Pelecanidæ.—Solan Goose or Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Scart, etc.—This year we give a day-by-day return of Solan Geese seen at N. Unst during September and October. We would like to complete a year's observations of the movements of this bird at the following stations:—N. Unst, Bell Rock, Pentland Skerries, Cape Wrath, Butt of Lewis, Monach Isles, Barra Head, and Ailsa Craig, and Turnberry on the coast of Ayrshire. We would also like daily returns made at Skerryvore or Dhuheartach [all negative evidence being carefully entered, such as "none seen" on such and such a date or succession of dates], and also at Rona, north of Raasay. A separate schedule or more might be devoted to Gannet or Solan Goose alone for every day in the year, noting carefully the direction of flight of flocks or individuals, or how employed. If we had such a series complete, we believe much light might be thrown upon migrations of fish in combination with work going on at Lochbuie in Mull, at the Marine Institute there.

1886.
Sept.6,6 Solan Geese,{ 11 A.M.,
{ disappeared 1 P.M.,		{ S.S.E., fresh
{ breezes,		Fog,{ Fishing round
{ Rock.
"6,2 Solan Geese,6 P.M., Do. do.,Haze, Do. do.
"7,6 Solan Geese,All day,{ S.W., strong
{ breezes,		} Showers,{ Flying about
{ and fishing.
"8,3 Solan Geese, Do.,S., strong breezes,Haze,Do. do.
"9,5 Solan Geese, Do.,{ S.W., strong
{ breezes,		} Clear,Do. do.
"9, Do. do.Afternoon,S.S.E., gale,Rain,Disappeared 5 P.M.
"10,2 Solan Geese,5 A.M.,W., gale,Showers,{ Seen till mid-day,
{ again in afternoon.
"11,14 Solan Geese,All day,S.W. & S. breezes,Do.,Flying about.
"13,3 Solan Geese, Do. Do.,N.E. fresh breezes,Do., Do.
"14,2 Solan Geese,5 P.M.,N., strong breezes Rain, Flying past Rock.
"15,3 Solan Geese,10 A.M.,{ N.W., fresh
{ breezes,		Clear,{ Flying about and
{ fishing.
"16,1 Solan Goose,Noon,{ W., strong
{ breezes,		} Do.,{ Swimming about
Rock.
"17,3 Solan Geese,11 P.M.,{ W.N.W., fresh
{ breezes,		Haze.,{ Flying about
Rock.
"18,{ Numerous
{ Solan Geese,		} All day,{ N.E., light
{ breezes,		Clear,Do. do.
"19,6 Solan Geese,5 P.M.,W., light airs, Do., Do. do.
"20,20 Solan Geese,Noon,N., fresh breezes, Do., Do. do.
"23,3 Solan Geese,5 P.M.,N., fresh breezes,Haze, Do. do.
"24,16 Solan Geese,All day,N.W., light airs,Clear, Do. do.
"25,12 Solan Geese,5 P.M.,S., light breezes,Haze, Do. do.
"26,{ Numerous
{ Solan Geese,		} All day,Do. do.,Do., Do. do.
Oct.1,3 Solan Geese,{ 10 A.M. to
1 P.M.,		{ Variable, strong
{ breezes,		} Rain.{ Flying about
{ the Rock.
"7,1 Solan Goose,{ 8 A.M. to
{ 10 A.M.,		} S.S.E., light
} breezes,		} Haze and fog,} Flying about.
"7,6 Solan Geese,{ 10 A.M. to
{ 1 P.M.,		{ Do. do.,{ Haze and
{ rain.		{ Flying about
{ and fishing.
"11,14 Solan Geese,8 A.M.,} N.W., light
} breezes,		} Clear,} In a flock flying
} past east.
"13
& 14,		{ Flocks of 2 to
{ 12 Solan Geese,		{ Throughout the
{ dates,		} Variable winds,{ Clear and
{ showers,		{ Flying past
{ eastward.
"19,5 Solan Geese,4 P.M.,E., light breezes,Clear,Fishing about.
"21,3 Solan Geese,All day,S.S.E., gale,Rain,Fishing all day.
"24,1 Solan Goose,{ 9 A.M. to
{ 11 A.M.,		{ S.W., strong
{ breezes,		Haze,Flying about.
"25,2 Solan Geese,8 A.M. to 1 P.M.,Do. do.,Do.,Fishing.

North Unst, Burrafiord, Lerwick,
Shetland, 21st February 1887.

Sir,—I beg to inform you that since answering your note regarding Solan Geese when on shore two Solan Geese were seen here on the 12th inst.; also one on the 19th flying about. A large flock of Kittiwakes on 12th passed; direction from S.W. going N.E. This is a rare occurrence, for I know not of any person having seen any of these two species so early in the year. Since writing on 27th twenty-four Solan Geese seen very busy fishing for about two hours. We have been thinking herring must be close by us, this causing Solan Geese coming so soon this year. Can't vouch for the truth of this, for we could not make out whether herrings or small fish.—J. N.

Of records of Solan Geese at other times and localities, as usual, movements commenced towards the close of March (we have one early record of three at Pentland Skerries on 5th, flying east).

We do not enter into detail, as we would prefer to give a full schedule from each station as indicated above. We add this note here however; Latest seen at Fidra was on 20th, when the note occurs "disappeared." On 14th October, "one young bird; not another to be seen;" and on 10th October, "Solans visibly scarcer," at Fidra.

Of Herons, a few scattered records; not of much service we suspect to our Migration Committee.

Anatidæ.—Ducks, Geese, Eider Ducks, Teal, Widgeon, Shieldrake, Wild Duck, Barnicle Geese, Swans, Brent Geese.—In Spring flocks, or large flocks, of Barnicle Geese are frequently noted at Cromarty, presumably the same flocks daily. (Barnicle is here undoubtedly applied wrongly to the Brent Geese, or "Brants," which are abundant in the Cromarty Firth.) Thus on 19th, 25th, and 26th February, and from 4th to 18th March, a "large flock" is almost daily noted; and thereafter none are again noted till November 24, when a flock again recorded, and two flocks on 25th and 27th December, all at the same place.

Eider Duck.—Odd birds noted off N. Unst in February 5th and 18th, and March 23d and 26th—winds different directions; and a flock of nine at Isle of May on 18th April. Odd records in May and June at N. Ronaldshay and at Fidra, probably merely local movements. In Autumn.—Recorded as "making their appearance by the 5th September at N. Ronaldshay; and large flocks by the 11th September at Pentland Skerries. Flocks all day on several dates in October at N. Unst, and Fidra, &c."

Teal are noted occasionally at Pentland Skerries in March on 1st and 2d. Widgeon rarely noted: once in March at Isle of May, and once in October at Fidra. Shieldrake once noted at Noss Head, and once on 15th November on Fidra.