Swan, Cygnus.—At Sumburgh Head, Jan. 30th, 1881, twenty wild Swans seen, first a mile off, flying along the shore very slowly, and lowering, apparently much exhausted. At North Ronaldshay, Dec. 23rd, 1880, sixteen Swans seen; they stayed on a large loch about two weeks, during a heavy fall of snow, and flew off north when the thaw commenced.
Ducks.—Two records on April 1st at Whalsey and Sumburgh Head, referable to the spring migration. At Whalsey, Eider Ducks (or "Dunters") arrived about this date, and at Sumburgh Head, Sheldrakes arrived on this date, at 10 a.m.; wind strong S.S.E., with showers. In the autumn migration, notes have been taken at Whalsey, Sumburgh Head, Pentland Skerries, and Isle of May (eight entries). Eiders said to leave about August, and the note is added that, "after the Ducks have sat eight or ten days, the Drakes all disappear from the neighbourhood." On Sept. 12th, twelve male Eiders seen at 3 p.m.; wind S., and fine, with haze. At Pentland Skerries, Sept. 14th, a flock, mostly males, seen flying E.; wind light E., and rain. Sept. 25th, at same station, a flock of male and female Eiders flying E.; wind light E., rain. At Isle of May, Oct. 19th, a "small duck." At Isle of May, Dec. 22nd, "a flock of ducks" swam along shore. At Tarbat Ness, Dec. 30th, flocks of from eight to ten "ducks" seen from 2 to 3.30 p.m.; wind light N., and snow. At Isle of May, Jan. 13th, three "Wild Ducks" seen; wind E.N.E., gale, and snow.
Rock Birds.—Records at North Unst, Whalsey, and Sumburgh refer to spring arrival. At North Unst, April 25th, innumerable Puffins and rock-birds arrived; wind fresh N.W., and clear. At Whalsey, March 15th, the rock-birds arrived. At Sumburgh, March 4th, they arrived about 7 a.m. In autumn, all left Whalsey on Aug. 28th after the fog, which had hung since the 21st, cleared off. At Pentland Skerries, July 25th, a flock of Guillemots seen flying E. at 7 p.m., with moderate E. wind. On Aug. 4th, two flocks flying E. between 3 and 4 p.m., with light S. wind; and on Aug. 25th, three flocks seen flying E. between 5 and 8 p.m., with light S.W. airs.
Note.—Mr. M. Vaughan—to whom I am indebted for supplementary notes—writes that Rock-birds, Gannets, and Cormorants were scarcer than usual in Orkney during the first week in August. I have no return this year from Dunnet Head, but Mr. Geo. Maclachlan, says, "There are over 3000 Guillemots hatched here, and I am able to count (say) 175 in 350." At the Isle of May, Eiders arrived about Oct. 1st, coming, it is believed, to winter from the Isle of May and Fidra. They remain till end of March.
Gulls.—At Sumburgh Head, Oct. 23rd, one Iceland Gull seen at 8 a.m.; wind N.W., with showers. This is the first seen. They come in October and leave in April. At same station, Nov. 22nd, another Iceland Gull at 10 a.m.; wind fresh S.W., and clear. At Tarbat Ness, Dec. 24th, two ("Iceland Gulls") at 11 a.m.; wind light N.E., and sleet.
Note.—These "Iceland Gulls" maybe true Larus islandicus or Iceland Gull vera, but more probably are Glaucous Gulls (Larus glaucus). The incident below related is confirmed by a letter received from Mr. Jack, the head light-keeper at the Bell Rock lighthouse:—"Arbroath: A Fact for Naturalists.—Our Arbroath correspondent writes:—A curious story of a sea-bird is in circulation here, and I send it you, as it has been related to me on what seems fairly good authority. The other day a white Sea Gull of the Kittiwake variety was seen flying about the signal-tower of the Bell Rock lighthouse. The bird was evidently in distress, and one of the lighthouse-keepers opening a window, held out his hands, when it came to him. The bird, in taking a bait fixed to a line, had swallowed the hook, and the line, with its handle, a stick about a foot long, was dependent from the bird's mouth. The light-keeper cut away the string as far down the bird's throat as he could reach, and the bird flew away evidently relieved.—'Scotsman,' 1st May, 1880." Mr. Jack writes as follows, 10th May, 1880:—"It is quite true about the Sea Gull. It was so unusual to see a string attached to the bird, that I opened the window of my bedroom and leaned out to look at it, when, strange to say, it came towards me. Without thinking for a moment that the creature would really come to me, I held out my hands towards it, when it came close up to me. I took hold of it and brought it inside, and called to my two assistants (who were looking out of another window a few feet from mine) to 'look at this.' So surprised were they both at the whole affair, that after we had relieved the poor bird, one of my assistants declared that, when he got on shore in turn, he would state the case to the editor of the 'Guide' newspaper." "Poor little creature!" adds my correspondent, "it was a pleasant sight to see it on its flight away, and not as it arrived, weary and worn out." One has only to imagine the Bell Rock as the Ark in the midst of the waters, and the Gull a Dove. As I am speaking now of the Bell Rock, I may note here that large numbers of Long-tailed Ducks are reported by Mr. Jack as frequenting the vicinity of the rock in winter, constantly uttering their peculiar cry of "Co-co-candle-wick." Solan Geese are perpetually in sight summer and winter, flying round the rock or fishing. Mr. Jack also tells us that single birds of different species come crash against the dome or windows with terrific force, and rebounding off are seldom even seen, but leave often their blood and brains scattered about.
Skua, Lestris catarractes.—Reported as seen at North Unst first on April 18th. About the same number is counted, viz., six or eight each year. In autumn, at Sumburgh Head, one "Bonzie" was seen flying W. at noon; wind S.S.W., haze; and the note is added, "The first seen (in autumn?) for eight years."
Terns, Sterninæ.—Two records referable to spring migration at Whalsey and Sumburgh Head. Arriving at former about May 15th and at the latter on May 16th, at 9.40, with variable winds, fine, and clear. In autumn, records at Whalsey, Sumburgh Head, Auskerry, and Bell Rock. They disappeared from Bell Rock on Aug. 23rd, "not, however, from want of food, as plenty soil of herring are around the rock." They had been about the rock for a fortnight, feeding. They disappeared from Whalsey, Aug. 25th, after the fog of 21st—28th, at the same time with Wheatears, Oystercatchers, Wagtails, and rock-birds. At Bell Rock, Aug. 28th, about thirty old and young were seen feeding; and on the 29th these all left. At Sumburgh Head, Sept. 8th, a number flying about and crying at 9 a.m.; wind W., light and haze. At Auskerry, Oct. 1st, four flew round for a little about 1 a.m.; wind light E., rain.
Note.—Mr. J. T. Garriock, to whom I am obliged for a supplementary schedule from Lerwick, recorded in 'The Zoologist' for 1880 the arrival of Terns, apparently from the north, on May 22nd, when a pair was first noticed. In a subsequent letter to me, Mr. Garriock confirms his observation on the direction of their flight.
Petrel, Thalassidroma pelagica.—Occasionally strikes the lantern during the season at North Unst, but no dates given. At Whalsey, Aug. 16th, one caught at 1 a.m.; wind light N.W., haze. At Sumburgh Head, Aug. 3rd, three struck at 11 p.m.; wind N.N.W., dull, and sultry; and on the 6th, one struck at midnight; wind S., and haze. At Auskerry, Aug. 16th, one killed at 11.20 p.m.; light S. breeze, fog, and haze. One struck at Auskerry, Sept. 13th, at 3 a.m.; wind strong S., and haze.