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The Scottish Naturalist

dA Magazine devoted to Zoology

With which is incorporated

“The Annals of Scottish Natural History”

EDITED BY
JAMES RITCHIE, M.A, D.Sc, F.R.S.E.,

Keeper, Natural History Department, Royal Scottish Museum

WARE IE ACME SE VeAeN Se HakoSeH.,) Harc:

Member of the British Ornithologists’ Union

eee Cavan sileee GRE VE SHE AGW eH Re Se he asHe Hose

Assistant-Keeper, Natural History Department, Royal Scottish Museum

ASSISTED BY

EVELYN V. BAXTER, F.Z.S., H.M.B.O.U. | W. EAGLE CLARKE, I.S.0., LL.D.
LEONORA J. RINTOUL, F.Z.S., H.M.B.O.U. ANDERSON FERGUSSON, F.E.S
H. S. GLADSTONE, M.A., F.R.S.E., F.Z.S.

airy ite

2 © — at
- ~ . al
{ Xn, % a LA a. ‘ a\ eS A
boa * i +2 = ee |
G onl
vot? \
a) “es

EDINBURGH: OLIVER & BOYD, TweeppaLe Court
LONDON: GURNEY & JACKSON, 33 Parernoster Row

1921

(Authors are responsible for nomenclature used.) vo. i Be ARS

Pee ye

The Scottish Naturalist

Nos. 109 AND IIo. | moO [ Jan.-FEs.

EDITORIAL NOTES

A FEW weeks hence Dr W. Eagle Clarke will retire from the
Keepership of the Natural History Department of the Royal
Scottish Museum, and he thinks the time fitting also for his
withdrawal from being one of the Editors-in-chief of the
Scottish Naturalist. He intends to devote his leisure to the
completion of new editions of Saunders’ A/anual of British
Birds and Yarrell’s more sumptuous treatise on the same
subject. Since he was selected to edit the former Svoftesh
Naturalist thirty years ago, he has taken a leading part in
guiding the fortunes and maintaining the standard of it and
its successors, the Annals of Scottish Natural History (1892-
1911) and the present Scottish Naturalist (1912- ), and his
colleagues fee] that no ordinary tribute is due to these pro-
longed labours for the cause of the nature knowledge of our
country. Fortunately, Dr Clarke will still give his services
as an Assistant-Editor, and will continue to do all in his
power to further the best interests of our magazine. Dr
Clarke’s former place on the editorial staff has been taken,
at the request of his colleagues, by Dr James Ritchie, who
has, since 1912, acted as an Assistant-Editor, and to whom, at
the Royal Scottish Museum, communications for publication
should be sent.

It would be ungracious, in mentioning these changes, to
pass over the special services of Miss E. V. Baxter and Miss
I09 AND IIO A

32504

2 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

L. J. Rintoul, who during the stress of war years have not
only borne the greater part of the editing of the magazine,
but have also shouldered a large share of the financial
burdens due to the difficulties of the times.

* % % x

His colleagues desire to congratulate Dr A. Landsborough
Thomson, O.B.E., on his appointment to an Assistant-
Secretaryship in the Medical Research Council. His trans-
ference to London and to new duties necessitate his
withdrawal from the number of our Assistant-Editors, and
in a letter resigning his position he draws attention to
the fact that the band of young ornithologists whom he
represented on the Scottish Naturalist has been broken up
by the war, in which some of its chief members—S. E. Brock,
L. N. G. Ramsay, A. G. Davidson, and J. C. Adam—lost their
lives.

* ca se *

There are indications that British ornithology is entering
a new phase, and two communications published in this
number help to forward a movement which, through an
intensive investigation of bird associations and bird distri-
bution in different types of regions, ought to bring a new
stimulus to the study of Scottish bird life. The late Capt.
S. E. Brock’s paper on “ Bird Associations ” suggests a pre-.
liminary territorial grouping of our bird life, and Dr W. E.
Collinge appeals for a definite enumeration of each species of
British bird. Not every reader will agree that a bird census in
Britain, where there is extraordinary patchiness and diversity
of surface, can be so accurately compassed as in the United
States with its enormous areas of uniform conditions.
But even in Britain a census is possible, as we hope to
demonstrate by publishing in an early number a detailed
enumeration of birds breeding in the county of Linlithgow.

* Lo * *

It is not to be hoped that anything approaching a
complete census of Scottish bird life can be accomplished
in the twinkling of an eye, but a beginning might be made;
and an easy beginning is suggested by those species which
form visible colonies during the nesting season, such as

EDITORIAL NOTES 3

Rooks, Herons, and inland-breeding Gulls. An enumeration
of such colonists would be of special interest at the present
time; for the war has altered many of the former sites, and
there must have been much changing of quarters. In a
recent letter Sir Arthur Grant, Bart., of Monymusk, men-
tioned that he had formerly two rookeries and a heronry on
his estate, but that since the woods had been cut the birds
had gone elsewhere; such a case must be typical of many
in Scotland to-day. The fact that the Scottssh Naturalzst
published a list of our heronries before the war, and that in a
few districts the rookeries and gulleries have been recorded,
would add to the value of a new survey, which would enable
an exact estimate to be made of the indirect effects of the
war on these economically important native birds. We
would suggest, therefore, that where a complete survey of
bird life cannot be attempted, observers should, during the
coming season, record the numbers of rookeries, gulleries,
and heronries in their own areas, as well as the number of
occupied nests or breeding pairs in each colony. Such
information, and any attempts to form a more complete
survey of the bird life of a district, the Editors would be
glad to receive with a view to placing the observations on
permanent record.

Arrangements have been made for a number of entomo-
logical articles of general interest, but the Editors would
welcome for consideration original notes or short articles
on the distribution, or records of close observations on
the life-histories .and habits of Scottish insects and other
invertebrates.

Late Breeding of Red Squirrel.—While cycling along Loch
Tayside, near Fearnan, on the 16th August 1920, I saw a Common
Red Squirrel crossing the road in front of me, carrying one of its
young in its mouth. It thereafter climbed up a larch tree, and I
had a good view of it through my binoculars before it finally
disappeared. As instances of the autumn breeding of the Squirrel are
comparatively rare, this incident may be worth recording.—_BRUCE
CAMPBELL, Edinburgh.

4 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Fulmar Petrel at Troup Head.—For some years previous
to 1916 Fulmar Petrels were seen by me in the neighbourhood of
Troup Head on the coast of Banffshire on the south border of the
Moray Firth, but the birds came singly, and so far as I could find
out did not nest. In 1916 the Fulmars began to nest in the cliffs
about Pennan, in Aberdeenshire, just across the border from Troup
Head, and since that time they have returned every year and have
nested in ever-increasing numbers. An illustration of their southward
progress is to be seen in their presence about the cliffs of Cove Bay
in Kincardineshire, a few miles south of Aberdeen.—Hucu TRAIL,
Aberdeen.

[This note amplifies the information given by Miss Gowan in
the Scottish Naturalist 1920, p. 171.—Eps. |

Black-tailed Godwit in Kirkcudbrightshire.—An indi-
vidual of this species was shot near Carsethorn (Kirkcudbright)
on 18th November 1920. It was a female in full winter plumage,
and although its condition in the flesh gave the impression that
it was a sick bird (perhaps had been previously wounded) its plumage
showed nothing unusual.—Hucu S. GLaDSTONE.

White-fronted Goose and Leach’s Fork-tailed Petrel in
Renfrewshire.—Two birds of special interest have turned up in
Renfrewshire during November 1920. On 17th November I had a
good look at a White-fronted Goose amongst various other wild
fowl at Castle Semple Loch. At first the goose was almost hidden
behind a turf bank, and only the head could be clearly seen each
time it was raised from feeding in the water. The white area at the
base of the bill and yellow bill with distinct white nail could then
be seen. Later, the goose walked up on the bank, showing as it
did so the dark bands and markings of the under parts. The
white behind the yellow legs extended in a V-shape above the tail
feathers, and this was very noticeable when I put the bird up, as it
flew lightly over on to the surface of the loch. It soon swam back
to land, however, and after grazing for a time went to sleep.

Our other rare visitor was a Leach’s Fork-tailed Petrel, picked
up near Kilbarchan on zoth November after the storm of a few
days before, and brought to me by Mr David Borland. There is
only one previous record of the Fork-tailed Petrel for the county,
when it was found at Newton Mearns so far back as December
1879. I possess, however, a Storm Petrel which also was captured
after a storm at Kilbarchan on 6th November 1911, some two
miles from the place where the latest fork-tailed bird was found.—
Tuomas MALLocyH, Johnstone.

THE WALRUS IN BRITISH WATERS 5

THE WALRUS IN BRITISH WATERS.

By JAMES RITCHIE, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S.E.

THE Walrus can no longer be reckoned a member of the
fauna of Scotland. Its visits nowadays do not rank it as
more than the most casual of stragglers, a waif borne by
some rare combination of chances to a distant shore. But
once, so the unravelling of its story indicates, the Walrus
was not only a familiar inhabitant of our coasts, but
frequented seas some considerable distance farther south.
Two causes seem to have disturbed its habits and gradually
to have transformed the native into a marvellously rare
stranger. The first was physical and long continued, a
secular change which drove northward the ice-packs of the
Glacial Period and replaced in Scotland an arctic by a
temperate climate; the second was human, and has been in
force for not many hundreds of years, the deliberate and
organised destruction of the Walrus herds of northern seas
for the sake of the commercial products they yielded. I
propose in this paper to state the facts which suggest these
and other conclusions.

In Prehistoric Times—The Walrus is an inhabitant of
Arctic coasts. It hugs the land, being found usually on
shore or on the coastal ice, and is seldom found far out at
sea, except on ice. It is, therefore, reasonable to suppose
that, when the polar ice-sheet extended much farther south,
and during its retreat in the latter stage of the Ice Age, was
setting free the ice-bound shores of Britain, the Walrus herds
accompanied the margin of the ice-field, and sported in the
seas to which glaciers descended from the backbone of
Scotland. Is the supposition supported by any evidence
that the Walrus was in existence during the Ice Age, and
that it did actually occur so far south as the British Isles ?
Even in the Pliocene period, which preceded the Ice Age,
a close relative of the Walrus of to-day, namely Alachtherium
cretst, left its remains in the Crag deposits of Belgium, and
several Walruses’ tusks, found in the same country and also

6 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

in the Red Crag of Suffolk, have been attributed to a
member of the present day genus, 7richechus huxleyt. The
race of the Walruses was clearly in existence before the
coming of the Glacial Period, and although no such early
remains of the modern Walrus (7vcchechus rosmarus,
Linnaeus) have been discovered, yet a skull found in peat
near Ely, on the Ouse in Cambridgeshire, and a lower jaw
from the Dogger Bank, show that in days later than the Ice
Age the Walrus ranged in British Seas far south of its
present haunts. Moreover, the laws of probability make
clear that remains which have been embedded by chance,
which have survived entombment through long ages, and
which finally have been discovered in casual excavations,
stand in a different category from, say, a modern far-south
occurrence of the Walrus in the Severn (to a case of which
I shall allude later), and that while the latter cannot be
regarded otherwise than as an isolated presence, the former
are much more likely to be representative of several or many
local contemporaries of the race. It is a reasonable supposi-
tion, then, that at, or previous to, the time when the Walrus
occurred in the North Sea in the regions of the Dogger
Bank and the Cambridgeshire fens it was a regular inhabitant
of the coasts of Scotland.

Actual occurrences of the Walrus in such far-off days are
not easy to find, but the discovery of a tooth in an earth-
house at Skara, Bay of Skaill, Orkney,! points to the capture
of one of these creatures by man, and that at a period not
long after his settlement in Scotland, for the earth-house
contained implements of bone and numerous stone relics,
indications of a primitive culture, as well as bones and horns
of Red Deer and the Great Wild Ox (Bos primigentus),
animals which at an early period disappeared from the fauna
of the Orkney Islands.

In Early Historic Times.—The evidence, scanty though
it is, suggests that the Walrus still continued to be an
inhabitant of Scotland during early historic times. The
Scandinavian nations of Europe are known to have carved
trinkets or ornaments from the tusks of the Walrus. In

1 Proc. Soc. Antig. Scot., 1870, vol. Vil., p. 212.

THE WALRUS IN BRITISH WATERS 7

1831, at the head of the Bay of Uig, in the island of Lewis,
there were discovered, in an underground dry-stone chamber
which had been buried under a sand-bank, seventy-eight
chess men, fourteen table men or draught board pieces and
a buckle, all carved in Walrus ivory.

There is no doubt as to the Walrus origin of the ivory,
for the chess men are cut from the tusk in positions such as
would yield the most suitable size of figure: the kings and
queens from the base of the tusk (so that the softer lining
of the pulp cavity sometimes shows), the bishops and
wardens from the middle of the tusk, and so on, in a series
the grading of which is determined by the narrowing of
the tusks.”

In the learned account from which these last statements
have been gathered, the author, Frederick Madden, further
states that the carving and costumes of the figures indicate
Scandinavian or Icelandic workmanship about the middle of
the twelfth century, and suggests that they may perhaps
have been lost by an Icelandic merchant shipwrecked off —
Lewis. But can their presence not be accounted for on
a simpler hypothesis? The Northmen long dominated the
Western Isles—from the beginning of the ninth century,
according to Hume Brown, “till past the middle of the
thirteenth century.” With them came their skill and their
crafts, and is there not probability in the suggestion that the
great store of carved Walrus ivory was wrought, after their
own fashion, by the Scandinavian settlers in Lewis from the
tusks of Walruses obtained in the land of their adoption ?

Fortunately there is more definite evidence that the
Walrus still inhabited northern Scotland even to the
sixteenth century. Hector Boece, the historian, makes no
doubt about it. As translated by Bellenden, 1536, he wrote
in 1527: “In Orkney is ane gret fische, mair [greater] than
ony hors, of mervellus and incredible sleip. This fische,
quhen scho beginnis to sleip, fesnis [fastens] hir teeth fast on
ane crag above the watter. Als sone as the marineris findis
hir on sleip, thay cum with ane stark cabill [strong rope] in

1 Proc. Soc. Antig. Scot., 1889, vol. xxiii. p. 9.
” Archeologia, vol. xxiv., pp. 203-91.

8 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

ane boit; and eftir that they have borit ane gret hole throw
hir tale, they festne her be the samin. Als sone as this
fische is awalknit [awakened] scho makis hir to leip with
gret force in the see; and fra scho find hirself fast, scho
writhis hir out of hir awin skin, and deis [dies]. Of
the fatnes that scho hes, is maid oulie [oil] in gret
quantite; and of hir skin, becaus it enduris lang, is maid
strong cabellis.” The essentials of Boece’s tale, so far as we
are concerned here, are that the Walrus was an inhabitant
of Orkney in the sixteenth century, and that the islanders
valued it and utilised it for precisely those commodities which
led to its subsequent slaughter by the seal-hunters of the
Old and New Worlds.

In Modern Times.—A great change has occurred in the
standing of the Walrus before the next series of records,
which fall within the nineteenth and the present centuries,
begins. In place of an inhabitant of the northern isles, there
are to be found now only occasional stragglers to our coasts;
but even the straggling shows a gradation, as an analysis of
the records shall show. For the sake of easy reference and
as a preface to further discussion I give here the essential
facts relating to all the modern occurrences known to me of
the Walrus in the British area. The visits are grouped in
geographical areas.

In the past summer (1920) a rumour has been current
amongst the fishermen of Banffshire that a Walrus had been
seen in the southern waters of the Moray Firth, but in the
absence of further information the rumour is too indefinite
to be regarded as a record.

The records in the following list are not all equally valuable.
There is some indefiniteness as to time and a shade of
uncertainty as to identification in Tudor’s records (4 and
7) from Shetland; the former remark also applies to the
Shetland records of about 1870 and 1895 (6 and 8); while no
date whatever is ascribed to the visit of a Walrus (17) to
Longhope, Orkney, although I infer that it was previous
to 1864. ;

In the continuation of this paper I shall discuss the
significance of the modern records.

RECORDS OF THE OCCURRENCE OF THE WALRUS IN
THE BRITISH AREA DURING THE NINETEENTH AND
TWENTIETH CENTURIES.

SCOTLAND
I. SHETLAND :

(1).

IIl..ORKNEY :

(10).

(ir).

(12 and 13)

(14) .
(15) -
@6).
(17) .
(18) .
(19) .

Ill. HEBRIDES:
Outer—

(20) .
Gor
Inner—

(@2)) c

ENGLAND
(23) .

IRELAND
(24) .

Year.

1815
1815

1828
1840 (about)

1857
1870 (about)
1870-80
(about)

1895 (about)
1920

1825

1827

1849-50
1855
1856
1857

Indefinite ;

before 1864

1863-4
1902

1817

1841

1877

1839

1897

Season.

Summer

Summer
Summer

July to Oct.

Beginning

of June on-
wards

Autumn

End of
December

April

June or July

Summer

Locality.

Fetlar Isle

Fetlar Isle
Balta Sound
Between Uya

and North-

maven
“ Nor’ Isles”

Out Skerries
Papa Sound

Out Skerries
Out Skerries

Pentland Firth
to Stromness
to Eday
Hoy Sound

Walls
Eday
Walls
General
Longhope

Longhope
Northern Isles

Loch Seaforth
to Caolas

Stocnis, Harris

E. Heiskar

Sound of Sleat,

Skye

Mouth of
Severn

Mouth of
Shannon

Recorder.

Edmondston, Wem. Wer-
nerian VN. FT, Soc., 1839.
Do. do.

Do. do.
Tudor, 7he Orkneys and

Shetland, 1883.

R. Brown, P. Zoo. Soc.,
1868.

Scot. Nat., 1920.

Tudor, of. c7t., 1883.

Scot. Nat., 1920.
Do. do.

Scarth, dzub. Phil.

Journ., 1825.

Buckley and Harvie-
Brown, Vert. Fauna
of Orkney Islands,189t.

Harvie-Brown, P. V. H.
Soc., Glasgow, 1881.

Buckley and Harvie-
Brown, of. c7t., 1891.

Do. do.

R. Brown, /oc. c7t., 1868.

Buckley and Harvie-
Brown, of. ciz., 1891.

Do. do.

Millais, Mammals of Gt.

Britain, 1904.

Macgillivray, Zdind.
Phil. Journ., 1818.

R. Brown, Axn, Mag.
N. Af., 1871.

Harvie-Brown, /oc. cit.,
1881.

W. Macgillivray, Zand. |
Journ. Nat. Sct., 1839.

Millais, of. c7t., 1904.

109 AND IIO

(Zo be continued.)

ie) THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Glossy Ibises in Scotland in 1920.—In our last number
was published a record of the occurrence of two of these rare birds
in Islay in September ; but since then the two following notes from
Shetland and Aberdeenshire have been received, showing that the
presence of Glossy Ibises was no isolated event but the result of a
wide-spread movement. How far-reaching was this diversion from
the usual migration route to the south is shown by the number of
autumn records from Britain, as well as by the fact that the area
visited stretched from Unst, the most northerly of the Shetland
Isles (4th November) to the most southerly corner of the island—
Land’s End (30th September).

Gtossy Inis In UNST, SHETLAND.—On the 4th November 1920,
a Glossy Ibis was shot at Balta Sound, Unst, by a man who
thought it was a duck, and who to his disappointment discovered it
to be a stranger—‘‘I was that disappointed when I found it would
not mak’ a diet.” Iam forwarding the specimen, which is an adult
male in fine glossy plumage, to the Royal Scottish Museum.—T.
EDMONDSTON SAxpBy, Shetland.

Gtossy IpisEs IN ABERDEENSHIRE.— During the last fortnight of
October 1920, I had frequent opportunities of observing two Glossy
Ibises (Plegadis falcinellus) near Kintore, Aberdeenshire. I first
noticed them about the middle of the month within a mile of
Kintore after a heavy flood on the river Don. They did not seem
to be very wild, as on one occasion I got within about 50 yards of
them before they took to flight.—Jamrs F. Lumspen, Aberdeen.

Ravens in North Uist.—Last week I was shooting over a
moorland part of North Uist which is rarely disturbed by man.
On my return home one night in the gloaming, as I was nearing a
rocky hill, I observed some Ravens. I began to”count them. My
first count came to twenty-three; but more were still coming in
sight, as they made for the rocks on which they were to roost.
Before I left I counted forty-three, and there seemed to be still
more arriving. I should not be surprised if there were in all more
than fifty—a very large number of Ravens to be seen together.—
GEORGE BEVERIDGE.

Green Sandpiper in Berwickshire.—An individual of this
species was shot on 27th November 1920 on a small burn that
runs into the Blackadder near Nisbet. The gardener reported that
he had shot the “strange bird,” which I have now forwarded to the
Royal Scottish Museum.—T. G. LaIpLaw.

BIRD-ASSOCIATIONS IN SCOTLAND II

BIRD SASS © CEATIONS IiNes COmeAN DD:
By the late Captain SYDNEY E. Brock, M.C.!

THERE is, I suppose, no country in the world with a more
voluminous bird literature than this, and it might not
unreasonably be supposed that at least little remains to
be said on the distributional aspect of the subject. How
far that is to be considered so, depends upon the point of
view. The value of an account of a local fauna, as I
understand it, depends upon the completeness with which it
gives us the “what,” the “how” and the “why ” of its faunal
distributions—a threefold enquiry answered by the cor-
responding progressive steps of a complete biological
survey: the faunal list, the correlation of distribution with
the natural features of the area, and lastly, the collation
and measurement of the bionomic factors affecting the
fauna. So far as birds are concerned, the first of these,
the faunistic, is covered by the local bird list; the second,
or ecological, is ostensibly so; the final stage of enquiry,
theMmiMometnic. is mcontessedly snot dealt hwithy) lt) 1s the
second stage, the “how” of the distribution of birds—the
ecological aspect—that I wish to touch on mainly here.
The local list, as we get it in this country, claims to place
on record the species found within defined limits, and to
give an account of their comparative abundance and manner
of distribution; and the customary method followed is to
give in the first place a general sketch of the area dealt
with, and to follow this up with a list under heading of

1/This paper formed part of a bundle of MSS. found among the
effects of the late Captain S. E. Brock, and handed to me by his brother,
Dr A. J. Brock, a few months ago. It is understood to have been written
in 1913 or 1914, and though perhaps not exactly as the author would
finally have published it, there are no indications that material altera-
tions were contemplated. It is a fresh and interesting attempt to deal
with the bird-life of Scotland on an ecological basis, and should be
read along with the author’s paper on “The Ecological Relations of
Bird Distribution,” published in 1914 (British Birds, vol. viil., pp.
30-44).—W. E., 29¢2 November 1920.]

12 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

species, accompanied by such legends as “rare,” “local,”
“common,” “abundant everywhere,’ or even with such
rather superfluous phrases as “found in all suitable
localities.” A noticeable tendency in such works, and
apparently an increasing one, is to dismiss with brevity
the more widespread and typical species of the list, and
on the other hand to deal exhaustively and at length with
every casual wanderer which has staked a claim to a place
in the British Bird List. In a recently published work,
for instance, the distribution of the Robin is considered
to be sufficiently dealt with by the statement “common in
all suitable localities, and even found on the higher hills” ;
from which latter remark we incidentally gather that the
higher hills are not suitable localities in spite of the bird’s
presence. In the same book, in an account of so
representative a species as the Meadow-pipit, we are
informed that “this bird is so common, even on the highest
moors, that we may be pardoned for passing it over
briefly.” What would be thought, to take a parallel which
comes near to us, of an ethnologist who, in professing to
give an account of the races of men inhabiting the
British Islands, was to dismiss in such summary fashion
the Saxon and Celt, but proceeded to deal exhaustively
with the recorded visits to this country of the Andaman
Islanders! Surely the inhabitants of a country, whether
human or avian, deserve notice in direct proportion to
their range and numerical standing.

Taking, then, as a basis, the faunistic list, the next step
in our investigation is the working out of the manner
of distribution of the species, a problem far from exhausted
by such remarks as I have quoted. No one supposes, of
course, that birds are distributed accidentally throughout
the country; certain species are associated with particular
surroundings, recognised by such rough classifications as
Woodland Birds, Aquatic Birds, Sea-birds, and so on. As
a rough generalisation it might be set down that, as the
plant-formation of a country is based on and is dependent
on the geology, and the insect-fauna depends on the flora,
so in turn the bird-life depends upon the plant-formation

BIRD-ASSOCIATIONS IN SCOTLAND 13

and its accompanying invertebrate fauna, and thus indirectly,
and in a degree directly, on the underlying geology. There
are of course other factors, such as climate, inter-rela-
tions of species and so forth, but these are probably
in the main of somewhat secondary importance. Climate,
in so far as it affects the plant-formation, may exert a
profound influence upon the avifauna, but its direct effect
is apparently not of great value. That this is so, seems
to be borne out by the manner in which dominant species
range throughout many degrees of latitude.

In dealing with birds, we are met at the outset
by a difficulty which does not trouble the botanist or the
entomologist. | Food-supply is equally essential in each
case, but with birds there arises the additional requisite of
nesting-ground, and we know that it is not less necessary
than the former. In many groups, such as Plovers, Larks,
Pipits, etc, the two essentials are co-existent, the birds
nesting on their feeding-grounds. In others, such as Crows,
Swallows, Hawks, sea-fowl, the two are separated, and
the specific range is absolutely limited by whichever of the
two, food or nesting-ground, is relatively inadequate. To
realise how a narrowly defined nesting-habit may affect a
bird’s very existence, it is only necessary to picture the effect
on the British avifauna which would be brought about by
the complete disappearance of our rocky coasts and islands,
We would at once lose our Auks, nearly all our Gulls,
Petrels, and many others. They would vanish as British
species, not because of a failure in food-supply, but by
reason of a lack of nesting-ground.

It is probable that birds, as a class, are more conservative
as regards nesting than as regards food. We know too
little of the latter subject to dogmatise, but considering
how persistently a certain nest-type is found running
through a genus or family otherwise variable, the suggestion
seems not unreasonable. It almost suggests that the
evolution of the nest and the nesting-habit have tended to
lag behind in the development of the race, and it is easy to
picture how such a tendency may have checked the increase
or dispersal of a species. The Swallow is often quoted as an

14 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

example of nest-adaptation to a new environment. Our
Swallow, originally without doubt a cave-dweller, and
therefore, before the arrival of man, mainly confined to
the coast and to inland cliffs, has colonised our buildings,
and thereby been enabled enormously to extend both in
range and numbers. But this modification in habit is
‘more apparent than real. To the Swallow a shed or other
building is merely a species of cave, and in utilising it
for its nest it can hardly be said to have made any true
change in habit. A similar remark applies to such a case
as that of the Swift, another bird which has made use of
man’s buildings, but only, as we believe, because of their
close approximation in character to the ancestral rock
or cliff. On the other hand, there are not a few instances
of radical modification of feeding-habit, and the most
frequently quoted example, and one of the most striking,
is the New Zealand Kea, which, originally a fruit-eater,
has within a few generations taken to a flesh diet.

In view, therefore, of its essential importance, it seems
most convenient to take the nesting-ground as the basis
of an ecological classification. This limits a faunal discussion
to those species on the British list which breed within the
limits of the area. I believe such a definition to be the only
scientific one: a bird is British only when it is literally a
native, and such a species as the Fieldfare on the one hand,
or the Yellow-browed Warbler on the other, no more deserve
inclusion as British species than does the American tourist
deserve to be regarded as a British citizen.

A bird-association accordingly, includes that group of
species found associated together during the nesting-season
on ground of a certain geological or botanical type; and the
wider divisions in which botanists class their plant forma-
tions, are in practice found to mark off corresponding
bird-associations. Apart from mere convenience in classifica-
tion, such a grouping is important, since it leads to such
questions as the inter-relationships of bird and plant
species.

The Scottish avifauna might in the first instance be
classified into the following wider groups of Associations, each

BIRD-ASSOCIATIONS IN SCOTLAND 15

of which in turn requires sub-division according to secondary
types: 1, Alpine and Sub-alpine Associations ; 2, Moorland
Associations; 3, Associations of the Drainage-system ;
4, Maritime Associations; 5, Woodland Associations ;
6, Associations of Hill Pasture; 7, Associations of Arable
Land; 8, Associations of Buildings. It would be impossible
within reasonable limits to do more than survey very
rapidly and on broad lines some of the principal and striking
Associations contained within these groups, even had I
knowledge sufficient to go into detail, and this I am far from
claiming.

ALPINE AND SUB-ALPINE ASSOCIATIONS.

The area which I include under this heading divides
itself naturally as follows: 1, the barren and stony region
of the mountain-top beyond the normal limits of heather-
growth; 2, the heather-clad hill-side; 3, the cliffs; 4, the
_ lower slopes of detritus with a vegetative covering of grasses
and bracken; and, finally, the alluvial area of the valley-
bottom. These successive regions, vegetatively distinct, are
accompanied by equally definite faunal types. In the first
region, that of the barren ground above the heather-limit, with
its typical stunted vegetation and frost-splintered debris, we
have a very definite, if small, bird-association, which comprises
the Ptarmigan, Dotterel and Snow-bunting. The first-named,
usually the dominant species, exists all over the region, above
an approximate altitude of some 2500 feet. The Dotterel’s
nesting-ground is essentially limited to those areas on which
grow the characteristic extensive mats of the alpine moss,
Rhacomitrium lanuginosum. The third member of the
association, the Snow-bunting, is dependent on the granite
screes of the central mountain-tops or the similar screes
of the Torridon sandstone and the Cambrian quartzite of the
North-West Highlands.

In the heather region, which follows next in order as we
descend, the place of the Ptarmigan is taken by the Red
Grouse, the Snow-bunting is replaced by the Wheatear,
and the Meadow-pipit is much in evidence, to mention only
the more typical representatives.

16 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Taking next the mountain-cliff, we reach an association _
ofa new aspect, distinguished from those already touched on
by its relatively unstable nature. A mountain-cliffis subjected
in an exceptional degree to alteration in profile through
weathering, and the resulting instability is.not without effect
on the avifauna, which is likewise unstable. In a botanical
sense, an association of this character is distinguished by Dr
Crampton from those of a relatively stable nature by the
term migratory; and this distinction is worth keeping in
mind likewise in the case of birds. Later, when we come to
Woodlands, I shall have occasion to refer again to the
contrast between stable and migratory associations. The
more prominent birds associated with the mountain-cliff
fauna, are: Raven, Peregrine, Kestrel, Buzzard, and Golden
Eagle. The existence and comparative numbers of each of
these in a district is dependent not only upon the supply of
rocks, but upon their structure and manner of weathering.
Every field-man is aware that the nest requirements vary
in each species of this list. An Eagle requires a ledge
of a proportion not by any means to be found on all cliffs.
The Peregrine seeks a comfortable grassy ledge commanding
a wide outlook. The Buzzard prefers to rest his nest partly
upon the roots of a tree growing in a crevice in the rock.
The Raven regards no site as eligible which is not provided
with a heavy overhang above the nest, and, it might be
incidentally added, a nasty climb below. The cliff-factor
in the distribution of these birds is one which must be
reckoned with, and it would be a fascinating subject for
enquiry to follow out how far their comparative numbers and
range are correlated with it, as compared with the food-
supply. There are some apparent anomalies to be explained.
In the sheep-country of central Scotland, for example, as
contrasted with the deer-forest of the Cairngorms, the Raven
and Peregrine are relatively numerous, and the Golden Eagle
relatively scarce. How far is this correlated with food-supply
or with nesting-ground? A friend of mine, to whom I
recently put the question, rather took me aback by the
flippant suggestion that it was less a question of food-supply
or nesting-ground than one of the psychology of the Highland

BIRD-ASSOCIATIONS IN SCOTLAND 17

gamekeeper—a subtle factor which I am not prepared to
estimate.

On the grassy and bracken-covered detritus which slopes
from the cliff-bases and the steeper hill-sides, other birds thus
far absent appear for the first time, or take a more dominant
position in the fauna. On the opener grassy area we get
such birds as Curlew and Meadow-pipit ; and in the bracken-
region, with its sprinkling or skirting of birch and oak, we
find the Black Grouse, Woodcock, and locally the Nightjar.
In the bottom of the glen exists a broader or narrower strip
of alluvial soil, which, when not cultivated, forms usually
a soft or marshy stretch with a vegetation of rough grasses,
rushes, and probably some dwarf willows or other shrubs.
Here the Skylark, Snipe and Redshank have their centre
of distribution.

MOORLAND ASSOCIATIONS.

I have placed this association in a separate category from
the Alpine and Sub-alpine, since it is less characteristic of the
steeper hill-sides than of the wide plateaux, which may exist
at all levels down almost to that of the sea. Heather is
of course the chief vegetative constituent, though not in all
classes of moor. Ground dominated by heather is divided
by botanists into, amongst others, heath and Calluna-moor,
according to the character of the sub-soil, the heather being
found chiefly in the drier eastern and central parts of the
country, while the true moor, which possesses a much deeper
under-layer of peat, is more typical of localities with a
relatively large rainfall. The Red Grouse is characteristic
of both, but is perhaps more plentiful on the Calluna-moor.

In passing, it should be noted that this Grouse is not
confined to heather, being abundant in the Vaccinium-moors
of Yorkshire and elsewhere. Amongst Passerines which are
included in the fauna of the heather-moor are Ring-ouzel,
Wheatear, Whinchat, Stonechat, Meadow-pipit, Twite; but
several of these reach their most dominant position in associa-
tions of somewhat different type. Other moorland species
are: Merlin, Teal, Golden-plover and Dunlin. In moor-
lands of a wetter type, where the heather-dominance is

109 AND IIO Cc

18 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

more incomplete and broken, and where such plants as
Nardus stricta, Deschampsia cespitosa, Eriophorum, etc., take
a prominent place, we find a richer fauna, richer, that is to
say, in population-density, than that of the drier moor. They
form, in my experience, the metropolis of the Golden-plover,
Curlew, etc., while other species, such as the Skylark, Meadow-
pipit and Snipe, are comparatively abundant. It is also in
moors of this type that we are most likely to find a Black-
headed Gull colony, with which is frequently associated, but
in infinitely smaller numbers, the Lesser Black-backed Gull.

ASSOCIATIONS OF THE DRAINAGE-SYSTEM.

Taking in turn the leading associations of this group, we
may commence with the streams. Of these, there are two
main types, the Highland and Lowland, the former charac-
terised by its rapid flow and rocky bed, and the latter,
flowing as it commonly does through glacial drift, with a
gentler fall and less plentiful outcrop of rock and with its
banks bearing a more luxuriant vegetation. Certain species,
such as Grey Wagtail and Dipper, are common to both, but
their numbers, especially in the case of the Dipper, are
frequently affected in the Lowland type by a scarcity of
nesting-sites. The Sandpiper is likewise characteristic of both,
but is absent from the smaller streams. More exclusively
belonging to the Highland type is the Goosander, on the
larger rivers, and, where extensive shingle beds are a feature,
the Oyster-catcher and Ringed Plover. The Lowland stream
in its turn has a greater charm for the Kingfisher, and the
Waterhen is much more plentiful. The comparative abund-
ance of the Sedge Warbler depends upon the luxuriance or
otherwise of the bank-vegetation, and the bird therefore
tends to have a more dominant position on the Lowland
burn or river.

The lochs fall into at least four natural series: the deep
loch of the Highland valley, the shallower, peaty loch of the
moors, the sea-loch, and the Lowland loch with a fenland
type of vegetation. In their faunal aspects they are largely
distinct from one another. The loch of the Highland valley,
characterised by its depth of water and sandy or gravelly

BIRD-ASSOCIATIONS IN SCOTLAND 19

shores, has a rather poor avifauna, especially in Ducks, none
of which can be called abundant. Mallard and Teal occur
sparingly, and locally the Goosander, Coot, Waterhen, and
Little Grebe are members of the list, but are scarcely
characteristic: _ No bird is' more typical here than the
Sandpiper, and locally the Ringed Plover hasa place. The
Divers, Red-throated and Black-throated, are found both in
lochs of this type, in which they both nest and feed, and in
small peaty lochans, used merely for nesting purposes and
as nurseries for the chicks. The distinction is an important
one, because, while in the one case any loch of a suitable
character is available for settlement, in the other only those
lochans lying within reach of the sea can be colonised by
the birds. Such lochans, containing Divers of one or other
species, and frequently also the Little Grebe—the absence
of the Coot is a feature—are characteristic of many parts of
the Shetlands, Hebrides, and North-West Highlands. Ofthe
moorland peat-lochs one hears contradictory accounts. They
are usually, in my experience, exceedingly destitute of bird-
life, except for the frequent occurrence of a Black-headed
Gull colony, but according to some writers, such as the author
of The Lird-Life of the Borders, some lochs of this description
have a fauna notably rich in Ducks, such as Wigeon, Pochard,
Tufted-duck, and Shoveler. The sea-loch of the West Coast,
similar in geological origin to that of the Highland valley,
has, amongst other representative species, the Merganser,
Oyster-catcher, Common Gull, Tern.

The last type of loch, which is usually somewhat shallow,
with a humus soil and luxuriant short and sub-aquatic
vegetation of a fenland character, has undoubtedly the
richest fauna of all. Such lochs as Loch Leven and Loch
Gelly are well known, the former especially, for their re-
markable wealth of bird-life, including, amongst others, such
species as Mallard, Tufted-duck, Pochard, Shoveler, Pintail,
Wigeon, Gadwall, Great-crested Grebe. The great faunal
richness of Loch Leven, it should be noted, is in great part
due to the secure and suitable nesting-ground afforded by
its islands. In such an example as Loch Gelly, less well
supplied in this respect, the birds are dependent upon the

20 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

shore vegetation for their nests, the Grebes, Coots, and
Waterhens in the outer fringes of the reed-beds, followed
successively on the landward side by Sedge Warbler, Reed-
bunting, Mallard, Pochard, Snipe, Redshank, Tufted-duck.
Many of our smaller lochs of this type are in rapid process
of silting up, and where this is the case the avifauna is a
migratory one. The more aquatic species, such as Coot and
Grebe, are crowded out first, and eventually disappear, to be
followed by Water-rail, Waterhen, Sedge Warbler, and Reed-
bunting, somewhat in the order named. When the silting-up
process has proceeded far, the marsh becomes dominated in
some cases by bog-myrtle, and a new colonist may appear
in the form of the Grasshopper Warbler. Eventually, with
a further drying up of the ground, the marsh flora entirely
disappears, to be replaced by encroaching vegetation of
the surrounding country, accompanied by its characteristic
fauna.

MARITIME ASSOCIATIONS.

Prominent amongst these is the Sand-dune Association.
The geological and botanical constituents are here arranged
zonally to the tide, and a similar feature is presented by the
avifauna. Proceeding from the shore inwards, we have a
succession somewhat as follows: The region immediately
above high-water mark, constituting the storm-beach, vary-
ing according to geological conditions, consists of sand or
gravel, scantily clad by plants, and in some cases with a
prominent shell-zone. Here the first birds of the association
appear in the Ringed Plover, and locally the Lesser Tern,
the numerical status of the former modified in accordance
with the abundance of pebbles, while the Lesser Tern appears
to have its greatest settlements on beaches with a super-
abundance of shells. The sandy beach is backed by the
bare sand-dunes, populated in many instances by Common
and Arctic Terns, the latter showing a tendency to settle on
the lower edges of the dunes, and to encroach into the beach
itself. On the landward side the dunes are invaded by the
sand-binding marram grass, and in turn by a closer and
more varied vegetation of scrubby heather and other plants.

NOTES 21

The bird-succession, named in the same order, includes
the Skylark, Meadow-pipit, Wheatear, and, in less distinct
sequence, such species as the Sheldrake, Stockdove, Lapwing,
Golden Plover, Dunlin, Eider-duck, Stonechat, and locally
Yellow Wagtail ; while the landward bush-growth is populated
by the Whitethroat, Greenfinch, and other invaders from
the bordering associations.

(To be continued.)

Blackcap Warbler at Kilmacolm.—On Tuesday morning,
30th November 1920, as the boys from the Sailors’ Orphan Homes
were leaving for school, they picked up an adult male Blackcap
Warbler, which they handed to the schoolmaster. It had struck
the telephone wire and was alive when picked up. To the local
schoolmaster (Mr W. L. Walker) we are indebted for the record of
this exceptionally late date for a bird which is very little known in
the parish. I sent the bird to Dr Eagle Clarke, who reminds me that
it has occurred in Dumfriesshire up to 29th November, so our
Renfrewshire record is one day later.—T. THORNTON MackEITH,
Kilmacolm.

The Palmated Newt in Argylishire.—In the beginning of
June last (1920) I received from Mr J. B. Henderson, lighthouse-
keeper, three adult examples of the Palmated Newt (Molge palmaza)
from Sanda, off the south end of Kintyre. Twenty years ago,
namely in July r9o1, I had one sent to me from Oban by Mr R.
Godfrey. I mention these occurrences seeing there is no allusion
to the species in Harvie-Brown’s Vertebrate Fauna of Argyll, or in
Mr John Paterson’s report of a visit to Sanda in Transactions of the
Natural History Soc. of Glasgow, vol. vy. (n.s.), 1898.—WILLIAM
Evans, Edinburgh.

Swallow Fly, Stenopteryx hirundinis, L., in the Morn-
ingside suburb of Hdinburgh.—Among the debris beneath the
lining of a House-martin’s nest which Mr E. B. Bailey kindly
secured for me last September from a window-corner in his house
at Pentland Terrace, Edinburgh, I found two puparia of this curious
parasitic fly. Doubtless S. Airundinis occurs commonly enough
in Martins’ nests in this district, but I am not aware that it has
been recorded from any part of the Forth Area since 1809, when
Stewart included it in his list of insects found in the neighbourhood
of Edinburgh, published in Vol. I. of the Wernerian Society's =.

Memotrs.—W1LL1AM Evans, Edinburgh. Pes uA /

22 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

HE NEED FOR AISI RDI CENSUS:

By WALTER E. COLLINGE, D.Sc., F.L.S., M.B.O.U.,
The University, St Andrews.

THE suggestion of a bird census of the British Isles, if not
regarded as a scheme purely visionary, is likely to be received
by many people with a smile and good-natured criticism.
The idea of attempting to count the number of individuals of
any species of wild bird will no doubt be regarded as unfeasible
and due rather to misguided enthusiasm than to a conviction
based upon scientific data. This indeed was the attitude
adopted in the United States of America some seven years
ago; but that such a scheme is possible and capable of pro-
viding results of great value, has been amply demonstrated
by the work of the late Mr Wells W. Cooke and _ his
colleagues.

When we recognise the great value of most of our wild
birds to agriculture and horticulture, it is at once apparent
that, if we know little or nothing as to its dimensions, we are
neglecting a natural force of incalculable value. Moreover,
unless we possess more exact information as to the approxi-
mate numbers of the commoner species of wild birds and
their relative abundance, it is almost impossible to frame
adequate laws for their protection or repression, for in such
cases so much depends upon whether a species is increasing
or decreasing, and whether this increase or diminution is
general or only of a local nature.

At the present time we have frequent complaints that a
particular species is too plentiful, and again that another is
less abundant than hitherto; but we find that almost
immediately these records are published they are con-
tradicted by someone living in another district. In the
absence of reliable statistical evidence it is impossible to say
what measure of protection should be afforded: one species,
and whether locally or generally ; and in like manner it is
exceedingly difficult to state definitely to what extent

THE NEED FOR A BIRD CENSUS 23

repressive measures should be instituted with regard to other
species.

It is obvious that bird counts, such as are here suggested,
will only furnish approximate figures, but if the counts were
repeated year by year, they could scarcely fail to provide
data which would form, from almost any standpoint, a most
useful and valuable basis upon which to work,

It is interesting and important to note that such studies
have in practice afforded very valuable evidence of the
relative abundance of different species. They have shown
that the average bird population can be largely increased ;
that there are wide variations in the numbers of birds in
different areas, and that these variations fluctuate from year
to year; that in certain areas there are far too few birds on
farm land, and that their numbers can be increased with a
little care. Moreover, such counts have materially helped in
determining what effect present legislation has upon the
increase of game and insectivorous birds.

So far as I know, no bird census has ever been attempted
for the British Isles, but in other countries, particularly the
United States, a number of statistical studies have been
made, the most important being that commenced in 1914,
and still being continued. Surely if it is feasible to obtain
valuable results in a country of over three and a half million
square miles, it should be possible to do so on a comparatively
small area of 121,000 square miles, such as the British Isles.
On the lines laid down by Professor S. A. Forbes and the
late Mr Wells W. Cooke, such a statistical study is quite
possible.

In the United States the method adopted has been to
obtain a large series of bird counts, taken during the breeding
season, in order to ascertain the number of pairs of birds
breeding within definite areas. Some selected area or areas,
fairly representative of the average character of the country
in a particular neighbourhood, are taken, the area being not
less than a quarter of a square mile or larger than double that
size. The recorder is required to furnish the number of pairs
of birds actually nesting within the selected area, not birds
feeding therein only.

24 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Various methods of procedure are in vogue for working
an area, and for checking and revising the results, in order to
insure that each bird recorded is actually nesting in the area,
and that no species has been overlooked. Ultimately the
particulars are forwarded to the Bureau of Biological Survey,
with full details as to the character of the area, crops, etc,
and a sketch map of the area chosen, showing the outside
boundaries, the boundaries of the principal fields, designating
the approximate area of each crop, the location of buildings,
and any streams, marshes, or bodies of water.

If there is an isolated piece of woodland near to the
above, a separate census is made, and still a third from any
larger and more definite area forming part of a large tract
of timber.

