Returns
in 6
years.		In
1885.		Values.Feet.
Sutherland.
481.Cape Wrath,III.400
482.Rhu Stoir,II.195
Outer Hebrides.
5*83.Butt of Lewis,I.170
384.Stornoway, 2 lights,{II.}56
I.
385.Island GhlaisI.130
5*86.Monach Isles,{I.150
II.62
287.Ushenish, N. Uist,VI.176
2*88.Barra Head,II.683
0*89.Rona, Skye,IV.222
5*90.Kyleakin, W, Ross, IV.53
291.Isle Oronsay,I.58
292.Ardnamurchan,I.
6*93.Skerryvore and Hynish Signal Tower, Tiree,II.150
6*94.Dhuheartach,I.146
595.Sound of Mull,V.55
096.Corran Ferry,IV.38
497.Lismore, Oban,I.103
298.Fladda, Easdale,VI.42
4*99.Rhuvaal,IV.147
6*100.M'Arthur's Head,IV.128
6*101.Skervuile,II.73
6*102.Rhinns of Islay,IV.159
2*103.Lochindaul,IV.50
0104.Mull of Kintyre,VI.297
0105.Sanda,
0106.Devaar,II.120
0107.Pladda, Arran,II.130
3*108.Lamlash,IV.46
2*109.Turnberry,IV.96
109B.Ailsa Craig, 1885,
5*110.Corsewall,IV.112
5111.Loch Ryan,I.46
5*112.Portpatrick,I.37
5*113.Mull of Galloway,II.325
2*114.Little Ross,IV.175

Diary from the Stations.

Butt of Lewis.—Alexander Thompson and Gilbert Mackinnon, one schedule from March 24th to November 17th, carefully filled. On the 15th and 16th, large whales seen close to lighthouse, going S.E. on the flood tide. Starlings, Rock Doves, remain all the year round, and "Sandlarks" arrive in May, and stay till end of August. During July, "great flocks of Gannets continually going to and fro in search of fish." An amusing incident was witnessed by Mr Mackinnon. On the evening of the 10th August, a Gull got hold of a large "saith" fish[12]; was unable to rise with it, so it towed it to the rocks, and allowed the sea to wash it up on the rocks. Some boys went after it, when it took to the water again, and pulled the fish to another rock, and again allowed the sea to wash it up, where it eat its supper in peace.

[12] Gadus virens, Lin.

Monach Isles.—Donald Georgeson—Three quarterly schedules. Mr Georgeson's schedules are able and masterly; and if we could have all our schedules returned in a similar epitomised condition, no doubt much time might be saved; but in the meantime, schedules coming from a . few stations out of so many stations, so epitomised, whilst the rest adhere rigidly to the columnar arrangement, makes it more troublesome to arrange details. Uniform attention to the columnar arrangement is simplest for the ledger work.

The following is an abstract of Mr Georgeson's three quarterly schedules, and may be referred to under species in the next portion of the report:—

Mr Georgeson writes—"This is an island little frequented by either land or sea birds. The only birds that struck the lantern were a few Snow Buntings and the Common Tern [Arctic Tern vera?.—J. A. H. B.] Towards the end of January we had a severe gale from the S.W." Mr G. found several Terns and Snow Buntings "dead from exposure." "The S.W. is the prevailing wind here." (Explaining, perhaps, the above stated scarcity of birds, as pressing them more easterly on their S.E. course after doubling Butt of Lewis.—J. A. H. B.) A single Snipe appeared among the "marshy pools" of the islands. "In January and February I observed a large flock of Wild Geese, coming from the U.E., and after resting on the outlying rocks here, they rose and flew west in the direction of St Kilda." Shieldrakes—Two males and one female, in February, seen feeding on the island, and three Common Gulls and two Black-Backed Gulls. 1st March. Fifty Linnets (Twites?) paid a visit,—wind south—stayed only a short time. A few Sandpipers remained a week, but departed when the weather broke. Rock Doves visited the island, but soon left. Sea birds observed from January 1st to March 31st are—Common Duck, Eider Duck, Northern Diver, and a few Scarts, but these also disappeared with a gale on the 20th March from quarters between S. and N.W.

In Mr Georgeson's next six months' bulletin, he reports:—

April 3d, wind S.W. Three Ravens and two Hooded Crows, and one Golden Plover—local migration. He also mentions Sand Larks arriving to breed about the 5th April. "The only land birds that remained the winter are a few Rock and Meadow Pipits, which breed here in large numbers; also about a dozen pairs of Wheatears and a few "Linnets" (i.e., Twites.—J. A. H. B.) Two nests of the Eider Duck on the island in May. Early in May the wind was light and variable. The only birds I saw were three Black-Backed Gulls and five Herring Gulls, and a few Eider Ducks, but as the breeding season advanced they left the island. Two pairs of Shielducks came to the island from the direction of St Kilda—wind light, N.E.—and were seen flying away in spring with their young in a N.E. direction. There are no Scarts here in the breeding season. They and other rock birds leave for more suitable rocks as the season advances. Large flocks of Pictarnies arrive here in June, and breed in great numbers, the island being covered with their nests.

In the last quarterly schedule Mr Georgeson tells us ;—By the 24th August the land birds had all left, except a few "Linnets" (i.e., Twites—J. A. H. B.), a few Rock and Marsh (i.e., "Meadow") Pipits. A Corncrake, a very unusual bird here, came to our garden on 11th August, but left on the corn being cut. September 7th, a few Scarts returned, and fifty to sixty Kittiwakes. Many Solan Geese. Two Herons seen feeding on rocks on September 8th flew off on the 10th seaward. October 5th, large flock of Snow Buntings part of the day, and then flew off in a N.E. direction. On the 20th October a large flock of Wild Geese came from N.E. with a N.E. wind, lighted to rest, and then flew off west (i.e., out to sea). Snipe usually remain over the winter at Monach, but leave in the breeding-season. On night of November 10th to 11th a Woodcock—a rare bird here—struck, along with Terns, Mavis, and Blackbirds. Another rare bird was found dead same morning, the name of which I do not know. "Exact colour of a Kittiwake, the size of a Stormy Petrel. (No doubt the Grey Phalarope, young bird of the year.—J. A. H. B.) A large flock of "Pictarnies" (i.e., Terns) came from E., rested, and then flew away west, wind N.E. at the time, on same day.