Cuculidæ, Cuckoo.—In spring, arrivals as follows:—At Rona Skye, May 11th, first heard, light S.W. Kyleakin, May 10th, first heard, moderate S.S.W., haze. Sound of Mull, May 8th, first heard, moderate S.W., clear. Skervuile, May 10th, first seen, light E. Rhinns of Islay, May 19th, first seen, fresh E., clear. Lamlash, May 12th, first heard. Corsewall, May 11th, first heard. Autumn, Barra Head, June 28th, 1 first seen. Mull of Galloway, 1 first seen in July. Autumn records of Cuckoos scarce during six years' records.
Strigidæ.—Spring, April 28th, one Brown Owl for three days at Skerryvore; and 1 Owl in May (probably Short-eared Owl) at Dhuheartach. No autumn records.
Falconidæ.—At Skerryvore, one Sparrow Hawk on 29th. At Cape Wrath, Game Falcon and a "Small Hawk" (Merlin?) on the coast all the year round. In autumn, fewer records than usual on predatory visits. One Falcon on Aug. 28th at Rhuvaal. Sparrow Hawk on 1st, and again on 19th, at Skerryvore; one on Oct. 15th and 16th at Dhuheartach; and one Sparrow Hawk resting on sun-dial on 9th. One Eagle seen at Erraid ("rarely seen here") in November.
Pelicanidæ, Gannet.—Records in order of dates:—At Skervuile, March 10th, one flying S., fresh S.E.; 14th, one flying N., S. gale. Rhu Stoir, April 25th, five fishing, light S.E., clear. Skervuile, April 16th, one flying N. (local?). Rona, May 25th, twelve, W. clear; 29th, one, strong N., clear. Kyleakin, June 20th, in flock flying E., E. clear. Lismore, 22nd, flying S., various, light, clear. Dhuheartach, July 4th, one; 20th, flying S. Skervuile, 6th and 7th, Solans flying S.; 23rd and 24th, Solans flying S. Little Ross, July 9th, three flying W. from the Solway. At Rhu Stoir, Aug. 28th, rush, and passed daily in flocks flying N. up to the middle of August (see directions of flight at Pentland Skerries, E. Coast). During the rest of August, 24th to 30th, records are given from Rhuvaal, Skervuile, and Lamlash and Little Ross, but directions of flight are omitted under the dates given (see records off Cape St. Vincent). In September, a flock flying W. at Langness on 21st, a single bird flying N. at Barra Head, and two flying S.E. on 6th; and a late record at Lamlash on Nov. 6th (marked "late").
Anatidæ, Ducks, Geese, Swans.—Spring records of "Wild Geese" are six flying S.E., wind E. and snow, at Kyleakin (local), and two on March 23rd flying S.W. In April, 17th and 21st, two or three flying W. and flying S. Autumn ditto of Wild Geese, numerous. Earliest, Aug. 21st, flying S., at Kyleakin. Latest, Dec. 9th, six flying S. at Lamlash. Other records in Oct., but no rush evident. Of Eider Ducks there are many records. Earliest at Rhinns of Islay, seventeen males and females on Aug. 6th. Latest December 14th, seven males and seven females flying S. on 3rd, and six on 22nd at Rhinns of Islay. Greatest numbers seen at Rhinns of Islay Oct. 29th, when at least 200 were seen at 7 a.m., and 100 at 9 a.m. In November the "first seen this fall" at Skerryvore on 1st, and large flock on 6th flying S., and others at Dhuheartach. Other species are Sheldrakes (breeding at Rona), arrived in May; Barnacle Geese, thirteen at Barra Head on Oct. 13th, resting. Wigeon, one female, at Rhinns of Islay, on Aug. 23rd. Of Swans, two flying N., seen at Sound of Mull on June 2nd, with light N.W. airs. Barnacle Geese identified by head sent me.
Columbidæ.—Two Rock Doves flying S. (local) at Kyleakin, and six Wood Pigeons at same place on 22nd, flying S.S.W., moderate S. wind. In August, five doves flying E. at Rhuvaal; and in December, at Rhinns of Islay, 300 flying south, about one mile inland, light W., haze.
Rallinæ, Corn Crakes, Water Rails, &c.—Only spring record: a Corn Crake at Barra Head on 6th June. Only autumn records: one killed at lantern of Mull of Galloway, and one Water Rail killed at Rhinns of Islay (sent to me in the skin, J. A. H. B.) on 23rd October.
Charadriadæ.—Large flocks of Golden Plover arrive on the coast around Rhu Stoir during winter, when snow lies inland, and are seen onwards after March 12th and 15th, 1884, at same station. In autumn, records of Golden Plover unusually scarce; single ones at Sound of Mull, Sept. 19th, and Rhinns of Islay, Sept. 18th. Large flocks begin to arrive at Rhu Stoir ("to come towards the shore ") early in November, remain all winter. At Rhinns of Islay, two "Gray Plovers," marked "rare," seen on Oct. 6th. Usual records of Oystercatchers, not so abundant or general as usual.
Lapwings.—One seen Feb. 15th at Barra Head; twenty on March 15th at Rhu Stoir, and one or two single ones there on 7th and 11th; and two on April 2nd. No great movement recorded in autumn. Rhinns of Islay, 10 flying about on 24th August and seven resting at Barra Head on 7th October.
Scolopacidæ, Woodcock, Snipe, Curlew, Whimbrel.—Woodcock: Earliest in autumn, Oct. 9th, one shot at Mull of Galloway. Latest, Nov. 18th, one at Dhuheartach, resting. Indication of more general movement between 15th, 16th, to 23rd Oct., but very slight, at Barra Head, one on 19th at Skervuile, Rhinns of Islay, and at Dhuheartach. Snipe: Only some three records; in September one at Skerryvore, in October one at Dhuheartach, and in August two at Rhinns of Islay, killed. Curlews: Numerous records from July on to November at many stations. Whimbrel: One noticed at Langness in August. A few records of Sandpipers (see notes under stations at Skervuile.)