So far, very interesting results have been obtained, which
serve as a basis for a few interesting deductions, and also to
indicate points which require further attention in the future.
The two published reports at least show that the project is
capable of being carried out, and further, that a considerable
amount of satisfactory and important information can be
obtained.

At a time when much desultory work of limited value is
being done in British ornithology, such work as is entailed
by a census would offer a sphere of activity to a large
number of people interested in wild bird life,and at the same
time furnish a record of great value.

Gadwall in Berwickshire.—On the lake near Duns there
were still present on 5th December 1920 a pair of Gadwall which
had arrived about three weeks before.—T. G. LaipLaw.

Late Nesting of Mallard.—I am credibly informed that on
gth November 1920, a brood of seven ducklings was seen on the
pond near Lincluden House, Dumfries.—Hueu S. GLADSTONE.

ADDITIONS TO THE COLEOPTERA OF THE CLYDE AREA 25

AOD ITIONS LO, tiie COLEOPTERA ©8 THE
CEY DETAR EA:

By JOHN E. MurpuHy and THos. H. M. GORDON.

IN the following paper are comprised two lists of Beetles
which have been collected in the basin of the Clyde and
the presence of which has not so far been recorded for the
Clyde Area. The majority of these Beetles are undoubtedly
natives of the localities, but a few, as the appended remarks
hint, have probably been imported to the district in various
ways.

I. List of ADDITIONS BY JOHN E. MurRpHY.

Sphodrus leucophthalmus, L., one under a tool-box after a cargo
had been landed from Spain, Kingston Dock, Glasgow.

Pogonus chalceus, Msh., one under a stone near the shore,
Ardrossan.

Limnebtus nitidus, Msh., one in wet moss, Possil Marsh.

Lathrobium boreale, Hoch., two under stones, Ardlui.

Cajfius xantholoma, var. variolosus, Shp., one in flood refuse,
Saltcoats.

Proteinus brachypterus, Fab., one under stone, Ardrossan.

Micropeplus staphylinoides, Msh., one in refuse, Langbank.

Oxypoda annularts, Sahlb., three under stones, Kilmun.

Dermestes vulpinus, Fab., in taxidermist’s shop, Glasgow.

Attagenus pellio, L., three bred from larvae found on a
stuffed Otter, Rothesay.

Lecrobia ruficollis, Fab.,. common in the Bone Room,
Veterinary College, Glasgow.

Lecrobia rufipes, De G., in taxidermist’s shop, Glasgow.

Trigonogenius globulum, Sol., several in bales of pasteboards,
Glasgow.

Mezium affine, Boiel., two, Bone Room, Veterinary College,
Glasgow.

Lyctus canaliculatus, Fab., one in a new ash hammer-shaft,
Glasgow.

Carpophilus hemtpterus, L., one in bale of pasteboards,
Glasgow.

Laemophloeus ferrugineus, Stph., flour mills, Glasgow.

Laemophtloeus pusillus, Sch., flour mills, Glasgow.

Cryptophagus pubescens, Stm., in company with C. acutangulus,
Gyll., under the slates on an old stable, Paisley. One resembling

109 AND 110 D

26 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

var. Zoevendali, Gang., in form, somewhat darker in colour and with
penultimate joint of antennae like C. pubescens ; Milngavie.
Apion pomonae, Fab., by sweeping, Paisley.
Sitones sulcifrons, Thunb., by sweeping vetch, Strathblane.
Calandra oryzae, L., flour mills, Glasgow.

II. List or AppiTIoNs By TuHos. H. M. Gorpon.
Authorities for localities :—D. W, WOTHERSPOON (W.); J. S. SHARP (S.) ;
J. D. Lesiiz (L.); Cas. Kirk (K.); J. E. MURPHY (M.)

Amara similata, Gyll., one, Cumbrae 1gog (G.); one, near
Saltcoats, July 1920 (M.).

Helophorus brevipalpis, Bedel, running water, Possil Marsh, 28th
February 1920 (W.; G.); Hogganfield, 2nd June 1919 (W.; G.).

Aleochara succicola, Thoms., under stone, Summerston, 30th
March 1920 (W.; G.).

Stenus rogert, Kr., Craigmaddie, 24th May 1909 (W.).

Stenus melanopus, Msh., Craigmaddie, June 1913 (W.; G.).

Anthobium minutum, ¥., several on Caltha palustris, Dougald-
ston, 8th June 1920 (W.; G.).

Thanatophilus sinuatus, F., one crawling among grass, hilly
ground, Cumbrae, July 1913 (S.).

Sphaerttes glabratus, F., three, in dung, College Grounds,
Cumbrae, 1909 (G.).

Monotoma spinicollis, Aubé, one, in box of horns packed with
hay, in taxidermist’s shop, Glasgow, 21st September 1920 (W.).

Coccinella 11-punctata, var. confluens, Donis., one, beating firs,
Craigend, 1913 (W.).

Exochomus 4-pustulatus, L., frequent, Possil, on sallows, May
1914 (G.); Dougaldston, 31st May 1919 (W.; G.).

Dermestes murinus, L., six, in taxidermist’s shop, Glasgow, 21st
July 1920 (W.).

Aphodius sticticus, Panz., Bowling, 20th March 1920 (W.; G.):
Helensburgh, 5th April 1920 (M.; W.; G.).

Ptilinus pectinicornts, L., one, in house, Broomhill, Glasgow,
LOL (2).

Flaltica brittent, Shp., Cumbrae, on heath, June 1914 (S.);
Kames, July 1919 (W.). Mr J. J. Walker, who has kindly ex-
amined most of these beetles, considers the specimens sent him to
be most probably of this species.

Apion immune, Kby., by sweeping, near Strathavon, August
1919 (L.).

Lagria hirta, L., few on flowers, Ailsa Craig, 26th July 1920 (K.).

Tenebrio molitor, L., in bakery, Glasgow, 1910 (W.); in bran,
in all stages of development, Glasgow (M.).

CURRENT LITERATURE 27

CURRENT LITERATURE.

SOME AGRICULTURAL PEsts.—Under this title there has been
published by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland a 12-page leaflet
which groups some of the more destructive of Scottish pests into
two classes—serious and general pests, and local or occasional pests.
Amongst the former are included foxes, red squirrels, wood-
pigeons, and house-sparrows; amongst the latter, brown and blue
hares, rooks, gulls, blackbirds, thrushes, and starlings. Particulars
are given of the economic significance of and methods of destroying
these pests. The pamphlet may be obtained free on application to
the Secretary of the Board.

BLACK-WINGED STILT IN WIGTOWNSHIRE.—On 17th October 1920
Mr M. Portal observed a Black-winged Stilt (Wzmantopus himantopus)
on the shore of Loch Ryan, Wigtownshire. It was an adult bird with
pure white head and neck (British Birds, December 1920, xiv., p. 164).

[The species here recorded has been found with certainty only some
eight times in Scotland, and two of the records were made so long ago
as 1684 by Sir Robert Sibbald, who mentions two individuals observed
near Dumfries.—EDSs. ]

FOOD OF THE ROOK.—Much attention has already been paid to the
food of the Rook, and Dr W. E. Collinge returns to the subject in the
Journal of the Ministry of Agriculture for December 1920. He has
calculated that 10,000 Rooks will consume ina year about 232 tons of
food, and that in so doing “they destroy about 80 tons of cereals, 32
tons of potatoes and roots, 74 tons of beneficial insects, and 65 tons of
injurious insects, slugs, snails, etc.” The crux of the matter, however,
lies in the answer to be given to the query, “Supposing these rooks
had not destroyed this great bulk of injurious insects, would these latter
not have done as much harm to cereals, roots, etc., as the rooks did ?”
Dr Collinge gives his opinion in the negative: ‘We think not, as a
considerable percentage would have been eaten by Starlings, Jackdaws,
and Black-headed Gulls.” Now, although one side of the matter has
been statistically examined, the other has not, and it would seem to be
desirable that something definite should be known as to the damage
likely to be done to crops by 65 tons of injurious insects and molluscs,
before any safe answer can be hazarded to the crucial question.

PHEASANTS AND “ LEATHER-JACKETS.”—The Field, 25th December
1920, reproduces a striking photograph of the contents of a pheasant’s
crop, regarding which a correspondent remarks: “The photograph
shows the bulk of 1083 leather-jackets ; these were all taken from the
crop of one pheasant. The bird was found ‘trespassing’ upon some
market gardens near Ackfield, Sussex, and was shot.”

28 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

FEEDING OF THE PEA CRAB.—Though the Pea Crab (Pinnotheres
pisum) is a common inhabitant of mussels and cockles—it is often to be
seen within Horse Mussels on the shore of the Firth of Forth—its mode
of feeding has never been scrutinised, and its relationship with its host
has been attributed to the series of beneficent partnerships which help,
without hindering, each of the parties to the compact. Now Dr J. H.
Orton (Mature, 23rd December 1920) has solved the question by making
a window in the shell of a mussel, and through this keeping a close
watch on the actions of the crab within.- It was found to lay hold on
and devour the strands of minute organisms collected for food from the
sea water by the mussel, while these were passing along the gills towards
the mussel’s mouth. No benefit done by the crab to the mussel in
return for this free shelter and food could be discovered, so that the
relationship of the creatures appears to be that rather of host and
parasite than of helpful co-operators. Dr Orton also discovered that in
their earlier stages the female Pea Crabs resemble the smaller male
forms.

DIPTERA STUDIES.—After comparative neglect for a long term of
years, British Diptera, or Two-winged Flies, appear to be receiving
more of the attention their diversity of organisation and habits deserve.
We notice not only an increasing number of local lists, but also of
articles on special groups, which will undoubtedly inspire and encourage
beginners in an interesting study. In the two last published numbers
of the Extomologists’ Monthly Magazine we note an excellent list of the
Diptera of South Shropshire by Herbert Bury (pp. 249-256), comprising
240 species, collected in three localities only, and including some note-
worthy rarities. On pp. 264-270 F, W. Edwards, of the British Museum,
an acknowledged authority on the Nematocera, publishes a valuable
account of the British Chaoborine and Dixinz, which may be regarded
as supplementing Lang’s Handbook of British Mosguttoes, recently
published by the British Museum. And in the December number
(pp. 270-276) J. E. Collin presents an admirable account of the
Sylvaticus-group of the genus Pzpunculus, with an up-to-date key for
determining males and females of the group known to occur in Britain.

IMMIGRATION OF RED ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY IN 1920.—Several
notes have lately been published which point to an unusual immigration
of the Red Admiral Butterfly (Pyramezs atalanta) to this country. In
this connection two notes appearing in the November number of the
Entomologist (p. 261) record the occurrence of the species in Scotland.
Mr A. E. J. Carter reports a specimen seen about the middle of
September, two on the 26th of the same month, and a very fine large
one on 3rd October—all in bis garden at Monifieth. In his experience
these constitute the third occasion only on which he has seen it during
the last thirty years. In the west coast Mr A. Steven Corbet saw an
example at Tarbet, Loch Fyne, on 22nd September, but this was the
only specimen noted during a stay of two months in the Clyde
district.

BOOK NOTICES 29

BOOK NOTICES.

TYPES AND BREEDS OF FARM ANIMALS, By Professor Charles S.
Plumb. (Revised Edition.) New York and London: Ginn
& Co., 1920. Pp. vili+820. Price 16s. 6d. net.

This deservedly popular work, the first edition of which appeared in
1906, deals with the recognised breeds of horses, asses and mules, of
cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, and it aims at being a handy book of
reference for farmers, stock-breeders, and students in agricultural
colleges. It succeeds conspicuously in its aim, for its descriptions of
the essential features of domesticated breeds, of their economic qualities
and of some of their main pedigree herds, are clear and to the point
and are well illustrated by reproductions from photographs, while the
succinctness of the descriptions has enabled the author to traverse a
notably wide field.

Yet, apart from its utility to the professional stockman, the book has
other values. To the general naturalist it is full of interest and
significance. Professor Plumb briefly discusses the wild ancestors of
the domesticated horse, tracing the steps of its evolution from the Eocene
Eohippus, about the size of a fox-terrier; and although he has not
ventured similarly to trace the ancestry of the other domesticated
creatures with which he deals, he has nevertheless supplied many hints,
for example in his notes .on the temperament and disposition of the
breeds, as well as in his accounts of ‘structural characteristics, which
show how potent-has been the hand of the breeder in developing, altering,
or obliterating the natural endowments of the ancestral forms. Jodk.

TERRITORY IN Birp Lire. By H. Eliot Howard. London: John
Murray, 1920. Price ars, net.

Those of our readers who are familiar with Mr Eliot Howard’s
British Warblers (1907-1914) will not be surprised to know that his
latest book is a thorough piece of work based on personal observation
and experience. The author is essentially a field-naturalist to whom
the early hours of dawn are an attraction rather than a deterrent:
utinam st stc omnes /

Mr Eliot Howard claims that the struggle for territory in bird-life
is the main object in a bird’s existence. He suggests that the recollection
of mate, or of place, may provide the original impulse for migration ; he
avers that the battles between males are not for females but-for territory ;
he claims that the purpose of song is to advertise the songsters’ territorial
possession ; he shows that both male and female are active in defence
of their territory when once acquired ; he points out that possession of
territory ensures the means of subsistence for the birds living in that
area; and he concludes that “the impulse to seek the appropriate
breeding ground and to dwell there would seem to be the strongest of
all impulses save one—the sexual.”

30 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

We gather, from the introduction, that the book is the outcome of
investigations continued for some twenty years, and the author confesses
“much is mere speculation ; much with fuller knowledge may be found
to be wrong.” To attempt to review the work in but a few words would
be to do it an injustice ; it should be read by all students of ornithology
from cover to cover, and not in portions but as a continuous whole.
Only in this way can Mr Eliot Howard’s postulates and theories be
rightly appreciated. The book may be confidently recommended as
not only novel in its conception but also as of engrossing interest. It
is excellently printed and well indexed, and the eleven illustrations, by
Messrs G. E. Lodge and H. Groénvold, are so realistic as to elicit
particular mention. ~ lal isp (Ee

Krys To THE OrpDeERS OF INsEcTs. By Frank Balfour-Browne,
M.A., F.R.S.E. Cambridge: The University Press, 1920.
Price 7s; od) net:

The student of entomology will find this work of the greatest
assistance, especially in his preliminary reading and observation. The
author has obviously bestowed a great deal of care upon the compilation
and construction of these keys, and since they are based in every
instance upon the work of recognised authorities their value and
accuracy may be taken for granted. The system of classifying the
Class Insecta into some twenty different Orders has been followed in
the present work, and the first key given (on pages I to 6) will not only
enable the student to refer any particular specimen to its proper Order
without much difficulty, but willin the very act of using it give him, if
not a firm grasp, at least a clear mental view of the salient features of
each of these large groups.

The rest of the work is occupied by similar analytical keys of the six
more important Orders, by which an insect may be assigned to its
particular family. As there is in many cases a special nomenclature
applicable only to a particular Order, the student is furnished with a
series of special glossaries and diagrams which will greatly aid him in
the practical use of the keys. It isa matter for regret that the author
did not see his way to make the work complete, but perhaps the addition
of tables for a// the Orders would have made the book too large and
expensive for the ordinary purposes of the student. The fifty-eight
pages are well-printed, remarkably free from typographical errors, and
interleaved throughout, so that additional notes may be readily inserted.

P: HG:

NOTES FROM THE SCOTTISH ZOOLOGICAL PARK 31

NOTES FROM
THE SCOTTISH ZOOLOGICAL PARK

RECENT ADDITIONS TO THE COLLECTION.—The additions to
the collection in the Zoological Park during the past quarter
included, of native animals, two otters and a number of birds,
while amongst the foreigners there were a chipmunk, two raccoons,
a female grey kangaroo, a pair of spotted dasyures (Australian
‘native cats”), a young male mandrill, a young female polar bear,
a Haussa ram, and several monkeys.

A Wuite MonKkey.—White does not normally enter into the
coloration of monkeys to any great extent, and then only in small
areas or on parts which are more or less concealed, such as the
under parts, insides of legs, and the like. The same might be
said of mammals generally, except those which have an Arctic
range or live on high levels where snow lies for lengthy periods,
since, against the backgrounds of foliage, rock or sand which make
up the environment of the great majority of mammals, a white
coat would make its wearer undesirably conspicuous. It was
therefore a matter of much interest when, recently, among several
monkeys sent to the Park from West Africa, one was found
to be completely white. It is difficult to determine its species,
but it is certainly a member of the genus Cercopithecus. Its
size is about that of a halfgrown Vervet or Green Monkey.
The general colour of the hair is creamy white and the eyes are
of a pale bluish shade. In certain lights the top of the head
and back show a suggestion of a pale reddish tinge, which inclined
one at first to suspect that it might be a Patas Monkey, but it
scarcely shows the length of limb characteristic of that species. It
is, almost beyond doubt, a partial albino, but Mr Kenneth
Burbridge, who obtained and presented it to the Park, informed
the writer that the natives declared that similar monkeys are not
uncommon in the district in which it was taken, and Mr Burbridge
hopes, when he returns home again next year, to bring further
specimens. Though white individuals of the Mangabeys have been
known, the writer has not, so far, been able to trace any record of
a white Cercopithecus.

THe New Porar Bear.—The acquisition by the Zoological
Park of a young female Polar Bear is the first step in an attempt
to see whether the polar bear can be bred and reared at
Corstorphine. Polar bears, when caught wild and imported,
usually thrive in this country even though they may have been

32 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

only a few months old when captured, but though the pair in the
London Zoological Garden have bred for years and produced a
considerable number of litters, the young have always died within
a few days of birth. The polar bear lives naturally in a very
sterile atmosphere, and the new-born young are presumably very
susceptible to the disease-producing organisms abundant in our air.
Polar bears have, however, been bred and reared in captivity in
or near large towns: one was born in the Zoological Park at
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in December 1919, and was still alive in
September 1920; and there is also reason to believe that a polar
bear was born (about 1857) and lived, at any rate for some months,
in the Old Edinburgh Zoological Garden. The Zoological Park has
had some notable successes in breeding, and it will be interesting to
see whether it will succeed in adding young polar bears to its breed-
ing achievements. ‘The Park has possessed two fine males since its
inception, but was not able, until this autumn, to obtain a female.
The newcomer is, however, no more than a year old, and some
considerable time must pass before the experiment can be tried.

PTARMIGAN FROM SPITSBERGEN. — An extremely interesting
exhibit in the Zoological Park at present is a small group of
Spitsbergen Ptarmigan, brought to Edinburgh in September last by
Mr R. I. Mapleton, a member of the Scottish Spitsbergen Syndicate’s
Expedition. The number was originally five, but unhappily two
died comparatively soon after their arrival, and the opinion was
freely expressed that the other three would shortly follow and that
Ptarmigan would not thrive so near sea-level. That lack of altitude
was no insuperable difficulty the writer was convinced, both from
the fact that the Ptarmigan of Spitsbergen must live at low levels,
and also because the Iceland Ptarmigan has lived, and, it -is
believed, bred, in a garden aviary in England. ‘The chief difficulty
in keeping Ptarmigan is probably that of diet, and if satisfactory
substitutes can be found for the food taken by them before capture
there seems to be no reason why they should not live for years.
For upwards of two years Red Grouse have lived in the Park,
where they have been supplied at intervals with fresh cut heather.
Heather has also been obtained for the Ptarmigan, but they show
little or no preference for it and eat grass equally readily, although
they perhaps prefer to anything a well-hearted cabbage. Grain they
will take also, but their staple food, in: addition to the heather,
grass and cabbage, is coarse oatmeal. The three survivors have
now passed four months in the Park and seem to be in good
condition and thriving well, so that the hope arises that they may
now live for a considerable time and perhaps breed.—T. H. G.

(Authors are responsible for nomenclature used.) | ~

The Scottish Naturalist

Nos. III AND 112.]| 1921 [ MarcH-APRIL.

Aes COmbisk NATURES Ss UINION

“Ve take a stick and break it ; bind a score
All in one faggot, snap it over knee,
Ye cannot.”

—TENNYSON.

ONE by one the sticks are being broken. One after another
the publications of the local Natural History Societies of
Scotland are ceasing to appear. The causes are always the
same: the advanced costs of paper, printing, and the labour
involved in publishing have increased beyond the capacity
of local subscriptions and local generosity. The result bodes
ill for the progress of nature study in Scotland, a country
which may well be proud of its naturalists’ tradition; for
when the means of expression have gone there is danger
that the local research, which forms the soul of a country’s
scientific life, may die also.

How can the danger be avoided? How can the local
expression be ensured without involving a financial burden
too great to be borne? There is only one way, and if the
naturalists of Scotland value their heritage they will see that
it is followed—the sticks must be bound into an unbreakable
faggot. The Societies must follow the signs of the times:
isolated effort must be supplemented by a Union held
together by the bond of common interest, such a Union as
will make secure the steady onward march of nature know-
ledge throughout the land.

TSANG lel? E

34 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

The object of the Union would be to link up the isolated
“efforts of the scattered local societies, and this at first through
the medium of a common magazine. We have no doubt
but that, with assured support from local societies and the
attainment of an increased circulation, a magazine worthy
in all respects of Scotland and Scottish natural history could
be produced. The Scottzsh Naturalist, with a long tradition
of good service behind it, would make an excellent stock on
which to graft new developments. It might be possible
further to link up the interests of the societies by a series of
annual conferences, held each year in a different area, but
this and other communal projects, such as excursions and
inter-society lecture courses, must grow with the growth of
the Union.

The advantages of common publication are obvious.
Much of the good work of local societies has no effective
circulation outside the area immediately concerned. Our
left hand knoweth not what our right hand doeth, and in the
pursuit of knowledge this is fatal. Let but the investigations
in any district be known to all, and the study of nature in
Scotland, gaining in knowledge and in breadth of view, will
advance with new unity of purpose towards the common
goal. The chief disadvantage is that the attainment of a
common means of expression may possibly entail the
disappearance of a number of local publications, which have
behind them long and honourable histories. But the times
have almost decided the fate of the local natural history
publication, and societies must decide whether the time has
not also arrived when the best needs of their own members
and of the study of natural history in Scotland would not be
better served by a courageous effort at unity, than by a
struggle, which becomes more desperate year after year,
to ensure the continuance of the local “Proceedings” or
“Transactions.”

What, then, is the proposal? That all Scottish natural
history societies, without disturbing their own internal
arrangements, should band together in a Scottish Naturalists’
Union; that they should appoint a representative committee
to manage the affairs of the Union, one of the first duties

A SCOTTISH NATURALISTS UNION 35

being to conduct a common Scottish natural history
magazine. Naturally the committee would control the
financial arrangements, but it may be suggested that a
small capitation grant of some 6d. a member, paid into the
funds of the Union, added to subscriptions to the magazine
and possible donations, would go far in securing the publica-
tion of the magazine, which in return would be available to
members of affiliated societies at a reduced price.

Should this general proposal meet with support among
the naturalists of Scotland there might be arranged, during
the session of the British Association in Edinburgh in
September of this year, a conference of Scottish naturalists
at which the project of a Union could be discussed. In the
meantime the Editors of The Scottish Naturalist would
welcome support and suggestions.

Readers will be interested to learn that a first step
towards a union of interests has been taken, for by arrange-
ment with the Zoological Society of Scotland, notes from
the Zoological Park at Corstorphine, a first instalment of
which appeared in last issue, will form a standing contribu-
tion to each number of The Scottish Naturalist—a means of
ensuring a permanent record of interesting occurrences at
the Park, which it is hoped will appeal alike to Fellows of
the Zoological Society and to naturalists in general.

* * *

That Scotland still affords a wide field for intensive
systematic study is indicated by an important contribution
by Mr F. W. Edwards of the British Museum, a first instal-
ment of which appears in this issue. An examination of a
limited group of Diptera collected in Arran and about
Loch Etive has discovered some thirty-eight forms hitherto
unrecorded from the British Isles, including ten species and
three varieties new to science, in addition to many new
records for the areas investigated.

36 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

The Golden-toothed Sheep of Aberdeenshire.—For cen-
turies tradition has related that the hill of Dunnideer, which stands
prominently beside the railway near Insch, bore sheep with teeth
of gold. The story, which has a scientific explanation, is well
told in Bishop Leslie’s Azstorie of Scotland (1578): ‘In the
Gareoth [Garioch] is ane montane, quhilke goldne thay cal, the
vulgar and commone stile of this montane is Dunedere, because
it is said to abund in golde [the interpretation being, presumably,
dun, a hill, and doré, golden]. This thay collecte of the scheip,
quhilkes ar fed in this mountane, quhais teith and fleshe in lyke
maner ar yallow, as with the cullour of golde thay had bene littid.”
The fact underlying the tale is that the teeth of the sheep were
covered with a yellow coating having a bright metallic sheen, and
this the “vulgar and commone” of long ago understood to be
gold, while sceptics of more recent years have suggested, with
equal inaccuracy, that it might be a deposit of iron pyrites.

The truth is that the yellow “metallic” deposit is not con-
fined to the sheep of Dunnideer, but has been found on the
teeth of sheep elsewhere, as well as on those of many mammals,
including the ox, camel, tapir, eland, bison, hippopotamus, bears,
and even man himself. Careful analysis and examination by
Thomas Steel (Chemical Mews, 4th February 1921) and others,
have shown that the incrustation is a deposit from the saliva,
composed largely of lime, phosphoric oxide, and organic matter.
The deposit is laid down upon the surfaces of the teeth in thin
layers, and the deceitful metallic appearance is due to the refraction
of light by the overlapping edges of these microscopic layers.—
JAMES RITCHIE.

Visitation of Waxwings.—A number of occurrences of the
Waxwing have been noted during the winter. The Scotsman of
5th March 1921 mentioned that ‘“‘two beautiful specimens were
captured in Lanarkshire, in the vicinity of Larkhall, last month,”
and we have received the following notes :—

Waxwings in Haddingtonshire—On 19th December 1920 a
pair of Waxwings was seen at North Berwick, resting or feeding
on a bush of Garvrya in full bloom in a garden, and on the
following day two were seen at Lochhouses, Seacliff, near the
mouth of the Tyne, where they are said to have been shot.—
W. M. IncLeEs, North Berwick.

Waxwings in Dumfriesshire—Two Waxwings were shot near
Penpont, Dumfriesshire, on 24th January 1921. They were young
birds, and, on dissection, proved to be male and female. No
other Waxwings were seen.—HuGuH S. GLADSTONE.

THE PINTAIL AS A SCOTTISH BREEDING SPECIES 37

(Et. PINE AS An SCO SE Dw: ED LNG
SRE CIES

By EVELYN V. BAXTER and LEONORA JEFFREY RINTOUL.

THE Pintail appears to have found more difficulty in getting
a foothold as a breeding-bird in this country than either the
Wigeon or Shoveler (Scoz. Waz., 1920, pp. 33 and 155). It only
seems to be really established in three places in Scotland—
7.¢., Loch Leven, Orkney, and Shetland ; its breeding elsewhere
in Scotland is of a singularly sporadic nature, both as regards
place and time. We would urge upon all Scottish ornithol-
ogists to watch for this duck’s appearance, as we feel sure
that it is overlooked, and in view of the sporadic nature of
the breeding records now before us, we should not be surprised
if it appeared in any part of Scotland. Unfortunately, the
two earliest records of the Pintail nesting in this country are
not altogether satisfactory; we shall therefore not include
them in the chronological list, but shall give them for what
they are worth in the detailed accounts under areas.

The distribution of the Pintail outside Scotland presents
features of considerable interest. There appears to be no
satisfactory or really authenticated record of its having
nested in recent years in either England or Ireland, though
there are old records which lead us to infer that it may have
bred occasionally in these countries in times gone by. It
goes farther into the Arctic than many of our other breeding
duck: it “inhabits the greater part of the northern hemi-
sphere, and breeds in both the Old and New Worlds from
about 72°N. latitude, southwards to about 50° N.; also in
southern Spain, the Rhone delta and Hungary. In winter
it ranges to North Africa, including Egypt and southern
Abyssinia; also to India, Ceylon, Burma, China, Borneo,
and even the Hawaiian Islands. In America it winters in
Panama and the West Indies” (4.0.U. Handlist, p. 174).

Bearing this distribution in mind we would expect the
colonisation of Scotland to have come from the north or
north-east; but the data available are so scanty, and the

38 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

numbers in the breeding-places abroad so little known, that
we prefer to leave our readers to draw their own conclusions,
offering only very tentative suggestions as to the origin of
our Scottish breeding-birds.

CHRONOLOGICAL LIST.

1889. Dhu Loch, Glendale, Skye (4 fauna of the North-west
Highlands and Skye, p. 232).

1898. Loch Leven (4.S.V.Z@., 1898, p. 162).

1go1. Southern Selkirkshire (two places) (4 S.V.Z., 1902, p. 120).

1g02. South Uist (4.S.W.Z., 1902, p. 210).

1905. Dunrossness, Shetland (4.S.4V.Z., 1906, p. 53).

1906. Loch Leven (about twenty pairs) (4 Fauna of the Tay Basin
and Strathmore, p. 236).

1908 (before). Orkney (British Lirds (mag.), vol. ii., p. 21).

1908. Increasing, Shetland (4.8.4.4, 1908, p. 184).

1910. Increasing, Orkney (British Birds (mag.), vol. iv., p. 221).

1913. Moray area (Sco¢. (Vat., 1914, p. 45).

1914 (before). Loch Spynie, Morayshire (Captain Brander Dunbar,
in Uitt.).

1920. Loch Gelly, Fife (E. V. B. and L. J. R.).

Date wanted:—Eggs taken Cromlit, Knockie, Inverness-shire,
in British Museum (Cat. British Birds Eggs in Brit. Mus., vol. it,

Pp. 173)
SHETLAND.

Occasional winter visitor, and breeds.

Mr Robert Dunn, writing in 1837, says: ‘‘I have never met
with this bird in Shetland” Gaede gis?s Gutde to Orkney and
Shetland, p. 93);.and in Saxby’s Birds of Shetland, published in
1874, p. 237, he says: ‘‘A few small parties, seldom numbering more
than half a dozen, visit us in spring; but, so far as I have been
able to learn, the bird is never seen in Shetland either in autumn
or winter. Its appearance seems to be due more to the force of
circumstances than to choice. I cannot find among my notes more
than one instance of its occurrence in fine weather; so deep,
indeed, has become my impression as to this, that the Pintail is
always associated in my imagination with storms of driving sleet or
snow, and the surface of a loch torn into spray.”

Buckley and Evans, in their Fauna of the Shetland Islands,
p- 134, give no further records of the Pintail there till June 1897,
when a pair were seen on Loch Spiggie, and two pairs at the same

THE PINTAIL AS A SCOTTISH BREEDING SPECIES 39

place in June 1899. The first actual breeding, however, was not
recorded till 1905, when a pair of Pintail and six young birds were
seen in Dunrossness (4.S.V.Z, 1906, p. 53), while in 1908 four
or five pairs bred in the same locality (4.S.V.7., 1908, 184).

ORKNEY.

Winter visitor, and breeds.

Robert Dunn describes the Pintail as “tolerably plentiful in
Orkney, particularly in the island of Sanda,” and adds that it
“leaves these islands early in the spring” (Orztthologis?'s Gutde to
Orkney and Shetland, p. 93). Harvie-Brown and Buckley say
(A Fauna of the Orkney Islands, p. 173) that it seems to be a
very rare species on the mainland of Orkney, but occurs, perhaps,
not uncommonly in Sanday during winter.

Before 1908 a few pairs had begun to breed in Orkney (British
Birds (mag.), vol. ii, p. 21), while in t910 Messrs Hale and
Alworth found it “increasing in numbers; most probably has
nested in Orkney for two or three years, if not longer, but this
year we found several nests with eggs, and also caught some ten or
twelve young on June 4th” (British Birds (mag.), vol. iv., p. 221).
Since then the Pintail has continued to breed, and has become well
established in these islands.

OuTER HEBRIDES.

A local winter visitor ; breeds. '

This bird has increased as a winter visitor to these islands in
recent years. In 1902 a brood of Pintail with six young is recorded
from South Uist (4.8.4.4, 1902, p. 210), and Mr Donald Guthrie
CSCO NOt. O19.) ps 160) Says) sca tew sesh One Enis island.”
Writing in 1918 Mr F.S. Beveridge says (Scot. Vat., 1919, p. 17):
“‘Supposed to breed at Balranald, but I have never seen nest or
eggs from any part of North Uist.” Confirmation of breeding on
this island is therefore much wanted, and the only really satisfactory
nesting record from the Outer Hebrides seems to be that from
South Uist.

NORTH-WEST HIGHLANDS AND SKYE.

Has bred. The status of the Pintail in this area is obscure,
and information on the subject is much to be desired.

Skye.—In the Fauna of the North-west Highlands and Skye,
p- 232, Mr Macpherson records having watched a pair of Pintail
on Dhu Loch, Glendale, on 15th April 1889. They apparently

40 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

nested in the neighbourhood of that loch, as later in the season
Mr Charles Shaw wrote to tell Mr Macpherson that the birds
had left when their nest was robbed. There is no further informa-
tion, as far as we can discover, as to the breeding of the Pintail
in this area, and naturalists would do well to look out for this
duck when visiting suitable lochs.

Moray.

A winter and spring visitor; has bred.

Inverness-shive.—In the British Museum there is a clutch of
seven eggs of the Pintail from Cromlit, Knockie, from the late
Edward Hargitt (Cat. British Birds Eges in Brit. Mus., vol. ii.,
p- 173), but we have not been able to obtain any particulars as
to the taking of these eggs.

Morayshire.—Captain Brander Dunbar has kindly told us that
Pintail breed, at anyrate occasionally, on Loch Spynie, the eggs
having been found there “‘ before the War” (zx /#z.).

The only other record from this area is that in the Scot. WVat.,
1914, p. 45, where Miss Jackson reports having found a Pintail’s
nest in the vicinity of a small loch in June 1913; the county is
not mentioned.

ForTH.

Winter visitor, and breeds.

Kinross-shire—One of the few really well-established breeding-
places of the Pintail in Scotland is that on Loch Leven. The
first record of its breeding there is that of Mr William Evans in
1898, when he found several pairs breeding and saw their nests
and eggs (4.S.V. 47, 1898, p. 162). Before 1906 Millais says that
about twenty pairs nested there (4 Fauna of the Tay Basin and
Strathmore, p. 236), and in 1910 we found quite a lot of nests of
this species when visiting this most interesting loch.

South Fife-—The only record of the nesting of the Pintail in
South Fife appears to be from Loch Gelly, where this June (1920)
we saw several Pintail ducks with broods of small downy young.
This looks like a spread from Loch Leven.

TWEED.

An occasional visitor from autumn to spring. Two breeding
records.

Selkirkshire.—In 1go1 the Pintail was discovered breeding in
two places in Selkirkshire. On the 15th May, in the south of the

THE PINTAIL AS A SCOTTISH BREEDING SPECIES 41

county, the female was flushed off her nest and eggs; on the 17th
of the same month a nest was found near Hawick but within the
boundaries of Selkirkshire. This nest contained seven eggs, five
of which duly hatched out (4.5.4.4, 1902, p. 120).

As far as we have been able to ascertain, the above are all the
reliable records of the breeding of the Pintail in Scotland. There
are two instances not so well authenticated, and these we shall
mention under their respective areas.

SUTHERLAND.

An occasional winter visitor.

In the Fauna of Sutherland, Caithness, and West Cromarty,
p. 190, Dr Harvie-Brown writes: ‘‘Mr J. M. C. Wallis obtained a
nest and eggs of the Pintail in 1882, on a loch in Sutherland well
known to us, but the down and feathers having been destroyed by
moths, the eggs can hardly now be considered perfectly satisfactory,
although we did, on a previous examination of the down and
feathers, declare them to be undoubted Pintail’s.” The above
cannot be accepted as a well-authenticated record, but it would
be well if naturalists in Sutherland kept a lookout for Pintail in
the nesting season.

INNER HEBRIDES.

An occasional winter visitor.

In 1881 Dr Harvie-Brown found a nest and eggs on Hysgelir,
off Canna, one of the Inner Hebrides, which he identified by the
eggs and down as being those of the Pintail (Fauna of Argyll and
the Inner Hebrides, p. 129). Later, however, he seems to have
entertained considerable doubt as to whether this identification
was correct, and it has not been accepted in the newest lists. We,
therefore, merely mention it here, though we do not consider the
record a good one.

NortH ARGYLL.

An occasional visitor.

DEE.
Occasional visitor.

Tay.

Winter visitor,

A pair were seen on a loch in the Rannoch district of Perthshire
up to 28th April 1902 (4.5.4.4, 1902, p. 184), but the breeding
of the Pintail in this area has not yet been established, although
many of the lochs seem to us quite suited to its habits.

III AND I12 F

42 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

CLYDE.
An occasional winter visitor, sometimes lingering far into the
spring.
SOLway.
A winter visitor.

As a whole it will be seen that the Pintail is commoner
both as a winter visitor and a breeding species on the east
coast of Scotland than on the west. It seems to us, therefore,
more probable that those which breed with us come from
Scandinavia, Finland, and Northern Russia, rather than from
Iceland. It would appear to be a duck that is experiencing
great difficulty in colonising Scotland, and the nesting colony
on Loch Leven seems to be the only one on the mainland
sufficiently well-established to be becoming a centre of
dispersal to surrounding lochs. Doubtless the protection
afforded to the birds in this sanctuary may be, at least,
partly responsible for this desirable state of matters. This
is one of the duck for which a good lookout should be kept,
so that its spread over Scotland may be carefully traced and
accurately recorded. Had this been done in the past in the
case of other species, fewer problems would have been
presented to the ornithologists of to-day.

Breeding of Shoveler in 1899.—On 1st August 1899,
I shot a female Shoveler at the mill-dam at Balcreggan, Sandhead,
Wigtownshire, and shortly after the dog caught a half-grown one
at the same place.—Harry Houmes, Whithorn.

Goldfinch Immigration to Dumfriesshire.—‘“ I have never
seen so many Goldfinches in this district (Dumfries) as during
last autumn,” writes Mr E. E. Dennis in the /e/d (22nd January
1921, p. 97). “They were here daily in dozens, whereas previously
a pair seen was always worth talking about.” The birds were
apparently attracted by the seeds of the common ragwort, a plant
which ‘‘has spread at an alarming rate during the past year or
two,” and has rapidly established itself on the sites of pine-woods
cut during the war.

INSECTS AND FORESTRY—SOME EFFECTS OF THE WAR — 43

INSECTS AND FORESTRY—SOME EFFECTS
Oye TNaN es WV aN

EVERY great war has been responsible for disturbance in
the animal life of the countries it has traversed, and
naturalists have often pointed to and still more often
cuessed at the extent of the disturbance. But in earlier days
observations were confined to war’s effects upon the larger
members of a fauna, and it is only now, when naturalists
have come to study the minutiz of a fauna for its own sake,
and when the lesser creatures have been invested with
a new importance on account of their economic significance,
that we can hope to realise the full depth of the influence,
direct and indirect, of war upon animal life. Any observa-
tions which reveal changes due to the Great War are of
great scientific value and ought to be made and recorded
now or in the immediate future while the memory of the
earlier conditions is still fresh and before the inevitable
readjustment of the fauna has again restored nature to
its accustomed balance. The Editors need scarcely remind
Scottish naturalists that they will be glad to consider for
publication such observations.

A survey has recently been made of the insects causing
damage in the forests of the British Isles, and the report,
by Dr J. W. Munro, is important not only on account of
its value to forestry, but because it brings into strong relief
changes, traceable to the war, in an important section
of the fauna of these islands! We propose to draw
attention to some of the more marked of these changes
discovered in Scotland in this Forestry Commission survey
of thirty-three different areas there.

How does it come about that a war waged hundreds
of miles away should have affected the inhabitants of
Scottish forest areas? Several causes contributed to the

1 “Survey of Forest Insect Conditions in the British Isles,” 1919,
by Dr J. W. Munro, Bull. No. 2 of the Forestry Commission, 1920.
Prices, od:

44 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

total effect. The war area demanded wood; in view of
the stoppage of timber imports, home industries, and
especially the coal-fields, demanded wood; and consequently
great forest areas were cleared of timber. But this was
only part of the influence, for in normal times wood
may be felled without very serious disturbance of the
insect fauna. During the war, however, lack of labour
made it necessary that the branches and stumps of felled
timber should lie long on the cleared patch, and this was
the culminating factor in creating conditions unusually
favourable to the increase of harmful forest insects.

Dr Munro’s thorough method of inspection may afford
useful hints to the collector. “The felled area was first
traversed, and a general idea obtained of the age and
conditions of the stumps and slash (branches and twigs)
as affording breeding-ground for insects. At the same
time, flying or crawling adult insects were collected. A
number of stumps throughout the area were then examined.
The roots were bared of soil, and the bark prised off from
the stumps and roots. By this means the bark-dwelling
insects and their eggs and larve were exposed. When
no adults were present, such insects as the Pine-weevils
and Longicorn Beetles were identified by their larve
and the Bark-beetles by the nature of their egg galleries.
The slash was also barked and examined, and the insects
identified in the same manner. The abundance or scarcity
of each insect, the stage of its life-history, and its habitat
were noted.”

This close survey brought to light many facts of interest.
Throughout the Scottish areas examined there was unusual
prevalence of the Large Pine-weevil, Ay/obzus abietes, and
of the Black Pine-beetle, Hy/astes ater, and often also of
the Pine-shoot Beetle, Myelophilus piniperda. Such was
found to be the case in several areas of Peeblesshire,
Perthshire, Forfarshire, Aberdeenshire, Morayshire, and
Inverness-shire, and detailed examination showed a close
connection between felling operations and the increase
Of ‘the tinsects. Wo take a icleatycase: In Perthshire at
Dunkeld, on the Atholl Estates, several hundred acres of

INSECTS AND FORESTRY—SOME EFFECTS OF THE WAR 45

pine and larch have been felled, together with small groups
of spruce. The Large Pine-weevil and the Pine-shoot
Beetle are undoubtedly the most serious pests to be feared,
but the variety of injurious insects found in this locality
deserves notice. Both species of Myelophilus (M. piniperda

Root of Scots Pine with Bark damaged
by Black Pine-beetle.

A TYPE OF DAMAGE DONE BY INSECTS WHICH THE WAR HAS
INCREASED IN SCOTLAND.!

and mznor) occurred, although the proportion of the latter
species as compared with fzuiperda was low... . Felled
and suppressed spruce harboured the Spruce Plantation
Pine-beetle, Pztyogenes chalcographus, and spruce stumps
and logs contained the Ambrosia Beetle, 7xypodendron
fineatum, in hundreds. Dying branches of silver fir harboured
a Bark-beetle, Cryphalus abzietis, while felled and suppressed

1 Permission to reproduce this figure from Au//. 2 of the Forestry

Commission has been granted, and the block has been lent by the
Controller of H.M. Stationery Office.

46 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Douglas firs were attacked by the Toothed Pine-beetles,
Pityogenes bidentatus and Tomicus acuminatus. In one Scots
pine pole wood a tiny Bark-beetle, Pztyophthorus pubescens,
occurred in large numbers on the twigs, causing the
needles to turn yellow. Black and Brown Pine-beetles,
Hylastes ater and Hylurgops palliatus, were found everywhere
on Scots pine stumps. The occurrence of so many Bark-
beetles in one locality is interesting and affords an idea
of the number of species which, given favourable conditions,
might prove harmful.”

Such increases of numbers are typical of many, as
for example, at Montreathmont Muir, near Auldbar, in
Forfarshire, where the predominant species were the
Pine-shoot Beetle and the Larger Banded Pine-beetle,
Pissodes pint; in Aberdeenshire, where on Countesswells
Estate the Large Pine-weevil and Pine-shoot Beetles
had greatly increased in numbers, although the latter only,
and especially JZ. mznor, predominated in the upper Dee
valley; in Morayshire, where the outstanding feature was
the prevalence of the Large Pine-weevil; in Peeblesshire,
where this and the Black Pine-beetle were increasing ; and
in Inverness-shire about Beauly, where the insect conditions
much resembled those at Auldbar in Forfarshire.

It was noticed that forest fires, which did considerable
damage in Drumbuich and Drumvaich Woods in Perthshire,
produced conditions which influenced insect life much as
felling did, since they created extensive breeding-grounds
for the Pine-weevil and the Pine-shoot Beetles; and an
interesting correlation between two very different forms
of life was noted in Peeblesshire, where the Large Banded
and Brown Pine-beetles were found to be common wherever
squirrels were numerous. Except for occasional outbreaks
of the Large Larch Sawfly, WVematus erichsonz, and the
Vapourer Moth, Orgyza antiqua, no evidence was obtained
that the effects of the war had increased insects other than
beetles in Scottish woods.

