Dunnet Head.—David Laidlaw (principal) sends one schedule, in which are the following notes: "On the 23d May a swallow entered Dunnet Established Church during the forenoon service (one of the doors being open), and after flying through the church for about half an hour, made its exit by the same door that it entered by. S.E., fresh breeze, clear." Under date of January 15, 1887, he writes: "For the last month I see a good many Song Thrushes about the fields daily. Starlings and Linnets are to be seen here in large flocks all the year round.[2] No birds struck or lighted on the lantern during the year except the Wren mentioned in schedule. As to sea-birds, the Gulls[3] came to breed about the 1st of March, and left about the latter end of September. The other birds arrived about six weeks later, and took their departure about a month earlier than the Gulls. During the latter end of July, and the months of August and September, almost every minute of the day, Solan Geese pass and re-pass in flocks of two or three up to twenty or thereby." [A day-to-day return of numbers in a schedule devoted to the species might prove valuable to our Committee.—J. A. H.-B.]
[2] These are probably true Rose-Linnets, which abound in the north of Caithness. The Twite is comparatively rare, at least in summer.—J. A. H.-B.
[3] Herring Gulls breed in astonishing numbers all round the coast from Dwarwick Head.—J. A. H.-B. Lesser B. B. Gull is rare.
Noss Head.—James Ferrier sends a schedule, with the note: "Sorry I cannot give you as full a return (but I have given you all that we have taken note of) as I could have done from the Little Ross, having been transferred from there in February last. Several species of birds lay in the rocks about this headland, such as the Common Gull [? Herring Gull.—J. A. H.-B.], Cormorant, Tystie, Guillemot, Razorbill. The Gulls are very tame here, often sitting on the tops of the houses throughout the town (Wick), drawn there by the great quantity of fish caught, and hanging about the houses." We are very glad to get our first return from Noss Head, however light, and we hope Mr Ferrier will continue to assist us.—(See last Report, 1885, p. 15.)
Cromarty Lighthouse.—Robt. S. Ritson sends one schedule, January 1886 to December 27, mostly referring to local migrations of Ducks, Geese, Gulls, which have always special interest also attaching to them.
Girdleness.—C. C. Irvine sends one schedule, the first received from this station. He adds: "Very few birds come this way; but Rooks, Sparrows, and Gulls are to be seen almost every day; but as they are not migratory, I presume they are not worthy of notice, and our time being much occupied during the day, many may pass without our observing them."
Bell Rock.—James Jack sends two carefully written schedules as usual, strictly adhering to the headings, which always makes the work of posting the items into the ledger easier for the Committee. Mr Jack, after an illness on shore between 23d October and 11th November, writes, on resuming duty: "As yet, Redwings have been the most prolific in numbers visiting this station this season; in fact, night after night, nothing else. All our usual winter feathered companions are now again thickly around us. Dunters are very abundant this season."
This remarkable immigration of Redwings is scarcely noted at any other stations; at least, with regard to its exclusiveness.
Isle of May.—Joseph Agnew sends eight schedules filled with his usual care, and dating February 3 to November 6, 1886, and kept up till his removal by the authorities to the Monach Isles, off the Outer Hebrides, the electric lighting of the Isle of May being completed, and an electric engineer placed in charge. Under date of April 6, 1886, Mr Agnew writes: "I send you the Turtle Dove. It had been very severely shot before it came here by some one. I did not send it to Small, but made the best of it myself, covering the wounds as well as I could." Under date of October 12, 1886, Mr Agnew writes: "The old carboy is still doing duty yet, and has been emptied two or three times. On one occasion it contained a cosmic mouse, but whether it came from Jupiter or Mars, or some other far off world, I do not know." As this carboy was put in situ by ourselves in October 1884, in behalf of the Marine Station at Granton, we would be interested to know whether it has yielded any scientific results. Perhaps Mr John Murray will enlighten us. Regarding the electric light, Mr Agnew writes: "It will be ready in a few weeks, perhaps three weeks. I do not know what effect it will have on the birds. The light will be very intense, and the most powerful light in existence. The room in which the trials are now being conducted has the appearance of a place brilliantly lighted up at night, though it is in the day time. The daylight is made to disappear. If the light were a fixed one, same as the old one, I think it might have a good[4] effect, but I am afraid its quick revolving character will be against it. The light has been revolving for the last two months with the oil lamp, and though some birds have come to the lantern, I don't think, considering the numbers of birds, so many have struck as heretofore. But as I am leaving this, I very much fear the reports will be very meagre in future, if there be any at all. The man who succeeds me has been here for a month or more, and he seems to have no notion of the matter, and has never interested himself in it; and besides, he will be very little in the light-room; his principal business will be in the engine-house, though he is to be head-keeper. You may perhaps be able to get him interested in it. The two men, however, whose special duty will be in the light-room, may take up the subject, and do something; but I would say—be very thankful for what you have already got from Isle of May." In a later letter (26th October), Mr Agnew says: "I am now almost convinced that few birds will come near the lantern, the revolutions are so quick, viz., eight flashes in the minute. We can see the birds going round with the rays, and though they make a dash at the lantern, before they reach it the light leaves them, and they turn round after it again, and repeat the same. During all last week there was one Redstart, one Starling, and one Robin at the lantern; not a Woodcock has struck this year; the Goldcrests which used to flock about the lantern never come near it; though they are very numerous on the island,[5] I have only seen two at the lantern. A fixed white light is no doubt best for attracting birds; the alternate light and darkness baffles them altogether, and the quicker the revolutions are, the worse baffled they become. There has been almost total absence during the past two years of Redpoles and Siskins." On the 19th November Mr Agnew writes: "James" (his son) "shot a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the 12th of this month. It is the first of its kind I have seen here. It came after the great N.-E. gale reported in my last schedule. The wind continued to blow strong from the N.-E. for days after the gale took off. I have sent it to Small to get stuffed and set up. I want to give it in a present to the young lady to whom my son, Joseph, is going to be married at Dunbar." Mr Agnew then continues: "There has not been much worth reporting since I sent you my last schedule (Nov. 6, 1886); the only birds (not resident) were some Wagtails and Common Wrens. I suspect very much you have got the last schedule from Isle of May. I am sorry for that, as you see from the Woodpecker that strange things are always turning up. I am very sorry at leaving the collection here, and I doubt if it will be so well taken care of when I am away."
[4] i.e., effectual in alluring the birds to it.