Eight stations on the East Scottish coasts returned filled-in schedules, against thirteen last year, out of a total of twenty-six. This shows a falling off from last year. The reasons for this I have endeavoured to explain in my general remarks further on, under both East and West Coast. Scarcity of birds is reported from several stations.

The stations from which co-operation was asked are the following, commencing with the most northerly. Those from which returns have been received are marked with a *; those which sent returns both last year and this year have two **; those which sent none last year but have done so this year have a † prefixed; those which sent returns last year but none this year are printed in italics. In future Reports we will prefix to each station the years in which these stations make returns. A marked improvement appears, however, in the returns which we have received, these being fuller than in 1879.

We would like, however, to direct the special attention of our reporters, both on the East and West Coasts, to the desirability of recording exactly the directions of flight of the birds observed in every case, so far as practicable, arid to minutiæ of dates, even of single occurrences. Let us also impress that even a single accurate return, or one entry only in a schedule, is often of value; and even if solitary occurrences of birds take place at a station, such should be sent to me, though the schedule be otherwise a blank. The interest has this season been better kept up on the West Coast stations than at the East Coast ones, judging from the scarcity of returned schedules from the latter. When no schedules are returned, I would esteem it a great favour if the lighthouse-keepers would kindly drop me a post-card, stating if there is any reason for no returns being sent, such as pressure of duties, scarcity of birds, or other causes.

In connection with the migration of 1880, I have to mention that considerable aid to the work has been given by Mr. James Hardy, of Old Cambus, Berwickshire. He writes to me (22nd Feb. 1881), "I have drawn out a scheme of all the memoranda I can find about last year's migratory birds. I only await a Northumberland and Berwickshire list to have it ready." Later I received a summary of this from Mr. Hardy, which will be found at the end of this East Coast of Scotland Report. As an example of careful and minute field-study it is alone deserving of the attention of observers, and it proves valuable upon comparison with the other data. Those reading the lighthouse reports here under the species, should also compare with Mr. Hardy's local Berwickshire observations. I beg to propose Mr. Hardy as a member of our Committee.

East Coast of Scotland.
Height of centre of
light above water.
4.**North Unst.280ft.Robert Burnett.
5.*Whalsey Skerries.145Neven Kerr.
6.Bressay.105
7.**Sumburgh Head.300}Wm. Anderson† and
John Wilson.
Orkney.
8.**North Ronaldshay140John Tulloch.‡
9.Start Point.80
10.**Auskerry.110John MacDonald.
11.*Hoy Sound (Low).55Alexander Harp.§
12.Hoy Sound (High).115
13.Cantick Head.115
14.**Pentland Skerries.170Donald Macdonald.
Main Land.
15.*Dunnet Head, Caithness.346║
16.Holborn Head.75
17.*Noss Head.175
18.**Tarbat Ness, East Ross.175William Davidson.
19.Cromarty, East Cromarty.60
20.Chanonry Point, Elgin.40
21.Covesea Skerries, Elgin.160
22.Kinnaird Head, Aberdeen.120
23.Buchan Ness, Aberdeen.130
24.Girdleness, Aberdeen.185
25.Montroseness, Aberdeen.124
26.**Bell Rock, off Fife Coast.93James Jack.
27.**Isle of May, Firth of Forth.240Joseph Agnew.
28.*Inch Keith, Firth of Forth.220Robert Grierson
29.St. Abb's Head, Berwick.224¶

† Records and Schedule dating after 22nd Nov. were filled in by Mr. John Wilson. Prior to this date they were filled in by Mr. William Anderson, who has been since transferred to St. Abb's Head.

‡ No schedule was returned, but one note upon Swans, in a letter, proves useful (vide Swan). "No birds struck the lights this year."

§ Schedule returned with the remark, "Nothing of importance has been observed at this station during 1880." In 1879 a similar scarcity noted at this locality.

║ We have lost a good observer here, Mr. George Maclachlan having left.

¶ I am anxious to receive returns from this locality, not having received any hitherto. I have to thank Mr. W. Anderson for a very full return at Sumburgh Head up to Nov. 22nd. I hope he will find St. Abb's as interesting a locality, though, I fear, the Great Siren horn, with its unearthly shriek, will prove a great scare to migrants in a fog.