Dr Munro’s survey led him to the conclusion that
all fellings do not produce equivalent increases in insect
life, for there was invariably a more marked development

NOTES 47

of beetle pests in areas where Scots pine predominated.
The reason for this differentiation is to be traced to the
fact that in normal conditions in this country Scots pine
supports “more kinds of injurious forest insects than all
our other conifers together,” and since insects bred in
Scots pine overflow and attack other conifers the author
pertinently asks whether it may not be that Scots pine
is planted too extensively in our woodlands. Vo dR

Coleoptera of the Clyde Area.—With reference to the
paper by Messrs Murphy and Gordon on some additions to the
Coleoptera of the Clyde Area in the last issue of this magazine
(p. 25), Proternus brachypterus, F., and Micropeplus staphylinotdes,
Marsh., mentioned in Mr Murphy’s list, have both been taken by
Mr G. Brown in the Coatbridge district and have already been
recorded by me in the second paper of additions to the list of
Clyde Coleoptera (Glasgow WVat., iv., 70). Both species, however,
are new to the counties from which they are recorded by Mr
Murphy. elophorus brevipalpis, Bed., which is included in Mr
Gordon’s list, was recorded as common in the original list of Clyde
Coleoptera (1901), but unfortunately, through a clerical error,
under the name of dbrevicollis, Th., a much rarer insect. This
error, however, was corrected in my first paper of additions to
the Clyde list (Glasgow JVat., ii. 83). Lxochomus 4-pustulatus, L..,
also mentioned by Mr Gordon, has already been recorded from
Clyde by the Rev. Charles A. Hall, who found a specimen at
Paisley (Scot. Wat., 1914, p. 264). With regard to Mr Gordon’s
record of Aleochara succicola, Th. Mr G. C. Champion has
pointed out (2.47 MZ, xxxiil., 97) that this species was confused
in British collections with A. diversa, J. Sahl., under the name of
A. moesta, Gray. A. succicola is common and generally distributed,
while A. diversa appears to be very much rarer. The records
standing under the name of A. moesta in the original Clyde list
really referred to succicola. I have had occasion to draw attention
to this point when recording A. diversa as an addition to Clyde
in a paper read before the Natural History Society of Glasgow
on 26th December rorg, but not yet published.—A. FERGUSSON,
Glasgow.

48 THES COMLISER NATU RATE Lom

Great Snow Goose in Solway.—TZzhe field (5th March)
contains a note from Mr C. W. Phillips, recording the presence of
Snow Geese in Kirkcudbrightshire during the winter. One of
these, shot by Captain A. M. Montgomery, M.C., was forwarded
to me for examination, and proved to be a specimen of the Great
Snow Goose, Chen nivalis, a native of America not hitherto
recorded from Scotland. Full particulars of this interesting visitor
will appear in our next number.—W. EAGLE CLARKE.

Two rare Staphylinid Beetles (Acidota cruentata, F.,
and A. crenata, Mann.) in the Clyde Area.—When collecting
in the Lanark district recently I took two specimens of A. cruentata
from grass tufts at the foot of an oak-tree. ‘This is rather a scarce
beetle in Britain, and the only previous mention of its occurrence
in Clyde is contained in a note by Rye in the L£xtomologists’
Monthly Magazine (vol. iii., p. 163), where he records the capture
of one specimen which was found crawling upon a stone wall
near Glasgow by the late R. Henderson during November 1865.
The other British species of the genus, 4. crenata, is also scarce
but appears to be more widely distributed. Two specimens under
very loose bark of beech near Glasgow, and one clinging to an
old sack which was lying in a field near the shore at Lagg in Arran,
are the most recent captures of the species in the Clyde Area.
Both these localities are at quite low elevations, and it is interesting
to contrast the record by the Rev. A. Thornley of its occurrence
on the summit of Ben Nevis, where no less than 157 examples were
found by Mr W. S. Bruce during four months of the year 1895
(Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1896, p. 34).—A. FERGusson, Glasgow.

ENTOMOLOGY IN SOUTH LONDON.— The Proceedings of the South
London Entomological and Natural History Society for session 1919-20
is a model of workmanship, and full of interesting matter. Upon the
perusal of the reports of the various meetings, one is struck with the
variety of the objects exhibited, and the enthusiasm and activity of the
Society’s members. Naturally enough, Lepzdopiera receive the greatest
attention, being ever the most popular insects, but the other Orders are
by no means neglected, and scores of interesting observations are
scattered through the pages of this valuable publication. The more
“important papers read before the Society are published in full, and these
include articles on the mode of progression of the larve of the Tineid
moth Coleophora nigricella, the geographical distribution and variation
of the Geometrid moth Acidalia marginepunctata, the pupation of the
Common Tortoise-shell and Peacock Butterflies, and a short Presidential
Address dealing with the economic aspect of Entomology.

BIRD-ASSOCIATIONS IN SCOTLAND 49

BIRD- ASSOCIATIONS IN SCOTLAND.
By the late Captain SYDNEY E. BROCK, M.C.

(Concluded from p. 21.)

ASSOCIATIONS OF SEA-CLIFFS, ROCKY ISLANDS, ETC.

A heterogeneous section, with a common faunal charac-
teristic that the food-supply is entirely, or almost entirely,
drawn from the sea. A feature of the avifauna, and a
prominent one as contrasted with those hitherto dealt with,
is the marked social habit of its members, a_ character
evidently independent of relationship, since it is common
to the various families represented—Gulls, Auks, Petrels,
and Gannets.

Broadly speaking, it might, I think, be laid down as a
safe general principle that birds are relatively less social in
the nesting-season than at other times of the year, and it is
easy to understand why this should be so. The approach
of the breeding season originates feelings of jealousy and
rivalry which militate against a continuance of the more
friendly and sociable habits of the winter, when food and
relaxation are the only pressing interests. There are not
many exceptions to the rule in land-birds, and the tendency
is common to many distinct groups, as for example, Tits,
Wagtails, Pipits, Larks, Crows, Plovers, Rails, game-
birds and Pigeons. One member of the Crow family, the
Rook, might at first sight appear to be an exception, but I
believe it is not so in effect. It is certainly the case that
this bird is exceedingly social in the nesting-season, but it
can be shown that it is infinitely more so at other seasons.
To give a concrete example: In the small county of West
Lothian, with a total area of 120 sq. miles, there are, roughly
speaking, 40 rookeries, comprising, say, 8000 pairs of birds,
or an average of 200 pairs to each colony. During the
nesting-season these colonies lead an isolated existence, feed-
ing only within a short range from their nests. But in
winter the conditions are widely different. In place of our

JOU ZN) @ G

50 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

40 colonies, each living and roosting separately, we have
only one general roosting-place, to which this whole 8000
pairs of birds resort, together with their young. While it
might be said that each of the nesting-colonies drains an
area of 3 sq. miles, the solitary winter-rookery drains an
area of 120 sq. miles, and this without taking into considera-
tion that a large section of Midlothian is likewise drawn
upon, and probably portions of other adjoining counties as
well. This example is sufficient, I think, to indicate that
even so social a species as the Rook is no true exception to
the general rule.

But when we come to sea-birds, it is hardly an exaggeration
to say that the exact contrary is the case, and the various
members, while never very solitary of habit, reach their most
social phase during the breeding season. I believe the
explanation to be primarily one of nesting-ground. Whereas
in land-birds the supply of nesting-ground is relatively
adequate to the food-supply, in sea-birds there is, as it were,
a superabundance of food as compared with the available
nesting-ground. I suggest that the colonial habit in sea-birds
is a result rather of the force of circumstances—z.¢., a combina-
tion of the two factors mentioned—than ofa natural sociability
of temperament. The relative abundance of food tends to
an increase of population, constantly and severely held in
check by the lack of nest-sites. An observer of a great
Guillemot or Gannet colony cannot but be struck by the
absence of friendly feelings, the constant struggling and
bickering which takes place on the crowded ledges, and
it is difficult to doubt that lack of alternatives is the essential
cause of the close packing of the birds.

The avifauna of the sea-cliff is absolutely correlated with
the geological formation, upon the constitution, lie of the
strata, and manner of weathering. Some cliffs, such as
certain types of Old Red Sandstone, in many cases weather
in great perpendicular slices, leaving a clean wall of rock
with few ledges or crevices, and therefore not adapted for
colonisation by birds. Where we have a cliff with a
horizontal or gently inclined plane, and especially where
the strata are of varying powers of resistance to denudation,

BIRD-ASSOCIATIONS IN SCOTLAND 51

we are most likely to have an irregular and broken face
supplying abundance of sites for the lodgment of birds.
An ideal cliff, with abundance of turfy covering at its summit,
and innumerable ledges and crannies below, such as occurs
on many an island in the Hebrides, has few possible sites
untenanted.

At the cliff-ssummit and on the grassy shelves are the
scattered nests of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls,
the former almost invariably the more abundant. Below,
every ledge of size and suitability has its crowded ranks of
Guillemots ; the narrower and isolated ledges are appropriated
by the Kittiwake; while the deeper cracks and crevices hold
Razorbills. Inthe bigger fissures and small caves are scattered
nesting-sites of Shags and Black Guillemots; and in the
caves themselves colonies of Rock-doves. From the cliff-top,
as far down as they extend, the grassy slopes are honey-
combed by the Puffin. There are two small Passerines,
characteristic members of the avifauna of the sea-cliff—the
Rock-pipit along the summit, and the Wren on the cliff itself.
Of the rarer members of the list are Peregrine and Sea-eagle,
the former absent from few such colonies, the latter once
characteristic, but now nearly gone. |

The low flat islands, lacking cliffs, possess Herring and
Black-backed Gulls, Terns (Common or Arctic), Rock-pipit,
Oyster-catcher, Eider-duck, and not infrequently the Mallard ;
and, where they are of sufficient extent, the Corn-bunting
and Twite.

WOODLAND ASSOCIATIONS,

The associations of this group are probably best
arranged according to the dominant tree-character, such as
pine, larch, beech, oak, birch, etc., but it is convenient in
the first place to classify them into the two broader sections,
Coniferous and Deciduous, in which the faunal distributions
are perhaps more marked. Each section has a characteristic
avifauna, modified in accordance with secondary type. The
avifauna is also to some extent affected by the stage of tree-
growth, A young growing plantation, for example, shows a
botanical succession and an accompanying ornithological

52 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

succession which alters both specifically and quantitatively
with the growth of the trees. The fauna is thus of an
unstable or migratory type, and such is characteristic of
woodlands planted by man, while our natural forests, which
maintain themselves by self-sowing, have a relatively stable
fauna.

It is possible to trace with some approach to accuracy
the faunai succession of a plantation. We may take as an
example a coniferous plantation, situated in the glacial drift
of the Lothians. A common type of sucha planting consists
of mixed Scots pine and larch, with a smaller proportion
of spruce. Its colonisation by birds takes a course some-
what as follows: The first settler in all probability would
be the Whinchat. I can recollect the colonisation of one
such young plantation by the Whinchat within three months
after planting. Nearly coincident with the Whinchat, but as
a rule a year or so later, would appear the Tree-pipit and
Yellow Bunting. All three species depend chiefly for the
concealment of their nests upon the rough clumpy grasses,
such as Deschampsia flexuosa, which at first springs up
between the young trees. After the elapse of a year or two,
particularly where spruce is present, we should find new-
comers in the Whitethroat and the Hedge-sparrow. By
about the sixth year the trees have reached sufficient size
for Song-thrush, Blackbird and Willow-wren, three species
which speedily assume a dominant position in the association.
The numbers of the two Thrushes are directly affected by
the proportion of spruce, which is preferred for nesting-sites
over the other conifers present. Next in order come
Greenfinch and Chaffinch, the latter soon greatly out-
numbering its relative. Following these, in approximate
order of arrival, would be Cole-tit, Goldcrest, Ring-dove ;
and with an approach to full tree-growth, the succession
is completed by such birds as Missel-thrush, Magpie, Carrion-
crow, Sparrowhawk, and lastly the Owls, Long-eared and
Tawny.

It is to be noted that towards the period of full tree-
growth, which accompanies the arrival of the later colonists,
a corresponding falling off and gradual disappearance of the

BIRD-ASSOCIATIONS IN SCOTLAND 53

earliest species takes place, much in the order of arrival;
the Whinchat, Yellow Bunting, Tree-pipit, and Whitethroat
being steadily crowded out by the increasing density of the
tree-canopy, and the consequent recession of the undergrowth.
Such a crowding-out of certain species has been a striking
and interesting feature of a certain West Lothian plantation
with which I have been familiar for a series of years. Ina
natural wood no such succession occurs. The wood has a
stable character, conserved through natural seeding, and the
avifauna is likewise stable, or at least only subject to the ebb
and flow never entirely absent in bird-life.

The faunal character of a wood is influenced to some
extent—apart from its vegetative aspect—by the topography
of the neighbourhood, and, presumably, by the climate,
but there is little doubt that these factors, while they
cannot be ignored, are of secondary importance. <A
Scottish pine-wood, for instance, approaches much closer
faunistically to a similar form of forest in the south of
England, than it does to a deciduous wood in its own
neighbourhood, and if this is so, it is sufficient to indicate
the predominant influence of the plant-formation.

In a general comparison of deciduous and coniferous
woods it will probably be found that the deciduous has the
richer avifauna, not necessarily so in species, but in
population-density. Where we have the two side by side
and conveniently comparable, this is often found to be
the case. In the district of Rothiemurchus, for example,
a faunal increase is at once apparent when one passes
from the pines to the birches, the loss of certain species
peculiar to the pine-forest being more than made good by
a large increase in such dominant species as Chaffinch and
Willow-wren. Of the different forms of pine-wood, Scots-
pine is perhaps the most productive, and larch the least so.

In the case of deciduous woods, it is probable that the
young half-grown plantations possess a greater population
to the acre than the full-grown natural woods; that is to
say, the migratory fauna is relatively the richer. The
stable types vary according to tree dominance. An oak-
wood, with its comparatively open growth, and closer

54 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

undergrowth, has a larger avifauna than a beech-wood,
with its dense canopy and absence of undergrowth. A
woodland type with an exceptionally rich fauna is that
of coppice-wood, such as we get in the Aberfoyle district
of south Perthshire. The dominant tree is oak, which
is stubbed at regular intervals, the result being a dense
and secondary growth from the stump. Here and there
a few oaks are left as standards, and there is, in addition,
a sprinkling of birch and alder. Birds are remarkably
abundant. Amongst the dominant species are Chaffinch,
Willow-wren, Lesser Redpoll, while the Whitethroat,
Garden-warbler, Tree-pipit, Redstart, and locally the Wood-
wren, are all numerous. Comparing this type of wood with
its nearest relative in the Lothians, such as a young
deciduous plantation, the most marked features are the
comparative scarcity of Song-thrush and Blackbird, and on
the other hand, the great abundance of the Lesser Redpoll.
The latter is more plentiful in the coppice-wood than I have
found it elsewhere. In absolute density of population, this
woodland type is perhaps not rivalled in Scotland.

ASSOCIATIONS OF HILL-PASTURE.

The kind of ground which I place under this heading
is that of our more grassy hills outside the heather or
Vaccinium area, such ground as we get in many parts of
the Lowlands and Border country. The area is as a rule
grazed by sheep, and has no doubt been thereby altered
considerably from its primitive condition. The most
widespread and dominant species generally, is the Skylark ;
the Meadow-pipit being little less so. Other representative
species are Wheatear, Lapwing, Curlew, Cuckoo; the last,
from its anomalous breeding-habits, is parasitic and thus
dependent for its place in the association upon other
species, of which, in Scotland at least, the Meadow-pipit
is that most affected. On the lower and wetty grounds,
where /uucus and other rank vegetation appear, the
Snipe and Redshank are present. Wherever gorse grows
on the hill-sides to any considerable extent, the Linnet
takes a place in the fauna.

BIRD-ASSOCIATIONS IN SCOTLAND 55

ASSOCIATIONS OF ARABLE LAND.

The associations hitherto dealt with have been either
primitive or else only indirectly influenced by the hand
of man. We now come to an area of which the whole
vegetative aspect and even soil-character have undergone
radical alteration. If from the historical point of view
the avifauna of such artificial areas has little value, it is
yet not without special interest from other points of view.
There are as yet no signs that civilisation has been out-
grown, and we have to reckon on an ever-increasing and
more extensive alteration of the face of the country. Such
being the case, those birds which possess sufficient versatility
to adapt themselves to the altered circumstances, have a
special interest for us, even if their numbers be few.

In arable land such as we have in the richer and more
intensively cultivated parts of the Lowlands, with its wide
smooth fields bordered by stone walls or low-cut hedges,
bird-life is at a very low level of variety, equalled only by
the most barren primitive areas. In population-density,
however, things are much better, thanks to the super-
dominance of one particular species. A common crop-
rotation of the Lothians is a four-shift one: green crop,
white crop, one year’s hay, white crop; the principal crops
grown being wheat, oats, barley, rye-grass, potatoes, turnips.
Except as regards one or two species, the alternation of
crops has surprisingly little effect on the avifauna.

The typical avifauna is: Skylark, dominant; Lapwing,
locally sub-dominant ; Partridge, plentiful ; Corn-crake and
Corn-bunting, rather scarce. These are affected by the crop-
rotation as follows: The Corncrake is absolutely, or almost
absolutely, confined to the hay-fields. In a discussion which
recently ran through the pages of the Zoologist, on the
striking decrease, amounting in some places to extermina-
tion, of the Corncrake in the south of England, it was
ingeniously suggested by one writer that the Corncrake,
originally an inhabitant of the corn-fields (as its name indeed
suggests), was driven out by the adoption of the drill in
place of the older method of broad-cast sowing. The

56 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

resultant long straight rows of growth did not afford the
bird sufficient cover, and it consequently deserted the grain-
fields and took to the hay, in which frequent destruction of
eggs, through the early cutting of the crop, took place, and
accounted for the bird’s decrease. How far this theory may
fit the facts in the south of England I do not venture to
say, but I have strong doubts that the Corncrake was ever
to any extent a nester in the grain-fields of the Lothians.
It certainly is not so now, and this despite the fact that in
many places, owing to local soil conditions, the broad-cast
method of sowing is still followed. In this part of the
country, in strong contrast to the south of England, the
Corncrake has maintained its numbers, or has at least not
become notably scarcer, a curious fact which certainly stands
in need of explanation. It is possible that the later date of
hay-cutting in the north may have some effect.

The Corn-bunting is on the whole less exclusive, but it
has, I think, also a preference, though a much less distinct one,
for hay-fields, a particularly unfortunate choice in its case,
in view of its extremely procrastinating nesting-habits.
Locally, this bird has seemed to me to be decreasing of
late years. The Lapwing is largely independent of the .
crop-rotation. It sticks persistently to certain fields, avoid-
ing others just as persistently, and it is not always easy to
suggest a reason for its choice. If it shows any preference
at all, it isin favour of the green-crop break, which affords
the rougher surface which perhaps suits it best. Land sown
down in white crop following lea has, when rolled, a very
level and smooth surface, and in such fields it is interesting
to note that the nests, in nearly nine cases out of ten, are
placed in the open furrs, z.¢, the shallow trough between
the rigs, in which collects a certain amount of stubble and
turfy matter, which attracts the bird. A knowledge of this
little peculiarity allows one to cover a large field in a short
time with a certainty of finding a very large proportion of
the nests.

The Skylark, the dominant species of the association,
is least affected of all by crop-rotation. It abounds on
all, with the single reservation that it avoids all fields

BIRD-ASSOCIATIONS IN SCOTLAND 57

bordered by woods — an avoidance which has probably
little to do with food-supply, and is rather the result of a
mere constitutional preference for the open. The low-cut
hedges surrounding the fields have too little cover to
afford shelter to many birds, and they are only sparsely
populated by such species as Hedge-sparrow, Whitethroat,
Yellow Bunting, with fewer Chaffinches and Blackbirds, while
along the hedge-foot, as well as out in the open fields,
nest the Partridges.

Reclaimed marsh-land, such as the Carse of Stirling, has,
as special features, a greater abundance of the Corn-bunting,
and the Yellow Wagtail is characteristic, though less
numerous.

ASSOCIATIONS OF BUILDINGS.

The birds coming under this heading are those few
species which are colonists of the buildings erected by
man, most of them owing much of their range and numbers
to such buildings. They are few in number and too
well known to need more than brief note here. As
conditions go in this country, the section might be most
suitably divided into the following sub-associations: those
of village, farm-steading, and ruins. The dominant species
in the former, it need hardly be said, is the House-sparrow,
and its most typical associates are the House-martin,
Starling, Swift, and Jackdaw. The farm-steading, from
the present point of view, is mainly distinguished by the
addition of the Swallow, and the Blackbird might also be
mentioned ; while, on the other hand, the House-martin is
frequently absent. The last bird, in my experience, is more
of the village than of the farm. A ruined castle possesses
much the same fauna as the village, but with the not
infrequent addition of Barn-owl and, locally, of the Tree-
sparrow.

In the foregoing notes I have attempted to indicate
a few of the main ecological factors affecting the local
distribution of birds, and to give a generalised account of

some of the associations into which species group them-
[IL AND 112 H

58 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

selves in this country. I make no claim to any novelty
in the remarks I have made. My main object has merely
been to suggest the interest and importance of viewing
bird-distribution systematically from this side, an aspect
usually largely or even entirely neglected in our local
faunal lists. There is now a large and enthusiastic body
of botanists working on ecological lines, and it is impossible
to doubt that a similar development in zoology must follow
in the immediate future. In birds there is an enormous
amount of detailed work of this kind to be done, and it
is work clearly that lies to the hand of the field-
naturalist.

Importation of Greater Wood Wasps (Sirex gigas) to
a Clyde Shipbuilding Yard.—Late in July and in the first
few days of August 1920 several of these Greater Wood-wasps
were caught as they emerged from their burrows in the wood
of coniferous trees, probably of Scandinavian origin, which served
as uprights supporting the scaffolding in the shipbuilding yard
of the Ayrshire Dockyard Company, Irvine. My father brought to
me three females, in excellent condition and alive, one of which
measures 4.83 cms. in length, and five males averaging 2 cms. long,
a consignment striking because of the unusually large proportion
of male individuals, which as a rule are far outnumbered by
the females, and are generally regarded as scarce.—ALEXANDER
CUTHBERTSON, Yoker.

British Blood-sucking Flies.—F. W. Edwards, in the second
part of his valuable memoir on the British species of Szmuhum,
Bull. Ent. Res., vol. xi., pl. 3 (pp. 211-246), describes the early
stages, and gives observations on habitats, breeding season, varia-
tion and blood-sucking habits. In many of the species two or
three broods in the year are recorded, and one form (S. ornatum)
appears to breed all the year round. The author has obtained
sufficient evidence to warrant the assumption that all the British
species may on occasion develop the habit of blood-sucking,
regarding which there has hitherto been much doubt. A revised
key is given for the determination of adult males and females,
and similar keys for the identification of larvee and pupze.

DIPTERA NEMATOCERA FROM ARRAN AND LOCH ETIVE 59

DIPTERA NEMATOCERA FROM ARRAN
NIN ID) IUOXC st BOA AD,

By F. W. EDWARDS, B.A., F.E.S., British Museum (Natural History).

IN the early summer of 1919 I spent a fortnight in the
island of Arran, one of the main objects of the visit being
the collection of blood-sucking midges and Szsmulium, which
were reputed to abound to quite as great an extent in
Arran as in many other parts of Scotland. Since a large
number of Nematocerous Diptera were obtained, it may,
perhaps, be of some interest to record the list. A further
collection was made at Catacol in September 1920 by my
colleague, Capt. J. Waterston, and he has kindly allowed me
to add the names of his captures in order to complete the
record. The result is a very notable enlargement of the
short list of Nematocera recorded by Verrall (Zu. Wo. Mag,
vol, xix., 1883, pp. 222-26), nevertheless it would probably
be quite easy to treble the length of the list. A number of
species collected (chiefly Chironomine and Sciaride) still
await satisfactory determination, while no attempt was
made at the time to make a complete collection of all the
species which were on the wing, attention being concentrated
on certain groups. Moreover, the spring of 1919 was very late,
so that the summer forms were only beginning to appear at
the end of our stay. Against this, however, it should be
stated that the weather was perfect the whole time.

I have taken this opportunity of recording also a number
of captures made by Capt. Waterston on the shores of
Loch Etive, Argyll, in August 1919. The names of species
from this district which have not also been obtained from
Arran are enclosed in brackets. A number of species
are now recorded as British for the first time; these are
marked * in the list.

For the sake of brevity the following contractions are
used :—

B = Brodick Woods, and the shore and hillsides round Mark-

land Point, also a small number from the slopes of
Goat Fell, 22nd to 25th May.

60 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

S

Sannox Wood and the district immediately round the
mouth of the North Sannox Burn, 26th to 28th May.
Ca = Glen Catacol, 29th to 30th May.
Cn = Correin Lochan, 30th May.
P = Pirnmill, rst June.
M = Machrie Water, about three miles from the coast, 2nd June.
Cg = Bogs and cliffs by the shore below Corriegills, 2nd to
4th June.
W = Catacol district (Waterston, Sept. 1920.)
T = Bonawe, near Taynuilt, Loch Etive (Waterston, Aug.
I9IQ).
E = Head of Loch Etive (Waterston, Aug. 1919.)
V = Recorded by Verrall in the paper quoted.

|

As we had been led to expect, midges were exceedingly
abundant and troublesome. At the camp site near Pirnmill
they continued their attacks all night long, and shortly after
dawn made such a furious onslaught that they compelled us
to evacuate the spot and seek refuge in the breeziest place
we could find on the open beach a mile or two away. This,
however, was on an exceptionally sultry night, and the
experience was not repeated. As had been anticipated, the
worst enemy was Culicozdes arcuatus, which far outnumbered
all the other species of the genus; this seems to be the
case in all hilly districts. Of C. nebeculosus, which was
troublesome at Dreghorn, Ayrshire, only a single specimen
was met with in Arran.

The new species diagnosed below as C. heliophilus had
the unusual habit of flying (and biting) chiefly in the hot
afternoon sun. By 6 P.M.(summer time) it had disappeared,
and was being replaced by the hosts of C. arcuatus.
Subsequent experience on Dartmoor seems to indicate
that C. heliophilus may chiefly attack sheep, but no observa-
tions on this point were made in Arran.

C. pulicaris was common, and exhibited great variation
in the wing-markings; on this character four fairly well-
marked varieties could be distinguished, which were at first
believed to represent distinct species, but no_ structural
differences were discoverable between them.

Some remarks on the Simuliidze of Arran have recently

DIPTERA NEMATOCERA FROM ARRAN AND LOCH ETIVE 61

been published (Bul. Ent. Res., Dec. 1920), and need not
be repeated. Mosquitoes were most noteworthy by their
scarcity. Only one species (Ochlerotatus detritus) was
found in any number, the larve and pupe of this being
common in small brackish pools along the shore to the
north and south of Brodick, otherwise only a single
specimen each of Culex pipzens and Anopheles bifurcalus
were found, this in spite of a search being made for larve
in all likely spots. Descriptions and additional records
of certain of the Craneflies will appear shortly elsewhere.

MYCETOPHILIDA.
CEROPLATINAE.
Macrocera fasciata, Mg.: T. Macrocera stigma, Curt.: Cg.
5 g 8
fe lutea, Mg.: W, V. Asindulum rostratum, Zett.: W.
BOLITOPHILIN.

[Bolitophila saundersi, Curt.: T.]

SCIOPHILINA.

Mycomyia wanckowickzii, Dz.: S. | Apoliphthisa subincana, Curt.: S.
3 marginata, Mg.: S. Boletina trivittata, Mg.: B, S, Ca.
cinerascens, Winn.: 5 basaliss: Mion) Bios Ca.

Byes: ie eeplana Walls cle]
5 hyalinata, Mg.: B. % gripha, Dz.: Top of Goat
ns exigua, Winn.: S, Ca. Hell57S;
5 incisurata, Zett.: B, S, | Paraneurotelia dispar (Winn.):
Ca, W. Beer
* tenuis, Walk.: S, Ca. Anaclinia nemoralis, Mg.: S,
. lucorum, Winn.: B. Ca, M.
*Sciophila plurisetosa, sp.n. Leiomyia fascipennis (Mg.): W.

* Tndicates first British Record.

(To be continued.)

Dusky Ant (Formica fusca) in Hast Sutherland.—Among
some Ants recently sent to me by Miss Dorothy Jackson for
identification there were four typical examples of Formica fusca,
taken at Invershin, East Sutherland, in September 1920. Donis-
thorpe had no record for Sutherlandshire when he published his
volume on British Ants in 1915, and I believe the present one
to be the first for that county.—WiLL1amM Evans,

62 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

BOOK NOTICES.

FIELD OBSERVATIONS ON BRITISH Birps. Bya Sportsman Naturalist
(the late Fergus Menteith Ogilvie). London: Selwyn and
Blount, 1920. Price 21s.

During his lifetime the late Dr Menteith Ogilvie made a collection
of British birds which is said to rival the famous Booth collection at
Brighton. Some of his specimens were acquired at Barcaldine in
Argyllshire, but the majority were collected in Suffolk, and it is therefore
very fitting that the collection should recently have been presented to
the Ipswich Museum. His extensive series of British bird-skins have
been given to the British Museum.

Dr Menteith Ogilvie unfortunately published very little, and the
work under review is an effort to preserve in book-form some of his
careful observations in the field. His scientific training stood him in
good stead, and that he worked on scientific lines is abundantly evident.
Perhaps the chapters on “ The Food of Some of our Common Falconidz ”
and “British Wild Geese” are the most valuable, but throughout the
book there are many shrewd and original remarks. It is difficult to
determine whether Dr Menteith Ogilvie’s dominant passion was for
natural history or for sport: naturalists will appreciate his observations
on the habits and economy of British birds no less than sportsmen will
profit by his remarks on game and wild-fowl.

The book, of which there are only five hundred copies, is well printed
and suitably indexed, and is enriched by three maps, fourteen figures in
the text, and seven illustrations, two of which show in colour the heads
of Grey Lag and White-fronted Geese. lals Sh (E

KINCARDINESHIRE (Cambridge County Handbooks). By the late
George H. Kinnear, F.E.I.S. Cambridge: At the University
Press, 1921. Pp. xi+-122. Price 4s. 6d. net.

This volume affords, in limited scope, a succinct and reliable guide
to the main physical, industrial, antiquarian, historical and architectural
interests of the county. It contains two maps in colour, and more
than fifty excellent reproductions of photographs and drawings. The
short section on natural history records, amongst other things, the
former occurrence of fox-hunting, the increase of the Brown Hare,
the introduction of the Rabbit about 1808, the extinction of the
Ptarmigan, and the practical extinction of the Golden Eagle.

NOTES FROM THE SCOTTISH ZOOLOGICAL PARK 63

NOTES FROM
THE SCOTTISH ZOOLOGICAL PARK

A Basoon’s INTELLIGENCE.—The intelligence and reasoning
powers of a Baboon were well seen in the Zoological Park one day
recently. The Baboon, a fairly large male Chacma, has always
seemed to be above the ordinary standard of Baboon intelligence.
He has, for example, been able to carry the expression of displeasure
beyond the customary screaming and grimacing, and has become
adept in throwing things at people who offend him; so that many
a visitor, detected in committing the crime of giving food to
another monkey, has been astonished to find himself a target
for a double handful of potatoes, boiled rice, or, if no more
satisfying missiles were available, sawdust. With astonishing
strength he even one day wrenched up a large stone, weighing
about 20 lb., from the floor of his outside enclosure and hurled
it at the wire front. From time to time he has snatched open
pocket-knives from visitors, either because they have been offered
to him without realisation of his quickness and strength, or merely
because he has been able to seize them from the hands which
were cutting up fruit to feed him with; and his practice has been,
when he obtained possession of an open knife, to go to a particular
chink between two of the square tiles which cover the floor of his
cage, stick the blade in and snap it off—a performance which
seemed to afford him much pleasure. On the particular occasion
referred to he had managed to snatch from a visitor, who supplies
the information, a knife longer and stronger in the blade than
the average pocket-knife, and he proceeded to carry out his usual
amusement of snapping the blade in the chink in his floor. The
blade of the knife, however, did not snap, and in applying pressure
to it the Baboon slightly moved one of the tiles. This he per-
ceived, and continuing his pressure for a little while succeeded
in lifting the tile. Quickly he realised that the operation might
be applied to others. In a short time a second tile had been
lifted, and the work then went on merrily until before long he
had removed about a couple of dozen tiles, each a foot square,
forming nearly half the floor of his cage. Then, fortunately
perhaps, the knife blade broke and the game was stopped. The
incident, showing as it did the rapid perception of a result follow-
ing a cause, and the immediate application of the idea, seems

64 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

to the writer one of the most striking examples of animal intelligence
he has ever witnessed or heard of.

SOME RECENT ARRIVALS.—A female Puma, practically full
grown and in excellent condition, is a welcome addition to the
collection in the Park. It is the gift of Dr William Alston, of
Buenos Ayres, obtained through the good offices of Mr George
H. Law of Zhe Scotsman, and by courtesy of the owners of the
Houston Line of steamers was given a free passage from South
America. For some years the Park has possessed a good male
Puma, but efforts to obtain a female companion have only now
been successful. Pumas occasionally breed in captivity, and it
will be interesting to see whether they will do so in the Park.

A pair of American Bison are amongst the most important
animals received for some time. They were bred in the Dublin
Zoological Garden, and were obtained by exchange. ‘Their parents
are a pair of pure-bred Bison which were presented to the Royal
Zoological Society of Ireland by the Canadian Dominion Parks
Board in 1913. The male of the pair is still a calf, having been
born in August last, and he is perhaps the more interesting on
that account, as he is still somewhat generalised in type of body
and horns, and has not yet settled into the distinctive adult form.
The Park has had a Bison cow since its earliest days, but she had
a strain of Highland cattle blood which showed chiefly in the
shape of her horns. By some chance she lost both her horns
three years ago, and the cores having shrunk and hardened, are
now in form all that a Bison cow’s horns should be.

Three Indian Wolves were born in March. The pair of Indian
Wolves in the Park have had several litters, but the young have
never been reared successfully. The new cubs have been placed
with a terrier foster mother, who has adopted them without protest
in place of her own pups.—T. H. G.

[The Editors will be glad to receive from visitors to the Park
original notes of scientific value relating to habits or incidents
observed. Such notes must be forwarded through the Director-
Secretary, Zoological Park. |

(Authors are responsible for nomenclature used.)

Fi
{

The Scottish Naturalist

Nos. 113 AND 114. ] 1921 [ May-June.

Rit EeetiR MINA TION OF THE OLD
~ SCOTTISH FAUNA

DURING the war years the rarer members of the Scottish
fauna, freed from the ban of destruction, multiplied as they
had not done in the memory of man; but the respite is over,
and now the game of extermination goes merrily on. We
would draw attention in particular to the cases of three
Scottish mammals, interesting representatives of the old
fauna, which not much more than a hundred years ago were
to be found throughout the length of the land, but whose
doom is sealed if immediate steps be not taken to protect
their scattered relics—the Wild Cat, the Pine Marten, and
the Polecat.

Reports received from various sources, and items of
information gathered from contemporary journals show that
destruction on no ordinary scale is taking place. In the
Badenoch district of Inverness-shire, a whole family of Wild
‘Cats, male, female, and young, has been wiped out; at
Glenmoriston a pair trapped; and in Wester Ross three
keepers killed, in a limited area, respectively two, three, and
eight! Pine Martens have fared no better. In Wester Ross
one was trapped, where for thirty years they had been
unknown; in Caithness, at Oldany, four were killed in three
weeks in December; in two taxidermists’ shops in a small
town seven recent skins have been seen at one time; and

113 AND II4 I

66 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

in the English Lake District six dead Martens were found
in traps set in a circle round a tree for a fox. The Polecat
has suffered in like manner.

These are not isolated cases; they are unfortunately
symptomatic of what is happening in almost all the few
places still inhabited by these rare creatures. The story
need not be elaborated. We are aware that Wild Cats,
Pine Martens, and Polecats are not guiltless in the matter
of destruction of game, but is their guilt so great that they
must be ruthlessly exterminated, to the irretrievable loss of
the Scottish fauna ?

We would appeal to proprietors and shooting tenants
to consider the matter in a broad light; to Zoological
Societies to abstain from encouraging the capture of these
creatures ; and most strongly we would insist on the need
for the immediate creation of a reserve in the northern
Highlands, where a remnant of the dwindling stock might
find a safe refuge for all time to come.

- Since our last issue Scottish natural history is the poorer
by the loss of two men of very different type and training,
but at one in their enthusiasm for the study of animal life.
Robert Dunlop, who died on 21st April, was a child of poor
parents, and learned reading and writing during his
apprenticeship; by trade he was an iron-moulder, by
nature a naturalist. Nature won the day, and Dunlop not
only became Curator of the Pittencrieff Glen Museum in
Dunfermline, but himself collected in this country and in
Australasia, the 30,000 specimens, zoological, geological, and
anthropological, housed there. His researches in Scotland
were mainly paleontological, but he also contributed several
notes on the Scottish fauna, the last of which appeared in
these pages in 1920.

k * * * *

Colonel R. G. Wardlaw Ramsay of Whitehill and
Tillicoultry, died 22nd April, was a representative of an
old family, by profession a soldier, whose later years were
devoted to public affairs. Then, and during his periods

NOTES 67

of active service his spare time was given to the study of
bird life, and his unfinished account of the avifauna of
Europe and the neighbouring lands, for the completion of
which arrangements have been made, promises to be of great
value to the naturalist traveller. Although he himself made
no contribution to the study of Scottish natural history
the Royal Scottish Museum is the richer for a series of
several thousands of bird skins gifted by him from the
extensive Tweeddale collection.

How Hedgehogs Climb.—For many years past I have
transported every Hedgehog that my friends and I could capture
to the flower garden, and there liberated them in the hope that
they would rid us of part of the legion of slugs that work so much
mischief on young growth. By this time, had these animals
thriven, there must have been a considerable population; but so
far as ocular evidence goes, not one remains, nor have I detected
the remains of any dead ones. Now the flower garden lies right
up against the house, through which no Hedgehog can pass, the
rest of the circumference being securely fenced against ground
game by brick walls and wire netting. It has puzzled me to
divine how my captives have regained their liberty. The mystery
has now been solved. A young lady, paying us a visit, found a
full-grown Hedgehog hanging alive by a hind-leg on the top of
a fence of galvanised wire netting round a young plantation. The
limb, which was broken, had got fixed in the wire, and the
poor beast was doomed to a lingering death, had she not released
it and brought it home. It is hard to conceive of any mammal
less nimble than a Hedgehog, yet it seems pretty clear that this
one had scaled a vertical fence of wire netting and, but for the
misadventure, would have dropped safely on the other side.—
HERBERT MAXWELL, Monreith.

Birds in a Storm in the Outer Hebrides.—‘‘I wasin South
Uist on 15th November of this year (1920), when we experienced
a gale of over ninety miles an hour. Such a wind prevents one
standing upright to shoot and made walking against it extremely
difficult. We were at times literally carried off our feet, and for
safety’s sake carried our guns unloaded.

‘During the morning I visited the extensive grass area, called
‘machar,’ and numerous small lochs near the sea, Whooper

68 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

and Bewick Swans were common and sitting about on land in
small parties. If they attempted to rise they were blown away
and capsized, only to be rolled along the ground like a huge
ball. Golden Plover were blown like chaff before the wind.
Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper had all come inland,
and when compelled to rise were carried down wind like crumpled
bits of paper, capsizing whenever they attempted to land again.
Mallard could rise, but could not face the wind, and were com-
pelled to go with it. Wigeon and Golden-eye suffered the same
fate. Eider-duck came in from the sea, where they could not
have lived for an instant, and were sitting about on the land and
on small puddles. The cock Eider was the only bird I saw which
could face the wind. I saw it on two occasions, and it was a
fine example of strength and determination. Birds made about
a mile an hour ground-speed, but were at frequent intervals making
a minus ground-speed though still facing the wind. Hen Eider
failed to face the wind, though I saw many attempts to do so.

“ Of smaller birds, Twites were in flocks cowering under walls ;
if disturbed they were dashed to the ground and were in some
cases killed against walls and rocks. Blackbirds were in the same
predicament. Redwing could rise from the ground, but had to
turn with the wind and be blown away out of control.

“Life on water for birds was impossible. Gulls were sitting
on land with head held low. All Duck were on land or in
very small shallow puddles. Geese were in huddled flocks sitting
without sentries behind small knolls and hillocks.”

These interesting observations were made by Col. Meinertz-
hagen, and are here reproduced from Lull. Brit. Ornith. Club,
December 1920.

A Rare Millipede (Isobates varicornis) in Midlothian.
—In my revised list of the Millipedes of the Forth area, published
in the 1919 volume of this Magazine, /sobates varicornis (C.K.)
was included on the strength of the single Scottish record by Mr
Bagnall from East Fortune in East Lothian, June 1917. I can
now record its presence near Penicuik in Midlothian, where about
a score of examples were found by myself on zoth April 1921,
under the bark of a dead oak that had recently been cut down.
They agree exactly with English specimens in my collection. The
formation of the eyes at once separates the species from the
common Amsteinia fusca, to which it bears a close superficial
resemblance.—WILLIAM Evans, Edinburgh.

GREATER SNOW GOOSE IN SCOTTISH SOLWAY AREA 69

THE GREATER SNOW GOOSE IN THE SCOTTISH
SOLWAY AREA: A FIRST RECORD FOR
GREAT BRITAIN.

By WILLIAM EAGLE CLARKE, I.S.0., LL.D.

THE following are the particulars relating to the unusual
occurrence of a small skein of the Greater Snow Goose,
Chen nivalzs, in southern Kirkcudbrightshire in the autumn
and winter of 1920-21, alluded to in the last number of this
magazine. Since then I have fortunately been favoured
with much additional and interesting information relating
to their presence in the county.

Major Russell informs me that he first heard of some
light-coloured geese being seen in the autumn about
Crossmichael, where they were observed in company with
a large party of Bean Geese, but he cannot recollect the
date. The earliest recorded date is in October, when one
of two was shot at Craigley, near Castle-Douglas, by
Mr James M‘Adam, who, not being aware of its rarity, did
not preserve it. Later the presence of White Geese was
reported from various places in the county, and it is
supposed that in all they were originally five in number—
four certainly. Of these, two were shot—one in October at
Craigley as related, while the other, which fortunately found
its way to the Royal Scottish Museum, was shot on the
18th of February by Capt. Montgomery on the River Dee,
from a party composed of a number of Bean Geese and
three Snow Geese.

This mixed flock resorted to some low-lying meadows,
which are frequently under water, near Crossmichael. To
these meadows and young grass fields the Geese came from
the Solway to feed, and Major Russell saw them last about
the 20th of March, when he had an excellent view of the
two remaining white birds.

Other “Snow Geese” have been reported from the
Scottish Solway. One was obtained in the stake-nets at
Newbie (Annan) in the autumn of 1884, while in March
1879 a flock of pure white geese was observed on Lochar

70 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Moss and reported to the late Mr Robert Service. The
former was recorded as a specimen of the Lesser Snow
Goose (Chen hyperboreus).

The bird presented to the Royal Scottish Museum is a
specimen of the Greater species—the Chen nivalis of
Forster. This form is a native of eastern arctic America,
breeding as far west as northern Greenland, whereas
C. hyperboreus is at home in western arctic America and
north-eastern Siberia. C. xzzvalzs has not hitherto been
known to have occurred in Great Britain, but there is a
record relating to its appearance in a skein of seven (one
of which was obtained) in Ireland, namely at Belmullet,
Co. Mayo, in October 1886. There appear to be no certain
records of the occurrence of this form elsewhere in Europe.

The Solway bird proved to be a female in its last year
of immaturity, and hence, according to the views expressed
by Alphéraky in his monograph on “ The Geese of Europe
and Asia,” about three years old. The head and neck are
greyish-white, darker on the crown and nape, and inter-
spersed with white feathers on the former; body plumage
white, with the exception of a band of grey feathers with
brown tips across the mantle; primaries dark grey with the
distal third black and the shafts white; wing-coverts grey
with whitish mottling on the outer web; bastard wing-
feathers pearly grey with black shafts; secondaries with
grey centres, white edges, and white shafts. Wing, 17.32 ins.
(40 mim.); culmen, 2.5 ins. (64 mm-)s “tarsus 340s:
(86.3 mm.). The colour of the bill and feet the day after
the bird was shot are described by Capt. Phillips as being
olive-brown.

Thanks are due to Capt. Montgomery for presenting this
valuable specimen to the Royal Scottish Museum, in whose
cabinet collection it has found an appropriate resting-place ;
to Major Russell for much interesting information relating
to these rare arctic visitors, and to Mr J. G. Gordon for his
kind assistance.

Waxwing in Kirkcudbrightshire—A Waxwing was picked
up dead near Lochfoot, Lochrutton (Kirkcudbright), about 20th
February 1920.—H. S, GLADSTONE.

SMALL BIRDS IN THE GARDEN 71

SMALICO BIRDS IN THE GARDEN,

By GEORGE BOLAM.
(Author of Birds of Northumberland and the Eastern Borders, etc.).

IT has long been well known that many of our Warblers and
other small birds are considerable pilferers of currants and
like small fruits, so that this note betrays no secrets; neither
must it be taken as defamatory of a family whose usefulness
in the garden is patent to and appreciated by everybody.
But I had occasion to be a good deal amongst fruit
bushes last autumn, during the early hours of the morning
—always the best time for observing wild life—and was
rather surprised to notice how regularly certain Warblers
seemed to take a berry or two, or a bite out of a rasp, as
a sort of relish to their caterpillar breakfast.

Frequently the garden has been filled, figuratively
speaking, with mixed roving bands of Tree-pipits, Wood-,
Willow-, Blackcap-, and Garden-warblers, Robins, Wrens,
Whitethroats (of both species), Hedge-sparrows, Tits, Gold-
crests, and Chaffinches ; whilst almost every morning family
parties of several of these species, as well as occasional Bull-
finches, have been under observation. Of the whole
assemblage, Robins have been the most conspicuous fruit-
eaters, possibly by reason of what I would call their precocity
rather than their fearlessness, and black currants have
been distinctly their favourite fruit. My closest attendants
have been young birds in their mottled plumage, just
beginning to show a few chestnut feathers upon their
breasts, and also just starting to attempt a first low
warble.

