To Mr. Agnew.—The true Laughing Gull is an American species; and our Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) may also be confused with your "Laughing Gull." "Common Gull" is the correct name of the bird you describe and name "Laughing Gull."
Laridæ.—Kittiwakes arrived in great numbers at N. Unst on 13th March, strong S., hail and sleet. Gulls and rock birds arrived in great numbers at Sumburgh Head on 8th March, and again on 24th, light N.E., haze.[24] Kittiwakes arrived first on 16th March at Isle of May, and great many more on 24th, wind from W. to N.E. Great Black-backed Gulls are mentioned at Sumburgh Head and Pentland Skerries on 4th February and 4th March respectively. Three "Bonxies" seen at N. Unst, 20th April, the first arrivals, light E.N.E., clear. Richardson's Skuas, a number at Sumburgh Head, 3rd May, S. gale and snow. Kittiwakes first appeared at (or first record at) Pentland Skerries, 5th May (?). They began to return west, by our records, on 23rd July, several flocks of Gulls, flying W. Skuas, occasional records at Pentland Skerries; are apparently local in August. Kittiwakes all left Isle of May on 29th August, and hundreds of Gulls arrived. Flocks of Gulls all September at most stations, but no unusual numbers noted. "Gulls and Cormorants (J. A. H. B.) were wheeling high in air; not a good sign of the coming weather."[25] Iceland Gulls (called also "Snow Birds," in common with Snow Buntings) first appeared at N. Unst on 1st October, again seen on the 4th. "Gulls," of sorts, abundant at Isle of May by Nov. 17th; and garvies, or "sprats" (Clupea sprattus), in vast shoals round the island (see [General Remarks]). At North Ronaldshay numbers of Gulls seen, and a good many Black-backed Gulls remaining and feeding on the people's turnips! (or slugs or worms, J. A. H. B., 21st December). Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls, Kittiwakes, Black-headed Gulls, two common Skuas (J. A. H. B.), L. catarractes, a few Glaucous Gulls, one Little Gull recorded by J. A. H. B. at Kincardine, on the Firth of Forth. All the above species were frequenting the Firth of Forth, the Kittiwakes and commoner Gulls in hundreds and thousands. Sprats sold at 14s., 12s. to 8s. per ton at S. pier, at Kincardine; fields covered, mud covered, sea covered, air filled with Gulls. No such vast assemblage of Laridæ in Scotland since the invasion of Arctic Gulls in 1872-73 (see Proc. Glasg. Nat. Hist. Soc, Jan. 7th and 28th, 1873). The estuary of the Tay was quite deserted by garvies, or sprats, this season, and few Gulls seen there.[26]
[24] See Oldest Inhabitant's remarks on the unusual abundance of Gulls all the season onwards, from 8th March, at this station, in connection with the migration of sprats in winter of 1884—85, and congregation of Gulls in Firth of Forth (vide [General Remarks] at end of West Coast of Scotland),
[25] In autumn there are a few Shags, or Green Cormorants, at Isle of May; but a colony, or roosting and fishing community of about fifty to sixty Cormorants, occupy the rock-ledges.
[26] Inside the dock at Bo'ness a man filled his boat, which held seven tons, twice in rapid succession. About 350 tons were brought into Bo'ness and trucked off. A much larger quantity I suspect was obtained at Kincardine.
Procellariidæ.—August, September, October, and November each contain a few records at N. Unst, Sumburgh Head, Pentland Skerries, and Isle of May. Earliest, 11th August, at N. Unst, one struck, not killed, fresh S.E., fog; and several struck on 19th. On 14th September several rested all night, from 11 p.m. to daylight, at N. Unst, fresh S.E.; and one next day struck, light S., fog; and one caught at Sumburgh Head same night. On 18th October one found, struck, but not killed; light, variable, rain. In November one struck at N. Unst; on the 16th November, "a young bird, having still the down." I have recorded also a Forked-tailed Petrel (Thalassidroma leachii), at Girdleness, on 15th August, 1884 (see Ryl. Phyl. Soc. Proc, 1885, read 21st January, 1885).
Alcidæ.—Razorbills and Guillemots, and Puffins: February 15th, several "Marrots" first seen, forenoon; strong S., clear; at N. Unst. February 3rd, large numbers of Razorbills and Guillemots arrived at Isle of May; seven killed at a shot. February 7th, large numbers of Razorbills and Guillemots arrived at Isle of May; light W., clear. February 20th, large numbers of Razorbills and Guillemots arrived at Isle of May. February 24th, Puffins innumerable at N. Unst; first seen; light S., clear. February 24th, Guillemots in flocks flying S.E., at Sumburgh Head; first seen. February 27th, Guillemots, continuous flock flying S.E. March 6th, Guillemots and Razorbills, thousands at Isle of May: "They have remained ever since they came, which is unusual; but some days more than others."—J. A. March 6th to 30th, ever increasing numbers of Razorbills and Guillemots; greatest rush of arrival at Isle of May on 30th. April 4th, multitudes, but all left at 4 p.m.; Isle of May. April 8th, multitudes in the morning. April 8th, multitudes, and now remain: "Arrived at night, as is usual when they intend to remain."—J. A. April 22nd, Puffins, which breed at Pentland Skerries, first arrived on 22nd. May 6th, at Pentland Skerries, a flock of Guillemots flying E. May 29th, flocks all day flying E. June 6th, six Guillemots flying W. July 8th, a flock flying E. at Pentland Skerries. September 5th, all rock birds seen last at N. Unst on this date. November 19th, forty or fifty Cormorants seen flying S. at 4 p.m. Query: "Are those the birds which were roosting on Isle of May in September and October, or passing birds?"—J. A. H. B. December 12th and 13th, large numbers; and again on 29th, at Isle of May. Unusually abundant in Firth of Forth, with Little Auks and Puffins, in January, 1885.
Our report on the E. coast of Scotland includes all schedules between February 1st, 1884, and January 31st, 1885, which have come to hand in time.[27]
[27] It is important for me to have all schedules dating as near as possible to January 31st in each year returned as filled up to date, as the work of arranging the large amount of material is much simplified if all schedules are to hand as soon after the last entry as possible.