Golden Plover, Charadrius pluvialis.—Records reached me from Auskerry, Pentland Skerries, Tarbat Ness, and Isle of May (ten entries, of which seven were at Pentland Skerries). Earliest date July 23rd, when six were seen flying about the island—Pentland Skerries—at 9 a.m.; wind light E. At Pentland Skerries, Aug. 11th, a flock flying S.E. at 10.30 a.m.; wind light W., clear. No more till Nov. 15th, when a flock remained a week at Auskerry, arriving at 11 a.m., with light N.E. wind. At Tarbat Ness, Nov. 11th, hundreds all day till 4 p.m.; wind N. to W. with snow. Nov. 21st, at 3.30 p.m., a flock on island at Pentland Skerries; wind fresh S.W., clear. At Pentland Skerries, Dec. 16th, a flock flying N. at 10.30 a.m.; wind fresh S.W., and snow. At Isle of May, Dec. 22nd, one bird. "They are not seen here every year, and most in severe weather."
Oystercatcher, Hæmatopus ostralegus.—At Sumburgh Head, Aug. 28th, all left after the fog of 21st—28th cleared away; as did other species, including Wheatears, Wagtails, and Rock-birds. At Auskerry, five arrived, with light S. wind and haze, and remained a week.
Heron, Ardea cinerea.—At Isle of May, July 22nd, a flock of six flying S. at 2.30 p.m.; wind light E., clear. At Pentland Skerries, Sept. 9th, seven at 5 a.m.; wind light W., clear. At Sumburgh Head, Sept. 19th, three flying about at 10 a.m.; wind N.W., and haze. At Auskerry, Oct. 8th, two arrived at 2 p.m.; wind light E., clear; and remained; and at same station on 21st, twelve arrived at 11.30 a.m.; wind light N., and remained.
Curlew, Numenius arquata.—One record (April 13th) belongs to the spring migration. One was seen flying S.E. at 11 a.m.; wind S., and haze. At Sumburgh Head, Aug. 12th, six seen flying W. and crying loudly at 12.30 p.m.; wind S.W., and haze. 2nd, seven flying about, and then taking off W. and crying loudly at 1 p.m.; wind light S.W., haze. At Auskerry, Oct. 9th, five at 1 p.m.; wind light E., clear; and remained. At Isle of May, Curlews had been on the island for weeks.
Note.—Mr. Dunn, Dalkeith Gardens, "heard a Curlew when calling, some 800 to 1000 feet up in the air." It was flying due W. on Dec. 26th. The sky was clear and the sun shining at the time—about 1 p.m. Wind light from W. in morning; calm at the time. For the previous six days the wind veered between S. by W. to N., the prevailing wind being S.W. Weather "very cold that day, and for a few days before and after." Being a station of the Scottish Meteorological Society, the above statistics are exact.
Redshank and Sandpiper, Totanus calidris.—At Isle of May, Dec. 27th, three Sandpipers seen at 4 p.m.; wind N.E., haze; and on Jan. 3rd, at same place, a Redshank shot.
Snipe, Scolopax gallinago.—At Auskerry, Pentland Skerries, and Isle of May. At Isle of May, Sept. 12th, one killed at lantern at 4 a.m.; wind N.E., fresh, and rain. At Pentland Skerries, Oct. 2nd, two killed at 8.30 p.m., during strong N. wind, haze, and rain. At Auskerry, Oct. 21st, two arrived at 3.45, and remained; wind strong N. At Isle of May, Jan. 12th, a number arrived at night; wind fresh N.E., and rain.
Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola.—At Isle of May, Oct. 9th, one seen at 5 a.m.; wind strong N.E., and showers; this is earlier than usual. At Isle of May, Oct. 19th, more arrived during the night or morning, with N.E. gale, and showers. At Auskerry, Oct. 21st, one arrived at 3.30 p.m., and remained; wind strong N., with sleet. On Nov. 16th considerable numbers came during the night. These are the latest Mr. Agnew remembers to have seen, by several weeks. At Pentland Skerries, Nov. 29th, one on the island at morn; wind strong W., and clear.
Goose, Anser.—On Oct 14th a flock of "Grey Geese" flying S.E., at 10.45 a.m., past the Pentland Skerries; wind fresh N.W., and showers. Again on Oct. 24th another flock of the same flying also S.E. at 5.15 p.m.; wind also fresh N.W., clear. Again on 26th Oct. a flock of the same flying N. at 6.30 a.m.; wind strong N., and showers; all the above probably indicating only a local migration—to and fro. At Isle of May, Oct. 26th, a large flock flying N., with westerly gale.
Note.—Mr. Dunn, Dalkeith Gardens, "observed a >-shaped flock of about forty Wild Geese, about six hundred feet from the surface of the earth, flying in an easterly direction on the 16th December. They made a considerable noise in their flight. The wind at the time was N.W., and for the six previous days it ranged from W. to N., on one day only chopping round to S., viz., on 15th, which was the day before we saw the Geese. Snow was lying on the ground at the time, and the next seven days were cold, dull, and stormy, with more or less snow falling every day. Flights of Geese are not common in this district, hence the interest taken in the above." Could we get a number of similar records from inland observers, how useful they would be for comparison with our coast stations.—[J. A. H. B.]