The familiarity of the Robin is proverbial, and the
manner in which characters are transmitted from parent
to offspring has often enough been dilated upon; yet it
never fails to strike me as most extraordinary how tame
some young Robins are, or become with the slightest
encouragement. Their parents may have learned during
hard weather that their trust will not be imposed upon, but

72 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

these youngsters have had no previous experience of man!
Truly there is almost no limit to what might be said
about “inherited instinct.” These young Robins, without
any training, or introduction, will almost (actually, some-
times) take a grub or worm from my fingers. They hop
about within a foot or two of my spade whilst I search for
another worm, and as though to emphasise their impatience
(and familiarity), should a worm not be promptly forth-
coming, they fly to a branch close to my face and pick
off a large black currant. Often they swallow it, however
big, more often perhaps they allow it to drop to the
ground and pay no more attention to it, but proceed to
pluck another—sheer waste? But the instant a nice worm
is turned up they quit the bush, and it is a race who is
to be first for it. Two or three of them will sometimes
dispute possession across my feet! Then the victor retires
with his prize, while his brothers, disdaining pursuit, either
start pulling more berries (mostly to be dropped) or essay
to express their indifference in song. In any event, it is
in the main only a case of pour passer le temps, for the
appearance of another worm instantly brings them all
back to my feet.

The swallowing capacity of those young Robins is
surprising. The largest black currant goes down whole
without apparent effort. On one occasion one seized a fat
female ghost-moth (Hepzalus humulz) that was drying her
newly acquired wings within a yard of me, and promptly
bolted it, wings and all!

Garden-warblers seem to be most addicted to rasps, but
failing these they fall back indiscriminately upon either
red or white currants. I have not noticed them touch
black currants. They appear to be distinctly more given
to fruit-eating than their near relatives, the Blackcaps.
The latter, too (here at Alston, at any rate), show a distinct
preference for small berries over rasps. In other years
I have noticed them eating the fruit of flowering-currants,
honeysuckle, and ivy. Their liking for some of these is
shared by the Garden-warbler, and both species, as well
as the Whitethroats, are particularly fond of the berries

SMALL BIRDS IN THE GARDEN 73

of elders, both Sambucus nigra and S. racemosa. I have
also seen them attracted to Crategus pyracantha, but not
to the common white-thorn, which, however, is not
generally ripe enough before the birds have left the
country. :

Wood-warblers and Willow-wrens bear so close a
resemblance to one another, in many respects, that it is
curious they should differ in tastes; yet while the former
have repeatedly been seen to take an occasional black
currant, I have never noticed a Willow-warbler, though
it is so much more numerous than its congener, paying
any attention to fruit of any kind. They have been closely
watched on many occasions picking aphids and other insects
from branches laden with ripe berries, but have always
totally disregarded the fruit.

The Common Whitethroat is almost as fond of an
occasional berry as the Garden-warbler or the Blackcap,
and I have watched it taking red, white, and black currants
with equal avidity. It also steals rasps, and, where the pods
have been previously opened by Tits or other birds, is addicted
to green peas. It seems, however, to be much less given
to waste than, for instance, the Robin; for I repeatedly
watched it last autumn descend to the ground to recover
a fallen berry—a rare trait in bird-life in my experience.
These little peculiarities amongst allied species are interest-
ing. How far they may be due to local or even individual
habit, rather than to racial character, is another matter.

The Lesser Whitethroat is not a common bird here,
and has only been represented by at the most two broods
this year. It would, therefore, be unsafe to generalise from
such scanty material, but so far as I have observed, it
seemed to be much less given to fruit-eating than the
Common Whitethroat. In their actions in autumn young
Lesser Whitethroats much resemble Willow-wrens; they
are fond of investigating rows of peas, but higher trees
have more attractions for them than berry-bushes. Their
chief objective seems to be green caterpillars, and for the
purpose of identification, I disturbed one that was worry-
ing some large creature on the path; it proved to be a full-

liege AND oni 4 K

_

74 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

grown larva of Hadena oleracea. Only once was one
detected eating garden fruit—a black currant; but I
several times saw them swallowing elder berries.

Tree - pipits were seen picking small berries from the
ground, and turning them in their bills before discarding
them, but they were never noticed actually to swallow any.
Wrens, Tits, Flycatchers, Finches, and Hedge -sparrows,
I think, all totally disregarded fruit, though both Blue and
Great Tits did some harm to peas, damaging a good many
more pods than they actually rifled. The only recognised
food taken by the local Tits that visited us was caterpillars,
but the birds did much hunting on the ground and were
constantly carrying into the branches to hammer and
dissect, objects which I could not identify. Bullfinches
visited the borders every morning, exclusively confining
their attention to pansy seeds, of which they hardly left a
head intact. It seems a peculiar taste, but it is one that
I see them gratify every year.

Great Tits, to a lesser degree, and Chaffinches, regularly,
attack heads of honesty (Lunuaria biennis) as soon as the
seeds ripen each year; the Finches also strip every pod
from a plant of Corydalis lutea growing within a foot or
two of the window at which I write. Evidently they have
discovered a liking for its somewhat pungent seeds; but,
curiously enough, they never seem to touch plants of the
same species growing in other parts of the garden.

The Chaffinch is probably the most universally common
bird throughout the country. Here it is abundant, and
gets surprisingly tame; but of all the birds that visit the
garden, it is by far the most destructive to small fruit. This
destruction takes place, not in autumn when the fruit is ripe,
but in early spring when the buds first begin to swell, and is
continued till the bushes are fully greened with foliage ;
and the buds are generally so effectually destroyed that
whole branches remain absolutely bare of either leaf or
fruit—lasting monuments of the unwelcome presence of an
otherwise attractive and friendly bird.

One Great Tit this year was most persistent in its
attentions to one of our bee-hives. The stock was not

SMALL BIRDS IN THE GARDEN 75

very healthy and there were generally a few dead bees
lying around, as well as some sickly ones creeping about
below the alighting board. At first the bird confined itself
to those, carrying them off, dead and dying indifferently, to
its nest at the rate of about one in three minutes for
perhaps half an hour each morning. I did not interfere,
as I thought it was probably doing no harm by removing
weakly insects; but as those became exhausted the bird
had to be frightened off (no easy job!) as it then attacked
the healthy bees, deliberately waiting on the alighting board
till one appeared, and then as deliberately picking it up.
Observations of this kind have frequently been made before
(see my BLzrds of Northumberland and the Eastern Borders,
pp. 78 and 119), but I was interested in this case to note
the procedure. Each bee, dead as well as living, was
carried a yard or two to a path, on whose hard surface it
was transferred from bill to foot. A quick twist or two
then sufficed to sever the abdomen from the hard thorax
the latter being left on the path and only the softer body
being carried away to the nest—sting and all, I presume. The
nest was situated a couple of hundred yards away and
contained at the time half-grown young. The pathway
soon became littered with disbodied bees, some of which
when examined were still alive and making tottering
endeavours to crawl away.

Tree-creepers on the Isle of May.—Little is known of
the movements of our British Tree-creeper (Certhia familiarts
brittanica); it may therefore be of interest to record that two
occurred on the Isle of May in autumn 1920. The first of these,
a male, appeared on the 26th September (light west wind) ; it was
seen on the face of the cliffs and the wall of the garden. The
other, a female, in body moult, was killed at the lantern at
I A.M. on 21st October (calm). As we had not sufficient material
with which to compare them, we sent them to the British Museum,
and Mr N. B. Kinnear kindly informs us that they both belong
to the British sub-species. This is the first time the bird has been
seen on the Isle of May, though of course it breeds on the
mainland on both sides of the Firth of Forth LEoNnora JEFFREY
RINTOUL and EvELyn V. BaAxTEr.

76 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Lapland Bluethroat at Fair Isle.—Through the kindness of
Dr Eagle Clarke, I recently had the opportunity of examining
carefully the series of Redspotted Bluethroats from Fair Isle in
the collection of the Royal Scottish Museum. Of late years the
Bluethroats which breed in Northern Europe have been separated
into two subspecies—Lrithacus suecicus gaetkei from the Norwegian
Mountains, and the typical form £. s. swecicus from Lapland
and Northern Russia. The former is the race which one expects
to meet with on the coasts of Britain. The series in the Royal
Scottish Museum bears out that expectation, but amongst the
skins is one entirely referable to the Lapland race. It is that
of a male, obtained on 25th May 1910. The wing measurement
is 7o mm. and the distance between the secondaries and the tip of
the wing is 11-12 mm. Dr Eagle Clarke informs me that this
bird was the last of the species observed that spring on the island.

This form has only once before been recorded as occurring in
the British Isles, viz. Isle of May, 14th September 1909. (Vide
Misses Rintoul and Baxter, Scot. Wat., 1912, p. 236).—J. H.
STENHOUSE, Edinburgh.

Breeding of the Red Admiral Butterfly (Pyrameis
atalanta) in Scotland.—In view of the note on the supposed
immigration of this butterfly in 1920 (vide p. 28 of the January-
February issue of the Scottish Naturalist), it is perhaps worth
putting on record that on 22nd September last I had to visit
Dunfermline on business, and, having a little leisure about midday,
I paid a visit to the flower gardens in the Carnegie Park—it was
a beautiful, sunny, warm, autumn day—and had the pleasure of
seeing three or four specimens of the Red Admiral busy flitting
about the flower-beds; so busy were they with the flowers that I
was able to stand not a foot away from the largest and finest
specimen for many minutes, watching its evolutions. All the
specimens were in such perfect condition that I cannot suppose
they were immigrants; it was practically certain that they must
have been bred in the immediate neighbourhood. Mr South
appears to think that the spring specimens of the Painted Lady
and the Red Admiral are immigrants, and, therefore, apparently
the autumn specimens are the progeny of these spring immigrants.
—T. Hupson BrEareE.

[Prof. Beare’s supposition is supported by my discovery of
advanced larve of this species in August last on nettles by the
Braid Burn, Edinburgh, where in September and October several
of the butterflies themselves were seen.—W. E. |

THE WALRUS IN BRITISH WATERS 77

PAE WALRUS sINGB iaiSEieNvy AT IRS.

By JAMES RITCHIE, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S.E.
(Concluded from p. 9.)

Analysts of Modern Records.——While, on the whole, there
is great poverty of detail in the information which has been
recorded regarding the visits of Walruses to the British
Isles, so obviously desirable an item as the month or season
of the visit being often omitted, nevertheless an analysis
of the records will afford as complete a summary of the
general significance of the visits as it is possible now
to obtain.

Size or Age of Walrus Vesttors—A few records of size
have been obtained. W. Macgillivray himself described the
Walrus (20) shot at Caolas Stocnis, Harris, in 1817 (Eazné.
Ti Oui, VOle al... 1618, pp: 369, 300), although the
specimen was already mutilated when he examined it.
It was upwards of Io feet in length, and yielded two
barrels of blubber. The head measured from occiput to
nose 134 inches, the distance between the eyes was 8 inches,
and the tusks were 8} inches long. The individual (10)
shot at Eday, Orkney, in 1825, was not examined in the
flesh, and, though “of very large size,” was reported to be
“in a very lean state”—perhaps not much to be wondered
at, since “his hide was in many places bored by small shot” —
but the skin, dried and shrunk a good deal, is said to have
measured 15 feet in length and 13 in breadth (Eazud. Phil.
Journ., vol. xili., 1825, pp. 383 and 384). The skin of this
fine animal was destroyed by the fisher captors, but the
“entire head” was forwarded to the Editor of the PAz/,
Journ, with the request that he would “have the goodness
to lodge it in the Royal Museum of the University of
Edinburgh.” In a footnote, the Editor, Prof. Jameson,
acknowledged the safe arrival of the gift, but gave no
particulars of condition or size.

The Royal Museum referred to was the Zoological

78 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Museum of Edinburgh University, and its collections were
transferred to and formed the basis of the zoological
collection in the Industrial Museum, now the Royal
Scottish Museum. In the old manuscript register of the
Royal Museum of the University, now in the possession
of the Royal Scottish Museum, there occurs the following
entry in the list of “ Additions to the College Museum for
1025-20 4 (p, 70): 16. Skull) offal Sea-horse irommsam
individual killed in Orkney. Presented by Mr Scarth.”
Neither the entry nor the accounts give any indication
of the subsequent fate of the “skull” or head, as it should
have been described ; but examination of the various Walrus
remains transferred from the University, and now in the
Royal Scottish Museum, has led me to the conclusion that
a poorly mounted head, the hinder portion of which has
been roughly sheared off, leaving only the muzzle and tusks,
represents the Orkney example of 1825. The remains are
those of a large individual, the muzzle measuring 1 foot
across, and the tusks, each of which bears faintly marked
the number “9,” corresponding to the number in the Register,
are 16 inches in length and 8 inches in circumference at
the base.

The Severn Walrus (23) of 1839 was “quite young, as
it measured only about 7 or 8 feet in length.” One Long-
hope individual (17), reported by Mr Moodie Heddle to
Buckley and Harvie-Brown (Vert. Fauna of Orkney Islands,
1891, p. 66)—an individual to whose visit no definite date
can be ascribed, except that it was before 1864—was at
least of moderate development, for it caused annoyance “to
people going to church by putting its tusks over the gun-
wale of the boat.” A second individual (18) seen in the
same neighbourhood, at Hawick, Longhope, had “tusks
quite visible, but not very long.”

The tusks of the Skerries Walrus of 1920 were
I2 to 15 inches long; and Mr Jamieson, who saw the
creature on several occasions, in comparing its appearance
with that of specimens in the Royal Scottish Museum,
described it to the writer as resembling an individual whose
length is some 7 feet.

THE WALRUS IN BRITISH WATERS 79

The normal length of a full-grown Walrus ranges from
about 12 to 16 feet or more. It is therefore apparent that
the Scottish examples include full-grown individuals, though
the variation in size scarcely favours a theory that suggests
itself, namely, that their isolated appearance is on a par
with that of the bull Sperm Whales which alone are captured
from Scottish whaling stations, the result of a temperamental
wandering of certain aged individuals from the parent colony.
Such a theory is quite overthrown by a valuable observation
made by Professor Heddle, who himself told Harvie-Brown
that in 1849 or 1850 he had seen, off the coast of the parish
of Walls in Orkney, an adult Walrus and a young one
(Proc. Nat. Hest. Soc. Glasgow, vol. iv., 1881, p. 97).

In view of these facts, the only conclusion to be drawn
from the size and approximate ages of the Walruses
which have reached Britain is that the individuals form a
heterogeneous unconnected series, and that therefore they
can only be regarded as isolated waifs which chance
conditions have cast adrift from the parental herds in the
far north.

Season of Appearance in British Waters.—In this respect,
also, facts are scanty but significant. In Shetland three
Walruses have been seen in “summer” (1815 (two) and
1828), and one, first noticed in July, was still present in
mid-October (1920). In Orkney one appeared in the
beginning of June (1825) and one in “autumn.” The
Hebridean records include occurrences in the “end of
December” (1817) and April (1341); while the Skye
individual of 1877 is thought to have been seen off
Eigg in the autumn of the same year (Harvie-Brown and
Macpherson’s Worth-West Highlands, 1904, p. 25). The
remaining records from the British Isles are placed in
June or July in the Severn (1839), and in summer in the
Shannon (1897).

In short, of eleven Walruses the times of appearance of
which in British waters are known, one was a spring visitor,
_seven appeared in summer, two in autumn, and one was seen
in winter. Summer is predominantly the season of visitation,
and it may be that it is even more markedly so than our

-

ms J
7
al *

7

80 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

numbers suggest, for in one case (1920) a Walrus which
appeared in July remained continuously till, at any rate,
mid-October, and it is possible that the autumn and winter
records of our list represent only the earliest recognition
of individuals which till then had remained unobserved,
having lurked since the summer months in secluded parts
of our coast.

To what, then, are the summer visits of the Walrus due?
In the first place, they seem to be associated with the annual
breaking-up of the winter’s ice formed along the Arctic
coasts and in the narrower seas. Mr J. Mathieson tells me
that drift-ice from Barents and Kara Seas fills up the area
between Bear Island and Spitsbergen during the winter.
In late spring or early summer the drift and land ice
begin to give way under rising temperature. On _ his
expedition to Spitsbergen in 1920 Mr Mathieson met the
close pack in June, 60 miles south-west of the island, and
had to follow the edge of the pack for 80 miles before
attempting to force his vessel through. The breaking-up
of the winter’s ice, and its gradual drift to sea under the
influence of ocean currents and winds, probably supplies
a first cause of the Walruses’ visits, for it suggests the
possibility of the disruption of a colony about the breeding
season and the involuntary southwards drift of one or more
ofits members. That such drifting of Walruses did actually
take place is shown by the experience of the whale-ship
Arctic, the captain of which saw, on 28th August 1867, in
lat. 69°N., long. 64° W., “two or three hundred basking
upon the ice, and sent out his boats to the attack.” One
of these Walruses was brought alive to Dundee.!

The southern limit of drift-ice to the north of the North
Sea lies roughly in the latitude of 62° N., or in a position off the
eastern coast of the Faroe Islands, but this marks practically
an unattainable maximum for an ice-borne Walrus. Wemust
assume, therefore, that the journey, begun as an involuntary
drift, is completed by more voluntary movements on the
part of the migrant, and these would probably be determined

1F, W. Southwell, Seals and Whales of the British Seas, 1881,
Pp. 35.

THE WALRUS IN BRITISH WATERS 81

by the movements of the fishes upon which it feeds, these
in turn ultimately depending to a considerable extent on
the directions of ocean currents or drifts in the northern
waters.

Since the greater part of a journey so determined, either
on the ice or in the open sea, is traceable, on the above
suppositions, to the influence of ocean currents, it would
follow that the Walruses which have visited the coasts of
the British Isles have generally travelled rather from a
westerly source, toward Iceland and Greenland, than from
more eastern breeding-grounds in the Spitsbergen region
of the Arctic Ocean.

Place of Appearance in British Waters——Of the Walruses
which have been seen in British waters the records show
that nine have visited the Shetland Isles, ten the Orkneys,
three the Hebrides, while only one each have been found
on the western shores of England and Ireland. In this
distribution we have again some indication of the influences
which bear the Walrus to our shores, for the thinning out
of the records southwards shows that the centre of dispersal
lies to the north. Further, since six out of eight definite
Shetland localities lie on the east side of the group of islands
—the Orkney records afford no definite indication — the
direction of approach appears to be rather from the north
than from the west. I would therefore suggest that the
Walrus, which in a sense may be regarded as a member of
the open ocean group of animals, is caught up in the drift
which washes the ice-fields of eastern Greenland, and which,
swinging past the east of Iceland, comes in contact with the
North Atlantic drift in the neighbourhood of the Faroe
Islands. It is well known that in certain phenomenal years
an unusual flow of this cold oceanic current breaks through
the warm current of the North Atlantic drift, and flows
by way of the Shetlands into the North Sea, bearing with
it members of the fauna of the northern ocean, The majority
of the Walruses’ visits to Scotland may be looked upon as
due to the unusual development of the Greeland-Iceland-
Faroe oceanic circulation.

II13 AND I14 6

82 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

There is a second possibility, however, which ought not
to be reckoned out of count, that some of the visits, such as
those to western Ireland and England and to the Hebrides,
are due, not to the Arctic circulation, but to the influence
of the warm North Atlantic drift (“Gulf Stream”), which
may have caught up in the open Atlantic Walrus waifs
from the shores of Greenland. As a rule such a mode of
approach would point to a longer route from the breeding-
grounds, and one traversing a much more extensive warm
area.

A last point of interest with regard to the location of
Scottish Walruses is worthy of note—their viability when
they have reached a friendly shore after long wandering in
the open sea. Some apparently rest in one locality for long
periods, such as the Skerries individual of 1920, which for
three and a half months seems never to have left the
immediate neighbourhood in which it was first seen. This
individual appeared in a year notable for a great influx
into the North Sea of sharks, salpae, and other organisms
from the Atlantic Ocean. Other individuals, however, have
been observed to make considerable migrations. That seen
in 1877 close to Stein, 18 miles north of Portree in Skye,
afterwards appeared off the coast of Sleat, and is supposed
later to have been noticed off the Isle of Eigg; so that in
its coastal wanderings it must have covered some 65 or 70
miles. Again, the Orkney individual of 1825, first seen in
the Pentland Firth, followed a boat almost to the harbour of
Stromness, and then having travelled westwards to Hoymouth,
“made its appearance at different places along the islands,
to the great alarm of the fishermen. ... Having at last
come down through the Westray Firth, it was discovered
lying on the rocks of the island of Eday”—some 60 miles
from the region of its first appearance. Such wanderers
appear to hug the coast in their movements, but the fact
that they are capable of so great migrations in short
space of time gives warning that too much stress should
not be placed on the locality of their first recorded
appearance.

THE WALRUS IN BRITISH WATERS 83

Here reference may be made to the well-authenticated
presence of a Walrus so far south as the estuary of the
Severn, for the record seems to have escaped the notice of
previous writers, and as it occurs in an old journal not easily
accessible, may be repeated for future reference. I quote,
from a copy of The Edinburgh Journal of Natural Flrstory
(vol. ii, July 1839, p. 22), which recently came into my
hands, a paragraph from the Gloucester Journal; “ About a
fortnight since a strange large animal was observed on the
sands of the Severn at Putton, and, as a man went towards
it, it retreated towards the water. This emboldened the
pursuer, and he soon approached very near to the animal,
upon which it turned round and exhibited a countenance
of such apparently extraordinary ferocity and disposition to
do battle, that the man was glad in his turn to take to
flight with pretty considerable speed. He then procured a
large duck gun with a man to accompany him, and to lend
his shoulder to support the gun while he took aim, and by
this means the strange visitant was very soon dispatched.
On examination it turned out to be a Walrus or Morse,
a well-known animal of the seal tribe in the Polar Seas,
but which very seldom, we believe, is seen in these latitudes.
It was quite young, as it measured only about 7 or 8 feet
in length, while the average length of a full-grown Walrus
is from 12 to 16 feet, and some have even measured 20 feet.
After its death, it was, we understand, conveyed to Berkeley
Castle, where its tusks, etc., will probably be added to the
other trophies of the chase which are preserved in that
ancient baronial fortress.”

Seal-hunting and British Vusits of the Walrus-——An
analysis of the distribution in time of the appearances of
the Walrus shows clearly that the visits are less frequent
than they used to be. This deficiency cannot be attributed
to any lack of observation in the later years, for facilities
for observation and record, and the acuteness of observers,
such as lighthouse-keepers, are greater than they were
over half a century ago. Do the numbers themselves give
any hint as to the cause of the decrease?

84 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

The records, grouped in periods of ten and of twenty
years, are as follows :—

Numbers in Numbers in
Years. ten-year twenty-year
periods. periods.
1811-1820 3 \ 6
1821-1830 33
1831-1840 3 \ 6
1841-1850 3
1851-1860 4 \ 6
1861-1870 2
1871-1880 2 \
18381-1890 fo)
1891-1900 2 \
IQOI-1910 I 3
IQII-1920 I I

It will be seen that while each decade up to 1870 yielded
an average of three Walruses in British waters, the average
after 1870 fell to about one a decade, or that, while each
twenty-year period before 1870 yielded six individuals, only
six altogether have been seen in the fifty years since that
date. Put in another way: while previous to 1870 a Walrus
appeared in British waters on an average every three and
a third years, since 1870 the average has fallen to one in
eight and a third years.

So far as the available statistics show, there has been no .
gradual falling off in numbers, such as would occur under
the slow interference of most natural agencies, How, then,
can the break about 1870 be accounted for? An examina-
tion of the results of seal-hunting suggests an answer to
the question.

In the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries Walruses
were hunted and slaughtered in vast numbers on the northern
coast of the mainland of Europe, where, in Finmark, they
were said in 1604 to “lye like hogges upon heapes.” Long
since they deserted these shores of Norway, only to be
tracked and slaughtered as they retreated northwards before
the hunters. First, Bear Island, 280 miles north of the
North Cape, became the centre of destruction, and then,
when the Walruses here had been exterminated, the centre
shifted northwards to the Thousand Isles, S.E. of Spitsbergen,

THE WALRUS IN BRITISH WATERS 85

where in August 1852, sixteen men slaughtered 900 in a
single day. This area exhausted, the mainland of Spits-
bergen was next exploited, and thence the Walruses were
driven to the banks and skerries still farther north. In
1864 Alfred Newton wrote, “The time is not far distant
when the Walrus will be extinct in the Spitsbergen Seas.”
Southwell recorded that in 1880 Walrus-hunting had become
uncertain in the Spitsbergen area “from the paucity and
wariness of the animals,’ and in 1876 Lamont, in Yachting
in the Arctic Seas, said that “now, although the Arctic Seas
are exploited by steamers and visited annually by as bold
and enterprising hunters as formerly, such a windfall as a
herd of Walruses ashore is seldom heard of.”

The point I wish to bring out is that about 1860 to 1870
the last breeding-ground eastward of the British Isles had
become practically depleted of its Walrus stock, so that the
possibility of visitation from this area had now ceased. But
I have indicated that the majority of the Walrus visitors to
the British Isles probably hailed from more westerly breeding
grounds, What, then, of the movement of the western
Atlantic Walruses before the pressure of man?

The Walrus used to be common off the coast of Nova
Scotia, but about the middle of the eighteenth century it
was exterminated in the region of the Gulf of St Lawrence.
Thereafter it was hunted on the shores of Baffin’s Strait and
on the Greenland coast, along which it was gradually driven
northwards. Writing of 1867, Robert Brown (Proc. Zool. Soc.,
1868, p. 433) says that it occurred on the latter “but not
south of Rifkol in lat. 657.2 In 1853 to 1655 Kane’ and
Hayes found it abundant on the west of Greenland about
Smith Sound in lat. 79°, but Feilden about 1877 (Zool, 1877,
p. 360) saw none in that area. Indeed, writing in the same
year, Rink states that “the Walrus is only rarely met with
along the Greenland coast, with the exception of the tract
between 66° and 68° N. lat., where it occurs pretty numer-
ously at times.” Further details regarding its occurrence
in these regions are to be found in Allen’s Azstory of North
American Pinnipedes, 1880, but the outstanding fact is that
about 1860 to 1870 the more southerly portions of the

86 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

coast of Greenland had been cleared of their herds of
Walruses.

Both to the east and the west the breeding-grounds
nearest to the British Isles were depleted of their stock in
the years about 1860-70, and at the same time a marked
decrease took place in the frequency of the visits of the
Walrus to our shores. The sudden diminution in the
numbers of visits seems to be directly traceable to the
driving northwards of the herds, which about the years
1860-70 seriously reduced their numbers or carried them
beyond the critical area whence the British Isles drew the
majority of their chance visitors.

There is little likelihood that the visits will ever again
increase in frequency, for the slaughter continued after those
critical years, so that even in 1879 (/eld, 27th March 1880)
“about 11,000 Walruses were secured, most of them within
the Arctic Sea [including the Pacific region]. But to attain
this result, between thirty and forty thousand animals were
killed, so that only one-third of the number destroyed were
actually utilised.” The increased value of their products
would indicate that the Walruses’ only safeguards from
extermination are such paucity of numbers and inaccessi-
bility of breeding-grounds as to make their pursuit and
destruction unremunerative.

The Marsh Titmouse in Berwickshire.—While I looked
at the wildfowl on the lake at Duns Castle on the 25th of January
last, a foraging party of Tits appeared, and some of the birds
came into the clump of bushes close to where I was standing.
My attention was attracted by the “tay tay” of a Marsh Tit,
and when I was attempting to get the bird into the focus of my
binoculars, it left the bush to pick seeds from the head of a
plume thistle growing close to the bush, and within four feet of
me. I had a most excellent view of the bird as it flew from
the bush to the thistle three times, and I was particularly struck
to observe that the head was glossy black, and not dull as in the
Willow Tit. As the status of the Marsh Tit as a Scottish bird
has not been defined since the Willow Tit was recognised as a
British bird, it may be of interest to note this occurrence.—
T. G. Larpiaw, Duns.

SCOTTISH BARK-BEETLES——RECORDS AND OBSERVATIONS 87

SCOTTISH BARK-BEETLES—RECORDS AND
OBSERVARIONS:

By J. W. Munro, D.Sc., Entomologist to the Forestry Commission.

OF the thirty Bark-beetles recorded as Scottish, there are
several the presence of which still requires confirmation. In
most cases the records are those of general collectors
interested in many groups, and some of them are of com-
paratively early date. Thus Murray in his well-known
“Catalogue” records a species, Zomzcus monographus, which
it is now almost impossible to recognise. Again, it is fairly
certain that the Hylastes angustatus he records from Berwick
and Glasgow is Aylastes opacus, as according to Canon
Fowler the A. angustatus of Stephen is HY. opacus, Er., and
HT, angustatus, Herbst., has so far never been recorded from
Scotland. Even in England it is rare, and indeed has been
confused until recently with 47. attenwatus, Er., a species only
recently recognised as British.

Other records are solitary, and often refer to the taking of
a single specimen, as Dr Sharp’s record of 7. uzgritus, L.,
from Moray in 1871, and Dr Joy’s record of Puztyogenes
trepanatus, Nord., at Blair Atholl in 1903. So, too, our finest
Bark-beetle, Scolytus Ratzeburgt, Janson, has not been taken,
so far as published records show, since 1870 or 1871, and yet
Rannoch, where it occurred, has since been well studied.

On the other hand, many of the older and doubtful
records have been confirmed during the past few years. In
July 1919 I found P2tyogenes chalcographus, L., breeding in
numbers near Dunkeld. Cryphalus abietis, Ratz., is now
known to be widely distributed. ylastes cunicularius, Er.,
also is fairly widely distributed, and has been taken by me
during the past two years in Kincardineshire, Perthshire, and
Argyllshire, in all cases in numbers in its breeding-grounds
in the stumps and roots of spruce and Sitka spruce. Dvyo-
cetes autographus, Ratz., 1 have also found at Dupplin and
Dunkeld, both new localities for it. JZyelophilus minor, Hart.

88 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

is by no means confined to the Dee valley, for I have
observed it in numbers in Montreathmont Muir, near Auldbar
in Forfarshire, at Stanley, Murthly, and Dunkeld in Perth-
shire, and my friend Mr H. M. Steven has observed it in
numbers near Loch Broom in Ross-shire.

The haunts of our remaining rarer species I have been
unable to discover. They are mostly of southern and border
occurrence, and include Xylocleptes bispinus, Duft., and
Tomicus typographus, L., both recorded from Dumfriesshire
in Dr Sharp’s list. It is probable that both were importa-
tions, although the former occurs locally in England. It is,
however, a dweller in Clematis vitalba,a climber much less
common in Scotland than in the south. Another species
amongst the early records, the presence of which | think
must be regarded doubtfully, is Zommcus laricis, Fab. I have
had considerable experience of it recently, and its distribution
is strikingly well defined. It is a common English species
south of the Tyne and Solway, but north of that it disappears
and is completely replaced by 7. acumznatus. Now many of
the English Bark-beetles disappear north of a line drawn
from Newcastle to Carlisle. A/y/astes opacus is rare in
Cumberland and Northumberland, and once the border is
crossed is quite a stranger; I think that both these species,
like Scolytus destructor, Ol., and its congeners, must be
regarded as English rather than British species.

The Solway records of //ylestnus oleiperda, F., and
vittatus, F.,are probably to be regarded as English stragglers
although they may yet prove indigenous in Scotland.
H. vittatus, F., however, is a dweller in the English elm,
and may not succeed on our Scottish tree, while H/. olecperda
is distinctly local in England. It occurs on ash often in
company with A. /fraximz, F., a species which is fairly
common in Perthshire. Pztyophthorus pubescens, Marsh
(ramuloruim, Perris), is apparently more common in Scotland
than was supposed, as I have taken it in Deeside from
Bieldside to Aboyne, and in Perthshire at Murthly and in
Strath Braan.

DIPTERA NEMATOCERA FROM ARRAN AND LOCH ETIVE = 89

DIPTERA NEMATOCERA FROM ARRAN
AND? EO CE El WWE:

By F. W. Epwarps, B.A., F.E.S., British Museum (Natural History).
(Continued from p. 61.)

MYCETOPHILINA.

Phronia nitidiventris, v. d. Wulp:
S.
i eeLUSEICa. I) 7 9.95) Ve
ee epetulans, Dz: B:
30. flavipes, Winn. : Bb; S, Ca.
icinerascens,. Winns: 9;
Ca, very abundant.
ee abicolorm Wz: Bis:
a) torcipula, Winn. BS.
» forcipata, Winn.: B.
PE eLvitiosays WWannes | Bs 9;
Corrie.
Trichonta melanopyga, Zett.: B.
9 hamata, Mik: S.
us es albescens, Dz.: B.
Anatella ciliata, Winn: B, S.
Saar a eSCHeLassS piss ibs, SO.
ae UneUlsera, spiny >. b;
Sceptonia nigra, Mg.: W.
Exechia guttiventris, Mg.: B, S.
» lateralis, Mg. (Lundst.
nec Dz) us, Ca.
» Spinigera, Winn. (spinu-

ligera;) ,undst.)-. 9;
Ca, W.

» contaminata, Winn.: B,
Swear

» trisignata, Edw.: S.
» leptura, Mg. (membran-
acea, Lundst.): S.

Allodia crassicornis, Stan.: B, S,
Cait,

5 lugens, Wied>: B.S:

3 grata, Mg.: B, Ca.
2 dundstrocmi, Sp.n.> By o:
ee truncata, Sp.nes by Ca.

Pe -alternans, Zeck, (2) Cas

; caudata, Winn.: B, Ca, W.
Rhymosia domestica, Mg.: S.

3 fenestralis, Mg.: Ca.

[Brachypeza spuria, Edw. : T.]
Mycetophila fungorum, Deg.: B, S.

Caz
Fs lineola, Mg.: S, Ca, W.
% unipunctata. Mg.: S.
A dimidiata, Staeg.: B, S.
fy czizeki, Landr.: S.
formosa, Lundstr.: B, S.
- Vittipes, Zetts;.B, 5.
~ bimaculata, Mg.: V.
. forcipata, Lundstr.: S,
Ca.
3 rufescens, Zett.: B, S.
Fs fraterna, Winn. <D..050 be
or marginata, Winn.: B,
5, Ca,
as signatoides, Dz.: S, Ca.
es occultans, Winn.: Ca.

. semifusca, Mg,: Ca.
Zygomyia notata, Stan.: Ca.

BIBIONIDA.

SCATOPSINA.

Scatopse notata, L.: W.

| Scatopse inermis, Ruthé.: V.

BIBIONINZ.

Bibio pomone, F.: W.

| Bibio lacteipennis, Zett.: V.

Dilophus febrilis : C, V.

* Tndicates first British Record.

I13 AND 114

M

go THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

SIMULIIDZ.
Simulium monticola, Fried.: B,Ca. | Simulium aureum, Fries.: Goat
3 Teptans, ese, lve Fell, W.
45 tuberosum, Lundst.: B, M. * subexcisum, Edw.: B,
es latipes: Vict iBS.@as S, Ca, M.
W, E.
CHIRONOMIDA.
CHIRONOMINE.
[Chironomus annularis, Deg.(ofour | Camptocladius stercorarius, Deg. :
ist) mane] BxCas
. dorsalis, Mg., var?: thalassophilus,
Wit 10a Goet.: B:
i prasinatus, Steeg. (?): a aterrimus, Mg.: B,
Cnva: Cas
[ 9 nigrimanus, Steg.: 3 minimus, Mg.: B,
al Cg.
[ a pedellus, Mg.: T.] % i exiguus, Goet.: B,
[ 2 pedestris, Deg.: E.] Sh (Ge
[ . chloris, Mg.: T.] Psectrocladius obvius, Walk.:
* atesonert Kets). Mor.
ealenecetra punctipes, Wied.: T.] | Trichocladius tremulus, L.: T.
a5 flavipes, Mg.: Cg, T A pulchripes, Verr.:
[Tanytarsus sordens, v.d. Wulp. : B; Ca, Cn; W.
ane a bicinctus, Mg.: T,E.
° signatus, v.d. Wulp: | Diamesa ammon, Hal.: B, T.
Ca, M Prodiamesa obscurimanus, Mg.:

*Corynoneura clavicornis, Kieff. :
B, M.

Bale

Adiamesa tonsa Hall.: B, Ca.

TANYPODINA.

Trichotanypus culiciformis, L.:
Wire ae
[Tanypus monilis, L.: T.]
- nebulosus, Mg.: S, W.

ee notatus, Mg.: B, T.
varius, Es al.
3 binotatus, Mg.: S,Cg,T

Tanypus divisus, Walk.: W.

[Psectrotanypus vviator, Kieff.
(melanurus, Mg., of the British
list):

Psectrotanypus? migrator, Kieff.
(ferruginetcollis, Mg., of the
British list): B, Ca, W, M.

CERATOPOGONINE.
*Forcipomyia canaliculata, Goet. : eurtchoposen fuscus, Mg.: Cg.
Wile ) hamiferus, Goet.:
3 titillans, Winn.: S, Cg.
Ca, Cg. x rostratus, Winn.: Cg.
Fe frutetorum, Winn.: | Dasyhelea estiva, Winn.: B, Cg.
Cg. sp egens, Winn.: S, Cg.
Atrichopogon pavidus, Winn.: P,| * ,, diplosis, Kieff.: Cg.
Cg, M. Comey, polita, sp. n.: B, Cg.

DIPTERA NEMATOCERA FROM ARRAN AND LOCH ETIVE gI

CERATOPOGONINE (continued).

Culicoides pulicaris, L.: B, S, Ca,

W, Cg.

35 arcuatus, Winn.:
Swarmed_ every-
where.

s varius, Winn.: B, Cg.

p nubeculosus, Mg.: B,
W.

guttularis, Kieff.: B,Cg.
Croitiestalas fascipennis, Staeg.: Ca,
Cg.
wunalbicans, Winn. Ca:
nts We heliophilus, sp. n.: S,

Py Me Ca; Co.
Stilobezzia gracilis, Hal.: Cg.
Rs ochracea, Winn.: Cg.
Schizohelea leucopeza, Mg.: P,
Corral

Psilohelea candidata, Winn.: B,

Ca, Cg.
ees edentata, sp. n.: S.
alge sociabilis, Goet.: B, S,
Ca, M, Cg.
is on, nitidula, sp. n.: B, Ca.
rea mee perpusilla, sp. n.: B,
M, Cg.

Serromyia femorata, F.: Cg.
Palpomyia distincta, Hal.: Cg.
brachialis, Hal.: Cg.
rag a nigripes, Mg.: Cg.
; flavipes, Mg.: Cg.
Es serripes, Mg.: Cg.
*Clinohelea subsessilis, Goet. MS.:
Cg.
*Bezzia tenebricosa, Goet.: B, Cg.
a Ornatay Vice baal

THAUMALEID (Orphnephilide).
Thaumalea testacea, Ruthé.: Ca, W. T.

PSYCHODID.

Pericoma exquisita, Eaton.: W.

| Psychoda phalzenoides, L.: W.

CULICID.

CULICINA.

Anopheles bifurcatus, L.: P.

| Ochlerotatus detritus, Hal.: B.

Culex pipiens, L.: S, T.

CHAOBORINA.
[Chaoborus crystallinus, Deg. : T.]

DIXINZ.

Dixa dilatata, Strobl.: B, T.

| Dixa nubilipennis, Curt.; B.

ANISOPODIDA. (Rhyphide).
ANISOPODINA.

Anisopus (Rhyphus) fenestralis, L :

W,-V, 1.

Anisopus (Rhyphus) punctatus, F. :
Wee Vend.

TRICHOCERINA.

[Trichocera annulata, Mg.: T.]

| Trichocera regelationis, L.: T, B.

[Trichocera hiemalis, Deg.: T.]

PiyCHOP TERI Ay
Ptychoptera lacustris, Mg.: V.

92 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST
TIPULID.
LIMNOBIINZ.
Limnobia nubeculosa, Mg.: B, V. | Molophilus bifilatus, Verr.: B,Cg,
” macrostigma, Schum. : Wu
Cg. * a curvatus, Tonn.: S.
Dicranomyia dumetorum, Mg.: W. » murinus, Mg.: B.
[ e didyma, Mg.: E.] Corrie. : Ca.

chorea, Mg.: S, Ca,
Coli:

mitis (Mg.) Goet.: B,
Ss Ca

affinis, Schum,: B,Ca.

=, ane stigmatica, Mg.: T.]
us autumnalis, Staeg:
Ca, W, T.
cies rufiventris, Strobl.:
Ae}

pilipennis, Egg.: Cg.

* halterella, Edw. MS.:
W.
Rhipidia maculata, Mg.: B, W,
LOS 13,

Helius (Rhamphidia) dubius, Edw.
MS.: Cg.
[Antocha vitripennis, Mg.: T.]

*[Gonomyia lucidula, Meij.: T.]

* - simplex, Tonn.: B, S,
Ce:

Empeda nubila, Schum.: B, Cg,

W.

Erioptera trivialis, Mg.: W, Cg, T.

diuturna, Walk.: W.

fuscipennis, Mg.: S, W,
ae

teenionota, Mg.:
W, T.

Ilisia (Acyphona) maculata, Mg.:
B.

99

”

99

Symplectomorpha stictica, Mg.:
40 WN

Ufolonhilus ochraceus, Mg.: T.]
+ cinereifrons, Meij.: B.

wy s medius, Meij.: T, W.

* flavus, Goet.: B, Cg.

W.
* $5 pleuralis, Meij.: B.

Ormosia nodulosa, Macq. : Ca, T.

* uncinata, Meij.: B, S,
Cg.

hederez, Curt.: B.
“5 fascipennis, Zett.: S,
[Rhypholophus varius, Mg. : T, E.]
[Crypteria limnophiloides, Bergr. :
IN, 123]

Lipsothrix remota, Walk. (er1ans,
Walks) ‘SiGge

Idioptera trimaculata, Zett.: S.

5 marmorata, Mg.: B, Ca.
Limnophila nigrina, Mg.: B,S, W.

”

PI]

i. lineola, Mg. var.: W,
Ag.
. lineolella, Verr.: B,
S, Cg.
5 ferruginea, Mg.: Cg,
W.
; bicolor, Mg.: S.
* 5 nemoralis, Mg., var.
collina, Edw., MS.:
CenCny Wile
coer. nemoralis, Mg., var.
quadrata, Edw., MS.:
Mia:
* 5 nemoralis Mg., var.
noscibilis, Edw., MS.:
Byes Gar

Pilaria discicollis, Mg.: Cg.

Pseudolimnophila lucorum, Mg.:
Cg.

Adelphomyia senilis, Hal.: W.

Rhaphidolabis ccelebs, Zett.: B.

Tricyphona immaculata, Mg.: W.

* schummeli, Edw. MS.:
18} Se

straminea, Mg.: W.

littoralis, Mg.: Cg.

9

(To be continued.)

BOOK NOTICES 93

BOOK NOTICES.

THE RESOURCES OF THE SEA. By William Carmichael M‘Intosh,
M.D., LL.D., D.S¢., F.R:S.; ete. 2nd Edition. Cambridge:
at the University Press, 1921. Pp. xvit+ 352. Price 35s. net.

The second edition of Professor M‘Intosh’s work on the food supplies
of the ocean, as affected by the closure of certain areas off the Scottish
shores, and by the continued destruction caused by fishing, contains in
the bulk the observations of the original volume; but these he has
supplemented and brought up to date by reviewing the mass of
material accumulated in recent years through the International
Fishery Investigations. In view of his own researches and of those
of others, Professor M‘Intosh sees no reason to depart from his
earlier tenet, his “perfect faith in the marvellous ways of Nature in
the ocean, ways which enable her to cope, in regard to the food-fishes,
with all the wonderful advances in apparatus for capture, and with the
steady increase of population.” He holds to the views that no sound
proof has yet been adduced to show that even the most. strenuously
sought fishes are approaching extinction, that no fear need be felt
for the serious diminution of marine food fishes, and that all well-
conducted methods of capture should be free from unnecessary
restrictions. The work of this pioneer of fishery investigations will
long remain the text-book of those who share the views he has so
long and so vigorously upheld.

THE GROWTH AND SHEDDING OF THE ANTLER OF THE DEER.
By William MacEwen, F.R.S. Glasgow: MacLehose,
Jackson & Co., 1920. Pp. xvii+1og. Price ros. 6d. net.

Sir William MacEwen’s study of the cell changes which account
for the curious story of a deer’s antler, cannot fail to appeal to
naturalists. He is mainly concerned with the minute histological
changes which help to explain bone development in general, but he
has added much to our knowledge of the mechanism of an outstanding
phenomenon in animal life, and has brought to light a most striking
series of adaptations. Antlers may weigh as much as the rest of a
deer’s skeleton; yet they grow, fulfil their uses, and are shed in the
course of a year. Nature, in fulfilling the seemingly impossible, is
seen at her best. Shehas devised special means for the rapid formation
of bone, the nuclear budding of bone-forming cells, and she sends
a profuse supply of nutritive and heat-carrying blood to the growing
antlers, in which the heat is held by the hairy covering of the velvet
(cutis). The shedding of the antler is even more wonderful than its
growth: the very hollows on its surface which at first protect the
blood vessels, at last strangle them and cause the death and shrivelling

94 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

of the velvet. But even then the antler still continues to live, and
it is only when the central blood vessels in turn are strangled by
the growth of bone, and the region between the antler and the skull
becomes softened by the absorption of the bony matter, that the
antler drops off, like the slough of a wound. The book is very fully
and well illustrated.

