood, Duns.
Circle Plantation, Westruther.
Clarabad Dam, Paxton.
^'Dawick.
Dodburn, Allan Water.
Duns Castle.
Foulden.

Hendersyde Park, Kelso.
Lithtillum Loch, Eccles.
Marchmont, Polwarth.
March Wood, Longformacus.
Mertoun House.
Minto.

Outer

Lewis, west side.

Mount Teviot.

Nesbit, Edrom.

Ormiston House, Teviotdale.

Paxton.

Pennilheugh House.

Pistol Plantation, Whitsome.
^Portmore Loch.
^Swindon, Bowmount Water.

The Haining, Selkirk.

The Hirsel, Coldstream.

Thirlestane Castle, Ettric-k.

Thirlestane Castle, Lauder
(two places).

Tweedsmuir.

Wells House, Rule Water.

Hebrides.

North Uist.

North-West Highlands and Skye.

Applecross.
Dundonell.
Fionn Loch.
Gairloch.
Glen Elchaig.
KiUilan.
Knoydart.
Loch Awe, Assynt.
Loch Bad a' Ghaill, Coigeach.
Loch Beannoch, Stoir.
"^Loch Cama, Assynt.
Loch Hourn.

Loch Lory.

Loch Torridon (outer).

Loch - na - clash - fearn, Edder-

achyllis.
Raasay.
Shieldaig Island, Loch

Torridon.
Skye : —

Dalville Wood, Armadale.

Dunvegan.

Kyleakin.

222

ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Argyll and the Inner Hebrides.

Ardimersy, Islay.
Ardnamurchan.
Ards, Mull.
Arinagour, Coll.
Arisaig.
Benderloch.
*Burgh or Gribun Cliffs, Mull.
Earraid, Mull.
Eigg, west side.
Glen Finnan, Loch Shiel.
Glenmore, Oban.
Inverlussa, Jura.
Kinlochmoidart.
Kintarbet.
Largie Castle, Kintyre (?).

Loch a Bhaillidh, Blackwater.
Loch Doire a Gherrain,

Ardnish.
Loch Guirm, Islay.
Loch Scridain.
Loch Shiel, head of.
Loch Sunart, south shore and

on island.
Loch Swen.

Loch Ternate, Morven.
Morar.
Morven. (? additional to

Loch Ternate.)
Pennyghael House.
Ulva House.

Clyde.

Ardgartan, Loch Long.

Ardgowan, Inverkip.
*Balglass.

Ballimore, Loch Fyne.

Brodick Castle, Arran.

Buchanan Castle.

Bute, North.
* Caldwell House.
*Caprington.

Castle Semple.
'^Corbeth.
*Craigallian.
*Craigengillan.
^Craigie, Kilmarnock.

Crawford (two places).
*Doonside.

Douglas Castle.

Eglinton Castle.

Erskine.
*Forrestfield.

FuUarton, Troon.
^Gartshore, Kirkintilloch.
*Gilkerscleuch, Crawfordjohn,
*Girvan Water.
■^Glenapp.
*Glenfruin.

*

^Glespin Wood, Douglas.

Hafton, Holy Loch (?).
* Hamilton.
*Holy Island, Arran.

Houston House (?).
^Inchinnan.

Inverary.

Johnstone Castle (?).

Kelburn Castle, Fairlie.
*Kennox, Stewarton.
'^Kilkerran.
"^Killearn.
*Kilmory.
*Kilmun.

Kintyre, Mull of (?).
*Lanfine, Newmilns.
*Loch Fergus (Loch Martna-
ham).

Loch Goil (two places).
*Loch Lomond, Inch Con-

nachan, and Elan-a-Vow.
■'^Massan Bridge, Holy Loch.
*Monkcastle.

Mount Stuart, Bute.

Rosneath.

Saddle, Kintyre.

A LIST OF SCOTTISH HERONRIES, PAST AND PRESENT 223

SOLWAY.

Brunt Fir Wood, Dumfries. Jardine Hall.

Castle Kennedy, Stranraer. Langholm.

Castlemilk, Lockerbie. *Loch Goosey.

Compton, Kirkcudbrightshire. Monaive, Dalwhat Water.

Craigmuie, Glencairn. St. Mary's Isle.

Dairy, Kirkcudbrightshire. Shaw, Dryfe Water.

Dalswinton. Shaws, River Nith (?).

Dumcrieff, Moffat. Southwick.

Haleaths, Lochmaben. White Loch of Myrton.

3 Willow Mansions, West Hampstead,
London, N.W.

A HUMP-BACKED TROUT FROM STRANRAER.

By James Ritchie, M.A., B.Sc.
Plate IV.

That the normal structures of fishes are frequently departed
from is a fact not unfamiliar to the angler and to the casual
observer of a fish-market's supplies. The more noticeable
of those deviations, such as come under the general descrip-
tion of " malformations," fall into two groups according to
the manner in which they have arisen. Some are plainly
due to the action of environment, to disturbance by some
external factor of the regular growth of the fish. Take, for
instance, a case recorded by Barrington in 1768,^ of certain
Welsh trout which possessed a vertebral column markedly
crooked near the tail. These trout were found in the river
Eynion in Cardiganshire, and in that river " only in a small
bason of perhaps eight or nine feet deep, which the river
Eynion forms after a fall from the rocks." It seems highly
probable that the crooked tails were in some way due to
the falling water, to injuries caused either by debris dashed
into the pool, or by rock-fragments set in motion by swirling
eddies. It is seldom, however, that effect can be so aptly
linked with cause.

