Sumburgh Head.—James Youngclause (principal), Robert Gifford (assistant). During the summer a great number of Gulls breed in the cliffs. Also large numbers of Guillemots, Razorbills, which arrive first and second week of August. Also lots of Starlings and Grey Linnets, but these and the Gulls remain the whole year. Under date of 16th January 1886, Mr Y. writes: "Birds have been very scarce; not one stranger since the 27th November." Two schedules.
North Ronaldshay.—John Tulloch (principal). Two schedules. Gannets began flying north about the 18th April.
Auskerry.—John M'Donald (principal). Three well-filled schedules.
Pentland Skerries.—Signed by John Gilmour (assistant). Eleven very full schedules. Mr Gibson (principal), Mr Frazer, and Mr M'Gee are all much interested in the subject. They have been supplied with a copy of C. A. Johns' "British Birds in their Haunts," published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. Harvie-Brown visited Pentland Skerries in July 1885. "Skerries" is a misnomer for the larger island. It is a lovely island, richly grassed, feeds twenty sheep on 114 acres; very level, fine turf, rich in daisies and buttercups, producing lovely milk, and admirably situated to intercept migration. Elsewhere an account of the birds seen there in summer will be incorporated.[2] Pentland Skerries, along with Isle of May, as usual, shared the heaviest rushes and returns, and Bell Rock very fully participated. The rush seemed to be about the middle of October, continuing, but not so heavily, through that month, and increasing again up to the middle of November. On the 11th November our reporters say: "Never saw so many Fieldfares flying round the light" as to-night.
[2] Vertebrate Fauna of Shetland, Caithness, and West Cromarty, by T. E. Buckley and J. A. Harvie-Brown, in press. There can scarcely be a doubt that this station would quickly rival the "Isle of May" in rarities, if the men had equal facilities of obtaining specimens. If they had guns, also, they might add largely to their stock of wholesome fresh food.
Dunnet Head.—David Laidlaw (principal) sent one schedule. Visited by H.-B. in 1885. It is easily understood why it is not a good station, notwithstanding the favourable description of light. The light is 346 feet above the sea, and does not face clear to eastward except upon the horizon, a great cliff top intercepting the downward rays at a distance of at least 100 yards from the tower.
Holborn Head.—No return. Visited by H.-B. in 1885. The position is decidedly bad, being quite too land-locked both to east and west. I had a long chat with Mr Charles Christian, the second light-keeper, but did not see Mr Charleston, the principal. Mr Christian told me that not a bird has appeared at the lights since he came last year in May. He was at Cantick Head, another station utterly unfrequented by birds.—(Extract from H.-B.'s Journal.)
Noss Head.—No return. Visited by H.-B. in 1885. Mr Greig (principal) has been here eleven years, and reported that scarcely a land-bird has ever been known to strike the dome or light, or "been observed on migration day or night" (sic). Noss Head Light lies open to the N.N.E., E.S.E., and S.S.E., and is only 175 feet above the sea (Pentland Skerries Light is 170 feet, and Isle of May 240 feet); and no land interruptions occur. Nevertheless, it utterly fails to attract birds, as, indeed, do most stations with an abrupt and precipitous coast, for reasons which we think are almost self-evident.—(See General Remarks.)
Cromarty.—Robt. S. Ritson (principal) sends one schedule. He says: "No birds struck lantern during the year. Rather more birds observed than in 1884. Pervading winds were again westerly from January to April, but between May and October easterly; but the change of wind brought no accessions of birds. Land-locked station.
Chanonry.—John M'Gill (principal) and Wm. Irvine (assistant) send one light schedule, and the remarks: "There is no difference from the remarks of other years. The migration this year seems to be for the purposes of feeding. No certain migration observable." Mr M'Gill, however, goes on to say; "The Sand Martins, when congregated on Major M'Kenzie's yacht-rigging from the bowsprit up to the mast, and down to the end of the jib-boom, made a curious sight, when lying at anchor." This was on the 24th August 1885.