EARLY ANNALS OF ORNITHOLOGY. By J. H. Gurney, F.Z.S.
London: H. F. & G. Witherby, 10921. Pp) 240. “Price
TAISy (Gh eva e

Here is a mine of information for the student who would learn the
history of bird-lifein Britain. As ina mine, careful digging is necessary,
for the chronological order adopted obscures the continuity of the
veins that run through the book, but the veins carry many a grain
of gold. The author traces, from the results of excavations, from the
observations of early writers and from the contemporary records of
kitchen accounts, the story of British bird-life from prehistoric times
to the eighteenth century. The prehistoric chapter is somewhat
lightly dealt with, and the author is at his best in unravelling the
many references to the rich avifauna of the fen-lands, which are
scattered throughout such works as the sixteenth century household
book of the Le Straunges of Norfolk. It is refreshing to read of times
when as many as nine Great Bustards, twenty-eight Cranes, ten
Spoonbills and many other rarities found their way to the table of
Hunstanton Hall. Early English literature supplies much more
information as to bird-life than does Scottish, but there are here,
amongst others, references to the birds eaten by prehistoric Picts,
to Boece’s “Gustard” of the Merse, and many notes on the Gannets
of the Bass Rock. Quaint cuts and maps add to the interest and
old-world flavour of Mr Gurney’s book, which is indispensable to anyone
concerned in the changes wrought by time and by man in the bird-life
of these Isles.

A Local Weevil (Sitona lineellus, Gyll.) on the West
Coast of Arran.—This little Weevil, which is one of the scarcer
species of Sztona, occurred in some numbers at Machrie Bay in
Arran during the summer of 1913 and in subsequent years. The
beetle has been recorded as occurring at the roots of bent grass
on the sandhills at Macrihanish on the west coast of Cantyre by
Commander J. J. Walker. In the Arran locality it was found
usually under small stones on the grass a little above the beach,
and seemed to be attached to a species of trefoil which grew
abundantly in that situation.—A. FERGusson, Glasgow.

NOTES FROM THE SCOTTISH ZOOLOGICAL PARK 95

NOTES FROM
THE SCOTTISH ZOOLOGICAL PARK

ADDITIONS TO THE COLLECTION.—One of the most interesting
of recent arrivals at the Park is a Humboldt’s Woolly Monkey. It
is the first of its type to be exhibited in the Park, and as it is
exceptionally tame and gentle and very playful, it has quickly gained
great popularity with visitors, somewhat to the annoyance of its
neighbours in adjoining cages, for popularity in such a case is no
empty honour but implies increase in contributions of bananas and
other luxuries. This monkey has at command a considerable
variety of amusing tricks and antics, and seems to be aware of the
impression he creates upon his human visitors, and to enjoy their
exclamations and laughter, and also to recognise the desirability
of using his accomplishments to stimulate, when he thinks it
necessary, the flow of tribute. Woolly Monkeys, so called from
their thick coat of woolly fur, have most of the advantages without
the corresponding disadvantages of the specialisation which their
cousins the Spider Monkeys possess. They have the long pre-
hensile tail, so strong that if the mere tip of it is rounda branch
the animal can swing itself up by the tail alone, and so delicate in
touch that quite small objects can be grasped with it, so that it
forms practically a fifth limb. While their general build, in
adaptation to an arboreal life, resembles that of the Spider
Monkeys, in the Woolly Monkeys the specialisation is not so
extreme, the body is not so attenuated nor are the limbs so
disproportionately long, and in particular there is a well-developed
thumb, whereas in the Spider Monkeys the thumb has been lost,
and the very long fingers are little more than hooks.

There arrived from India in April a group of Indian Antelopes
(“Black Buck”), a welcome addition, as the Park is at present
rather ill-stocked with antelopes. The group consists of four
individuals, three females and a male; all are young and in good
condition, and having passed through the required twenty-eight
days of isolation, they are now on view. ‘The male is very young,
and at present resembles the females, for the long spiral horns
and dark saddle-like marking, characteristic of the male, are
attained only with a fuller maturity.

In the same consignment with the antelopes was a little group
of fourteen Quails, representing three or four species. They have
been placed in a large aviary in which they have abundant space
and ample cover, and in which they may very likely breed. They

96 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

are shy and unobtrusive little birds, but to one who has patience
to wait quietly on the watch, there are few more interesting exhibits
than these charming little miniature partridges. When disturbed
or alarmed they scarcely ever use their wings, but run with
great speed.

A number of Waxbills and Whydah Birds, some Yellow-
breasted Conures, and a pair each of Blue-crowned and Golden-
fronted Conures, are among the birds recently acquired.

A small range of cases was recently constructed for hardy
reptiles, and is being stocked with European and British species.
Most interesting, perhaps, of those at present on view are specimens
of the Three-toed Skink, a lizard inhabiting sandy and desert
tracts of Southern Europe and North Africa, which suggests a
parallel to the evolution of the snake. They were sold by a dealer
as ‘‘slow-worms,” and they are more slender and snake-like in
body than even the slow-worm, but they betray the group to
which they belong more clearly than the latter by the possession
of four very tiny legs on each of which only three almost
microscopic toes are externally visible. The legs are probably quite
useless as a means of progression, but the lizard can travel very
quickly, and can burrow into the sand with astonishing speed.

A New Aviary FoR Wapbinc Brirps.—A scheme for the
construction of a wading birds’ aviary, which will add greatly to the
attractions of the Park, has just been sanctioned by the Council.
Many waders, some of special interest, have been received at
different times ; but they have suffered from lack of proper quarters,
and when they did thrive they had to be kept in unsuitable
enclosures where they couid not be seen to advantage. When
displayed in suitable surroundings these birds of shore, moorland
and fen, are particularly attractive, and they are among the few
birds which it is possible to keep in captivity under almost natural
conditions. The new aviary will be of very simple construction,
merely a framework of natural poles and rafters to support the
netting, but it will be of large size—about one hundred and ten
feet long by twenty-five feet wide—and it will be made rat-proof.
The dimensions will allow space for pools with mud flats and
banks of sedges and rushes, as well as little hillocks on which
coarse grasses will be sown, while a number of thorn-trees
growing on the site will be retained. As the birds for which it
is intended do little or no damage to vegetation, it will be possible
to keep it well stocked with birds without any danger of the
destruction of the appropriate background.—T. H. G.

(Authors are responsible for nomenclature used.)

ee
\e

Tal
i

The Scottish Naturalist ~

Nos. 115 AND I1I6. | 1921 [ J uLy-Avucust.

Mites ROPECRON OF WiIELDEBIRDS

RECENT events have shown that our legislators are not
insensible to the growing demand for the protection of bird
life on the part of that great body of the people which takes
pleasure in the sights and sounds of the country-side. The
passage through Parliament, after many years of failure, of
an Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Bill is a first
step towards the preservation of those beautiful birds of
foreign lands which have been the object of merciless
slaughter for the benefit of a sorry trade.

But while we legislate for the birds of other lands, is
all well with wild birds’ protection in our own country?
Apparently others than naturalists think not; for Sir Harry
Brittain has just introduced to the House of Commons,
where it has passed a first reading,a Bill “to provide for
the further protection of Wild Birds in the United Kingdom,”
the significant provision of which is that: “If any person
shall use any decoy bird which is tethered or is secured by
means of braces or other similar appliances, or which is
blind, maimed, or injured, or shall use bird lime, for the
purpose of taking or capturing any wild bird, he shall be
liable upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding ten
pounds, or to imprisonment with or without hard labour
for a period not exceeding two months.”

This is all very well so far as it goes, but it leaves many
difficulties untouched, One such difficulty was suggested by

PLS AN Ds LL N

98 THE. SCOTTISH NATURALIST

a Scottish case which came to our notice the other day. In
May a gamekeeper at Clune Lodge, Knockando, deliberately
trapped a Rough-legged Buzzard, one of a pair that had
haunted the neighbourhood for several days. Now the
killing of a Buzzard is inexcusable because a Buzzard is
no serious enemy of winged game, and in almost any other
county in Scotland is regarded as a penal offence, but in
Morayshire the slaughter of a Buzzard, and of many other
desirable birds, may, with a proprietor’s permission, be
undertaken with legal sanction even during the breeding
season; for the county has not issued Supplementary
Orders covering the cases of birds not scheduled under the
Acts themselves.

Anomalies such as this ought to be banished at the
earliest possible moment; and now that the first-fruits of
the Report of the Departmental Committee on Wild Birds’
Protection (1919) are apparent in the appointment of
Advisory Committees at the instance of the Home and
Scottish Offices, we would urge the desirability of an early
effort at the realisation of the remaining recommendations
of that Report, in the form of a new, comprehensive, and
simplified enactment dealing with the whole complicated
subject of the protection of wild birds in this country.

Ripe in years and in service to the cause of science,
William Taylor died in Elgin in June at the age of seventy-
eight. He was an enthusiastic and discriminating collector
of those unique fossils which have made famous the Old
Red and Triassic deposits of the southern shores of the
Moray Firth, and several new species of long extinct reptiles
and fishes bear his name and witness to his skill.

Death has also removed a well-known figure in the
person of P. D. Malloch of Perth. Less interested in science
than in sport, Malloch, nevertheless, possessed an interest
in nature and a power of acute observation which united
to make his work on the Salmon a real contribution to
natural history.

SPREAD OF A RARE ROVE BEETLE IN SCOTLAND 99

SE AD) OPA RARE ROVE. BEE (PAY LL O-
DRA OLD ERAS (YEE LE like OL) (GRID IN-AILA, GIRIAN =),
INESCODEAND:

By ANDERSON FERGUSSON, F.E.S.

A FEW years ago I made, for my own information, some
notes upon the distribution of Phyllodrepotdea crenata, a
little beetle belonging to the Homaliinz, a sub-family of
the large group Brachelytra or Rove beetles. Recent
captures of the beetle induced me to return to these notes,
and as it seemed to me upon reading them over that the
history of its occurrence in Scotland presented several
points of interest, I have ventured in this paper to collect
and narrate the facts, so far as they have been ascertained,
regarding our knowledge of crexaza as a Scottish insect.

In this country P. crenata has its headquarters in
Scotland, but there is also a record of its occurrence in one
locality in Ireland, to which I shall refer later. Hitherto
it has not been recorded from England. In Europe it
ranges from the middle to the south of the continent and,
so far as I have been able to ascertain, is regarded as
rare by continental coleopterists.

The history of crenata as a Scottish insect starts with
its introduction to the British list of Coleoptera by G. R.
Crotch! upon specimens taken by Turner, the professional
collector, in Scotland, probably about 1866 or 1867. In
the original record no details as to the actual place of
Gdotine or the habitat’ are given: 9c Sharp) im) (aihe
Coleoptera of Scotland,’ referred the Scottish record to
the Tay faunal area with the remark that the insect was
very rare. As Turner collected extensively at Rannoch,
which is situated in “Tay,” it is probable that his capture
was made there, but I have not been able to discover that
there is any published record of the exact locality.

After its discovery by Turner nothing more was heard

1 Entomologist, xxvii., 60. 2 Scottish Naturalist, iii., 133.

100 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

of the insect, although it appeared in successive British
lists, until 1908, when the late Dr G. W. Chaster! recorded
the capture of four specimens under bark of chips in
Dumbartonshire in the autumn of 1907. In Igog I dis-
covered it in fair numbers,? under bark in a Lanark-
shire locality, and it has apparently gained a firm footing
there as specimens can always be found at some time
of the year. It next appeared in Linlithgowshire, where
Dr Malcolm Cameron informed me that he had found
two specimens during 1913. Again in the west it was found |
by Mr A. Adie Dalglish, in some numbers under bark
in Renfrewshire; and I took it in another locality in the
same county in the beginning of 1915. In the autumn
of the same year I came across it when working for bark
beetles in Main Argyll; in the Supplement to the Coleoptera
of the British Islands by Fowler and Donisthorpe (1913),
it is recorded as having been taken by Dr Joy at
Pitlochry, Perthshire. Mr A. H. May tells me that he
found it in another locality in Renfrewshire during September
1916. Mr J. E. Black? recorded it as fairly common in
Peeblesshire during October 1917. My latest capture of
crenata was in October 1920 when I found it not uncommonly
in still another Renfrewshire locality, making the fourth
station for the beetle in that county.

The ascertained distribution of the insect in Scotland
to date, arranged according to the Vice-County System,
stands thus :—

76. Renfrew (four localities). 88. Mid-Perth ? (original record).

77. Lanark. 89. East Perth.
Voobeebles: 98. Main Argyll.
84. Linlithgow. 99. Dumbarton.

It has accordingly occurred in ten additional localities in
seven vice-counties after an interval of forty or forty-one
years, and it is worthy of note that its presence in these
localities has only been brought to light within the com-
paratively short period of about thirteen years.

1 F.M.M.,, xiiv., 16. 2 Glasgow Naturalist, ii., 90.
DIB WC Mibn lites 277

SPREAD OF A RARE ROVE BEETLE IN SCOTLAND ro!

It has somewhere been said that the known distribution
of a rare beetle in this country indicates, not so much
the true range of the insect, as the location of the members
of the little band of British entomologists who work the
group. As long as the study of Coleoptera appeals only
to a few this statement will always contain an element of
truth, but the lack of coleopterists does not account for
the gap of forty years in our knowledge of the occurrence
of this insect in Scotland. PP. crenata is a well-defined,
unmistakable species of fair size (4-5-5 mm.), and it could
not readily be passed over in its own particular habitat,
which is under the loose bark of various trees. Yet, until
1907, when Dr Chaster re-discovered it, the insect was
practically unrepresented in the collections of British
coleopterists. Some of the localities in which it has recently
been found were the favourite hunting grounds of
experienced coleopterists, who could scarcely have missed
it had it been present in their day. One of the Renfrew-
shire localities, for instance, was much frequented by the
late Morris Young, but there are no examples of the species
in his collection in Paisley Museum. The Linlithgowshire
locality was also well worked in the middle of last century,
but no one seems to have found it there until it was
discovered in 1913 by Dr Cameron. The same remark
applies to the Lanarkshire locality.

These facts, I think, warrant the inference that the insect
was very rare or, at any rate, extremely local and restricted
in its distribution in Scotland at and after its discovery by
Turner, but that within the last thirteen years it has become
a great deal more plentiful and more widely distributed, so
that in it we have the pleasure of seeing a rare species in
the process of becoming commoner instead of still more
rare as, unfortunately, is more often the case. It will be
noticed that the counties in which it has been found form
a fairly compact group in the centre of Scotland, and, if
one cared to assume that Mid Perth was the only station
for the insect in Turner’s day, a plausible attempt might
be made to trace the direction of its gradual spread to the
other counties in which it is now found. Apart from this

102 THE scCOrmsh NAGURAIISm

somewhat speculative line of reasoning, however, I think
that there is sufficient evidence to show that crexata was
absent in most of, if not in all, the additional localities until
comparatively recently.

The irregular appearance of certain insects is a puzzling
phenomenon which has long been familiar to entomologists.
In one season such a species may be found plentifully,
even abundantly, in its appropriate habitat; then for many
subsequent years it vanishes entirely from its usual haunts,
only to reappear under a set of favourable circumstances
too obscure for our present understanding. A_ typical
instance of this amongst our British Coleoptera is 4gzala
rufa, a small Lamellicorn beetle which is found only at
irregular intervals on the Lancashire and Cheshire coast.
I merely refer to this type of occurrence in order to point
out that the reappearance of P. crenata is not of the same
spasmodic nature, as, in one of its new localities at least,
it seems to have found a permanent home and has occurred
regularly, though in varying numbers, at one season or
another for the last twelve years.

If the assumption that the insect is at present increasing
in numbers and extending its range is correct, we may
expect it to be reported from other and more widely extended
localities where a suitable habitat exists, and its capture in
Peeblesshire and in the two last-mentioned Renfrewshire
localities, which all took place after these notes were originally
written, helps to confirm this view. In this connection it is
interesting to find that it has been taken in the south-east
of Ireland by Mr F. Bullock. This is the first record of
its occurrence in Ireland, but it has probably been present
there as a rare insect all along. It is quite possible that
in Ireland it is undergoing the same expansion in numbers
and range as in Scotland, and it will be interesting to see
if it is reported from other Irish localities.

A word or two about the habits of the species may be
added for the information of coleopterists who may expect
to come across it in the course of their collecting. With
regard to habitat it is found, as already indicated, beneath
the bark of various trees. It seems to prefer a tree upon

SPREAD OF A RARE ROVE BEETLE IN SCOTLAND 103

which the bark is fairly loose and which has a good amount
of sap about the bole. Asa rule it is not found under bark
which is dry and brittle, nor under very rotten bark, such
as provides a suitable habitat for such sub-cortical beetles
as Baptolinus alternans or Quedionuchus levigatus. Provided
suitable bark conditions exist, the beetle occurs indiscrimin-
ately on standing or fallen trees. It is not attached
exclusively to the trunk as I have found it on the higher
branches of recently fallen trees. I have taken it on
Beech, Oak, and Fir trees, and Mr Black mentions that in
Peeblesshire he also finds it under Beech bark. The insect
when disturbed gives off an extremely pungent scent, which
has been likened by one observer to the odour of the
common bed bug. So strong is this scent in the case of
crenata that in the act of removing the bark one can detect
by it the presence of the beetle before it is actually seen.
So far no accurate information has been obtained regarding
the life history of the beetle, nor does it appear to be known
upon what it feeds either in the Jarval or mature state.
From the conditions under which it is found, however, I
think that it is highly probable that the larva, at anyrate,
feeds upon the larvae or pupe of wood and _ bark-boring
Rhynchophora or Weevils, as the larvae of some species of
the genus Homaliuim (to which Phyllodrepotdea is allied) are
known to do, and that therefore it should fall to be classed
among our beneficial forest insects.

Osier Beetle (Leptidea brevipennis) introduced to-
Scotland.—One day in April an attendant in the Zoological
Laboratory, Glasgow University, showed me a little “Fly” which
was turning up in various parts of the Laboratory. As soon as I
saw the insect, I asked if there were any wicker baskets about and
was shown one in which some frogs had been sent up from
Cambridge. By simply ‘“dunting” the basket upon the table,- I
could have taken hundreds of Leptidea brevipennits, an Osier feeder
native to Southern Europe and Algeria, and thence introduced to
Britain; I found them very lively and they continued to emerge
for several weeks; the wonder is how the basket held together
considering the number of beetels which had emerged.—James J.
F.-X. Kine, Glasgow.

104 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Great Extinct Wild Ox, Bos primigenius, in Peebles-
shire.—In the early summer of 1918, while casting their peats,
the shepherds of Huthope and Craighope, in the headwaters of
the Leithen, turned up a horn which, shown to Mr Fox of
Innerleithen, was recognised as that of some ancient ox. In
September of the same year, the peat section was visited by the
writer accompanied by Mr Fox and the shepherds. After some
digging another horn, somewhat smaller than the first one, was
found. A careful lookout was kept for additional bones, but
without success. The peat at this part, one mile east of Craighope
and near a small knoll called the Porridge Knowe, on the southern
declivity of the Moorfoots, is at a height of 1620 feet. The face
of peat in the cut section stands 54 feet high, and the horns were
found near the base of the section in the horizon of birch remains,
which here represent the Lower Forestian period. The horns
measure 9} and 8} inches long, the smaller one being more
decayed and curiously pitted. They were submitted to Dr
Ritchie of the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh, who identified
them as cores of horns of the ancient wild ox of Britain, Bos
primigenius. There are several records of such finds from the
neighbouring Border counties, but this seems to be the first
record from Peeblesshire. Through the generosity of Captain
Cunningham of Leithen Water Estate, the horns now belong to the
Carnegie Public Library, Innerleithen.—R. Eckrorp, Edinburgh.

Common Scoter in Perthshire.—On the 2nd June last,
while I was examining the area about Loch Tummel for its birds,
Scoters were met with on a loch in the neighbourhood, the exact
locality of which I refrain from specifying. At that date two males
and one female were seen. The high wind and strong “quiver”
made it impossible to work the more westerly portion of the loch,
and time did not then permit of a search being made around the
deeply bayed shores for nests. The patch of colour on the bill of
the male appeared to be of an orange-pink tint.

On returning home I made inquiry as to the status of the Scoter
in Perthshire, and in view of the fact that there was no record of
breeding within the Tay area, it was deemed worth while to return.
Accordingly on znd July the loch was again visited, and one
male and at least three females, one of which was tending one
downy duckling, and another eight young were seen. The
ducklings seemed but recently hatched, dived with ease, and
appeared to secure all their food under water. The female and
young dived and returned to the surface together.— HENRY BOASE.

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 105

Re LOR TON SCOtISE OKRNITMIOLEOGY, IN 1920;
INCLUDING MIGRATION.

By EvELYN V. BAXTER, H.M.B.O.U., and
LEONORA J. RINTOUL, H.M.B.O.U.

INTRODUCTION.

THE material sent us for the 1920 Report shows that, now
that the war is at an end, people are more able to make
ornithological observations and expeditions, as a result of
which we have received an interesting series of notes. We
have departed from our former habit in omitting detailed
records of the nesting of our common birds, but nesting notes
from correspondents will in future be quite as valuable as in
the past, as, without full and particular records we should be
unable to draw conclusions as to average dates of nesting.

We cordially thank all who have sent us notes in the
past ; we hope they will continue to do so and induce others
to join in helping us.

Our thanks are due, in the Northern group of localities,
to—John S. Tulloch, G. T. Kay, and S. Bruce, all of
Lerwick; W. H. Greenaway, Foula; D. Mackenzie, Whalsay
Skerries ; Jerome Wilson, Fair Isle; R. M. Anderson, Sule
Skerry; M. Sanderson, Auskerry; and John Bain, Noss
Head. In the Eastern group, to—A. C. Jackson (Mrs
Mieniertzhagen), Swordale; Ro» Clyne)” Cromarty; Di) Dp:
Conacher, Banff; Wm. Ogg, Elgin; Seton Gordon, High-
lands; H. G. Watson, and D. Hunter, Arbroath; Professor
M‘Intosh, Nevay Park; H. R. Colman, Broughty Ferry ;
H. Boase, Dundee; Col. R. Drummond Hay, Upper Tay
stuary; Wr-W. E. Collinge, St Andrews; i). Magee,
Collessie:) FS.) Beveridse, Dunfermline; IN) Me Jehnson,;
Kirkealdy; Sir TI. Erskine, Cambo; VY. B. Maclellan and
M. Sutherland, Isle of May; John Muir, Bass Rock; William
Eagle Clarke, Edinburgh; William Evans, Edinburgh; and
John Pagan, Bathgate. In the Western group, to—G.
I15 AND I16 O

106 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Beveridge, N. Uist; G. Laurenson, Shillay; Sim Baigrie,
Pladda; John Robertson, R. Wilson, T. W. Wilson, T. Hill,
G. W. M‘Allister, D. Macdonald, R. G. Ramsay, C. H.
Marriott, W. Jamieson, C. C. Graham, Mrs C. C. Graham,
H. G. Cumming, J. Brown, and C. A. Vynne, all of Glasgow ;
J. Bartholomew, Stirlingshire; T. T. Mackeith, Kilmacolm ;
T. Malloch, Johnstone; A. Cuthbertson, Yoker; E. Rich-
mond Paton, Hareshawmuir; Nicol Hopkins, Darvel; and
John Craig, Beith. In the Southern group, to—A. C. Gairns,
Broughton; The Earl of Home, Coldstream; Rev. W.
M‘Conachie, Lauder; T. G. Laidlaw, Duns; G. D. Davidson,
Melrose; William Beggs, Little Ross; and J. G. Gordon,
Wigtownshire, etc. ;

In the year under review much of interest and importance
was reported in Scottish ornithology: the increases in breed-
ing ranges are interesting and suggestive in character; in
addition to an attempt to nest by the Bee-eater, whose
normal breeding range is some 1000 miles to the south,
there occurred the nesting of the Brambling, which ordinarily
breeds considerably to the north of these islands; there was
also a goodly list of uncommon visitors, and the influence of
the mild winter of 1920-21 on sea-birds was noticeable in
that it tempted a considerable number of them to remain on
our shores instead of leaving us. We should like to know
how much the mild weather influenced the temperature of
the sea and movements of fish.

Migration ran a fairly normal course in 1920; there were
unusually large arrivals in April and very large movements
in the first half of May and first half of October, otherwise
no very large numbers of birds on the move were noted.
Local weather movements caused by frost and snow were
conspicuous by their absence, but as a result of a gale in the
beginning of December a most extraordinary concourse of
Grebes was seen in Loch Ryan.

The following abbreviations are used in this Report :—

1. = The Scottish Naturalist.
2. British Birds (magazine).
(O.H.) = Outer Mebnides:
(i>) = antern

2)

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 107

BIRDS NEW TO FAUNAL AREAS, AND UNCOMMON
VISITORS.

The Northern Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula pyrrhula) is
reported from East Linton (Haddingtonshire) where a female
was caught on roth January (1. 1920, 89), frequently from
Lerwick between 13th January and 20th March, and from
Kergord, Weisdale, on 3rd May. A female visited Lerwick
on 21st October and three were on Fair Isle on 28th October.
A pair of Cirl Buntings (Emderiza cirlus) is recorded as
having been seen at St Catherine’s, Upper Loch Fyne,
Aryl vont oth) June, anda male” there on) roth) June
(2. xiv. 91). Ortolans (Emberiza hortulana), single birds
in each case, are reported from Noss Head on 3rd and
4th May, Fair Isle on 5th May and Lerwick on 16th
November, while a Rustic Bunting (47bertza rustica) was
obtained near Lerwick on 6th October. A Richard’s Pipit
(Anthus richardi richard?) is recorded at Fair Isle on 2nd
October, a Blue-headed Wagtail (Motactlla flava flava) at
the same station on 12th and 15th May, and one at
Darvel from 15th to 19th June (1. 1920, 182). A Wax-
wing (Bombycilla garrulus) was found dead near Lochfoot,
Kirkcudbright, about 20th February (1. 1921, 71), two were
at North Berwick on 19th December and two at Lochhouses,
Seacliff, near the mouth of the Tyne next day (1. 1921, 36).
Red-breasted Flycatchers (Muscecapa parva parva) visited
Lerwick on 23rd September (1) 7th and 8th October (1)
gth October (2) and North Ness (several) on 7th October,
rather unusual numbers. A Yellow-browed Warbler (P/y/-
loscopus humet premium) occurred at Lerwick on 3rd October,
and a Reed-warbier (Acrocephalus streperus streperus) is noted
there on 30th May. An Icterine-warbler (Aypolats tcterina)
occurred at Noss Head on 3rd May, the first record of the
species for Sutherland and Caithness, while a female Barred-
warbler (Sylvia nitsoria nisoria) visited Lerwick on 16th
September. The first record of the Garden-warbler (Sy/uza
borin) for the faunal area of Sutherland and Caithness comes
from Noss Head on 12th May.

On 11th April a Black Redstart (Phewuicurus ochrurus

108 THD ySCORMSEH (NATURA Sa

gtbraltariensis) occurred at Lerwick, and two Bee-eaters
(Werops aptaster) were seen near Musselburgh on 3rd June,
when they stayed and attempted to nest, but unfortunately
the female succumbed (1. 1920, 151). Hoopoes (Upupa epops
epops) occurred on the Isle of May on several dates between
30th September and gth October, one bird in very bright
plumage, the other duller, An Iceland Falcon (Falco
rusticolus tslandus) visited Vallay (O.H.) on 29th October
and a fine adult female Greenland Falcon (Lalo rusticolus
candicans) was caught at Sule Skerry on 26th February
(1. 1920, 154). Two Glossy Ibises (Plegadts falcinellus) are
recorded from Islay on 6th September (/7e/d, 15th Sep-
tember 1920), two near Kintore, Aberdeenshire, during the
latter half of October (1. 1921, 10), and one at Baltasound,
North Umnst, on 4th November (1. 1921, >10); A small
number of Snow Geese were noted in Kirkcudbrightshire
from October 1920 to March 1921. One shot in February
1921 proved to be the Greater Snow Goose (Chen nivalis)
(1. 1921, 69), new to Scotland. This, however, properly falls
into the 1921 Report. The first satisfactory record of the
Garganey (duzas querquedula) for Clyde is of two from
Summerston, Dumbartonshire, on 16th May (1. 1920, 153).
From Loch Ryan, Wigtownshire, comes the record of
an immature Smew (Jergus albellus) on 4th December,
and a Sooty Shearwater (Pufinus griseus) occurred in the
Firth of Forth on 29th September. Green Sandpipers
(Zringa ochropus), single birds in each case, are reported
from the Tweed on 7th August, Elliot Water, Forfarshire,
on 7th October (1. 1920, 197), and near Nisbet, Berwickshire,
on 27th November (1. 1921, 10). On 18th May a Black-
winged Stilt (4/zantopus himantopus) was seen at Scatfield
on the Moray Firth, and an adult on the shores of Loch
Ryan, Wigtownshire, on 17th October (2. xiv. 164). Two
Black-tailed Godwits (Lzmosa Mimosa) are reported from
Elliot Water, Forfarshire, on 28th and 30th August (1. 1920,
178), one in Monifieth Bay on 19th September, and a female
near Carsethorn, Kirkcudbrightshire, on 18th November
(I. 1921, 4). On 4th and 6th May two Black Terns
(Hydrochelidon nigra nigra) were seen on the River Kelvin

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 _ Iog

(Clyde) (1. 1920, 84). An Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea) is
noted at Auskerry on 20th May, and a Common Crane
(Megalornis grus grus) on Cairnsmore Moor, Kirkcudbright-
shire, on 15th June (1. 1920, 168).

EXTENSION OF BREEDING RANGE.

Under this heading there are more interesting records
in 1920 than we have had since we began these reports.
. As most of these have been published before, we do not
think it necessary to do more than refer briefly to each
occurrence.

On 16th July a Hawfinch’s nest was found at Methlick,
Aberdeenshire (1. 1920, 183), considerably north of any
former breeding place of this species in Scotland. The first
authenticated record of the breeding of the Brambling in
Scotland comes from Sutherland, where a nest and eggs
were found on 31st May, these were unfortunately taken on
3rd June when incubation had begun (I. 1920, 181). A
White Wagtail’s nest with five eggs was found at Crossroads,
Durris, on 8th June, both parents were seen (I. 1920, 184).
The most extraordinary ornithological occurrence that has
taken place in Scotland for many years, was the attempt on
the part of a pair of Bee-eaters to nest in a sand-bank by
the Esk, near Musselburgh. Although, owing to their
ultimate failure, this can hardly be called an extension of
breeding range, it is desirable that so deliberate an attempt
should be referred to under this heading. In the beginning
of June both birds were seen frequenting a hole in a sand-
bank, and appeared to be going to nest there. On the
13th, however, the female was found in a garden near, very
weak, and although put in a greenhouse and fed with bees,
she died soon after ; when dissected she was found to contain
an egg almost ready for laying (1. 1920, 151). A new
nesting place of the Gannet in Shetland is reported by
Mr Meade Waldo, who says (2. xiv. 93): “When looking
northward from Hermaness Hill, Unst, this month, July 1920,
I noticed a number of Gannets nesting on the big ‘stack’
to the west of Muckle Flugga, there seemed to be about
100 pairs on the south of the stack, the north could not

Ilo THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

be seen.” Mr Edwardson, who for thirty-one years has
spent the summer in his little hut on North Unst, noticed
some there last year, and there was a smaller colony
on another stack farther west, but as they were on the
north side it was impossible to say how many pairs were
there. Mr Edwardson is certain that they have not nested
there previously. Mr Meade Waldo adds that the colony
on Noss which we mentioned in our 1915 Report, now has
ten pairs nesting. This is a very important extension of
one of our most interesting breeding birds.

Wigeon bred in the Kilpatrick Hills in 1920, egg-shells
and down were taken and the parent birds seen; this is the
first time the species has been recorded as nesting in the
Clyde area. The extension of Fulmars down the East Coast
continues in a satisfactory manner, several pairs were seen
breeding at Troup Head on 26th July (1. 1920, 171); on
21st June we saw an egg on the cliffs at Fowlsheugh, where
in 1914 we saw the birds coming up to the ledges, but could
not prove actual nesting. This year we saw ten to twelve
pairs (1. 1920, 171). The species was also found breeding
on the cliffs) at St Abbs (1.1920, 170)..” Whe spread vofmthe
Fulmar round our coasts is one of the ornithological marvels
of modern times, the speed with which the species has
extended its range is almost unprecedented.

INCREASE AND DECREASE OF SCOTTISH BREEDING
SPECIES.

It is difficult to discover why the number of breeding
birds should vary from year to year as it certainly does.
The cold wet summer of 1920 does not seem to have had
very much effect on the numbers of our insect-eating birds.
From the Kilpatrick Hills we hear of increasing numbers
of Ravens, Peregrines, and Sparrowhawks; Starlings are
reported to be increasing “at a terrible rate” in North
Uist (1. 1920, 150), but this might be said of many parts
of Scotland, where the bird is rapidly becoming a pest.
Reed-buntings and Meadow-pipits were unusually plentiful
at Corsemalzie (Wigtown), where Wood-warblers, Sedge-
warblers and Whitethroats were also numerous. Blackcaps,

REPORT ON SCOTTISIT ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 III

Whitethroats, and Sedge-warblers were in unusual numbers
at Duns, and Stonechats had further increased at Corsemalzie,
“quite ten pairs nested in 1920,” only three in 1919, and none
in 1918. House-martins were more than usually numerous
at Largo (Fife); Swifts were in rather greater numbers than
usual at Muirend (Glasgow); and Curlews were nesting
more plentifully than before at Corsemalzie and neighbour-
hood, though they are “always common” in that part.
From Pladda (Arran) we have a note of Common Terns
breeding in greater numbers than in 1919, while Woodcock
were more plentiful at Collessie (Fife) than in any previous
year. One particularly pleasing fact is that we have
good accounts of Red-necked Phalaropes and Great Skuas
nesting in Shetland, where they are undoubtedly increasing,
thanks to the protection which has been afforded them
there.

- Turning now to the notes of decrease in numbers received
from various localities, we find that up to 25th May no
Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, nor Grasshopper-warblers had been
noticed at Darvel (Ayrshire); Chiffchaffs were likewise
scarce at Corsemalzie, where only one pair was seen. Here,
too, Long-tailed Tits, Wheatears, and Whinchats were few,
Garden-warblers were very scarce at Duns (Berwickshire).
No Wheatears were seen at Nevay Park (Meigle), and there
was a decrease in the number which nested in North Uist,
O.H. (1. 1920, 150). Swallows and Swifts were below their
average numbers at Collessie (Fife),and no House-martins
built in that village, which our correspondent tells us is
most unusual. He adds that all migratory birds seemed
to be present in smaller numbers than in previous years,
he never heard a Cuckoo at all, and only once heard a
Corncrake in 1920. Mr Gordon tells us that he saw no
Long-eared nor Short-eared Owls at Corsemalzie in 1920,
“for the first time the Tawny has ousted them.” Golden
Plover, Dunlin, and Snipe were in smaller numbers than
usual in North Uist (1. 1920, 150). Young Partridges at
Corsemalzie were mostly drowned by the wet weather in June
and early July ; Black Grouse also suffered severely, coveys of
nine and seven being drowned when quite large ; Grouse were

112 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

also very poor there, some coveys certainly having migrated
elsewhere. Mr Gordon says that he is sure that “the Stoat,
which increased greatly during the war, does great damage
to game, killing out the entire covey when met with and
eating incubated eggs. Here the Herring and Lesser
Black-backed Gulls do much more damage than Greater
Black-backed, and are far more numerous.” He adds
that Hooded and Carrion Crows and Rooks are bad egg
thieves, but thinks the damage done by Hawks is slight
except in the case of the Peregrine.

SUMMER AND NESTING.

For a good many years we have given full and detailed
records of the nesting dates of our common breeding birds,
therefore we think it is unnecessary to do more in future
than give a general survey of the nesting season with details
of any abnormal occurrences,

Although the summer of 1920 was cold and wet, the
inclemency of the weather does not seem to have had
much influence on the nesting of our ordinary breeding
birds. The records sent us show that the earlier breeding
species had nests and eggs in March, and that the nesting
and hatching followed a fairly normal course. We have
notes of the probable nesting of Magpies in Lauderdale,
where too Hawfinches were reported. A nest in a hedge
at Cullen (Banffshire), apparently an ordinary nest of the
Song-thrush, contained four eggs which seemed distinctly
Blackbird’s eggs, dark bluish green, heavily mottled, but
with a few dark round spots such as occur on a Thrush’s
egg. When the eggs hatched, the young were typical
Thrushes. Great Spotted Woodpeckers have nested at
Thirlestane Castle, where a nest with young was found
on 25th June, and at The Hirsel (Berwickshire), where
Lord Home reports three if not four pairs. These birds
were seen and heard in the forest of Rothiemurchus in
July (2. xiv. 117), from which it would seem possible
that they also nested there. A Cuckoo’s egg was found
in a Song-thrush’s nest am@ampine “thee; about sixmicer
from the ground, at Scone Palace, Perthshire, an unusual

RELORT (ON SCOPLTSH] ORNITHOLOGY IN: 19120 113

foster parent to be selected (1. 1920, 154). Kingfishers
are increasing in various parts of Scotland, but we do not
feel it desirable to give particulars as to the localities.
Barn Owls are reported as having bred in Renfrewshire.
With regard to our nesting Ducks, we have satisfactory
indications of local increases of several species; the Wigeon
seems firmly established as a breeding Duck in West Ross
(1. 1920, 153), and Mr J. G. Gordon sends us notes of
females and broods on Gorm Lochs (W. Ross), and in a
pool near by. Pintail and their downy young were seen
by us on Loch Gelly on 15th July (1. 1921, 40), while broods
of Shoveller are reported from Raith Lake (Fife), on 15th
June, and the River Dee, Kirkcudbright, on 12th July.
Pochard and young were seen on Lindores Loch on 24th
June, and on Loch Gelly on 15th July, and a pair bred
successfully at Baker Loch (Renfrewshire). Tufted Duck
have become so common and generally distributed that
it is not necessary to do more than say that they are
reported as having nested in many districts.

An interesting little paper appears in Brztish Birds
(January 1921), on the nesting of the Storm Petrel on a
Hebridean Island: on 18th August a nest was found con-
taining one egg, this nest was visited again on 18th October,
and the young Petrel was nearly full-fledged (2. xiv. 175).

From Noss Head (Caithness), on 29th May, we have
the following record: “I found to-day a nest containing
two eggs of the Herring Gull, and one of a Fulmar. The
Fulmar is in possession and the Gulls sit on a projection
above the nesting site in a very despondent attitude.” This
ledge was never occupied by Fulmars before, and it is
pleasing to think that the Fulmar can hold its own even
against as formidable an opponent as the Herring Gull.

We have satisfactory records of the spread of Great-
crested Grebes, which have been found breeding on various
lochs in the Kilpatrick Hills and in other parts of Renfrew-
shire; they also nested on lochs in West Fife and in
Forfarshire, and are reported from old nesting sites. We
do not think it advisable to give more details as to the
new nesting localities, as it is very desirable that the

I15 AND II6 2

[14 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

birds should not be disturbed. Red-throated Divers are
reported from the neighbourhood of Dunkeld, where they
nest annually; Stockdoves continue to spread; our
correspondent in the Kilpatrick Hills writes: “I am rather
inclined to think from my own observations that the Stock-
dove is a very rare bird, breeding only at Hawks Crags
near Bowling, and Lang Crags near Bowie Loch. I am
convinced that the Stockdove has not bred yet on any
rocks east of this locality.” The species bred for the first
time at Seggieden (Perth), in an old lime tree near the
house, and we found a nest also in a lime tree at Gilston
(E: Fife): Dotterel were seen iny Central Perthshire "im
August 1920, where a pair was noticed by the keeper last
year, but no nest is reported as yet.

Common Terns nested at two localities in the Kil-
patrick Hills, and this species and the Little Tern are
also reported from Fife and Forfar. We found several
nests, about six pairs in all we thought, of Black-headed
Gulls on Lindores Loch, where we had not found them
nesting on any of our previous visits. Reports of this
species are somewhat conflicting, and it is difficult to know
whether there is an increase or decrease in its numbers as
a whole. From Mr Evans’ paper (1. 1920, 71) it would
appear to be increasing as a breeding bird in the Forth
Area, but Mr Cuthbertson, Yoker, finds that the depreda-
tions of egg-collectors have sadly depleted its numbers on
the Kilpatrick Hills: of Cochno Loch he says, “only three
pairs, where in 1909 about fifty pairs bred successfully ;
at Black Loch only one pair attempted to breed, where from
1912 to 1915 about forty pairs nested ;” at Loch Humphrey,
too, he noted a marked diminution in the number of birds
nesting. A more cheering report is that received from
Shetland of the nesting of Great and Arctic Skuas in
various localities.

There are several records of birds being found with
late broods: a Greenfinch was feeding two young birds in a
nest in a hedge at Howood on 1oth September, a Yellow-
hammer had a nest and young on 19th August at Broughty
Ferry, a brood of seven Mallard ducklings was seen on

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 115

gth November at Lincluden House, Dumfries (1. 1921, 24).
On 14th September we found two Eider ducklings on the
Isle of May just getting first feathers, and we saw them
with their mother in the sea close to the island every
day till we left on 29th September; a pair of Merganser
with three young were on the Tay at Aberfeldy on
3rd September; while a Corncrake’s nest with eight eggs
was found at Glen Shira, Argyllshire, on 12th August

(216205 1154):
WINTER.

Bird-life in the winter of 1919-20 seems to have pursued
a very normal course, and ordinary winter visitors are
reported in their usual abundance. The only records
worthy of special note here are a Northern Bullfinch which
wintered at Lerwick, large flocks of Bramblings at Hare-
shawmuir (Ayrshire) in January, and some reported from
the Kilpatrick Hills. Redwings and Fieldfares were more
numerous near Elgin than for some years previously.
Common Terns were received by Dr Collinge in January
and February. This last is of much interest and is worth
detailed record. A male was taken at St Andrews on
12th January, and two females there on 22nd January, while
on 4th February two males were sent to him from Aberdeen,
and on the 14th of the same month two females from
St Andrews. All these birds were in adult winter plumage.
Abnormal numbers of Cole Tits were seen at Seggieden
(Perth), Rough-legged Buzzards visited Shetland in January,
and Whooper Swans were more than usually numerous at
Vallay, Outer Hebrides, in the winter of 1919-20,

The winter of 1920-21 was very much more interesting
from an ornithological standpoint: the extraordinarily mild
weather seems to have tempted summer visitors to linger
beyond their accustomed time and partial migrants 'to stay
at their high ground breeding places. Thus Song-thrushes
stayed all winter at Lahill (East Fife), whence they generally
depart in late autumn, returning in March, and Curlew were
seen on the high ground in the middle of East Fife through-
out the winter. Most interesting notes are sent us from the

116 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Bass Rock where, we are told, “hundreds of Gannets have
never left the Rock; they are flying around and alighting
on the cliffs in the ordinary summer manner.” There are
also records of Common Terns sent to Dr Collinge from
various parts of the east coast in November and December,
four in the former, five in the latter month. Fieldfares and
Redwings were very numerous at Corsemalzie (Wigtown-
shire), and Largo (Pife), while Redwings were unusually
plentiful at Melrose. .Grey-lag Geese are reported in unusual
numbers in Wigtown Bay, and a flock of 300 to 400
frequented Luce Bay all winter, where, Mr Gordon informs
us, large flocks are very unusual. Several hundreds of
these birds were seen at Arbirlot, Forfarshire, where they
are said to be increasing each winter, the first (three) having
been seen there in 1896.

RINGING.

There are very few returns of ringed birds for 1920, and
these mostly refer to birds found dead at the place of
ringing, in some cases after a considerable lapse of time.
To us the most interesting of these is a Blackbird which
we ringed on the Isle of May with an Aberdeen University
ring on the 2oth of May tg11, when the bird was four
days old. It was found dead by Mrs Maclellan on the
Isle of May in March 1920, Other species found at or
near place of ringing are a Chaffinch ringed at Torrance,
Stirlingshire, 22nd June 1919, recovered Balmore, Stirling,
20th July 1920 (2. xiv. 129); a Redbreast ringed at Bardowie
Castle, Stirlingshire, 12th May 1918, reported from the
same place, 2nd April 1920 (2. xiv. 130); a Wood-pigeon
ringed as a nestling at Torrance, Stirlingshire, 30th April
I9QI9, reported at Buchanan Castle, Drymen, Glasgow,
27th January 1920 (2. xiv. 131); and a Lapwing ringed
at Kinloch Rannoch as a fledgling on 15th June Ig19,
reported at the same place, 19th August 1920 (2. xiv.
131). By far the most important of the various records
under this heading is that of a Swallow ringed as a
young bird at Torrance, Stirlingshire, on 27th June IgI9Q,
and recovered at Knockdhu, Transvaal, 28th January 1920.

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 117

“The ringed Swallow was caught alive, the ring taken off,
and let off again” (2. xiv. 42). This is the fifth Swallow
ringed in Britain under the Aritish Birds scheme to be
falkken in Africa. | A Cormorant ringed at. Castle Loch,
Mochrum, 14th June 1919, was reported at Eastriggs,
Dumfriesshire, 27th June 1920, while young birds of this
species ringed on the Summer Isles, Ross, 21st and 25th
July 1919, were reported at. Gareloch Head, Argyllshire,
6th January 1920, Waternish, Skye, roth January 1920, and
Colonsay, Argyllshire, 14th January 1920 (2. xiii. 242, and
xiv. 130). A Woodcock ringed at Balmaclellan, Kirkcud-
bright, 7th June 1918, was reported from co. Westmeath,
Ireland, 6th January 1920 (2. xiv. 131).

