The ordinary papers were sent to thirty stations on the East Coast of Scotland, Faroe, and Iceland, as in former years. Twelve stations on this coast have sent in forty-two schedules out of the twenty-six E.C. stations of Scotland. All returns are much lighter than in 1882, and this is more readily noticed when we compare the numbers of schedules returned from our principal stations. Thus, from Sumburgh Head we have three; from Pentland Skerries twelve (three more than in 1882); from Bell Rock two; and from Isle of May only ten, as against nineteen in 1882.

East Coast of Scotland.
'79,'80,'81,'82.'83.
***4.N. Unst, Shetland230ft.J. Edgar.
***5.Whalsey Skerries, Shet.143"
*6.Bressay, Shetland105"
*****7.Sumburgh Head, Shet.300"D. M. Scott.
Land Notes.—7B. Fair Isle.
Orkney.
****8.North Ronaldshay140"
9.Start Point80"
*****10.Auskerry110"J. McDonald.
11.Hoy Sound (Low)55"
12.Hoy Sound (High)115"
13.Cantick Head115"
*****14.Pentland Skerries170"D. McDonald.†
& J. Gilmour.
Mainland.
****15.Dunnet Head, Caithness346"D. Laidlaw.
16.Holborn Head, Caithness75"D. Laidlaw.
*17.Noss Head, Caithness175"A. Greig.
*18.Tarbat Ness, East Ross175"W. Davidson.‡
***19.Cromarty, E. Cromarty60"R. S. Ritson.
**20.Chanonry, Point Elgin40"J. McGill.§
*21.Covesea Skerries160"
22.Kinnaird Head, Aberdeen120"‖
23.Buchan Ness, Aberdeen130"
*24.Girdleness, Aberdeen185"
25.Montroseness, Aberdeen124 "¶
*****26.Bell Rock, Fife Coast93"J. Jack.
*****27.I. of May, Firth of Forth240"J. Agnew.
****28.Inch Keith, F. of Forth220"R. Grierson.
29.St. Abb's Head, Berwicks224"

† Mr. D. McDonald removed from Pentland Skerries to Skervuile (W. C.) about July 26th, up to which time he sent returns from Pentland Skerries. Thereafter Mr. J. Gilmour took in hand the returns at the latter station.

‡ I have to thank Mr. W. Davidson for the first schedule received from Tarbat Ness. Between Aug. 15th and Oct. 30th there are only eleven entries,' all light, of ten different dates only. This schedule is valuable for its negative evidence, just as other more favoured localities for migrants give valuable positive evidence. Can I not induce others to return even empty schedules at the end of the year, with the simple remark "No Birds" or "Few Birds" attached, if such is the case? Then our Committee would have certainty to go by, not merely hypothesis. Mr. Davidson gives me the further information regarding this station, that he observed no further migration since Oct. 30th, the weather being so mild. It is usually before any changes in the weather that we see any birds passing here besides the birds which frequent the locality. The situation of Tarbat Ness is a very high tower, 175 feet, and is joined to farmhouses. It is not much sheltered, the tower being on the bare point. At some seasons great quantities of birds are seen (in lit., Jan. 20th, 1884).

§ At Chanonry lighthouse the schedule, again kindly returned by Mr. McGill, pretty clearly indicates and illustrates the action of local migrations. Thus he tells us:—"There are plenty of Black Crows, which fly between this and Nairn every day for feeding in the morning, and fly back at night. A great many grey ducks come down on this Firth for the purpose of feeding. It would seem they do not migrate. There are several flocks of birds which seem to fly north the one day and in a few days to fly back to the south; they seem to be the same flocks that have been feeding." From Chanonry Mr. McGill writes:—"Only one bird has struck the lantern since I came here in the summer of 1882, and only two lighted on the lantern. None killed." The returns from this station almost all relate to local movements, but are not on this account less valuable, but rather more so, as giving good opportunity of making comparisons and deductions. Most of the occurrences are attended by highly developed pressures, squalls, strong breezes, &c., but the directions of these are not given.

‖ Mr. D. M. Scott, who left this station, removed to Sumburgh Head. He sent the description of a bird from Kinnaird Head in 1882, but no schedule. Scarcity is the true reason of lack of returns from this station. Mr. Scott has sent well-filled schedules since from Sumburgh Head.

¶ "No Birds" at Montroseness, reason given for absence of returns in 1882 (q.v.).

From Kinnaird Head Lighthouse I have the following reply to my inquiry:—"Birds at this lighthouse are every year getting more scarce, as the town is now extended to the lighthouse, and cooperage works at the very gate make much noise, and sparks of fire fly about whilst making the barrels." At the same time Mr. D. M. Scott, now at Sumburgh Head, tells me he has once caught, in one watch, forty-eight Starlings at the lantern, and some Thrushes.

I have also to thank Mr. Alexander Greig for the first return from Noss Head. The movements of Gannets, as related there, cannot fail to be of use to the Committee. Mr. Greig says, "There has been great scarcity of birds this last year, except those which are generally with us."

Through Mr. Thomas Southwell's kindness I have received a few items of interest from the log of the whaler 'Eclipse,' Capt. D. Gray. Also a note from Mr. T. H. Nelson, taken on board the 'Camoens,' 150 miles N.N.W. of Orkney; as also a note or two, through the kindness of Mr. Robert Gray, taken on board the 'Marathon' in the Atlantic by Mr. Thomas Anderson. These are now given; and the land notes will be entered after the paragraphs on each species or group.