1 "A Letter to Dr. William Watson, F. R.S., from the Hon. Daines
Barrington, F.R.S., on some particular Fish found in Wales." — "Phil. Trans.,"
vol. Ivii. p. 204, London, 176S.

224 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

On the other hand there are malformations whose
origin we cannot trace. They seem to develop so naturally
that they are said to have been preordained from the very
egg. Such are " congenital variations," and to this group
the case which forms the subject of the present notice
appears to me to belong.

The specimen was caught in the neighbourhood of
Stranraer, Wigtownshire, in July 1908, and was presented
to the Royal Scottish Museum by Dr. C. McNeill. It is a
common trout {Salnio fario^ Linn.), small in size, and differ-
ing from a normal specimen in possessing a short thick-set
body, with a depth much greater than fair proportion would
allow. To this disproportionate depth and to a consequent
bulging of the contour behind the head is due the hump-
backed, perch-like appearance of the specimen. The following
measurements give some idea of the more important dimen-
sions : — total length (tip of snout to centre of tail), 120 mm. ;
length of body (tip of snout to base of tail), 1 1 2 mm. ;
length of head, 3 5 mm. ; breadth of body in front of dorsal and
ventral fins, 46 mm. ; distance between base of adipose fin and
base of tail, 9 mm. But a better notion of the significance
of those numbers will be obtained by comparing the propor-
tions with those of average specimens. Thus, while Day ^
gives the total length of the body as from 4^ to 4|- times
that of the head, in our specimen the numerical relation is
only 3|-. And whereas, according to the same author, the
length of body ought to vary between 4|- to 5 times the
breadth, our proportion is 2^. A glance at the specimen
shows further that the head and fins are in fair proportion,
and that they are of a size suited to a longer individual.
It would appear, then, that the disproportions are due to an
actual shortening of the body.

This conclusion was confirmed on dissection, for, the
vertebral column having been exposed, it became clear that
in it lay the apparent cause of malformation. Instead of
the usual number of from 56 to 60 vertebrae only 40 could
be distinguished. And yet the full complement of neural
spines was present, and agreeing with them were equivalent

1 F. Day, "Fishes of Great Britain and Ireland," vol. ii. p. loi. London,
1880-1884.

Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist. 1908.

Plate IV.

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A HUMP-BACKED TROUT FROM STRANRAER 225

numbers of haemal arches in the caudal, and ribs in the
abdominal regions. For convenience, lest the use of the
term " centrum " should be misleading in so abnormal a
specimen, I shall call that portion of the backbone between
two divisions or nodes an internode. Further, since there
is meristic agreement between the dorsal neural spines and
the ventral spines and ribs, I shall refer simply to the
former, it being understood that such remarks, so far as
numbers and position are concerned, apply equally to the
ventral elements.

Since, then, neural spines are more numerous than
internodes, it must happen that in many cases crowding
of the spines has taken place ; and, indeed, the bases of as
many as three sometimes rest on a single internode. The
distribution of the spines on the internodes is as follows : —
Reckoning from the anterior end of the vertebral column
the nodes which are normal vertebrae, bearing each a
single spine, are i to 4, 6, 7, 9 to 12, 14 to 17, 21, 24,
26, 28, 29, 31, 33, 36 to 40. Of the remainder, two spines
are borne by 5, 8, 13, 18, 19, 20, 23, 25, 32 and 34 ; three
spines by 22, 27, 30, and 35. The normal vertebrae call
for no remark. The other internodes, those on which two
or more neural spines are borne, are characterised in general
by being slightly longer than normal internodes. They
show no trace of segmentation, but, on the larger, hints of
lateral projections occur, corresponding in number and
position with the neural spines, and marking the places to
which the muscles were attached.

It is also worthy of note that the muscle segments
correspond with the neural processes, with which also the
spinal nerves agree. The segmentation of the body, then,
is normal. The fin-rays too fall within the limits of varia-
tion recorded for the species, for the dorsal possesses 1 3 rays
(12-15),^ the pectorals 15 (13-15), the ventrals 9 (9), the
anal 10 (10-12), and the caudal 19 (19). So that
abnormality occurs in the vertebral column and there only.

It is difficult to account for the origin of such abnormality.
In the only paper which I have seen referring to a similar

^ The numbers in brackets show the variability in fin-rays as given by
Day, I.e.

6Z D

226 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

case/ the author simply states that in his example there
occurred " an extreme abrogation of the spinal column,
resulting from the coalescence of numerous vertebral 'centra.'"
His idea of the mode in which the coalescence took place
is developed in another sentence, where he states that
the " sixteenth and seventeenth [vertebrae] are likewise
anchylosed." Dr. Cobbold apparently regarded ankylosis, or
the pathological adhesion of the ends of the centra, as the
cause of the abnormal internodes. And as such — as the
result, say, of inflammation — the malformation must be
regarded simply as an accident in the development of the
individual, in other words as an environmental variation.

But this view is untenable, for not only are no traces
of morbid secretions of ankylosing bone observable, but
there is no reason to suppose that the abnormal internodes
were ever separate bodies, for certainly they show no traces
of any pre-existing segmentation. It would, however, be
impossible in the course of this short notice to discuss the
probable causes of the aberrancies. It will suffice to state
that " centra [the arch-centra of bony fishes] are absolutely
and directly dependent upon the existence of arcualia, and
the cartilage of these arcualia themsel