PLUMAGE.

As usual most of the notes regarding plumage refer
to albinisms: two Jackdaws seen at Dunkeld had pure white
heads and white markings on their wings, a female House
Sparrow at Collessie had a white head “dirty on the top,
pure white on the nape,” and a Blackbird at Lerwick had a
white patch on the right wing. An interesting point about
the last is that it is recorded on various dates from January
to May, and again in October and November; from this
it would seem that it is a winter visitor to Shetland. A
very light-coloured drake Mallard frequented Duns Lake
in December ; “ where the normally coloured ones are grey
he looks quite white. The head looks nearly black, the
green is so dark, and the bill is rich orange not greenish
yellow. He is conspicuous both on the water and on the
wing.” A pure white Sand-martin was seen by Colonel
Drummond Hay at Seggieden (Perth) on 30th August. He
says: “I... saw the albino quite close, there was no doubt
ipmwase a oand-martin, | watched it forssome time, >) It
was pure white all over, and was with a party of from
200 to 300 other Sand-martins. Colonel Drummond Hay
also describes the plumage of a young bird of this species
which came into his house on 17th August and was caught
and examined before it was released; the ground colour was
pale cream, the dark markings being represented by shades

118 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

of grey. A dark cream-coloured Pochard was seen on
[Eimdores Loch on 24th June. A \Gannet on the Bass
had black eyes; this bird or one with the same peculiarity
was last seen there in 1914 (1. 1920, 197). From Glen-
orchard, Stirlingshire, we have a record of a Wood-pigeon
shot on 6th March “very dark in colour but healthy,” and
lastly, an albino Rock Dove with pink eyes was shot at
Barra on 30th January (1. 1920, 154).

HABITS, FOOD, ETC.

Mr Mackeith (Renfrewshire) tells us that in 1920
nothing but Carrion Crows were shot on Duchal Moor.
Crows formerly shot there, he was told by the gamekeeper,
were “nearly all Hoodies.” At Cromarty five Jackdaws
were seen on two white bullocks lying ina field; they were
busily pulling out the long hair from the bullocks and carry-
ing it off in beakfuls to their nest. Both animals eventually
resented this treatment. A nest of the Missel Thrush built
with “harrier scent” papers was found in a wood at Johnstone
(Renfrewshire), on 22nd April, where a similar nest was found
in 1913. On 26th August, in Lauderdale, about thirty Ring
Ouzels were found roosting in one place in the heather, and
on IIth July a Swallow was seen at Johnstone flying after
moths at 10.30 P.M. (summer time). A Tawny Owl at
Glenorchard had a small hare, a small rabbit, and a rat in
a nesting box, and another at Corsemalzie had in its nest
three young rabbits and seven mice. At the same place on
Ist July a Herring Gull picked up and carried off a well-
grown Grouse and was shot with the bird in its beak, while
at Gairloch a pair was seen to kill and devour several small
Partridges in a brood, one being shot in the act of pursuing
them. Our correspondent in the Kilpatrick Hills, Renfrew-
shire, says: “I have never known the Black-headed Gulls to
spend a night inland at any pond. I watch them through-
out the winter and all summer, and find they either go
directly west to the Firth of Clyde or proceed N.E. to the
Hills. I have seen one flock follow this route for weeks on
end, then they suddenly disappear to be replaced by a large
and different flock.” Three Fulmars were seen sitting on

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 119

the top of the retaining wall of a park at Knab, near
Lerwick, a fourth attempted to alight alongside the other
three, failed to do so and fell on the grass; it lay there until
picked up and tossed into the air, when it flew away. The
three birds sat on the wall until approached within a few
feet ; they were “much concerned about their mate on the
grass with whom they held a conversation.”

MIGRATION NOTES MONTH BY MONTH.

January.

There was a prevalence of westerly winds throughout
January and no excessive cold, but little migration is
recorded and that little mainly of a local character. One
or two Northern Bullfinches were seen about Lerwick, and
one was caught at East Linton.

February.

The first half of February brought returns of our partial
migrants to their inland breeding places; the wind was
chiefly westerly and it was not very cold. This movement
intensified very much during the second half of the month,
and such a large proportion of the returns come from stations
and lanterns on the west coast, that it seems probable they
refer largely to immigration from Ireland. A certain
amount of movement among winter visitors is also recorded.
During the second fortnight the wind was more variable,
but was chiefly from a westerly quarter.

March.

The above movements continued during the first half of
March, but there were no big migrations; the arrival of one
or two summer visitors is recorded. The wind was chiefly
west or south-west with moderate temperature. The second
half of the month showed an increase in these movements
with more summer visitors; a good many winter visitors
were also on the move. In the last three days of March
there was east wind and fog, and there were a good matty |
records from lanterns, Wa

a
a

120 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

April.

In the first half of April, with an easterly type of weather,
a good deal of movement is recorded, chiefly arrivals of
summer visitors and departures of winter visitors, but some
passage migration was also included. Westerly winds were
prevalent during the latter half of the month, and a great
deal of movement was observed; this consisted mainly of a
large arrival of summer visitors, but there was also a good
deal of departure and a little passage migration.

May.

The usual big movement took place in the first half of
May, and by the middle of the month the large majority of
our summer visitors were present. A few uncommon visitors
are recorded, but there was no great influx of rarities.
Many winter visitors left the country and there was a
considerable amount of passage migration. In the second
half, with a good deal of light easterly wind, the last of
our summer visitors arrived at their nesting quarters; as
would be expected with these weather conditions, more
passage migration was evident, and some uncommon visitors

June.

Easterly and north-easterly winds prevailed till the 20th
of June, thereafter they were westerly until the end of the
month. In the former period there were some uncommon
visitors and but little other movement; and towards the end
of the month there are indications of the return of our
breeding birds to the shore.

are recorded.

July.

A perfectly normal migration took place in July: there
are reports of small arrivals of Waders from overseas, and
the beginning of the flocking and autumn movements of our
breeding birds. The wind was easterly up to the oth. July,
thereafter from some westerly point.

(To be continued.)

DIPTERA NEMATOCERA FROM ARRAN AND LOCH ETIVE = 121

DIPTERA NEMATOCERA FROM ARRAN
ANIND) IOVS at LIT,

By F. W. EDWARDS, B.A., F.E.S., British Museum (Natural History).
(Concluded from p. 92.)

TIPULIN.

Tanyptera (Xiphura) atrata, L.: S. | Tipula hortulana, Mg.: B.
Dolichopeza sylvicola, Curt.: B. | ,, _ lateralis, Mg. : Ca, Cn,
Tipula lutescens, F: W. we pruInoSsa We bao

» maxima, Poda. (gigantea, | » luna, Westh. (lunata, auct.):

Cave B,
9 abn, Wien 2 1B (Cel Wc » lunulicornis, Schum, (annu-
5 confusa, Wulp: W. | licornis, Mg,): Cg.

» ?marmorata, Mg.: Cg.

DIAGNOSES OF NEW AND ILL-DEFINED SPECIES.

Sciophila plurisetosa, sp. n.—Wing-length, 3 mm. Head black ;
palpi and first five or six antennal joints yellow; mesonotum
ochreous brown, with traces of two darker lines; pleurze darker ;
postnotum and abdomen blackish; pubescence of body all
yellowish ; legs yellow, except for the tarsi; tibial spurs yellow,
the short spines black; wings as in S. Airta, Mg.; hypopygium
much as in S. #irfa, Mg., but ninth tergite with an apical row of
six distinctly differentiated bristles; claspers with about six strong
short bristles round the tip, in addition to the four long ones
which point inwards (thus resembling S. tzferrupta, Winn., to
some extent). Type, male, in the British Museum, from Catacol,
Arran, ( Waterston).

Trichonta albescens, Dziedzickii—The hypopygium has been
figured by Dziedzicki (Pub. Soc. Sci. Varsovie, III. Classe Sci.
Math. et Nat., 1915: ‘“‘Atlas des organes génitaux (hypopygium)
des types de Winnertz, et des genres de sa collection de Mycéto-
philes,” Figs. 144-145), but the species is otherwise undescribed.
In the Brodick male the antennee are nearly twice the length of
the thorax, the first three joints yellowish; thorax dark grey, with
pale yellowish vestiture, shoulders indistinctly yellow; abdomen
blackish, the hind margins of the tergites indistinctly yellowish ;
coxe and femora yellowish; hind coxz with two small bristles
near the base; wings clear. As in many of his figures, Dziedzicki
seems to have slightly exaggerated the thickness of the stronger

115 AND 116 Q

122 THE SCOTTISH -NATURALIST

bristles of the hypopygium, especially the one at the tip of each
anal lamella.

Anatella setigera, sp. n.. ¢.—Thorax dull blackish, sides of
mesonotum slightly bluish grey; abdomen entirely blackish ;
middle femora with a fine short ciliation beneath; outer spur of
middle tibiz about half as long as the inner; fork of Cu slightly
distal to that of M; halteres yellow; male claspers as in Fig. 1;
ninth sternite elaborately lobed at tip, the lobes jointed on to
the main portion, median projection long, slender, bare. Type,
male, in British Museum, from Sannox, Arran.

Anatella unguigera, sp. n. $.—Thorax uniformly blackish, very
slightly shining; lateral margins of first three abdominal tergites
brownish yellow, more broadly so posteriorly; middle femora
without regular ciliation beneath; outer spur of middle tibiz
almost as long as the inner; fork of Cu distinctly distal to that
of M; halteres yellow; male claspers as in Fig. 2; lateral lobes
of ninth sternite not jointed; middle part of median lobe shorter
and broader than in A. se¢igera. A single male in British Museum,
from Brodick, Arran.

Allodia lugens, Wied.( = ornaticollis, Mg.).—As already suspected
by Lundstrém, there are several closely allied species confused
under this name. I would restrict the name to the form with
pointed outer male claspers (see Fig. 3; also figured by Lundstrém,
Acta Soc. Fauna Fennica, 32, pl. u., Figs. 13, 14, 18, 1909). The
integument of the thorax is all blackish; the third antennal joint is
dark apically; the tip and hind margin of the wing are slightly
darkened (this more noticeable to the naked eye than under a lens) ;
and the third and fourth segments of the male abdomen are
somewhat longer than the fifth and sixth.

Allodia longicornis, Walk.—Coloration as in A. dugens, but
wings quite clear; male claspers as in Fig. 4, and segments 3 to 6
of the abdomen all equal in length. Probably only a variety of
the following.

Allodia grata, Mg. (? =analis, Mg.).—Thoracic integument yellow
on the shoulders; third antennal joint all yellow; third to sixth
abdominal segments all equal in length; wings clear; male
claspers as in A. Zongicornis, but the outer claspers slightly convex,
instead of slightly concave at the tip (Fig. 5).

Allodia lundstremi, sp. n.—Like A. grata, but male claspers
as in Fig. 6; the outer clasper also figured by Lundstrom (Joc. ctz.,
Fig. 20). Type, male, in British Museum, from Burnham Beeches,
Bucks (4 W.£.).

Allodia anglofennica, sp. n.—Like A. grata, but male claspers

DIPTERA NEMATOCERA FROM ARRAN AND LOCH ETIVE 123

as in Fig, 7. The outer clasper is also figured by Lundstr6m
(loc. cit., Fig. 19). Type, male, in the Cambridge Museum, from
Logie, Elgin, 19, ix., 1910 (/ Jenkinson).

CLASPERS, ETC., OF NEW AND ILL-DEFINED NEMATOCERA.

Noy y)

Fig. 1. Anatella setigera, sp. n. Male clasper, inner side view. x TO:

g PBEuey Sik per,
» 2 ” unguigera, sp. Nl. ” ” ” ”
» 3. Allodia lugens, Wied. outer = ,; 5
pice eo re longicornis, Walk. 4 i . «
ane (ean aay grata, Mg. Outline of outer clasper, two variations. ,,
MORI wees lundstrcemi, sp. n. Male clasper, outer side view. 5
Bee Tee ul es5 anglofennica, sp. n. *, * Fi i
Sy Osea 5 truncata, sp. n. 5 % “
py ke oy lene alternans, Zett. . rm * 4
Re PET Ost) hy nigricollis, Zett. i inner re 3
»» 11, Dasyhelea polita, sp. n. Male hypopygium from beneath. x I50
»» 12. Culicoides heliophilus, sp. n. . ~ i

Allodia truncata, sp. n.—Like A. grata, but male claspers as
in Fig. 8, and male antennz distinctly shorter than in any of
the preceding ; the joints barely twice as long as broad. ‘Type,
male, in British Museum, from Lelant, Cornwall ( Yerdury).

Allodia alternans, Zett.—Differs from the above five forms in
having distinct small black bristles on the disc of the mesonotum,

124 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

in the shorter and differently marked abdomen, in the considerably
longer and narrower fork of vein Cu, its base being well before
the base of the 7m cross-vein, and in the male claspers, which
are as in Fig. 9.

Allodia nigricollis, Zett.—For convenience, this name may be
used for a species which resembles 4. a/ternans, except in having
male claspers as in Fig. 10. The females seem indistinguishable.
A male sent to Lundstrém in 1912 was thus determined.

Dasyhelea polita, sp. n.—Wing-length 1.5 mm. Black; tarsi and
halteres rather lighter; mesonotum shining, with a slight greenish
tinge and ill-defined greyish reflections; joints 7 to 13 of ¢
antenne striate at the base, 12 and 13 with two distinct verticils,
the striation extending to the second verticil, 11 with the second
verticil indistinct; joints 2 to 5 of @ antennz globular, 6 to 9
gradually longer, 9 not much shorter than ro, to to 14 oval, slightly
enlarged near the base, about three times as long as broad, without
distinct sense bristles; hind tibiz and tarsi with very long hair,
especially in male; wings much as in DJ. estiva, Winn; hypo-
pygium, Fig. 10. Type, male, and other specimens in British
Museum, from Corriegills, Arran. This is similar to, if not identical
with, the species which Kieffer has identified (obviously erroneously)
as D. obscura, Winn. (Ann. Mus. Nat. Hung., xvii. 1919, p. 61.).

Culicoides heliophilus, sp. n.—Allied to C. albicans, Winn.,
C. cunctans, Winn., and C. perpungens, Kieff. Body wholly
dull black; wings milk-white, with rather sparse but uniformly
distributed pale hair; hair over radial cells black; halteres pale
yellowish; fourth tarsal joint short but cylindrical; hypopygium,
Fig. 11. Type, male, in British Museum, from Machrie, Arran ;
also found on Dartmoor (#: WZ.) and Goathorn, Dorset ( Yerdury).

Psilohelea edentata, sp. n. 9 .—Resembles LP. candidata, Winn.,
but smaller (wing-length 1.3 mm.); mesonotum shining black, the
sensory pits smaller (though quite distinct) ; eyes quite bare; claws
simple; stem of median fork a little longer. Type, female, in the
British Museum, from Sannox.

This species would be excluded from Psz/ohelea by Kieffer’s
diagnosis, but I consider it should nevertheless be placed there ;
an exaggerated importance seems to have been given to the presence
of fine pubescence on the eyes, and of small teeth on the female
claws. I would include Zsohelea lactetpennis and Dasyhelea grandt-
forceps in Psilohelea, defining two sub-genera thus :—VPsz/ohelea :
sensory pits of mesonotum conspicuous, base of lower branch of
media distinct ; Zsohe/ea: sensory pits minute, base of lower branch
of media obsolete.

DIPTERA NEMATOCERA FROM ARRAN AND LOCH ETIVE 125

Psilohelea (Lsohelea) nitidula, sp. n.—Closely allied to P. (Z.)
soctabtlis, Goet., differing as follows :—Mesonotum brightly shining.
eyes almost or quite bare; costal veins light brown; male
hypopygium: side pieces more swollen than in soczadzi's, the base
swelling out towards the base of the abdomen from the point of
attachment; claspers stouter, more evenly tapering and niore
sharply pointed; parameres stouter, blunter and with an upward
instead of an outward curve at the tip; mesosome shorter, doubly
emarginate at the tip. Type, male, in the British Museum, from
Machrie, Arran; also eight other specimens of both sexes.

Psilohelea (Lsohelea) perpusilla, sp. n.—Differs from P. nitidula
as follows :—Size smaller (wing-length o.8 mm.); veins bordering
the radial cells dark brown; side pieces of male hypopygium
less swollen; apical part of ninth tergite broader; parameres shorter
and less stout, curved downward at the tip; mesosome rounded
at the tip, not emarginate. Type, male, in the British Museum,
from Brodick, Arran; also six females.

Quail in Midlothian.—It may be of interest to record the
presence of the Quail in Midlothian, On zoth June the character-
istic note, ‘‘wheet-wheet-wheet,” was heard in a grass field at
Inveresk. It may be recalied that a similar visit was noted last
year in the same district.—M. R. Tomuinson, Inveresk.

Turtle Dove in Kirkcudbrightshire.—A female Turtle
Dove was shot near Carsethorn, Kirkcudbrightshire, on 14th May
1921.—HuGH S. GLADSTONE.

Decrease of Ring-ouzel.— When writing my JSirds of
Dumfriesshire in 1910, I wrote :—‘‘ Dumfriesshire may certainly be
considered as one of the headquarters in Great Britain of the
Ring-ouzel. Abundant as it is in the mountainous parts of Lake-
land and the neighbouring counties, it can scarcely be more
numerous ‘than it is with us in spring, when every crag and ravine
at a suitable elevation may be confidently expected to be tenanted
by a pair of breeding birds.”

I regret to say that, of late years, this species has annually
become more and more scarce locally, and I am entirely at a loss
for any explanation of this. It would be, I think, of interest to
know if a similar decrease has been noticed elsewhere than in
Dumfriesshire, and any suggestions for the reason of this decrease
would surely be welcoome.—Hucu S. GLADSTONE.

Nesting of Fulmar Petrel on Forfarshire Coast.— As
previously reported by Miss Baxter and Miss Rintoul the Fulmar

126 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Petrel nested last summer at Fowlsheugh, Kincardineshire. This
year for the first time I have observed it on the Forfarshire coast,
about twenty individuals having been noted on 3rd June along
the cliffs between Arbroath and Red Head. The species had
established itself at several places, all of an inaccessible nature,
where full observation was impossible. At one point I watched a
company of Fulmars passing to and fro between the face of a
precipitous cliff and a feeding-ground about haif a mile out at sea.
For a time there were two groups (four birds in each) on the
surface of the water. In one case only did I succeed in making
out a sitting Fulmar. It was high up on a steep cliff with tufts of
grass here and there. The form of the wings and characteristic
flight made the Fulmars easily distinguishable in the large flocks
of sea-fowl. The backs of one or two birds were of a darker shade
of colour than the others. In view of the number of Fulmars
frequenting the cliffs, it is not improbable that a few pairs may
have bred there last year, although no such occurrence has been
recorded.—Douc.Las G. Hunvter, Arbroath.

The Fulmar Colony at St Abb’s Head.—Referring to
Mr Harold Raeburn’s note in the Scottish Naturalist for September
last, I am able to report a considerable increase in the number of
Fulmar Petrels frequenting the cliffs about St Abb’s Head this
summer. On 15th June my daughter and I spent several hours
investigating the colony from the top of the cliffs, and came to the
conclusion that there were probably about twenty-four birds in all—
there were certainly not less than twenty. Most of them were
frequenting the ‘“‘ Nunnery” cliffs west of the Lighthouse, but two
pairs were on a heugh to the left of that, while five or six birds
were haunting the Whiteheugh, facing Coldingham Shore. With one
exception, three or four pairs sitting on the cliffs at the main haunt
revealed, when put off, no sign of eggs. One bird, however, was much
more reluctant to leave than the others, and when at length it did
quit its hollow, a white object, which we believe was an egg, was
visible, but only from some distance, the overhanging nature of
the cliff preventing a near view of the spot being obtained. It was
a source of no ordinary pleasure to be able to watch these wonderful
birds at home on a part of the coast so easy of access from the
Scottish capital. There is no mistaking a Fulmar, as it sails to and
fro about the face of the precipice, or glides past along the edge
of the cliff within perhaps three or four yards of you. Its flight is
characteristic ; and, when seen from above, a pale patch about the
middle of each wing is distinctly noticeablee—WiLLIAmM Evans,
Edinburgh.

NOTES FROM THE SCOTTISH ZOOLOGICAL PARK 127

NOTES FROM
THE SCOTTISH ZOOLOGICAL PARK

Tur Kine Pencuins.—The King Penguins, with the exception
of the chick hatched in the Park, completed their moult early
this year. The first bird commenced to moult on the 26th March
and the last of the adults had shed all its old feathers by the
tith of May. Last year the moulting began on the ist of
April, approximately the same date as this year, but the last
adult did not complete its moulting until about the middle of
July. The chick, generally known as the “Baby,” began its
first moult last year about the end of April and finished about
the 23rd of May; while this year it did not begin until 20th June
and finished on 12th July. The “ Baby,” after its first moult last
year, entered a kind of intermediate phase of colouring, the areas of
yellow on the sides of the head and throat being much restricted ;
but this year it has acquired full adult colouring though the
yellow patches are somewhat pale and lack the rich orange tint
of the older birds. With King Penguins, at any rate in the
Park, moulting is the preliminary to courtship and _ breeding,
and as eggs have been produced for three years in succession
now, confident anticipation has again been fulfilled, and two
eges have been laid. Prior to egg laying, however, a domestic
upheaval of considerable extent took place in the Penguin colony.
The birds may be conveniently referred to by letters—A, B, and C
being the three birds which arrived at the Park in 1914, and
D and E two young ones which arrived early in 1917. A and C
are the pair which hatched and reared the chick in the winter
of 1919, and they had always seemed to be permanently mated
to each other. D and E, which arrived together, and were
apparently a pair, have also always been attached to each other,
and were believed to be responsible for one of the eggs laid last
year which proved to be infertile. B, the odd bird, has always
been supposed to be a female, and was thought to have laid
the other of the two eggs of last year. It is certain that B
incubated the egg (which also was infertile) for a period of
ten weeks without assistance from any of the other birds. This
summer it was astonishing to find that after the moult had been
completed, C, the supposed female, abandoned her mate A, and
paired up with D, while E paired with B. In the case of D and E
the rupture of the old association appeared to be a matter of

128 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

mutual consent, but A was far from being a consenter to the
loss of his mate. Two eggs were laid, one on the 6th of June
and the other on the 7th, each of the pairs B—E and C—D
having one. B—E were left more or less in peace with their
egg, but A showed such a persistent desire to get possession of
C’s egg and to interfere with his former wife’s new mate that
he had to be removed. The “‘ Baby” accompanied its parent into
exile, not because it showed any interest in the eggs—it always
treated its parents, and its elders generally, with complete
indifference—but because it had a habit of running through the
group beating its wings, to the danger of any incubating bird which
might chance to be in its path. The two pairs incubated their
eges without hitch or misfortune for five weeks; but one day
at the end of the fifth week, C wished to enter the water, and,
either because D would not relieve her of the egg or because
she could not bring herself to give, up possession of it for a
time, she tried to take the egg with her, and dropping it on the
rock, chipped it badly. The accident was the more unfortunate
as the egg contained a chick in an advanced state of development.
Lest this pair, having broken their own egg, should attempt to
rob their neighbours, they also were removed from the enclosure,
which B—E now have to themselves. The latter pair are
still incubating their egg, which, should it be fertile and free
from accident, is due to hatch about the beginning of August.
BirRTHS IN THE PARK.—Among the births in the Park this
year two of the most interesting are a litter of three Raccoons
and a Coati-mondi. Raccoons have bred several times in the
Park and the young have generally been reared, but it has been
otherwise with the Coatis. Several litters have been produced
since the first in 1916, but invariably the mother has eaten her
young. The female Coati seems to suffer from an extreme
restlessness when she has her young and will never leave them
in one place for long. If they are in a sleeping-box she will carry
them all out, and when they are out she must carry them all
back. If the box can be moved she will drag it about or turn
it over, and if it is fixed her efforts to move it have much the
same effect on her babies. Usually a week of this sort of
thing has seemed the limit that a young Coati can bear, and
when it has died its mother has consumed it, in a spirit smacking
more of the utilitarian perhaps than the strictly cannibal. The
young one under notice is the sole survivor of a litter of three
and is now well grown and active. It may be noted that the
period of gestation is ten weeks. 1D Isls. (Ce

i

CA Gs ys

(Authors are responsible for nomenclature of
eae lic
to

The Scottish te

Nos. 117 AND 118. ] 1921 (Seprt.-Oct.

He MARCH Ol SCIENCE

CLOSE on thirty years ago the British Association for the
Advancement of Science visited Edinburgh; the other week,
in a series of bright and stimulating meetings, the visit was
repeated, and we could not but pause to cast a glance
backwards and to ask whither, in the interval, the science
in which we are particularly interested has been marching.
Sometimes it seems, in the press of fact-collecting and fact-
recording, that all is a blind bustle, that we rush hither and
thither seeking and gathering, and, like the autumn squirrel,
storing and perhaps forgetting, in order that we may have
an excuse to seek and gather again. Are we members of a
swirling mob, or units in an army that advances as it goes?

Until we leave the press and look back upon the field we
cannot tell, but a backward glance reveals a broad line of
advance which has added to the significance and to the
stability of our science—the closer contact of zoology with
the realities of human existence. It has come to be recog-
nised that, in spite of all its obscure researches and trans-
cendental speculations, zoology has a message for the people,
and that its works are vital to the welfare of the race. The
once famous toast has lost its sting: “ Here’s to Science pure
and undefiled, and may it never do a ha’pworth’s good to
anyone.”

We need no more than glance at zoology as it is taught

in the Universities to gather some hint of the strength and
LL 7eAND Ths R

130 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

wide bearing of the advance. In these latter years the
old circumscribed course has blossomed like the rose:
everywhere “zoology” has come to be supplemented by
economic zoology, agricultural zoology, medical zoology,
forest entomology, veterinary zoology, protozoology, helmin-
thology and the like. Outside the Universities the same
process is to be seen in the formation of associations of
applied zoologists, and in the publication of reviews of
economic entomology and journals of applied zoology.

To the writer this new and close contact of zoology with
human affairs seems to be the most striking and promising
of recent developments of the science. Whether it originated
with the zoologists themselves, or was impressed upon them
by the force of public opinion, matters not, now that the tide
is in full swing ; but this is certain, that the more the farmer,
the veterinarian, the forester, the man of medicine demand
of the science of animal life, the more will zoologists respond
to an appeal which can only result in increased good to the
race of man.

A striking case of the intelligence of a Chacma Baboon
was reported recently in these pages (p. 63); but Mr J. E.
Harting writes to draw attention to even more wonderful
instances related by Mr F. W. Fitzsimons in the first
volume of his Natural Hestory of South Africa. Of these
Mr Harting says the most remarkable is that of an individual
captured when half-grown and trained to push his lame
master in a trolley, to fetch and carry, to draw water, and
even, under direction, to work the levers of the railway
signals in his master’s charge. But to us it seems that
directed and imitative energy stands on a different plane
from the original efforts of an untaught mind.

An appropriate memorial to the late W. Denison Roebuck
appears in the Journal of Conchology in the form of a “ Census
of British Land and Freshwater Mollusca” for which he was
mainly responsible, Here, at a glance, the distribution of
the 115 species “authenticated” from Scotland may be seen,
and the lists, while giving evidence of much careful collecting,

THE MARCH OF SCIENCE 131

also indicate areas in which further search is likely to be
well rewarded.

Since the Aberdeen University Bird-Migration Inquiry
was set afoot in 1909, 27,802 birds have been ringed, and
of these 879 have been recovered, some near and some far
from their breeding grounds. A valuable and interesting
account of the results of the Inquiry appears in The /bis
for July 1921. Here Dr A. Landsborough Thomson analyses
all the data obtained, and gives proof of the return of certain
species—Swallow, Spotted Flycatcher, and Swift, to the same
summer quarters, of the migratory idiosyncrasies of the
Lapwing, of the immobility of certain “ garden” species, and of
many other facts which will go to the making of a satisfactory
theory of migration.

A succinct and well-balanced summary of The Value of
Lirds has been prepared by Mr Hugh S. Gladstone (77vaus.
Dumfries. and Galloway Nat. Hist. Soc. 1921),in which he
adjudicates the economic significance of all the commoner
British species, and makes a strong appeal for the formation
in this country of an Ornithological Advisory Bureau on the
lines of that long since established in the United States of
America under the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In another part of this number there appears an account
of one of the finest Red Deer’s heads ever found in Scotland.
For many years it has hung in a Scottish mansion, until
valuable details of its discovery have been lost. There
must be many more unrecorded heads of prehistoric Red
and other Deer in the halls of Scotland, for they were found
in plenty during the marl-excavating activity of the late
eighteenth and early nineteenth century. We should be
glad to receive records of any such, but especially we should
be glad to receive for examination and record at the time of
jinding any fragments of antlers, regarding the identity of
which the discoverer may be in doubt,

132 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Golden Oriole in Wigtownshire.—A neighbour of mine
told me towards the end of June that he was puzzled by the note
of a bird in a thick plantation of young Scots pine and birch.
He had repeatedly returned there and always heard the bird,
but never could catch sight of it. From his description of the
call—a monotonous, but melodious, flute-like note—I told him
it was almost certainly a Golden Oriole. Having just returned
from the south of Spain, where Orioles abound, I was not surprised
that he had failed to get a view of the bird, which is very
clandestine in its movements, and is far more frequently heard
than seen.

I was unable to visit the wood at the time; but my friend
persevered and at last succeeded by a simple stratagem. He
laid a small piece of white paper on the ground near the thicket
whence the sound came, concealed himself, and before long the
musician, undoubtedly a male Golden Oriole (Oriolus galbula),
perched on a bough above the paper, eyed it curiously, but did
not descend to it.

When I went with my friend to the place in July, the song
(if it may be so termed) had ceased, and we could not see the
bird, nor was there any evidence of a mate being in its company.
I may add that my friend, although not an expert ornithologist,
is a practised sportsman and much interested in bird life.

The occurrence of this beautiful species in Britain usually
takes the form of an obituary notice, a high price being set on
its head by collectors and taxidermists. More’s the pity, for,
as Lord Lilford remarks, it ‘‘ only requires protection and encourage-
ment to become tolerably common,” at least in the eastern and
southern counties of England. ‘There seem to be very few notices
of its appearance in Scotland. Yarrell says that it does not appear
to have been seen there; but in his paper on the parish of
Cockburnspath, Haddingtonshire, in the Mew Statistical Account,
1834, the Rev. A. Baird mentions the Golden Oriole, the Hoopoe,
and the Bohemian Chatterer as ‘‘occasional visitants,” and there
are several later records, mostly from the southern counties,
though the Shetlands and Orkneys as well as the intermediate
Fair Isle have ail had recorded visits—HERBERT MAXWELL,
Monreith.

Bittern in Berwickshire.—A Common Bittern was shot at
Wyle-cleuch, Letham, on 25th January 1921.- Steps have been
taken to ensure that such an accident will not recur.—T. G.
LAIDLAW, Duns.

WINTER OCCURRENCE OF COMMON TERN IN SCOTLAND 133

WINTER OCCURRENCE OF THE COMMON
ee NGIN SCOT WAND

By WALTER E. COLLINGE, D.Sc., F.L.S., Keeper of the Museum, York.

HITHERTO the Common Tern (Séerna hirundo, Linn.) or Sea
Swallow of our coasts has been regarded as only a summer
visitor to these islands. Thus Yarrell states, “Its arrival in
the British Islands takes place in May, and the autumnal
migration lasts from August to October.” Similar state-
ments are to be found in almost any work on British birds.

That such statements are not absolutely correct the
following facts will show. On 9th December 1918, I received
two male specimens from near Aberdeen; on 24th January
I919, one female from near St Andrews; and a male from
the same locality was received on 19th December. During
1920, a male specimen was received on 12th January, and
two females on the 22nd, all from near St Andrews. On 4th
February, two males from Aberdeen, and two females on the
14th from near St Andrews, came to hand. During October
eight specimens were received from different parts of the
east coast of Scotland, four in November, and five in
December, or a total of twenty-eight birds between the
months of October and February. With the exception of
one of the October birds all were adults, sixteen males, and
twelve females.

From the above remarks it will be seen that this bird
does occasionally remain longer with us, and also arrives
here earlier than April. Moreover, it seems clear that
stragglers visit our coast between October and April, either
as occasional visitors or as birds of passage.

The purpose of this note is to direct the attention of
ornithologists to these facts, in the hope that further infor-
mation may be published on one of our most interesting and
beautiful sea birds.

134 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Nesting of Great Spotted Woodpecker.—/x Argylishire.—
This year the Great Spotted Woodpecker has nested in Glenfinart,
Ardentinny, and at Castle Lachlan, Strachur, Loch Fyne. We
knew of two nests at the former place, one of which contained
young birds. In addition to these two pairs there were, I think,
two others. We did not locate their nests, but as they could be
heard working in places far removed from the ones we knew of,
I don’t think they were the same. At the Castle Lachlan locality
one nest was seen, and this contained young birds in the second
week of June.—Joun H. P. Lescuaas, Ardentinny.

In Perthshire.—I have the pleasure to add to the records of the
nesting of the above bird in Perthshire. A pair were noticed in
a wood in the Trossachs in the closing days of May this year.
Attention was first attracted by the unfamiliar note, ‘ pick,” ‘ pick,”
and the birds were eventually seen passing back and forward among
the trees, their wavering flight and appearance rather reminding one
of a Magpie with a short tail. The nest was soon betrayed, being
situated in a hole about ten to twelve feet from the ground in the
headless trunk of a large birch. Though they were under close
observation for about three hours, during which they foraged
actively for insects up and down the tree trunks, the birds were
not once heard or seen to tap. The chirps of a young brood were
plainly heard when the old birds entered the hole. I do not know
whether it is a fact that the Woodpeckers abstain from unnecessary
noise when rearing young. Though they usually clung to the bark
in the accepted attitude, the Woodpeckers sometimes perched on
branches like other birds.—M. R. Tomuinson, Inveresk.

Six Eggs in an Oystercatcher’s Nest.—On 17th May of
this year on one of the Clyde shores amongst stones I found six
eggs of the Oystercatcher in one nest. It seems likely that these
eggs were laid by two birds, although no distinction in the colour
or marking of the eggs could be traced that would indicate that
they were laid by different birds. ‘The scoop in the gravel was
first noticed on 7th May, so that all the eggs had been laid in
ten days. Nine paces from the Oystercatcher’s nest, amongst
smaller stones, was a Ringed Plover’s nest, with its usual four
eggs. The ground colour of these Plover’s and Oystercatcher’s eggs
was very much alike, a grey stone colour, whereas other Oyster-
catchers’ eggs I have seen were more yellowish.—T. MALLocu,
Johnstone.

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 135

Re LORd. ONTS COMMS: OR NE EOLOGY = IN =1620;
INCLUDING MIGRATION.

By EVELYN V. BAXTER, H.M.B.O.U., and
LEONORA J. RINTOUL, H.M.B.O.U.

(Concluded from p. 120.)

August.

There were light, variable winds during August, and
many departures took place, these increasing in number as
the month wore away. Small arrivals from overseas of
winter visitors and passage migrants are noted, but nothing
in the nature of a rush is recorded.

September.

Up to 29th September the wind was almost entirely
westerly and very light, the weather was fine and warm,
and there was a steady stream of departure. Small numbers
of passage migrants were also reported, a few winter visitors
arrived, and one or two uncommon species were noted. On
the last day of the month the wind changed to the east,
and the beginning of a very large arrival is reported from
many places.

October.

During the first seventeen days of October the wind was
from an easterly quarter, and an enormous arrival took
place, the species recorded in greatest numbers being
Starlings, Chaffinches, Goldcrests, and Turdine, but many
other winter visitors also put in an appearance. Much
passage migration and a good many uncommon visitors are
recorded, and some of the later summer visitors took their
departure. Up to the end of the month, with light southerly
winds, a certain amount of migration took place but nothing
in the nature of a rush.

November.

Throughout November the winds were-mainly southerly
and westerly, and a certain amount of movement is reported.

136 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

As most of the notes come from the lanterns of Little
Ross and Pladda it would seem certain that some of it,
at any rate, was emigration to Ireland.

December.

With variable winds and no spell of frost or snow little
migration is recorded during December.

NOTES ON THE MOVEMENTS OF BIRDS IN 1920,
ARRANGED UNDER SPECIES.

RAVEN, Corvus corax corax.—A male was trapped near Lauder
on r4th April, and forty to fifty were seen going to roost on a cliff
at Vallay (O.H.) on 22nd December.

HoopvEpD Crow, Corvus cornix cornix.—Movement is recorded
from 25th March to 21st April. In autumn an arrival is reported
from stations in the north and east during the first half of October.

CaRRION CROW, Corvus corone corone.—A few were seen at
Pladda from 18th March to 21st May, one at Lerwick on 25th April,
and a single bird arrived on the Isle of May on 16th September.

Rook, Corvus frugilegus frugilegus.—Northward movement is
noted from our Northern Isles from rqth March to roth April;
three Rooks at Auskerry on 21st April, and a few at Fair Isle on
7th May.

STARLING, Sfurnus vulgaris vulgaris.—Some Starlings were at
the Little Ross lantern at 1 a.M. on 17th January (1. 1920, 146),
and from 16th February to 24/25th April there are many notes of
arrivals from southern and south-western stations; no doubt many
of these were our breeding birds returning. Whalsay Skerries
and Noss Head record movements at these lanterns from 17th
March to 16th April. From 22nd September to 6th November
arrivals are noted at the Isle of May, and during this time also at
our Northern Isles, while Pladda and Little Ross report constant
movement, chiefly at the lanterns, from g/r1oth October to 28th
November.

GREENFINCH, Chloris chloris chloris.— A few Greenfinches
visited Pladda on rst, 2nd, 3rd, and 8th January, while three males
and four females were at Auskerry on 3rd April, one at Lerwick on
15th April, and some at the Isle of May on 30th September.

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 _§ 137

BRITISH GOLDFINCH, Carduelts carduelis britannica.—On 209th
February a Goldfinch was seen at Invergowrie, and a pair at
Corsemalzie (Wigtownshire) on 23rd April. In autumn, dozens
were seen about Dumfries (/ze/d, 22nd January 1921, p. 97), fourteen
at High Glenling on 14th October, twenty-seven at Alticig on 18th
October, and thirty-two at Mochrum Park on 24th November.

SISKIN, Carduelis spinus.—Four were seen at Monifieth on
4th January, one at the Isle of May on 22nd September, some there
on 29th September, twelve on 6th October, and five on 8th October.
Siskins visited Lerwick on 3rd and 8th October; eleven at Alticig
(Wigtownshire) on 16th October, and twenty-seven at Mochrum
Park on 24th November.

Meaty REpDPOLL, Carduelis linaria linaria.—Two are reported
from Whalsay Skerries on 25th February, some at the Isle of May
on 29th September, a few from Fair Isle on 6th October, and a
good many near Yoker on 17th October.

Lesser REpDPOLL, Carduelis linaria cabaret.—About sixty were
seen at Mochrum Loch, Wigtownshire, on 11th November.

LINNET, Carduelis cannabina cannabina.—Noss Head and
Auskerry report a good deal of movement between 15th and 24th
April, and again from 26th September to 25th October, while on
7th October many Linnets were going south by Elliot Water, Forfar-
shire (1. 1920, 197), and flocks were seen on Foula on 8th October.

NortHern Buturincu, Pyrrhula pyrrhula pyrrhula.—See
Pato:

Crosspitt, Loxia curvirostra curvirostra.—Crossbills probably
of this race visited the Isle of May on 22nd October.

Cuarrinca, Pringilla celebs celebs.— Much emigration is reported
from our northern stations from 25th March to 6th May, and on
31st March many visited Pladda. In autumn a great immigration
took place, and was noted at many of our northern stations and the
Isle of May; it began on 30th September and lasted till 22nd
October. On 31st October and 21st November a Chaffinch visited
Pladda, a few were on the Isle of May on 19th November, while on
21st December a flock of three hundred females were seen at Alticig
(Wigtownshire).

BRaMBLING, Lringilla montifringilla. — During January and
February a good many Bramblings are recorded from Southern
Scotland, while from 31st March to 24th April there are constant
notes of movement from Orkney, Shetland, and Noss Head; last

I17 AND 118 S

138 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

seen at Noss Head 1st May, at Lauder next day, and at Fair Isle
on 6th May.

By 22nd September a Brambling is noted at the Isle of May,
and single birds at Noss Head and Lerwick on 30th September. A
large arrival took place between 6th and 23rd October, and is
recorded chiefly from our Northern Isles and East Coast. From
13th November to 2nd December several frequented Lerwick, and
a flock of twenty was seen at Alticig on 21st December.

Corn-BuntinG, Lmberiza calandra calandra. — Arrivals are
noted about Dundee on 28th March, Lerwick on 4th and 25th
April, Fair Isle on 1oth April, and Noss Head on 6th May. On
6th December one was seen at Dunragit, Wigtownshire.

YELLOW Buntinc, Lmberiza citrinella citrinella—One visited
Shillay (Monachs) on 26th February, and some were seen at the
Isle of May on 29th September and 22nd October.

Cir Buntinc, Lmberiza ctrlus.—See p. 107.

OrtoLan, Lmberizsa hortulana.—See p. 107. The note of an
Ortolan at Lerwick on 3rd May was received too late for its
insertion under ‘‘ Uncommon Visitors.”

Rustic BunTiING, Lmbertza rustica.—See p. 107.

ReED-Buntinc, Lmberiza schenticlus scheniclus—Two Reed-
buntings visited Lerwick on 2nd May; one was on Fair Isle on 15th
and 16th May, single birds at Noss Head on 16th August and 2nd
October, a considerable arrival about Mugdrum (North Fife) on
roth September, and a few at Fair Isle on 2nd and 6th October.

Snow-BuntTINnG, Plectrophenax nivalis. —Is recorded pretty
freely up to 17th February; one was at the Shillay lantern (Monachs)
on 23rd February, and one at Noss Head on 23rd March. Return
movement is first noted at Unst on 11th September, Lerwick on
roth, and Fair Isle on 24th September, while an immigration took
place between 19th October and 14th November. Several were at
Lerwick on 26th December, and two at Pladda on 29th December.

SKYLARK, Alauda arvensis arvensts.—Large numbers of Skylarks
were at the Auskerry lantern on 16th and 24th January, and
several at the Little Ross lantern on 17th January at I A.M.
(1. 1920, 146). From 7th February to 22nd March there are many
records from the Little Ross and Pladda lanterns, and notes of
arrival in Southern Scotland. On 17th February one was at the
Shillay lantern, and from 4th to 2oth April notes of Skylarks come
from the lanterns of Noss Head, Whalsay Skerries, and Auskerry.
On 12th May some, doubtless passage migrants, were at the Pladda

REPORT ON SCOTTISIT ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 139

lantern. On roth September a Skylark struck the Little Ross
lantern at 11.30 pP.M., and from this time up to 14th October much
movement is recorded from our southern Janterns and stations,
probably largely of our own birds. From 7th to 24th October
immigration is reported from our stations in the Northern Isles,
many were at the Pladda lantern on 21st November, and one was
killed at the Little Ross lantern on 7th December.

RIcHARD’s Pipit, Authus richardi richardt.—See p. 107.

TreEE-Pipit, Anthus trivials trivialis.—Was early in arriving in
1920. The first records are from Darvel and Lenzie on 17th April,
Killermont (Clyde) next day, Blanefield (Clyde) on roth, and
Melrose on 2oth April. Thereafter records of arrival at breeding-
places occur up to 6th May. Passage migrants visited Fair Isle
on 22nd April, 7th and 13th May, and Lerwick on 16th May.
By 25th July movement was again visible and continued during
August; last seen, Lauder and Isle of May on 11th September,
Balgavies (Forfarshire) next day, and Noss Head on roth October.

Meavow-Pipit, Anxthus pratensis—Many returns to mainland
breeding haunts took place during March, while from 6th to 21st
April there are many records of Meadow-pipits from Fair Isle and
Noss Head. On 25th April there were great numbers at Little
Ross. From 27th August to roth October much movement of
Meadow-pipits is reported from Noss Head, Auskerry, Fair Isle,
Pladda, Isle of May, the Tay Estuary, and Corsemalzie.

Rock-Pipit, Anthus spinoletta petrosus.—Several were at the
Auskerry lantern on 2oth April, and two at the Noss Head lantern
at I A.M. on roth September.

BLUE-HEADED WacTalL, Motacilla flava flava.—See p. 107.

YeLLow WactaliL, Motacilla flava rayt.—F¥irst recorded from
Summerston on 17th April, Cathcart next day, and Beith and
Drumchapel on 2oth (all Clyde); thereafter further notes of arrival
come up to 6th May. A Yellow Wagtail visited Lerwick on roth
May ; last seen in autumn at Alticig (Wigtownshire) and Pladda on
2oth September, and Glenorchard on 24th September.

Grey WactTAIL, JZofactlla cinerea cinerea.—Returned to Clover-
hill, Broughton, on rith April, and on gth May one arrived at
Auskerry and two at Shillay (Monachs). During August and
September a good deal of movement is noted and single birds
were seen at Seggieden on 5th November, in Largo Bay on
25th November, and at Stranraer on 4th December.

