Rona (i.e., South Rona).—Messrs Dunnet and M'Gaw send two fairly well-filled schedules, strictly adhering to columnar arrangement.
Kyleakin.—D. MacCulloch and John Clyne send one well-filled schedule, but light, dating February 1st, 1886, to January 1st, 1887.
Skerryvore.--Thomas Dawson and William Charleson send three well-filled schedules, dating January 27th to December 9th, 1886. Mr D. writes: "Birds scarce here all summer. Not one seen between 7th May and 13th September. On September 6th a Scart was seen by us fishing about the rock. Sometimes it came ashore for a short rest, then into the water again. Did not appear to be a bit frightened. We amused ourselves casting stones at it for a time, still it did not go away far from us. It is the first we have seen of the season; not one single Scart seen here during the breeding season. We left it after a time. At night, after lighting time, a strange noise was heard on the top dome. One of the keepers—Mr Charleson—went aloft and found the Scart sitting very comfortably on the cage for cleaning the chimney, with his head under his wing, asleep. He never saw Charleson coming to it; but the latter made a grab at it, but missing his mark, the bird got clear off. Several Eiders are seen now, mostly males (October 1st, 1886); one flock of thirteen yesterday, and only one female among them. Numbers of Solan Geese seen every day here fishing." [We would be glad of a schedule or two devoted entirely to Solan Geese and their daily movements.—J. A. H.-B.]
October.—"On the 6th a great 'rush' of small birds here last night. Never saw anything like it nor so many different kinds. They commenced to strike the lantern at 8.30 P.M. on the 5th; and continued all morning of 6th. I cannot give you any idea of numbers, but no doubt hundreds were flying round the light. Most in number were Skylarks and Thrushes; Wheatears next; and a great number of Snipes were seen. I have noted in the schedule the actual number of the different kinds we saw on the lantern and the time they struck, but no doubt many more of the same species hovered round the light all night. I saw several Sand Larks, but only one struck. Wind S.E. to S., rain and haze. They nearly all struck on the north side of the lantern. I was standing on the balcony when the Woodcock struck, and it fell stunned at my feet, and I caught it before it had time to recover. This is the only one I have ever seen here. I may mention the names of the species seen so far as recognised: Mountain Thrushes, Common Thrushes, Skylarks, Titlarks, Wheatears, Blackbirds, Woodcock (first seen here by me), Robins, Wrens, Redstarts, Ring Ouzels (Mountain Thrushes are therefore either Fieldfares or Red wings), 'Oxeyes' (and another small bird a stranger to me)." [The Oxeye—so-called—is really a Gold-crested Wren, as described: and the other small bird, from description, is probably a Willow-Warbler (or Willow Wren).—J. A. H.-B.] In the same letter Mr Dawson encloses an insect [the Silver Gamma Moth.—J. A. H.-B.], and says: "I enclose an insect. I got it this morning stuck to the side of the kitchen window. We don't know what it is. It has likely wandered off here with the rush of birds the two previous nights. It appeared to be quite dormant when I found it (date of 7th October).
"Great numbers of birds again last night, but not nearly so many as the previous night, and fewer species. Wind N., and heavy rain all night and morning. After this Mr Charleson is to take note of the birds along with myself, so will get on better. The second schedule will be soon filled up."
Under date of December 19th, Messrs Dawson and Charleson say; "The Gannets have all left us some weeks back. The scarcity of fish is no doubt the cause."
Dhuheartach.—William Davidson and Jas. M'Guffie send us four well-filled bulky schedules, as Dhuheartach has, along with Skerryvore, participated in the rush of 5th and 6th October, which appears to have been so universal all over the East Coast also. By the schedules the species appear to have been much the same as at Skerryvore—Larks, Mavis (many young), Goldcrests, Snipe, Fieldfare, Wheatear, Robins, Firetails (Redstarts), Starlings, Blackbirds, young Swallows, and several Lapwings—the Larks predominating by hundreds, and the Mavis by tens over the others, so far as observed.
Skervuile.—John Ewing sends two well-filled schedules from 7th February to 26th December 1886. Under 25th March he says; "There has been an abundance of Gulls and Boatswains' birds up to October." On April 15th Solans are noted as seen night and morning during July, August, and September. Rush is also distinctly participated in on 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th. (See under species for details.)
Rhinns of Islay.—Peter Anderson and Mr Ducat.—Besides sending five regular schedules, fully filled up, Mr Anderson has also, in a very neat and efficient way, kept a still more minute day-to-day record on his own plan. We now have these for the month of February. When we have a schedule of this description for every month in the year, we think it may prove desirable to publish the series seriatim et literatim. The statistics could not fail to be serviceable. Thousands of Larks seen passing south for days during the October rush. They write; "We think if you had been here on the night of 5th and morning of the 6th October, you would have seen migration to your heart's content. I have never seen anything like it before. About 7 P.M. they commenced, and increased until 10, when it was something grand to see, and continued up to 2 A.M. of the 6th, making a perfect concert of sounds—even the drums were not awanting—as the small birds striking the lantern and dome answered for the small drum, and the larger ones at odd times for the big drum. I will here mention a list of as many of the birds as I could distinguish, but I will make no attempt at numbers, as they were simply innumerable:—Redwings, Lapwings, Larks (these three the most numerous), Thrush, Missel-Thrush, Moorhen, Robins, Goldcrests, one Blackbird, one Teal Duck (both latter caught), Blackbirds, Water-rail, Terns, Starlings, and numerous other kinds I did not know. Weather thick, with haze and rain: wind S.E. to E. The birds seemed all to be flying against the wind. One Woodcock seen. Last night, 7th October, we had scarcely a bird, although it was a night of rain; but the wind was from the north." [This account of the great rush is most interesting and valuable.—J. A. H.-B.] "The rush continued till 2 A.M. of the 6th, but then eased a good deal, but numbers kept flying on till daylight. There were numerous Moths about the lantern on the nights of the 5th, 6th, and 7th." [Schedules give more interesting items.—J. A. H.-B.] Mr Anderson adds the note: "I forgot to mention that the weather has for the past few days been very close and warm. On the morning of the 5th, at 2 A.M., the glass stood outside at 62½°, and has been about 60° for several days, with very heavy rain." On the 18th December occurs the following note: "On the 18th I was inland for a mile or so, and saw two flocks of Larks (about 1000 each), and a flock of Starlings of from 1200 to 1400. I never saw so many Snipe on this island before. By the 22d thaw had set in, and they were all gone." [Note.—When we were shooting in Ardnamurchan in January 1887, though Woodcock were fairly plentiful, we never saw Snipe so scarce in Mingary Park. The suddenness of the rush, short space of time occupied, and complete departure south in December at once accounts for this.—J. A. H.-B.]
Lochindaul.—James Edgar sends three well-filled schedules, and observes that no schedules appear from our Report to have been sent for some years back. We are very glad again to receive schedules from Lochindaul, which appears to be a favourable situation for observations. Mr Edgar's last station was N. Unst, whence he sent us schedules. Mr Edgar says of Lochindaul: "Very few birds are attracted to this light, owing to part of the light being red, and the land side of the lantern being dark, although there are plenty of birds in the vicinity of the station. Most of the observations I have made are during the day time, and I only entered each species the first and last time seen, and any unusual flocks seen during the season. I gave up taking notes at end of October, owing to illness, and I was invalided from then till recently" (dated 17th January 1887), "which accounts for the lateness of sending in the schedules."