Waite WactaiL, Aotactlla alba alba.—Recorded at Netherlie

140 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

on sth April and Noss Head on 13th April. After this much
passage is reported up to 23rd May, when a few were on Fair Isle.
Return movement is noted at Noss Head on 2nd August and
Fair Isle on roth August, and after this date steady movement
is shown up to 8th October; the notes come from these two
stations, the Isle of May, Invergowrie, and Alticig (Wigtownshire).

Piep WactaliL, JJZotacilla alba lugubris—Many returns to
breeding-places are recorded during March, while from 12th March
to 16th May considerable movement is noted at Noss Head
and Fair Isle; a Pied Wagtail is reported at Auskerry on 4th
April, one at Lerwick on 11th April, and one at Shillay on 1st
May. Six Pied Wagtails visited Foula on 31st August; Noss
Head and Lerwick report autumn movement from 2oth August
to 7th September, and from 17th September to roth October
there are notes of considerable numbers from our southern stations.
Single birds are noted at Noss Head on 3rd November, Stranraer
on 4th December, Cromarty on 24th, Largo on 3oth, and Cullen
up to 31st December.

BRITISH TREE-CREEPER, Certhia familiaris britannica.— Single
birds occurred at the Isle of May on 26th and 27th September and
21st October (1. 1921, 75), and several probably belonging to
this race were seen there on 30th September.

GREAT Titmouse, Parus major.—A Great Tit, no doubt the
continental P. m. major, appeared at Kergord, Weisdale, Shetland,
on 2nd May.

CRESTED TITMOUSE, Parus cristatus.—A Crested Tit, probably
P. c. scoticus, was observed near Arbroath on 22nd September
(1. 1920, 178).

Gotpcrest, Regulus regulus.—From 20th to 31st March
there are many records of Goldcrests, probably 2. 7. anglorum,
from Pladda and Little Ross, while what was obviously an
emigration of 2. 7. regulus is reported from Noss Head, Lerwick,
Fair Isle, Auskerry, and Shillay from 31st March to 1gth April.
During September much movement of Goldcrests, doubtiess of
the British race, is reported from our southern stations and
lanterns, but a large immigration recorded from Orkney, Shetland,
Noss Head, and Isle of May, between 29th September and 24th
October, was evidently referable to the typical form. From toth
to 13th October numbers of Goldcrests visited the Little Ross
lantern each night; on 14/r5th October seventeen were killed at the
Killantringan lantern, and on 24th October many were seen about
Seggieden. On ist and 3rd November numbers came to the

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 141

Little Ross lantern, a few were on the Isle of May on roth, and at
Pladda on 28th November, and one struck the Little Ross lantern
at midnight on 3rd December.

Great GREY SHRIKE, Lantus excubttor excubittor.—One on
Whalsay (Shetland) and one at Lerwick on 4th November.

RED-BACKED SHRIKE, Lantus collurio collurio.mA male visited
Lerwick on 22nd August.

Waxwinc, Bombycilla garrulus.—See p. 107.

SpoTTED FLycaTCHER, MMuscicapa striata striata.—F¥irst noted
at Corsemalzie on 4th May, and at Glenorchard on 7th May.
Thereafter many records of arrival come up to 27th May, by
which time our breeding birds seem to be present in full numbers.
A passage migrant is recorded at Lerwick on 13th May. <A good
deal of southward movement is noted during August; last seen,
Lauder 13th September, Isle of May 1gth September, and
Corsemalzie 1st October, and a late passage migrant is reported
from Lerwick on 12th October.

PirD FLycaTCHER, JMJuscicapa hypoleuca hypoleuca.—Single
birds occurred at Cloverhill (Broughton) on 27th April, Auskerry
and Lerwick on 3rd May, Fair Isle on 6th May, and ‘‘a few” at
this last station on 7th May. In autumn a female was seen at
Lerwick on 24th August, a male on 16th September, and several
in the neighbourhood on 7th October.

RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER, J/uscicapa parva parva.—
See palo 7.

CuiFrcHarr, Phylloscopus collybita.—Recorded from Rouken
Glen on 3rd April, and Holy Loch, Clyde, on 9th April. A good
many are noted at the Little Ross lantern from 18th to 24th April
(1. 1920, 148). One struck this lantern on 23/24th August, one was
at Pladda on 31st August, and one or two on the Isle of May on
rith September ; these were in all probability all our own PA.
collybita collybita. Chiffchaffs at Lerwick on 15th and 23rd April
and 2nd October, and at Fair Isle on 27th May, were no doubt
the Scandinavian form P%. ¢. abietinus.

SIBERIAN CulrrcHarr, Phylloscopus collybita tristis.—Two
obtained at Lerwick on 8th October should have been included
on p. 107, but the note arrived too late for insertion there.

WILLOW-WarRBLER, Phylloscopus trochilus trochilus. — First
recorded from Newton-Mearns on 8th, Kilmacolm and Lerwick on
the rith, Melrose and Beith on 13th April. After this many notes
come of arrival at breeding-places up to 15th May. Passage

142 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

migrants are reported from Lerwick on 15th April, and Fair Isle
from 3rd to 27th May; some of these may have been P%. 4.
eversmannt. A good deal of departure is noted during the latter
half of August and up to mid-September, and passage migrants
occurred on Fair Isle on 2nd and 3rd September. Last seen
Corsemalzie 23rd September, Isle of May 30th September, and
Noss Head 5th October.

Woop-WaRiLLER, Phylloscopus sibilatrix sibilatrix.—Noted at
Cathcart on 2nd May, Ardencaple next day, and Johnstone on 7th
May; and during the next ten days arrivals at breeding haunts are
reported. A passage migrant visited Lerwick on 13th May. Last
seen, Broughty Ferry roth August.

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, Phylloscopus humet premtum.—
SES [0h OW):

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER, Locustella nevia nevia.—Reported
from Greenock Moors on 14th May, and from the Kilpatrick Hills
on 27th June.

REED-WARBLER, Acrocephalus scirpaceus stirpaceus.—-See p. 107.

SEDGE-WARBLER, Acrocephalus schenobenus.—One struck the
Little Ross lantern on 15th April, and arrivals are noted at Loch
Elrig (Wigtownshire) on 3rd May, Summerston (Clyde) on 6th
May, and from many other stations up to 24th May. Last seen
in autumn at Glenorchard on 5th September, Little Ross lantern
on rath, and Corsemalzie on 21st September.

ICTERINE WARBLER, Ayfolais icterina.—See p. 107.

BARRED WARBLER, Sylvia nisoria nisorta.—See p. 107. The
note of one at Lerwick on 29th August arrived too late for insertion
there.

GARDEN WARBLER, Sylvia borin.—First recorded from Loch-
winnoch on 8th May, Little Ross lantern and Durrisdeer (Solway)
on 11th May, Noss Head on 12th May, and Lerwick next day.

After this notes of arrival come up to 23rd May. In autumn
passage migrants are reported at Lerwick on 8th August, 22nd
September, 7th and oth October.

Biackcap, Sylvia atricapilla atricapilla. — Recorded from
Cathcart and Ardencaple (Clyde) on znd May, and Duns on
18th May. Passage migrants visited Lerwick on 2oth, 26th, and
3oth May, and 23rd September; the Isle of May on 29th September ;
and Noss Head on sth (¢ 6) and 13th (?) October. Pladda
records two Blackcaps on 12th and 13th October, Lerwick a pair
on 14th October, a pair were killed at the Killantringan lantern on

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 143

14/15th October, and an adult male was picked up at Kilmacolm
on 30th November (1. 1921, 21).

WHITETHROAT, Sylvia communis communis.—First noted at Luce
Bay on 23rd April, Corsemalzie next day, Lerwick on 25th April,
and Bridge of Weir and Eaglesham on 1st May. After this the
spread was rapid, and many notes of arrival at breeding-places come
up to 15th May. Passage migrants are reported from Fair Isle and
Lerwick from 13th to 23rd May. Southward movement is recorded
by the beginning of August, and continued steadily to mid-
September; last seen t2th September at Little Ross lantern,
23rd September at the Isle of May, and a late straggler at Pladda
on 13th October.

LESSER WHITETHROAT, Sylvia curruca curruca.—One noted at
the Little Ross lantern on 15th April, and several on that island
next day (1. 1920, 147). Two at Yoker on 23rd April, two at
Kilminning (E. Fife) on 4th May, a few at Pladda, and single birds
at Noss Head on 12th May, Lerwick on 13th, and two on 16th May,
one near Loch Maree (W. Ross) on 16th June, and one at Fair Isle
next day. The only autumn record is from Lerwick on 3rd October.

FIELDFARE, Zurdus pilaris—Much movement of Fieldfares is
noted at our southern lanterns and stations from zoth March to
24th April, there being enormous numbers at Little Ross lantern
15/16th April (1. 1920, 147). By 11th April records also come
from our Northern Isles and stations, of emigration overseas, this
lasting steadily to the end of the month. Last seen, Glenorchard
and May, Noss Head 4th, Fair Isle 6th, and near Elgin rith May.

The first autumn records are from Lerwick on 3rd October,
Auskerry on 6th, Foula on 8th, Corsemalzie (Wigtownshire) on
roth, and Kilmacolm on 13th October. Thereafter a large arrival
lasting up to 21st November took place, and was reported from
stations in all parts of Scotland. A small movement, probably
emigration to Ireland, is noted at Little Ross and Pladda from
11th to 14th December.

MIsTLE-THRUSH, Zurdus visctvorus viscitvorus. — Returns to
inland localities are reported from Hareshawmuir (Ayrshire) on
23rd January, and from Seggieden (Perthshire) on 25th January
and 19th February. The species is recorded from Little Ross
lantern on 18/19th February (1. 1920, 146), from Pladda lantern
on 24/25th February and on 22nd March (one), and one from
Whalsay Skerries on 23rd April. On 30th September a flock of
a hundred was seen at Corsemalzie, and one visited Auskerry on
7th October.

144 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Sonc-TurusH, Zurdus philomelus.— What was evidently a
strong arrival of our British Z. pA. clarkei is recorded from Little
Ross and Pladda (and lanterns); and from many inland breeding
stations from 5th February to 31st March, by which time the tale of
our breeding birds seems to have been complete. Of course some
of the typical or continental form, 72 ph. philomelus, may also have
been included in this movement; one of these was noted at Noss
Head on 8th March, and from 28th March to 6th May there are
constant records of Thrushes on their way to their continental
breeding quarters.

From 31st August to 5th October we have notes from southern
stations of autumn movements of our British race of Song-Thrush.
On 19th September the immigration of the continental race is first
noted at Lerwick, and constant notes come from this station and
many others in N. and E. Scotland of arrivals from overseas up to
5th November. Our southern stations and lanterns again note
considerable numbers of Song-Thrushes from gth to 13th October,
2oth and 21st October, 3rd to 21st November, and 7th December,
but in the absence of specimens we cannot say to which race these
belonged.

Repwinc, Zurdus musicus.—Several were at the Little Ross
lantern on 17th January, 1 A.M. (1. 1920, 146), and many on 2oth
March (1. 1920, 147), two at Shillay lantern (Monachs) early on
24th February, some at Pladda on 12th March, many at Pladda
lantern 30/31st March, and many Shillay lantern 6/7th April. Last
seen, Bathgate roth April, Lerwick 13th, Little Ross 15th April
(1. 1920, 147), and Foula 1st May. With easterly winds an
enormous arrival of Redwings took place from 29th September to
16th October, and this is recorded from every part of Scotland,
though chiefly from the north and east. The numbers recorded
during this period are very large, and the movement appears to have
been of great dimensions. From 17th October to 24th November
there is still continuous movement reported from all over the
country, but the numbers are much smaller, and a much larger
proportion of the notes come from southern stations, pointing to
some emigration. A Redwing was killed at the Little Ross lantern
on 4th December.

RING-OUZEL, Zurdus torquatus torguatus. — Ring-ouzels are
recorded from the Little Ross lantern on 20/2tst March, 22nd
March, and 8th to 13th April (1. 1920, 147); from Auskerry on
28th March, 4th, r2th (numbers) and 21st April; Shillay (Monachs)
on 14th (L.) and r5th April (1. 1920, 93); Fair Isle on r4th-16th
April (several) ; Noss Head on 14th; the Whalsay Skerries lantern

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 145

at 1 A.M. on 22nd; Lerwick on 25th; and the Kilpatrick Hills on
27th April. A flock of about thirty Ring-ouzels, roosting in the
heather, was flushed in Lauderdale on 26th August, one was at
the Pladda lantern on 16/17th September, three at Auskerry on rst
October, one or two at Noss Head from 5th to oth October, and
one was killed at the Killantringan lantern on 14/15th October.

BLACKBIRD, Zurdus merula merula.—¥rom 8th February to 31st
March there are a good many notes of movements of Blackbirds
from our southern stations and lanterns. Arrivals are reported at
Lerwick on z2oth February, one at the Shillay lantern on 24th
February, and one at Whalsay Skerries on 18th March. From 12th
to 17th April movement is recorded steadily from Fair Isle and
Noss Head, and there were a few Blackbirds at Little Ross on 15th
April (1. 1920, 147). Autumn arrivals are noted on the Isle of
May on 2g9th and 30th September and 2nd October. A large
immigration is recorded from our northern and eastern stations
from 6th October to 6th November, these being evidently conti-
nental birds arriving on our shores. Pladda and Little Ross record
a good many too on 1oth, 12/13th, and 13/14th October; eighty
were killed at Killantringan light on 14/15th October; and Pladda
and Little Ross again report movement on 3rd and 4th November
and rgth to 28th November, while one was killed at the last-named
lantern on 7th December.

WHEATEAR, Cinanthe wnanthe enanthe.— Several Wheatears
were killed at the Little Ross lantern on 20/21st March (1. 1920,
147); one at Pladda next night; a male was seen at Noss Head
on 23rd March, and many at Shillay (Monachs) on 27th. After
this, constant movement is noted throughout April and up to 15th
May, the largest numbers recorded being between 14th and 23rd
April. By the 2nd August autumn movement was evident, and
a steady stream of notes come in up to 7th October; in no case
are large numbers reported, just small, constant migration. Last
seen, Auskerry lantern, Noss Head, and Pladda 13th October,
Whalsay Skerries lantern, and near Melrose next day, and Largo
Bay 27th October. Possibly some of the above should be referred
to the next subspecies.

GREENLAND WHEATEAR, Cinanthe enanthe leucorrhoa.—Single
birds are recorded from Monifieth Bay on 2nd May, Noss Head
next day, and three at the latter station on 4th May. From 27th
August to 26th September there are a good many notes of the
passage of this large race of Wheatear from the Shetlands, Noss
Head, and the Isle of May. It occurred several times at Noss

Li7, AND 118 T

146 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Head during October, and the last was seen there on 5th
November.

WHINCHAT, Saxicola rubetra rubetra.—Seen at Neilston (Clyde)
on 18th April; thereafter there is a gap till 29th April, when a
male appeared at Darvel, one at Lauder on 1st May, and a male at
Shillay and female at Noss Head on 3rd May. After this steady
arrival is reported up to 20th May. Autumn movement was
apparent by 14th August, and continued without intermission up
to 13th September, always in very small amount. Last seen, Isle
of May 22nd September, Corsemalzie next day, and a belated
straggler at Little Ross on rst November.

STONECHAT, Saxtcola torquata, subsp.?—A pair are recorded
from Auskerry on 4th April, one from Fair Isle two days later, and
one from Noss Head on 26th September.

Repstart, Phenicurus phenicurus phenicurus.—One was killed
at Little Ross lantern at 9 p.m. on 15th April, and the next. records
are from Auskerry on 19th April, Duns on 2oth, Pladda and Lauder
on 21st April. Arrivals are then reported up to 9th May, and some
passage migrants at Lerwick, Auskerry, and Fair Isle, from 2nd to
7th May. Autumn trek was manifest by 24th July, and continued
steadily with small numbers up to r2th September. Last seen,
Bathgate 21st September, the Isle of May next day, Foula 8th
October, Auskerry lantern on 12th, and Little Ross lantern on
13/14th October, and a very late bird at Lerwick on 31st
December.

Buiack ReEpDSTART, Phenicurus ochrurus gibraltartensis. See
ps tov.

Repsreast, Lrithacus rubecula.—What look like return migra-
tions of our own ZL. 7. melophilus, are reported from Little Ross and
Pladda (and lanterns) from 16/17th February to 29th March. From
and to 25th April much movement, probably of emigrants, of Z. 7.
rubecula, is recorded from Noss Head, Auskerry, Fair Isle, and
Lerwick; while many Redbreasts at the Little Ross lantern on
22/23rd and 24th April, and one at Pladda on 6th May, may have
been passage migrants of the typical race. Movements of the
British subspecies are noted at Pladda, Noss Head, and the Isle
of May from 31st August to 4th October. A Redbreast at Lerwick
on z9th September was doubtless £. 7. rubecula, and what was
obviously an immigration of the Continental Redbreast is recorded
from our northern isles and stations from 6th October to 16th
November, large numbers arriving between 6th and 13th October,
after which the movement slackened. ‘‘Many” at the Little Ross

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 147

lantern on 12/13th and 13/14th October may have been passage
migrants of the typical race or departing Z. 7. melophilus.

HEDGE-sPARROW, Prunella modularis.—One visited Noss Head
on 24th January, and some were at Pladda on 31st March. Noss
Head, Lerwick, and Fair Isle record a small movement, probably of
continental emigrants, from 3rd to 21st April. One or two Hedge-
sparrows are noted at the Isle of May on 11th and 13th September,
one at Noss Head on sth, 13th, and 25th October, some at Pladda
on gth and 13th October, and two at Lerwick on roth October.

WREN, Troglodytes troglodytes troglodytes.—Single birds visited
Noss Head on 18th January and 3rd February, and some were at
Pladda on 31st March. From zoth September to 24th October quite
a lot of Wren movement is recorded from the Isle of May, Pladda,
Noss Head, Killantringan, and Auskerry. Four Wrens at the Whalsay
Skerries lantern on 14th October at 11 P.M. may have been
TI. ¢. setlandicus. A few Wrens visited the Isle of May from 2oth
to 25th November, and one was on Pladda on 21st November.

SWALLOW, Mirundo rustica rustica.—First recorded on toth
April near Kirkcaldy (Fife), Beith, and Dundee on rath, and
Darvel and Longcroft on 13th April. After this there are many
notes of arrival up to 4th May, by which time our breeding birds
seemed mostly to be present. A very pronounced passage move-
ment is recorded from Noss Head, Shetland, and the Outer
Hebrides from rst May to 5th June.

By mid-August autumn movement was apparent, and many
notes come of departure during September and early October.
Last seen, Cromarty and Largo 11th October, and Alticig
(Wigtownshire) 16th October.

HouseE-MartTIn, Delichon urbitca urbica.—Noted at Barrhead
(Clyde) and at Yoker on 21st April, Summerston on 25th, and
Longcroft (Tweed) on 29th April. Many arrivals at nesting-
places are reported during May; even as late as the 3oth birds were
still appearing at some breeding quarters. Considerable passage
migration took place between 11th May and 17th June; a House-
martin was at Vallay (O.H.) on 18th May, and several at Fair Isle
on 30th June. Autumn movement was evident by 11th August,
and many departures took place during September. One visited
Foula on 30th September and 3rd October; last seen, Lundin
Links 5th October.

SAND-MartTINn, Riparia riparia riparia.—First reported at Duns
on 28th March, and Summerston on znd April. Thereafter no
more records come till 16th April, from which time till 10th May

148 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

there are many notes of arrival. Last seen, Noss Head 1st
September, Lahill 6th, and Dundee 8th September.

Swirt, Apus apus apus.—Noted at Melrose and Beith on
29th April, Braid Hills (Edinburgh) next day, Cathcart, Collessie,
and Duns, and plentiful at Melrose on 1st May, and Yoker,
Cloverhill (Broughton), Broughty Ferry, Summerston, Aberlady,
and Largo on 2nd May. ‘Thereafter many arrivals are recorded up
to 23rd May. From roth May to the end of June, and again in
July, a little movement is recorded at intervals from Fair Isle, Noss
Head, and Auskerry. Many departures are noted during August.
Last seen, Auskerry 2nd September, and Muirend (Glasgow) 17th
September.

NIGHTJAR, Caprimulgus europeus europeus.—A Nightjar was
found dead at Little Ross on 16th April (1. 1920, 148), and arrivals
are noted at Kilmacolm on 12th May, Corsemalzie on 17th May.
Last recorded, Corsemalzie 22nd September, and one visited Noss
Head on 2nd October.

BEE-EATER, Merops apiaster.—See p. 108.
Hoopor, Upupa epops epops.—See p. 108.

GREAT SPOTTED WooDPECKER, Dryobates major.—Single birds
are reported from Lahill on ist January, 3rd February, 29th
and 31st March, several times in spring at Glenfinart (Argyll)
(1. 1920, 93)—the second record of the species for Argyll—and
Airdrie (E. Fife) on 29th December. ‘There is no evidence to
show to which race these birds belonged.

Wrvneck, /yxx torguilla torquilia.—One visited Fair Isle on
“th May.

Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus canorus.—Recorded from Melville
Woods (Fife) on 14th April, Carsecadden (Clyde) on 17th, Corse-
malzie (Wigtownshire) on roth, and Beith on 24th April. Thereafter
many arrivals up to 11th May. On 12th May a cuckoo visited
Foula, and one was killed at the Pladda lantern on 16/17th May.

LONG-EARED OWL, As?o otus otus.—One visited Fair Isle on 15th
and 16th April.

SHORT-EARED OWL, Asio flammeus flammeus.—A Short-eared
Owl was at the Little Ross lantern on 18/1oth February (1. 1920,
146), and one at Vallay (O.H.) on 16th May. Autumn arrivals
are reported from Noss Head on 30th September, Fair Isle on 6th
October, Isle of May on 12th and Vallay on 16th October.

IcELAND Faucon, Falco rusticolus tslandus.— See p. 108.

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 149

GREENLAND Fatcon, Falko rusticolus candicans.—See p. 108.

MeriIn, Lalo columbarius esalon.—Some movement is noted
between 3rd and 21st September from Fair Isle, Isle of May, and
Hareshawmuir (Ayrshire).

KestreL, Falco tinnunculus tinnunculus.—Movement is noted
at outlying stations between r2th April and oe May, and again
from 14th August to 14th November.

Buzzarp, Buteo buteo buteo.—A Buzzard was seen at Loch
Gower, Wigtownshire, on 12th April, two on the Sidlaws on 27th
August, and one on the Kilpatrick Hills on 9th October, 13th
November, and 4th December.

HEN-HARRIER, Circus cyaneus cyaneus.—Single birds are reported
from Lerwick on 16th June, and Vallay (O.H.) on 29th October.

SPARROW-HAWK, Accipiter nisus nisus.—Single birds were noted
on 17th February at Pladda, 3rd September at Girlsta (Shetland),
and 3rd October at Auskerry.

Gtossy Inis, Plegadts falcinellus falcinellus.—See p. 108.

WHOOPER Swan, Cygnus cygnus.—Five Whoopers are recorded
at Corsemalzie on 5th February, three at Vallay (O.H.) on 21st
February, and two there on r1th May. On 6th December fourteen
were on Loch Spiggie, and ten at Vallay on 27th December. Quite
a lot of movement northwards of ‘‘ Wild Swans” is recorded between
25th March and yth April; fourteen were’ about Little Ross from
3rd November to 6th December, and several at Fair Isle on 14th
and 23rd November.

BEWICK’s SWAN, Cygnus bewitckit bewickit,—Seven were seen on
Castle Semple Loch on 17th and 25th November, four flying E. in
fog, calling, near Bowfield, Renfrewshire, on 6th December, three
at Corsemalzie on 8th, and about sixty ona loch at Vallay on 21st
December.

GREY GEESE, Azser, spp. ?>—-A good deal of northward movement
is reported from 22nd March to roth May, and return migration
from 4th October to zoth November.

WHITE-FRONTED GOoosE, Axzser albifrons.—One is recorded at
Castle Semple Loch on r7th November (1. 1921, 4), and four on
the River Dee (Kirkcudbright) on 28th December.

Brean Goose, Anser fabalis fabalis.—Bean Geese are reported
from Hareshawmuir, Ayrshire, on 5th and 6th January, and from
Corsemalzie on 28th January. On 18th August fourteen or fifteen
were on the lochs at Hareshawmuir “‘very early,” five on Luce

150 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Sands on 6th December, and a flock of about two hundred on
the Kirkcudbrightshire Dee on 26th and 28th December.

PINK-FOOTED GOOSE, Anser brachyrhynchus.—Five were on the
Beauly Firth on rath October, and a flock of thirty-seven at
Collessie, Fife, on 16th October.

Snow Goose, Anser hyperboreus, subsp. ?—See p. 108.

BARNACLE GoosE, Lranta leucopsis.—A flock of sixty was seen
on 24th March at Vallay (O.H.), to which they returned on 18th
October, and varying numbers were recorded to end of year; one
on Luce Sands, 6th December.

BreENT Goose, Branta bernicla bernicla.—Two were flushed on
12th February on the Low Moor, Corsemalzie (‘‘very unusual on
moor”); small numbers are recorded on Fair Isle on 25th and
26th April, 15th Octoberand 4th December ; while on 16th October
a flock of fifty seen flying low to the S.E. over sea near Alticig was
observed by another watcher 10 miles farther on, still flying low to
the S.E.

MALLARD, Anas platyrhyncha platyrhyncha.—Much movement
is recorded during March, and again from 4th to 28th October.

GADWALL, Anas strepera.—From mid-November to 5th December
two Gadwall were on the lake near Duns (1. 1921, 24), and one
on Knapps Loch (Clyde) on 5th December.

TEAL, Anas crecca creccaa—From 18th September to 28th
October movements of Teal are noted from the Isle of May,
Pladda, Auskerry, Fair Isle, and the Outer Hebrides.

GARGANEY, Anas guerquedula.—See p. 108.

WIGEON, Anas penelope.—A good deal of movement is noted
between 4th March and roth May, and again from rath July to
28th October, while on 6th December ‘‘thousands” were seen off
Luce Sands.

PINTAIL, Anas acuta. —A pair was seen on Bardowie Lech on
2nd February ; a female was got on Sule Skerry on 23rd October,
the first ever got there ; single birds are recorded from Glenorchard
on 16th and 17th November, and about thirty in Wigtown Bay
on 20th November.

PocHarD, JVyroca ferina ferina—Last seen, Tay Estuary and
one at Lerwick on 14th April, about two hundred on Castle
Semple Loch on 30th September, and movement recorded to
29th December.

Scaup, Wyroca marila marila.—Last seen Kingoodie (Tay)

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 ISI

on roth May. First seen in autumn at Fair Isle on 7th October
and Lerwick on 14th October; many off Luce Sands on 6th
December, and thrice seen on Baker Loch, Kilpatrick Hills,
between 11th and 31st December.

GOLDENEYE, Sucephala clangula clangula.—Recorded fairly
commonly to 17th April. Autumn arrivals are noted from Lerwick
on 11th October, Fauldshiels Loch (near Melrose) on 16th, and
Castle Semple Loch on roth October. Thereafter many records
to end of year.

Lonc-TAILED Duck, Clangula hyemalis.—Last seen at Balcomie
(E. Fife) on 4th May and Lerwick on 26th May. On 16th October
about a hundred were seen at Lerwick, and next day about the
same number at Vallay (O.H.), “a great many drakes.”

EIDER, Somateria mollissima mollissima.—Immense numbers
are recorded at Auskerry on 25th March and 16th April, and
at Whalsay Skerries on 8th April and 26th May.

ComMMON SCOTER, O7demia nigra nigra.—Several off Craignarget
on 23rd April, and a good many off Balcomie (E. Fife) on 4th
May. About twenty had returned to Largo Bay on 11th August.

GoosanDER, Mergus merganser merganser.—Last seen, Tay
Estuary 18th April, a pair on St Colme’s Loch, Denke 28th
April, and one on Castle Loch, Mochrum, on roth May. Had
returned to Tay Estuary by 1rith September, and increases are
noted there till 21st November.

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, MZergus serrator.—Last seen, Tay
Estuary on 14th April, and Largo Bay on roth May. On 16th
October three were seen off Port William (Solway) and many in
Loch Ryan on 6th December, after a big storm.

SMEW, MMergus albellus.—See p. 108.

STORM-PETREL, /7/ydrobates pelagicus.—One was at the Shillay
lantern (Monachs) on 17th April from ro to 10.35 p.m. Between
12th August and 14th October notes come of Storm-Petrels at
the lanterns of Noss Head, Whalsay Skerries, Auskerry, and Little
Ross.

LEACH’s FORK-TAILED PETREL, Oceanodroma leucorhoa. —Single
birds are recorded from Noss Head lantern on 12th August, 10 to
12 P.M., Little Ross lantern 18/toth November, and found dead
near realpareten on 20th November (1. 1921, 4).

SOOTY SHEARWATER, Puffinus griseus.—See p. 108.

MANX SHEARWATER, Puffinus puffinus puffinus.— There are a

152 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

good many records from Forth and Solway, from 13th September
to 31st December.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE, Podiceps cristatus cristatus.— Reported
on the Tay Estuary up to 8th May. One was obtained near Lerwick
on 6th November, and on 4th December, after a great gale, there
was a wonderful assemblage of Grebes in Loch Ryan (Wigtown
Bay), numbers of this species being present.

SLAVONIAN GREBE, Lodiceps auritus.—Single birds in full
plumage were noted near Wormit (Fife) on 4th May, and on
Loch Maree (W. Ross) on 6th June, on a tarn near Schiehallion
on 4th September and at Auskerry on 13th October. “Quite a
lot” were on Loch Ryan on 4th December.

RED-NECKED GREBE, fodiceps griseigena griseigena.—Two on
Loch Ryan on 4th December.

BLACK-NECKED GREBE, /odtceps nigricollis nigricolis.—One in
the Grebe assembly on Loch Ryan on 4th December.

Little GREBE, Podiceps ruficollis ruficollis—Several on Loch
Ryan on 4th December.

GreAT NorTHERN Diver, Colymbus tmmer.—Many notes up
to mid-April, last seen Craignarget (Solway) on 23rd April, and
first return there 8th October, after which there are a good many
records.

BLACK-THROATED Diver, Colymbus arcticus.—Single birds are
noted at Noss Head on 26th May, and Loch Ryan on 4th
December.

RED-THROATED DIVER, Colymbus stellatus.—Last seen, Largo
Bay and one on Loch Ordie 28th April. Returned Largo Bay
27th October.

Woop-Picron, Columba palumbus palumbus.—One struck the
Pladda lantern on 24/25th February. From 15th March to 26th
April there are a good many notes of small numbers from Loch-
maddy (O.H.), Pladda, Noss Head, Fair Isle, and Lerwick,
while single birds visited Auskerry on 5th May, Fair Isle on 23rd
May, and Noss Head on 8th June. On 14th August four appeared
on Pladda, and there are notes of arrivals at Fair Isle and Noss
Head from 7th to 28th October.

Stock-Dover, Columba enas.—Arrivals at breeding-places are
noted during the first half of February; one on Fair Isle on 26th
April, and two there on 6th November.

TurTLE-Dove, Streptopelia turtur turtur.—Single birds are

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 153

recorded from Fair Isle on 19th May, near South Queensferry on
7th June (1. 1920, 194), and Cambs, Mid Yell, Shetland, on 13th

July (2. xiv, 94).

OyYSTERCATCHER, Yematopus ostralegus ostralegus.—Oyster-
catchers appeared in numbers at Little Ross lantern from 14th to
18th February (1. 1920, 146), 20/21st and 22nd March (1. 1920,
147), and 8th, 13th, and 14th April. Arrivals are noted at Foula
on 26th February, and Lerwick on 2nd April, while a flock of
80 was seen in Tayport Bay on 29th May, and flocks of 40 and
120 there on roth June. Migrants were heard flying over Loch-
winnoch at 2 A.M. on 18th August, and numbers were at the Little
Ross lantern on 23/24th August, and on 18/19th November.

RinGED PLover, Charadrius hiaticula hiaticula.—A few were
at the Pladda lantern on 18/19th February, and from this time to
13th April there are a good many notes of movement from this
station, Little Ross, Noss Head, and Lerwick. A Ringed Plover
struck the Pladda lantern on 16/17th May, and a flock of 40 was
seen in Tayport Bay on 29th May.

GOLDEN PLOVER, Charadrius apricariusx—A few arrived at
Hareshawmuir (Ayrshire) on 5th February, and Golden Plover were
at the Pladda lantern on 14/15th, 18/19th, and 24/25th February.
The next notes are on 6th April, and from then to 11th May a large
movement is recorded from Shillay lantern, Little Ross and lantern,
Fair Isle, Noss Head and lantern, and Vallay (O.H.). Returns to
the shore after breeding are reported from 21st July throughout
August. What would appear to be a considerable immigration from
overseas took place from 24th September to 27th October, while
birds at Little Ross lantern on 5th November and Pladda on 7/8th
November (L.), 21st, 25th, and 26th November, may have been
emigrating from our shores.

Grey Plover, Sguatarola squatarola.Single birds are recorded
from Loch Ryan on 4th December, and Dornoch Firth on 30th
December.

Lapwinc, Vanellus vanellus.—Returns to breeding-grounds are
recorded from 24th January to 21st March, as well as much move-
ment from our southern lanterns during this period. The movement
noted after this is almost entirely at our northern Isles and lasts
up to 22nd April, though the Little Ross lantern records “ small
waves” of Lapwing on 14th April about 11 p.m. Flocking was
noted at Collessie on 17th June, and movements coastwards in
July and August. During September and the first half of October
many arrivals are recorded from our northern Isles and stations, no

117 AND 118 U

154 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

doubt overseas immigrants, while on 13/14th October great numbers
visited the Little Ross lantern and emigration apparently took place
up to 26th November.

TURNSTONE, Arenaria interpres interpres.—Last seen, Elrig
shore, Wigtownshire, on 15th May, and Tentsmuir Point (N. Fife)
2oth May. First noted Carnoustie on 27th Juiy, and Largo Bay
31st July.

SANDERLING, Crocethia alba.—This species is recorded from
Auskerry on 21st March and Tentsmuir shore on rst and 29th May.
From 31st July to 27th October small parties are noted from
Monifieth Bay, Tentsmuir shore, and Largo Bay, and from the
Little Ross lantern on 8th and 18/19th November.

Knot, £rolia canutus.— Numbers visited the Little Ross
lantern on 7th and 18th February, 20th and 23rd March, and 8th
April. First seen at Tentsmuir Point on 29th July, many at the
Little Ross lantern 23/24th August, and flocks going south over the
Isle of May on the evening of 18th September.

Dunn, Zrola alpina alpina.—A good deal of movement is
recorded from our lanterns and islands during the first half of May.
A flock of thirty was seen in Tayport Bay on 209th May, and of
twelve, all in summer plumage, on 15th June. In autumn, constant
small movements are recorded from 30th July to 15th September.

CuRLEW SANDPIPER, Lvolta ferruginea.—One is reported from
Dunrossness on 30th September.

PuRPLE SANDPIPER, Lvolia maritima maritima.—Last seen
at Noss Head on 3rd May and Balcomie next day, while some had
returned to Pladda by 14th August.

ComMMON SANDPIPER, Zringa hypoleuca.—First recorded from
Beith on 12th April, Darvel on 16th, Giffnock on 17th, and
Corsemalzie on 1oth April. Thereafter the spread was rapid, and
by 2nd May our breeding birds seem to have been in full force.
Autumn movement was noted by rith July, and many records come
up to mid-August. Last seen, Balgray on 28th and Glenorchard
on 30th August.

GREEN SANDPIPER, Zringa ochropus.—See p. 108.

REDSHANK, Z7yinga ftotanus.—From toth February to 2oth
April many returns to nesting quarters and much movement at
our southern lanterns is recorded. Returns to the shore after
nesting are noted by 2oth July, and much movement from 4th
October to r9th November.

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 155:

GREENSHANK, Zyinga nebularia.—The only note is of three
_at Loch Elrig on 7th August.

RED-NECKED PuHaLaropr, Phalaropus lobatus.— Returned to
one of its nesting haunts on 1st May, an early return.

BLACK-WINGED STILT, Aimantopus himantopus.—See p. 108.

BAR-TAILED GopwiT, Limosa lapponica lapponica.—Last seen,
Tayport Bay 29th May, returned there 21st August; and flock of
150 at Tentsmuir Point 11th September.

BLACK-TAILED Gopwit, Limosa limosa.—See p. 108.

CurLew, Mumentus arguata arguata.—Return to breeding-
grounds took place as early as 26th January, and these returns and
movements at our southern lanterns are recorded steadily up to 5th
April. From 5th to 15th April some movement is reported from
our northern Isles and stations, and three Curlew were at Vallay
(O.H.) on 13th May. By oth July returns to the shore after
breeding were apparent, and small movements are recorded from
many of our stations during August, September, and the first half of
October.

WHIMBREL, WWumenius pheopus pheopus.—First reported from
Elrig shore (Wigtownshire) on 23rd April, Vallay two days later, and
Aberlady on znd May. ‘Thereafter many notes of passage up to
28th May, while on z2nd June one was seen on the hills above
Bervie. During August there are a good many notes of return
passage, one at Kilmacolm on 3rd September, and one on the Isle
of May on 17th September.

SNIPE, Gallinago gallinago gallinago.—Snipe are recorded from
the Little Ross lantern on 25th February (1. 1920, 146), 20th March
(1. 1920, 147), and 13th April, a few from Fair Isle on 5th April,
and one at the Shillay lantern next night. During September and
October there are many notes of movement, chiefly from our
northern stations, but also from Mugdrum (N. Fife), and Glen-
orchard (Stirlingshire).

JACK-SNIPE, Limnocryptes gallinula.—First noted in autumn at
Fair Isle on 24th September, and Vallay (O.H.) next day. After
this there are many notes of arrival up to 8th November.

Woopcock, Scolopax rusticolaa—Movement is reported from
Fair Isle on 3rd April and 5th May, and Auskerry on 21st April.
A little movement is noted in August, probably of our home-bred
birds, while from 6th October to 22nd November many arrivals are
recorded, no doubt from overseas, the majority of these records
being from our lighthouse stations. jd

117 AND 118 io 2

156 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Buack TERN, Hydrochelidon nigra nigra.—See p. 108.

SANDWICH TERN, Sterna sandvicensis sandvicensis.—First seen
Elrig shore (Wigtownshire) on 23rd April, and Largo Bay on 28th
April. Autumn movement was apparent by mid-August. Last
seen Largo Bay on 9th October.

Common TERN, Sterna hirundo.— Terns” are recorded from
the Little Ross lantern on 14th February (1. 1920, 146), and during
the winter of 1919-20 several were received from near Aberdeen by
Dr Collinge. On 16th April an arrival is noted at Cochno Loch
(Kilpatrick Hills), and one near Kirkcaldy on 28th April. Thereafter
there are many notes of arrival up to 4th June. Departures from
nesting-places are reported as early as 24th July; there were
enormous numbers about the Isle of May from roth to 18th
September—last seen there 23rd September. Several were sent to
Dr Collinge from about Aberdeen during the winter of 1920-21.

Arctic TERN, Sterna paradisea.—First recorded from Vallay
(O.H.) on roth May, Auskerry and Lerwick on 15th May, and
arrivals at breeding-places up to 22nd May. Departure had begun
by 28th July, and they were last seen at Lerwick on 15th September.

LittLe TERN, Sterna albifrons albifrons.—Arrivals are noted at
Tentsmuir on 1st May, and Vallay on roth May. Last seen in
autumn, Isle of May, 17th September.

BLACK-HEADED GULL, Larus ridtbundus.—Arrivals are recorded
at Largo on roth January, and Lerwick on r7th March. By 22nd
July old and young birds were returning to the shores; great flocks
arrived in Largo Bay on rath August, and on the same day they
left the moors at Hareshawmuir (Ayrshire).

LrEssER BLACK-BACKED GuLL, Larus fuscus. — Birds of this
species were seen at Cathcart (Clyde) on 21st February, and
between Burntisland and Kinghorn on 28th February. Arrivals,
doubtless of our breeding Z. f. affinis, are reported from Glasgow
on 8th March, and Erskine Ferry on 13th March—thereafter many
notes till 25th April. Last seen at Lerwick on 22nd September,
and on the Kilpatrick Hills (Clyde) on roth and 16th October,
27th November, and 11th December.

Ivory GULL, Pagophila eburnea.—See p. 109.

GREAT Skua, Stercorarius skua skua.—First seen about Lerwick
on 1st April, and Foula on 15th April; last seen Girlsta, Tingwall,
Shetland, 4th September.

Arctic Skua, Stercorartus parasiticus.—First seen at Foula on
28th April and Lerwick on 12th May, while one was seen in Largo

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1920 157

Bay as late as 14th June. From 3rd July to 27th September
movement of Arctic Skuas is reported from many east coast stations,
and late birds from the Tay Estuary on 6th November, and the Isle
of May on r9th November.

RazorsBitL, Aka torda. GuILLEMOT, U7rta trorlle trotlle.—Many
arrivals on breeding-cliffs took place between roth and 16th May,
and by 18th August almost all had left Noss Head.

LittLeE Auk, Adle alle-—There were many Little Auks about
Fair Isle on 4th January, one in a field near Old Luce (Wigtown-
shire) on 15th January, and a few about Lerwick and Sumburgh
during that month. On 4th December several, and on roth
December many, were seen about Fair Isle.

PurrFin, Fratercula arctica arctica.—Large arrivals took place at
Fair Isle on 15th April and Auskerry next day, when a Puffin was
accidentally shot at Edinbarnet on the Kilpatrick Hills. Left
Whalsay Skerries on zoth August, and Noss Head on 27th August.

Common CRANE, Megalornis grus grus. See p. 109.

CoRNCRAKE, Crex crex.—First heard at Summerston on 2oth
April, Elderslie on 22nd, and Kirkcaldy on 23rd April. There-
after arrivals are recorded up to 17th May. Late autumn records are
from Seggieden, Perthshire, on 18th September, and Fair Isle on
11th October.

Water-RAIL, Rallus aguaticus aquaticus.—Water-rails, single
specimens, except in one case, are reported from Auskerry on rith
January, Vallay on 4th February, Little Ross on 8th (several) and
16th April (1. 1920, 147 and 148), Lauder on 17th April, Auskerry
on 3rd October, Kilmacolm on 17th, Noss Head on 25th October,
Little Ross lantern on 5th November, and Corsemalzie on 26th
November and 1oth December.

Mooruen, Gallinula chloropus chloropus.—One visited Fair Isle
on 13th October, and one was killed at Killantringan lantern on
14/15th October.

Coot, /ulica atra atra.—Two are noted on Fair Isle on 26th
April and 16th May.

CaPERCAILLIE, Zetrao urogallus urogallus.—A male is reported
in Renfrewshire on 29th May and a female at Teasses (Fife) on
5th November.

RED Grouse, Lagopus scoticus.—On 24th October seven were
seen on Pladda,

158 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

QuaiL, Coturnix coturnix coturnix.—Three were flushed at
Inchgairnie near Cupar, Fife, on 16th October.

Note.—In the first part of this Report we referred to the notes
from the Kilpatrick Hills as being from Renfrewshire, whereas the
localities from which the records come are in Dumbartonshire.

Wryneck in Midlothian.—A Wryneck which had visited the
neighbourhood of Musselburgh on autumn migration was, I regret
to say, captured about the 27th August. It was kept in confinement,
but lived only a few days. The body was sent to the Royal
Scottish Museum, where it was identified as that of an adult male,
in somewhat worn plumage, belonging to the Western European
race, J/ynx torguilla torquilla.—CROsSLEY SyYKES, Musselburgh.

Greenland Falcon and Pink-footed Geese on North
Uist.—A Greenland Falcon was observed on the 12th of April,
the weather being very cold, and the bird, which had been preying
upon rabbits, was in a fatigued condition.

A flock of forty Pink-footed Geese were seen feeding in the
machair on the evening of 4th May. They were very restless and
made their departure that night. It is interesting to note that though
the former has been noted on rare occasions, the last-named species
has not hitherto been recorded.—GEoRGE BEVERIDGE, Lochmaddy.

Fulmars on the Arbroath Cliffs.—Further to Mr Hunter’s
note on Forfarshire Fulmars in the Scottish Naturalist (1921, p. 125)
I would add a few observations on the more detailed distribution
of the species in the Arbroath area. The cliff-line to the east of
Arbroath extends from the borough boundary to Lunan Bay,
a distance of about six miles as the crow flies. Names mentioned
below will be found on the Ordinance map. On the 17th, and
again on the 25th April this year, I saw three pairs of Fulmars
at the Gaylet Pot and Lud Castle. I thought they intended
to nest, so I returned on the zoth May for a thorough investigation,
and walked along the clifffhead as far as Lunan Bay. I found one
pair at Lud Castle, two pairs at the Maiden: Stane, two pairs at the
Brigal Rock, four pairs at Prail Castle, and one pair at the Red Head.

From Lud Castle to the Red Head the cliffs rise in gradual
ascent from 170 feet to 270 feet. The overhung ledges chosen
by the Fulmars are in sheer clifffaces, half way down, and are
narrow and well sheltered; in two instances crannies or little caves
extending a few feet inwards, such as Puffins frequent, were in use.
In this respect they are different from the Herring-Gulls breeding
all around, which sit on their eggs in quite exposed situations on
bare, rocky, and grassy ledges.— WILLIAM LARNACH, Arbroath,

COLLECTION OF HEMIPTERA FROM ARRAN, SCOTLAND 159

ON A SMALL COLLECTION OF HEMIPTERA
HOVE EEE Sisk OF AVRAN. SCOP LAND

By E. A. BUTLER, B.A, B.Sc., F.E.S.

THERE has recently passed through my hands a small
collection of Hemiptera which was made in the Isle of Arran,
_in the neighbourhood of Catacol, during a fortnight in
the late September of 1920, by Capt. the Rev. J. Waterston,
B.D., B.Sc. He was working at the time specially for
Diptera, and this collection represents, therefore, merely
what was casually observed by one whose main efforts ran
in another direction; but, nevertheless, as very little has
been done since the days of Buchanan White, George
Norman, and T. M. Macgregor, to investigate the distri-
bution of Hemiptera in Scotland, and especially in its so
numerous islands, even fragmentary information obtained
by casual observers should be heartily welcomed and may
appropriately be placed on record as a basis for more
systematic work in the future. The season of 1920 was a
bad one generally; the weather during the summer was
often very unfavourable, and insects were nowhere plentiful ;
moreover, the time of Capt. Waterston’s visit was somewhat
late, so that it is scarcely surprising that many of the
Heteroptera recorded are common species which spend the
winter. as adults, and that the Homoptera, which, as a
rule, mature rather later than the Heteroptera, present a
numerical prominence which they would not have done
a month or so earlier.
The island is so near the mainland, that no great
peculiarity is to be expected in its fauna as distinguished
from that of the neighbouring country. The collection,
consisting of 85 specimens, contains 34 species, 18 of
Heteroptera and 16 of Homoptera, as follow:—

160 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

HEMIPTERA—HETEROPTERA.

Lygeaide.

Stygnocoris pedestris, Fall.

Gerridide.

Velia currens, F.
Gerris lateralis v. coste, H.S.
» lacustris Zarva ?

Reduviide.
Nabis limbatus, Dahlb.
SLGEUS. BIE,
Cimicide.

Anthocoris nemorum, L.

Capside.

Miris calcaratus, Fall.
», holsatus, F.
Megalocerzea ruficornis, Fourc.
Calocoris norvegicus, Gmel.
(= bipunctatus, Bit. Caz).
Lygus pabulinus, L.
»» pratensis, L.
Mecomma ambulans, Fall.
Psallus fallenii, Reut.
eeeCOSeLIG me
Plagiognathus
Wolff.
Plagiognathus arbustorum, F.

chrysanthemi,

HEMIPTERA—HOMOPTERA.

Cercopide.
Philzenus spumarius, L.

Sasside@.

Ulopa reticulata, F.
Euacanthus interruptus, L.
Oncopsis rufusculus, Fieb.
; flavicollis, L.
Macropsis distincta, Scott. ?
Acocephalus nervosus, Schr.
Athysanus obsoletus, Kbm.

Deltocephalus

Flor. ?
Thamnotettix striatulus, Fall.

x cruentatus, Panz.

Cicadula warioni, Leth.

fieberi, Edw.
Eupteryx auratus, L.
Typhlocyba geometrica, Schr.

distinguendus,

Psylide.

- Psylla forsteri, Flor.

The single specimen of MJacropszs is in a teneral con-
dition, and the Deltocephalus is considerably damaged, so
that these must be left doubtful. The larval Gevrzs I believe
to be that of G. /acustris, but am not quite sure. The
Mirts calcaratus is of darker colour than usual, but the rest of
the specimens in both sub-orders are normal. JZ. holsatus
is evidently, as usual in the north of Great Britain, the
commonest species of the genus in Arran.

[The above lists should be compared with those prepared
for the Clyde Area by Messrs Murphy and Taylor, and
published in the Ar7tish Association Handbook, 1901.—EDS.]

NOTES 161

Large Prehistoric Antlers of Red Deer, from Barry,
Forfarshire.—For many years there has been preserved at
Arthurstone a fine pair of old Red Deer’s antlers, found, probably
about the middle of last century, in the sand-hills of Barry,
Forfarshire, once famous as a royal hunting forest of the early
Scottish kings. The antlers, which remain attached to the top
of the skull, are in good preservation, only the tips of two or three
tines being chipped. The right antler carries eleven points and
the left ten, a grand total of twenty-one points, distributed as
follows :—on both antlers, double brow tines, a bez tine, and a cup
comprising eight points on the right and seven on the left antler.
The greatest spread from tip to tip is 46 inches.

The following measurements, kindly made for me by Capt.
Murray Buchanan of Leny, indicate the chief dimensions in inches,
“r.” and “1.” signifying right and left antlers :—Length along curve,
r. 38, 1. 342; circumference below brow tine, r. and 1. 73; length
of brow tine, r. 134, 1. 132; length of second brow tine, r. 10%,
1. 9; circumference above second brow tine, r. 6, 1. 64; length of
bez tine, r. 142, 1. 15; circumference above bez tine, r. and l. 53;
length of longest point on cup, r. 132, 1. 113.—JAMES CARMICHAEL
of Arthurstone, Meigle.

[This fine head, which compares favourably with any yet
recorded from Scotland, emphasises once again the resemblance
in size of the original Scottish Red Deer to the present representa-
tives of the species in the forests of the continent. It clearly
belongs to a period before man had begun to restrict the haunts
of the Scottish Red Deer, while they still inhabited the forests and
fertile plains to the very margin of the sea.—J. R.]

‘*‘Blue-mouth ” (Scorpzena dactyloptera) off Dunbar.—On
1st August a male example of this brilliant scarlet deep-sea fish
was captured by a fisherman about 18 miles out from Dunbar.
The specimen, which was sent to the Royal Scottish Museum
by Mr W. Bertram, was in good condition, but no food was
found in its stomach, though the intestine contained unidentifiable
debris of a meal. The earliest Scottish specimens of this fish
were found south-east of the Isle of May in the spring of 1894.—
James RITCHIE.

“Wood-wasp” (Sirex gigas) at Edinbarnet, Dumbarton-
shire.—The keeper of Edinbarnet saw several females of Sirex
gigas flying in sunlight between the pines in Todhill Wood. He
found where they settled near the flight-holes, and having captured
specimens kept them for my inspection. During the second and

162 DHE SCOLTSH NATURALISH

third weeks of July, they continued to appear in numbers, mostly
females. In August some stobs were removed from the local
sawmill to a shed, and soon quite a number of Wood-wasps emerged.
The stobs were riddled with exit-holes, and these increased in
number until on 26th August hardly a stob was free from them.
The stobs were of pine, larch, and spruce, taken from Todhill Wood,
which was probably planted about forty to fifty years ago.—
A. CUTHBERTSON, Yoker.

Beetle (Ceuthorrynchus erysimi, F. var. chloropterus,
Steph.), from Summerston, near Glasgow.—While doing
some sweeping on the banks of the river Kelvin at Summerston,
at the beginning of June last, I took a single specimen of a small
Ceuthorrynchus, of the same size and very similar sculpture to
C. erysimi, F., but with the elytra of a fine go’den green, metallic
colour, instead of bright blue, as in the type; indicating that it
belonged to the variety chloropterus, Steph. The strie and
punctuation of the elytra are, if anything, a little finer in the
variety than in the type, and the thorax is more metallic. The
contrast in the colour of the elytra, when compared with that of
the type, at once distinguishes the two.—Tuos. H. M. Gorpon,
Glasgow.

Great Fan Shell (Pinna fragilis, Penn.), off Shetland.—A
fine example of this species, brought up on a haddock line from a
depth of 70 fathoms east of Out Skerries Lighthouse in February,
is worth recording on account of the size attained in an area
generally regarded as being on the border of the northern range of
this mollusc. The shell, which was empty when found, is an old
one, plentifully encrusted on the wider end of its valves by tubes of
Serpula and masses of Polyzoa. It measures 114 inches in length,
notwithstanding that the original lip has been broken away, and
its greatest breadth is just over 6 inches. The specimen, now
exhibited in the Royal Scottish Museum, was forwarded by
Mr Henry Jamieson, Out Skerries —JAMES RITCHIE.

Redstart common in Ross.—‘‘In Glengarry the Redstart
is quite a common bird. I have found this year five nests within
a distance of two miles along the roadside. . . . There were three
nests of this bird within 200 yards of my house, and one has
built for years in my garden wall... . It is a fairly common bird
in all. the birch woods, but not so common in old fir woods, and
except in open spaces or along road sides I have never seen it
among young fir or spruce plantations.”—M. Martueson (in Zhe
Field, 30th July).

NOTES FROM THE SCOTTISH ZOOLOGICAL PARK

NOTES FROM Se eee

a
THE SCOTTISH ZOOLOGICAL PARK®=.2722%

RECENT ADDITIONS TO THE CoLLEcTIoN.—A very large number
of animals have been added to the collection in the Zoological Park
during the last three months ; in fact, not since 1914 have there been
so many arrivals within the same limit of time. They include a pair
of ostriches, a dozen cranes of two species—the common crane
and the demoiselle crane, bitterns, night herons, Indian vultures,
great skua and Richardson’s skua, a number of foreign doves and
finches, a male Barbary sheep, two dozen prairie marmots, civets
of two species, an entellus monkey, and last, and perhaps most
interesting of all, a young female chimpanzee. The common
cranes, Richardson’s skua, bitterns, night herons, and entellus
monkey are new to the collection.

The Ostriches, while not actually new to the collection, are
practically so, since this is the first time that the species has been
on exhibition. The pair which has just arrived were bred on and
acquired from an ostrich farm in Tunis, and are exceptionally fine
specimens—when erect they reach a height of about 8 feet. The
Ostrich is of special interest as the largest of living birds, and it also
shows some extremely interesting adaptations to the manner of life
it leads. The power of flight, if it existed in the ancestors of the
Ostrich, has long been lost, and the wings have become dwarfed
to mere. appendages, of some value as ornaments but of no other
usefulness, while the legs have become enormously developed for
the attainment of speed in running. The evolution of the leg is
shown not only in length and strength but also in the modification
of the toes; there are only two external toes on each foot, and of
these one is so much larger than the other as to suggest an
evolutionary progress towards a single-toed foot, such as has been
acquired by the horse-group among the mammals. The claw of this
toe, also, instead of being tapered and pointed as in the case of the
other running birds related to the Ostrich (which have three toes),
is short and down-turned, and more akin to a nail or hoof.

The group of six Common Cranes and six Demoiselle Cranes
provide a very attractive exhibit. A new paddock has been made
for them by running sheep-netting 7 feet high round a piece of
ground containing a number of old trees. The trees are sufficiently

164 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

scattered to allow plenty of light to enter among them, and they
provide a particularly appropriate background for the tall birds
which seem much more graceful in such surroundings than in an
open paddock. These Cranes, particularly the larger species,
show remarkable fondness and capacity for digging, and they have
already turned over all the turf in their fairly spacious range in
search, probably, for earth-worms or larve.

The Barbary sheep, a native of the precipitous ranges of the
Atlas Mountains in Africa, is a very showy animal. It stands about
3 feet high; the horns are very massive and spread sharply outwards
from the base, and the throat, chest, and forelimbs are covered witha
great mass of long hair which gives the animal a formidable appearance.
Its leaping powers are great, and a ram of the species recently
cleared in a standing jump a fence, fully 8 feet high, round the
small yard in which it was confined.

Two dozen Prairie Marmots provide a welcome new population
for the squirrel and marmot enclosure in the Park. Eight years
ago this enclosure was well stocked with Grey Squirrels and also
contained three or four Prairie Marmots, but they died out, and it
has not been possible to replace them until now. The Prairie
Marmot lives in colonies, and the burrows it constructs are remark-
able for a kind of rampart which is formed about the entrance out
of the excavated soil. This rampart forms a kind of funnel-shaped
vestibule to the true burrow, and must, one would imagine, be
inconvenient in a climate where there is much rain, since it naturally
collects much more rain than would fall into a simple hole. They
burrow with great facility; when the new arrivals were turned into
the enclosure and before they found their bearings, the place seemed
literally alive with Marmots, but in two or three hours not one
was to be seen—the whole two dozen having gone to earth. They
come out to feed chiefly after dark, but are gradually acquiring
confidence in showing themselves in the daytime.—T. H. G.

Nos. 119 AND 120. | 1921 [ Nov.-Dec.

WILLIAM SPIERS BRUCE, LL.D.

1867-1921.

“DEEP and dangerous seas, amidst precipices and head-
lands ... amid perilous straits and currents and eddies,
long sunken reefs of rock, over which the vivid ocean foams
and boils, dark caverns, to whose extremities man nor
skiff has ever ventured, lonely and often uninhabited isles.”
These words, found on a scrap of note-paper in his desk,
just as they had been copied by Dr Bruce from Scott’s
Pirate, surely give a clue to his thoughts. He was an
accomplished meteorologist, oceanographer, and naturalist,
but above all he was a great adventurer, looking forward
to dangers to be encountered and overcome, planning great
enterprises and dreaming of great achievements. How
else can one explain that constant siege of the Polar
regions, Arctic and Antarctic, in which he spent the best
part of his life, or the overmastering will with which he
tackled and overcame almost insurmountable difficulties
in creating the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition?
So he dreamed of Edinburgh as a world centre of the
science of oceanography, and created there a Scottish
Oceanographical Laboratory, the foundation of a visionary
institute which was to crown the labours of that great
succession of Edinburgh oceanographers of which he was
the last—Edward Forbes, Wyville Thomson, John Murray,
and Bruce.
IT19Q AND 120 xX

166 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Next to the spirit of adventure the love of Nature
entered deeply into Bruce’s composition, and to the science
of Natural History some of his most valued contributions
were made. In this is partly to be traced the influence
of Prof. Cossar Ewart and Sir William Turner during the
two years Bruce spent as a medical student at the University
of Edinburgh, study interrupted in 1892 by his first voyage
to Antarctic seas on the Dundee whaler Balena. The
importance of this voyage on his subsequent career can
hardly be overestimated, for apart from the information
he accumulated regarding the occurrence and distribution
of whales in the southern oceans, he gained here the vision
of Antarctic discovery which was the mainspring of his
greatest achievement. Then followed a series of voyages
to Arctic seas, when he visited Franz Josef Land, Novaya
Zemlya, Wiche Island, Bear Island, Spitsbergen, and other
places, returning always with fresh discoveries regarding the
animal inhabitants of the land and the neighbouring seas.

The Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, inaugurated
and carried out in the face of discouragements which would
have daunted most, will remain an everlasting monument
to Bruce’s memory. The natural history collections,
identified by specialists of many countries, have proved
to be amongst the richest ever obtained in southern seas,
and have added enormously to the lists of recognisable
species, and to the distribution of forms already known.
Not least in importance are the rare creatures obtained
in the sea in the neighbourhood of the newly discovered
“Coat’s Land” at depths of over three miles.

It is impossible here even to hint at the extent of Bruce’s
zoological discoveries. His great collections, presented by
him to the Royal Scottish Museum, form one of the finest
series in that institution. His preoccupation with the faunas
of Arctic and Antarctic seas and lands left him little
opportunity for the investigation of Scottish natural history,
but even here he seized every chance that offered, and
during his residence at the meteorological station on Ben
Nevis he made valuable observations on the insects to
be found at great heights on our highest mountain.

WILLIAM SPIERS BRUCE, LL.D. 167

Bruce was no ordinary man. Striking in appearance,
and of striking personality, he made a deep impression
on his fellows, and his single-minded enthusiasm for the
cause of Science was equalled only by his generosity and
his modesty. JAMES RITCHIE.

Two articles in recent numbers of The Scottish Naturalist
have drawn supplementary evidence from English readers.
Mr F. W. Holder, of Southport, confirms the winter
occurrence of the Common Tern in Britain, citing the case
of an individual shot at Marshside, on the Ribble estuary,
on 15th January 1903; and Mr E. P. Butterfield, of
Bradford, states that in his district, as in Dumfriesshire,
the Ring-Ouzel has “very markedly ” decreased in numbers
in recent years.

* * * *%

In spite of westerly winds, which in the early weeks of the
season of the great southward migration of autumn caused
most bird migrants to hug the west coast of Europe and to
avoid the coasts of the British Isles, the annual movement
has, nevertheless, brought several new or rare visitors to our
shores, two of which are referred to in the pages that follow.
But the most striking event of the autumn has been the
extensive incursion of Waxwings from the middle of
November onwards. From all quarters records are being
received, from Caithness to the Solway, and from east coast
to west. It is highly desirable that an effort should be
made to trace the conditions which have caused such an
invasion, to determine the period over which it occurred,
and to trace the movements of the birds themselves in this
country. The Editors would be glad to receive particulars
of arrival, numbers, and departure of birds at every locality
where they have been observed, so that a detailed analysis
of the migration may appear in an early issue,

168 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Great Extinct Ox or Urus in Linlithgowshire.—There
is abundant proof that the Urus, Los primigenius, was a widely-
distributed denizen of Scotland from post-glacial times till the
period when the greater part of our peat-bogs was formed. During
the marl and peat period it appears to have had its headquarters in ©
lowland Scotland, and more particularly in the Tweed valley; but
this apparent distribution may be due partly to the possibility that
peat-bogs and marl-beds may have been more thoroughly explored in
this more populous region. A fine, if fragmentary, skull of the Urus,
obtained some years ago on the southern border of the Firth of
Forth near South Queensferry, adds to our knowledge of the distribu-
tion of the Wild Ox, which has not previously been described
from Linlithgowshire. The skull was presented by the late Mr
Stewart-Clark of Dundas to the Royal Scottish Museum, but it
appears not to have been described at the time, although Dr R. H.
Traquair exhibited it at a meeting of the Royal Society of Edin-
burgh on 2nd May 1904 (Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin., 1906, vol. xxv.,
p. 1175). A reference based upon this exhibition occurs in the
Geological Survey Memoir on Zhe Neighbourhood of Edinburgh
(oro; p: 412):

I am able to record the details of the discovery of the Dundas
skull from information kindly supplied by Sir John Stewart-Clark.
It was found in 1904, during the making of a new embankment at
the end of the loch at Dundas Castle, at a depth of just over 6 ft.,
and in fairly firm beds adjoining the peat moss on which the loch
lies. The description suggests that the skull was found in the marl
underlying the peat layers.

The remains consist of the front of a skull, from the orbits
upwards, and bear a fine pair of horn-cores. The following
measurements give some indication of the size of the creature :—
Breadth of forehead between bases of horn-cores, 1o in.; breadth
of front between orbits, 114 in.; breadth of front above orbits,
9} in.; height from occipital crest to level of top of orbit, 9 in.
The horn-cores measure :—Along outer curve, right core, 2 ft. 1} in.,
left, 2 ft. 4 in.; circumference at base, right and left, 1 ft. # in.;
span between tips, 2 ft. 4 in. The condition of the skull allows of
no other definitive measurements, but the forehead is of the usual flat
type, and the occipital crest is low and straight.—James RITCHIE.

LAST OF THE INDIGENOUS SCOTTISH CAPERCAILLIES 169

Pit NS Ohh Ee INDIGENOUS = SCOPTSH
(GAME BIR CaN OEE aes)

By HuGH S. GLADSTONE, F.R.S.E., F.Z.S.

Mr W. R. OGILVIE-GRANT, writing in 1913 about a pair of
Capercaillies from the “Pennant Collection” then presented
by the Earl of Denbigh to the Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road, London, states that “It is quite possible
that the birds... are of Scottish origin: if so, they are
the only examples of the old British race of Capercaillie
known to exist at the present time.” ! There is no evidence
whatever that these specimens came from Scotland, and
it may be noted here that in the first edition (1766) of
his British Zoology, Pennant has added a footnote, “We are
obliged to Gesner and Willughby for the measurements
and weights of these birds, having seen only dried specimens
of them.”* A comparison of the skins of the Capercaillies
from the Pennant collection with the two plates in the
first edition of Zhe Lritish Zoology, leads to the conclusion
that the plates were not drawn from the specimens now
in the Natural History Museum. This does not, however,
absolutely preclude the possibility that they may have a
Scottish origin. In the fourth edition (1776) of The British
Zoology the footnote above quoted is omitted, for Pennant
is able to state, “In our country I have seen one specimen
at Inverness, a male, killed in the woods of Mr Chisolme,
North of that place,”? and he gives certain details of
plumage (eg., the colour of the bill and the number of
tail feathers) which are not derived from the publications
of Gesner or of Willughby, and which may have been
obtained from a personal examination of specimens in the
flesh. The fact that Pennant, between the years 1766 and
1776, had seen a Scottish specimen of the Capercaillie
can not be taken as proof that he possessed such a
British Birds Magazine (1913-14), vol. vil., p. 3.

Pennant, British Zoology (1766), p. 84, pls. [45], [46].

British Zoology, vol. i., 4to (1776), p. 225, and 8vo (1776), p. 264.

1
9
2
>
3

170 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

desideratum in his collection; but this possibility, although
negatived by his own statements in 1766, still remains,
in view of his later writings on the subject. Various copies
of Pennant’s works, annotated contemporaneously with the
periods of their publication, have been consulted in the
hope of finding some additional information on the matter,

FIG. I.

Thomas Bewick’s woodcut of ‘‘The Wood Grouse, Cock of the
Wood, or Capercaile” (see his British Birds, vol. i., 1797,
p- 295, and subsequent editions) drawn from the specimen in the
collection of Marmaduke Tunstall.

but without avail. Professor Newton has stated, “No
British specimen known to exist in any Museum,”! and
as I have already stated, no evidence is forthcoming to
strengthen the claims to Scottish origin of the two
specimens now in the Natural History Museum in London.

But the object of this paper is not so much to discuss

1 Encyclopedia Britannica, 1885 (9th ed.), article on “ Capercally.”

LAST OF THE INDIGENOUS SCOTTISH CAPERCAILLIES I7I

the claims of the Natural History Museum specimens to
rank as Scottish as to draw attention to the history of
the cock-Capercaillie which is now in the Hancock Museum,
Newcastle-on-Tyne. This bird is kept with a small collec-
tion of specimens, from which Thomas Bewick made the
woodcuts for his Hestory of British Bzrds,| and it came
from the collection of Marmaduke Tunstall of Wycliffe.

FIG. 2.

Photograph, by Mr E. Leonard Gill, of the ¢ Capercaillie
from the [Tunstail] ‘“‘Allaz Museum,” now (1921)
in the Hancock Museum, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

The late Dr J: A. Harvie-Brown in his book, The Capercatllie
zz Scotland, mentions this specimen,” and quotes Professor
Newton’s opinion that this bird’s ancestry, as given by
G. T. Fox in his Syzopszs of the Newcastle Museum, p. 783

‘ Thomas Bewick, History of British Birds, 1797, vol. i., p. 295.

2 J. A. Harvie-Brown, The Capercaillie in Scotland, 1879, p. 22.

* George Townshend Fox, Synopsis of the Newcastle Museum, late
the Allan, formerly the Tunstall, or Wycliffe Museum, 1827.

m2 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

is not satisfactory. In this last-named work, however,
there is “in the Appendix, pp: (2038 =209)))a statement
which, from its direct bearing on the question, would seem
to have escaped the attention of Professor Newton and
Dr J. A. Harvie-Brown since they make no reference to it.

It must be stated here that the collection of antiquities,
birds, etc, formed by Marmaduke Tunstall (6 1743, d.
roth October 1790) of Wycliffe Hall, Yorkshire, passed at his
death to his half-brother William Constable. Constable only
lived six months before being succeeded by his nephew
Edward Sheldon who, in 1791, sold the collection for less
than £700, to Tunstall’s friend Mr George Allan (4 7th June
1736, @. 18th May 1800) of Grange, near Darlington, who
added the collection to his Museum. After his death the
Museum was purchased by his son from his father’s executors,
and it remained in his possession at Grange till June 1822
when it was advertised for sale at auction, but was bought
by private contract, previous to the day of sale, for £400
by Mr G. T. Fox on behalf of the Literary and Philosophical
Society of Newcastle-on-Tyne. Mr Fox, with the sanction
of the Committee of the Society, thereafter prepared a
descriptive Catalogue of the contents, which takes the form
of “An enumeration of the Articles contained in the Allan
Museum which will be found labelled with corresponding
numbers.” Mr Fox, writing of article, or exhibit, “164,
The Cock of the Wood, male bird,” states :—

“T am unable to make out if the present specimen be really
of British capture. . . . I have heard that it was formerly considered
by visitors to the Wycliffe Museum, as the vara avis of the collection,
and it may be therefore inferred that this character would only
have been given to it from such circumstance, as foreign specimens
are sufficiently common, and easy of attainment.” ?

The above quotation is certainly sufficiently unconvincing
to please anybody; but Mr Fox, in a short introduction
to the Appendix to his book, informs us that :—

‘Almost when the press had arrived at printing this part of
the Catalogue, a discovery was made of the two MS. volumes of

ING. i HOXWODACzZ., P73:

LAST OF THE INDIGENOUS SCOTTISH CAPERCAILLIES = 173

Mr Allan’s, mentioned at p. 321! of the preceding Memoirs, which
were found in the hands of a respectable bookseller in the county
of Durham, and were consequently purchased. . . . The work
in question consists of an account of the animals in Mr Allan’s
collection, with concise descriptions of the subjects, compiled from
Pennant and Latham, with occasional remarks by the author, all
of which nearly correspond with the labels on the cases .. . and
it is of no small satisfaction to find amongst [these remarks] a few
notices of infinite importance to the value of our Museum, amongst
which is the evidence of the Cock of the Wood . . . being actually
[a] British killed specimen.” ?

Turning to the Appendix, we find the following :—

“164, Cock of the Wood. ‘The last bird found in Scotland,
was shot in Chisholm’s great forest, in Strathglass,’ ex auth.
Pennant. The rest of the description from Lath., p. 731.”

“T am desirous of separating from the above, the remainder of
Mr Allan’s remarks on this bird, which is most important to the
value of our collection—‘ This case ts a fine specimen and attitude,
and, as I have been told, cost Mr Tunstall five guineas. WAS SHOT
IN ScoTLanp.’—AUlan Cat., No. go. See our remarks upon this
subject, at p. 78, and we rejoice that the conjecture there given
is hereby verified. If this evidence can be depended on, ours is
the only native male specimen that I know of in English collections,
not excepting even the British Museum; and it is not too fanciful
to suspect that it is the Chisholm-killed bird, mentioned above,
which Pennant says he saw.—Ep.”

Unless we doubt the veracity of the copyist, Mr Fox,
we have here the distinct statement by a former owner of
the cock-Capercaillie in question that it “was shot in Scot-
land.” Whether it actually came from “Chisholm’s great
forest, in Strathglass,” we shall probably never know, but
that it was of Scottish origin we are definitely told by
Mr George Allan. Personally, I am prepared to accept

1 Of. cit, p. 32, reads :—“ Of this Museum it is asserted that the
birds alone filled a written catalogue of two volumes in which were
probably included the description which Mr Allan composed... . For
want of this catalogue ... it is impossible to ascertain exactly what
articles now in the collection belonged originally to the VARIN
Museum,” etc.

2 G. T. Fox, of. ctzZ, pp. 201-202. ON

3 Of. cit., pp. 208-209. ce

I19 AND 120 ¥-

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bu LIBRARY, 33}

174 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

his statement: not only on accountyofythe fact that he
is recognised as a reliable antiquary and topographer, but
also because he was the contemporary and the friend of
Marmaduke Tunstall, the original owner of the specimen.
Proof positive is, of course, not forthcoming, but I venture
to think that the claims of many other so-called “ British-
killed birds” are admitted as satisfactory on much less
convincing evidence. A letter dated “ Wycliffe, Nov. 6,
1788,” from Marmaduke Tunstall to Messrs Beilby and
Bewick, is of considerable interest and is as follows :—

“T duly received yours of the 31st ult., as also the prints for
the Lapland Tour,! which demand my grateful thanks; think them
very finely executed, especially the birds, which are not peculiar
only to the high northern latitudes; the Kader is undoubtedly the
Wood-Groose of Pennant, the Cock of the Wood of most authors,
and lately, at least, existing in the highlands of Scotland, and called
in the Gaelic or Erst tongue, Capercalley; is still found in several
parts of France, Germany, Switzerland, etc.” ?

It will be noticed that, although Tunstall does not say
he possessed a Scottish specimen of the Capercaillie, he
writes of the species in 1788 as “lately, at least, existing
in the highlands of Scotland.” This statement is of no
assistance in determining whether, or not, Tunstall’s collec-
tion comprised a Capercaillie of Scottish origin, but it is,
at least, of interest as indicating the distribution of the
species as known to him at the time he wrote.

Before concluding this paper I must point out that
Mr Fox, when writing his Syzops¢s in 1827, was of opinion
that a specimen of a British-killed hen-Capercaillie was in
the British Museum. He states :—

“The British Museum, the Directors of which have lately
taken great pains to fill the British bird department with native
specimens, is in possession only of the female Wood Grouse, as
British, which was formerly in Mr Bullock’s Museum.” ®

1 Matthew Consett, A Your through Sweden, Swedish Lapland,
Finland, and Denmark [in 1786], 1 vol 4to, 1789 (plate of “Kader” faces
pazl):

OX, OP e22.,0p= 23:
aN.

enG:
S9Ga dl, HOxj10p) 677, p75:

LAST OF THE INDIGENOUS SCOTLISH CAPERCAILLIES 175

Dr J. A. Harvie-Brown, in his book already referred to,
quotes a letter from Professor Newton, as follows :—

“Fox, I believe, is mistaken in considering the female Wood
Grouse in the British Museum to be a British specimen from
Bullock's collection (/oc. cit.). It is entered in the B.M. catalogue
as from J/ontagu’s collection. Now, Montagu never mentions a
Scottish specimen; and as in 1789—when the species was almost
or quite extinct in Scotland—he was only beginning a provincial
collection, it is most unlikely that he could have supplied himself
with one. In Bullock’s sale catalogue there is no evidence of his
having a Scotch specimen, and he would know how much the value
of this pair would have been enhanced had he been able to say they
—or one of them—were Scotch. As it was, they sold for only £7,
which, as prices went at that sale, was very moderate.” }

I find, on inquiry, that there is no specimen of a hen-
Capercaillie from Bullock’s collection in the Natural History
Museum, Cromwell Road, but that there is a specimen
labelled, on the leg, as from the Montagu collection. This
corroborates Professor Newton’s remarks; and the state-
ment made in 1827 by G. T. Fox, that there was a specimen
ofa British “female Wood Grouse” from Bullock’s collection
in the British Museum, may therefore be disregarded. It
is, however, worthy of note that no little mystery surrounds
this specimen:—W. E, Leach, in his Systematic Catalogue
of the Specimens of the Indigenous Mammalia and Btrds
that are preserved in the British Museum (1816), which is
practically a catalogue of the Montagu collection, makes
no mention of any Capercaillie; G. R. Gray in his Lest of
the... Birds in the... Museum, Part III. (1844), Gallina,
Gralla, et Anseres, p. 45, has entered “d, Female; Scotland,
from Donovan’s Museum,” but in his Catalogue of British
Birds in the... Museum (1863) under Tetrao Urogallus,
gives “2 Scotland from Col. Montagu’s Collection.” He
has, however, in his “ manuscript catalogue of British Birds”
entered “female; ‘Scotland,’ Mus. Donovan,” and it is
perhaps significant that he has put the word Scotland in
inverted commas. Mr W. R. Ogilvie-Grant in his Catalogue
of... the Game Birds... in the Museum (1893) includes

1 J. A. Harvie-Brown, of. cét¢., pp. 22-23.

176 THE SCOTTISH NADURALIST

a “@® skin from Scotland from the Montagu Collection.”
The uncertainty which would appear to exist, as to whom
this specimen belonged before coming to the Natural History
Museum, does not help to prove its Scottish origin; more-
over, it is of sinister moment that Mr W. R. Ogilvie-Grant,
in his paper already referred to, has entirely disregarded
any such claim for this specimen.

Reference has been made to Edward Donovan, and
it is therefore of interest to note that in 1797 he writes
of the Capercaillie as “in Scotland is found only in the
Highlands north of Inverness (Ross-shire, Sutherlandshire)
... the breed was nearly extirpated half a century ago.”?
In 1807 Donovan, who was a keen collector, opened his
Museum in Catherine Street, Strand, to the public, styling
it “The London Museum and Institute of Natural History.”
In the second edition (1808) of the Catalogue of this Museum
he describes ;—

“Lot 279, Wood Grouse, male and female. Inhabits the
Highlands of Scotland where it is become extremely rare; and
is not found in any other part of the kingdom.”

It will be noticed that there is nothing in the description
to show that these specimens came from Scotland which,
had this been the case, it is highly probable so astute a
showman as Donovan would have been eager to proclaim.
When, however, Donovan’s collection was dispersed under
the hammer in 1818, we find the description of this particular
lot materially altered. Referring again to Dr J. A. Harvie-
Brown’s Capercatllie in Scotland, it is there stated that :—

“Tn Donovan’s sale catalogue (1818) several passages occur
which . . . should be received with extra caution, or indeed be
rejected altogether. .. . ‘Lot 652, Wood Grouse, Highlands of
Scotland. A handsome glazed case, including both sexes of
these truly rare birds, in the finest possible condition.’ ... As
Professor Newton suggests, in those days there were tricks of
the trade as well as now.” ?

1 Edward Donovan, The Natural History of British Birds, vol. w.,
1797, letterpress to Plate LXXXIX.
2 J. A. Harvie-Brown, of. czz., p. 30.

LAST OF THE INDIGENOUS SCOTTISH CAPERCAILLIES 177

There can, I think, be little doubt that the description
of lot 652 in Donovan’s sale catalogue was drawn up for
sale purposes.

It is, of course, possible that genuine specimens of the
original indigenous British Capercaillie remain to be yet
discovered, In the meantime (1921) the cock-Capercaillie
in the Hancock. Museum, at Newcastle-on-Tyne, would
appear to be the only surviving specimen with any good
‘claim to rank as Scottish, and it may therefore be said
to be, as the title of my paper suggests, the last of the
indigenous Scottish Capercaillies.

In conclusion, I should like to thank Dr Percy Lowe
and Mr N. B. Kinnear of the Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road, London, and Mr Leonard Gill, Curator
of the Hancock Museum, Newcastle-on-Tyne, for the very
material assistance they have rendered me in the compilation
of this paper.

178 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Hoopoe in Aberdeenshire.—The remains of an adult
Hoopoe in a poor state of preservation were sent to me by
Mr Harry Robb, gamekeeper, Coynachie Lodge, Gartly. The bird
was got early in October on the estate of Clashnadarrock, and the
identity of the remains was confirmed by Dr Ritchie at the Royal
Scottish Museum.—WILLIAM WILSON, Lumsden.

Notes on the Distribution of Weevils of the Genus
Sitona in the North of Scotland.—In the course of my study
of the bionomics of weevils of the genus Sitona, I have made many
observations upon the distribution of the various species in the
North of Scotland. Some of the species met with appear to be
unrecorded for this district. The following have been obtained so
far :—

S. dineata, L.—Abundant upon peas, beans, tares, and wild
vetches, and occasionally upon clover. Swordale (near Evanton),
Alness, Beauly.

S. hispidula, F.—Very common upon clover at Swordale,
Kildary, Invershin, Kingussie. Rare in fields near the sea as
at Nigg and other localities round the Cromarty Firth.

S. flavescens, Marsh.—Common upon clover, and generally
distributed. Swordale, Alness, Kildary, Nigg, Garve, Beauly,
Invershin, Wick, and Kingussie.

S. puncticollis, Steph.—Rare in hilly districts as at Swordale,
Kingussie, Invershin ; more common amongst clover on low ground
or near the sea as at Beauly, Evanton, Alness, Kildary, and Nigg.

S. sulcifrons, Thiin.—Abundant amongst clover at Swordale,
Evanton, Kildary, Nigg, Invershin, Beauly, and Garve.

S. crinita, Herbst.—Rare, only a single specimen swept from
clover at Swordale on 20th September 1921.

S. regenstetnensis, Herbst.—Fairly common upon lupins in a
garden at Fortrose, and amongst low-growing herbage at Swordale.

S. tibialis, Herbst.—Common upon tares, wild vetches, meadow
vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis) at Swordale, Alness, Kildary, Nigg,
and Beauly.

S. suturalis, Steph.—Rare ; only one specimen taken at Swordale
on 20th September 1921 by sweeping clover.—Dorotny J. JACKSON,
Swordale, Ross.

THE EASTERN LESSER WHITETHROAT 179

erie NSN ebooks WEE Ta KOAD. AN
IONOMITWOWN “AO! els, WM Slal WO eeu NAN
AND Te VELCEOW- LEGGED HERKING
CULES NEW RECORD FOR SCOLUAND;
JI) AUR ESO) as,

By W. EAGLE CLARKE, I.S.0., LL.D:, and-J. H. STENHOUSE,
M.B., Surg.-Admiral.

DURING a visit to Fair Isle, extending from 5th September
to 5th October, we were fortunate enough to come across
two birds of exceptional interest, viz., a specimen of the
Eastern form of the Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvza curruca
afinzs, Blyth), hitherto unrecorded for the British Isles,
and an adult of the Yellow-legged Herring Gull (Larus
argentatus cachinnans, Pallas), which is new to the Scottish
avifauna.

The Whitethroat, sexed male, and apparently a bird of
the year, was found amongst turnips on 3rd October. The
wing measures 62 mm. and the second primary is inter-
mediate in length between the sixth and the seventh.

Sylvia affints was originally described by Blyth in 1849
(Cat. Birds Astatic Soc, p. 187). Regarding this bird and
S. curruca and S. althea, Hume (Stray Feathers, vii., p. 66,
1878) remarks this is a case in which some ornithologists
will treat these birds as three species, whilst others will
consider them to be only three races of one somewhat
variable species, S. curruca. Seebohm tells us (Caz. Birds
Brit. Mus., v., pp. 18-19) that he prefers to treat them as
subspecies —a European form (curruca), a Siberian form
(affints), and a Himalayan form (a@thea). Hartert (Vogel
Pal. Fauna) regards affints as a form of curruca, but awards
althea (p. 590) full specific rank.

Regarding affints, Seebohm (om. ct., p. 19) states that it
only differs from the typical form (curruca) in having the
second primary generally intermediate in length between
the sixth and the seventh, in rare instances between the

180 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

seventh and eighth, and that occasionally examples occur in
Europe which agree in wing formula with this form, but un-
fortunately he gives no data; Hartert (of. czz., p. 589) observes
that “isolated specimens are not to be distinguished from the
Western form, and where the two forms meet the difference
apparently is often not well marked—even in Siberia
examples with a long second primary occur.”

Be the status of this bird what it may, the fact remains
that no Lesser Whitethroat with that wing formula which
alone characterises the Eastern bird has hitherto been
recorded as occurring in the British Islands,

Hartert gives the general distribution of afinzs as
follows :—Breeds in Siberia, northwards to the limits of
forest growth, east to Transbaikalia and Manchuria, and
south apparently to the Thianshan and Altai Mountains
and winters in India and Ceylon, migrating through
Turkestan, East Turkestan, East Persia, Afghanistan, and
Baluchistan.

The Yellow-legged Herring Gull was observed alone on a
stubble field above the South Haven on 28th September. It
was most distinctly seen in bright sunlight, and its identity
could not have been more satisfactorily established if the
bird had been in our hands. On mentioning this Gull to
one of the natives who is interested in birds, it was ascer-
tained that it had been observed by him on several occasions
during the previous six weeks and was always alone.

Only two records of the previous occurrence of this bird
in Britain are known, namely one from Norfolk in November
1886, and another from Dover in April 1904. The species
is a native of maritime areas from the Bay of Biscay to
the Azores, and throughout the Mediterranean region to
the Caspian Sea and even to Lake Baikal.

Other interesting birds which came under notice include
the Scarlet Grosbeak, the Blue Headed Wagtail, the Blue-
throat, Hoopoe, and Great Snipe.

CRYPTOHYPNUS RIPARIUS, A POSSIBLE PEST 181

(CU VAP ONS VAZIM OLS, IKIUPGUSIUOS, IN (CU Kole) DAMES;
IMS) MOSSES, ANGI CUIC ANON AU, Tela She

By WILLIAM EVANS, F.R.S.E.

WHAT are wireworms? and, Which is the common species
of Agriotes in Scotland? These are questions that have
been put to me from time to time during the past few
years by allotment-holders and others interested in the
Cultivation: of theslands ihe answer ito “the. first it) is
hardly necessary to say, has been—True wireworms are
the larve or grubs of Click-beetles, belonging typically
to the genus Agriotes, as to which see the Board of Agri-
culture’s leaflet No. 10; and to the second—Agvzotes
obscurus undoubtedly. In the Lothians, and I believe in
other parts of Scotland as well, this is an abundant and
generally distributed insect, while 4. “ueatus and A. sputator,
the other members of the genus included in the leaflet,
are of rare occurrence. But with us the most common
Click-beetle, both on land under cultivation and on natural
pasture, is not an Agvrzotes but a Cryptohypnus, namely,
C. riparius, F., a species apparently rare in the south of
England, and not mentioned, so far as I can make out,
in the literature of insect pests in this country. Its yearly
presence, at times in large numbers, on farm lands suggests
that it may be responsible for not a little of the damage
caused by wireworms in Scotland. The only genus other
than Agrzotes which the Board’s leaflet recognises as a pest
is Athous, but our common species, A. hemorrhotdalcs,
prefers, in my experience, rough uncultivated places to fields.

In Fowlers “British Coleoptera,’ the habitat of
Cryptohypnus riparius is given as “the banks of streams,
etc., under stones and pieces of wood, also in flood refuse.”
This is misleading, for it may be found almost anywhere in
open country on natural grassy places and cultivated ground
alike. I have met with it from sea-level to the tops of the
Pentland Hills. The following observations show how exten-
sively land in cultivation may be infested by it.

I19Q AND 120 Z

182 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

On the edge of a field of young grass and clover (after
barley) near Morningside, Edinburgh, several examples of
the beetle were found under small stones on 22nd March
1921; on the 26th a short search some distance into the
field yielded about fifty; on 1st April sixty were collected
in the course of a quarter of an hour; and they were still
common a fortnight later. Every third or fourth stone
lifted had two or three on its underside; in one instance
there were as many as eleven, while the sole of an old
boot had no less than seventeen on it. A flock of forty to
fifty Starlings feeding in the field were no doubt finding
them in plenty among the grass; that this was so was
proved by the innumerable fragments of their wing-cases,
etc., found in the droppings of the birds at a bush on which
they were in the habit of perching. On another field of
young grass near by the beetles were equally abundant,
and a wireworm found there on 5th April was, naturally,
thought to belong to the same species, no other Click-
beetle being seen. In its bifid tail-segment my specimen
agrees with Schiddte’s figure of a larva ascribed by him
to this beetle; but Perris throws doubt on Schiddte’s deter-
mination, stating that the rzparius larva has an evenly
rounded margin to its tail-segment (G. H. Carpenter, zz /2t.).
In a recent Bulletin of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(No. 156), the Wireworm of an American Cryptohypnus is
described as having “a pair of backwardly directed prongs
on the ninth abdominal segment”; so Schiddte may be right
after all) Three years ago I had wireworms similar to the
one found this year brought to me from an Edinburgh allot-
ment. I ought to add that the beetle was also abundant,
on 2nd April last, in a field of young grass near Currie,
Midlothian.

The adult beetle is most in evidence during spring, but
I have taken it in every month from February to October.
Ananalysis of my data gives February, 4 records; March, 12;
April, 18; May, 9; June, 5; July, August, and September,
Teach: and October.3:

A RARE CRAB (P/RIMELA DENTICULATA) 183

A RARE CRAB-PIRIVMELA DENTICULATA) IN
ERE OH ORE

By W. EDGAR EVANS, B.Sc.

THE rocky coast in the vicinity of Canty Bay—three miles
east of North Berwick, East Lothian—can provide, alike
to marine zoologist and schoolboy, a hunting-ground as
productive and as picturesque as any to be found on the
shores of the Firth of Forth. Here the 6th Edinburgh
Troop of Scouts spent a fortnight’s holiday in camp this
summer (1921) and, as a result of the boys’ interest in
their varied treasures, the rock-pools between tide-marks
received a more than usually thorough investigation.

On 2nd August, while examining the shore somewhat
below half-tide level, and directly opposite the hamlet at
Canty Bay, I obtained in a small, shallow rock-pool,
completely covered by a tangle of Fucus vesiculosus, a crab
new to me; with it was a single young example of Hyas
coarctatus. Before it could be brought home to the aquarium
for study, captivity proved fatal.

Reference to Bell’s “British Stalk-eyed Crustacea”
convinced me that my capture was a female of Pzrimela
denticulata (Montagu), and this identification has been
confirmed by Dr James Ritchie of the Royal Scottish
Museum, to which institution it has been presented.

In life the colour of the carapace in the Canty Bay
example was throughout a very dark purplish-brown,
contrasting strongly with the pale straw-coloured limbs.
Bell writes that the colour “in some specimens is greenish,
in others purplish and brown mottled,” while Dr Ritchie
informs me that in those he has seen from Plymouth, where
it is not uncommonly dredged on clean, coarse, shelly gravel,
there is generally a distinct trace of greenish mottling. He
also refers to the marginal teeth of the carapace in the
present specimen as somewhat broader at the base than

184 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

is the case in one from Plymouth, with which he compared it.
Doubtless these small differences have no special significance.

The discovery of Pzvzmela at Canty Bay is chiefly of
interest on account of its apparent rarity on the Scottish
coasts; it has not, in fact, been recorded from the Firth
of Forth, being an addition to Scott’s recent list. As far
as is known to me, only three previous records exist, two
of which—given in Bell’s work quoted above—date back
over a hundred years and are very indefinite. Of these,
the first is that of Montagu, who was assured that a specimen
which he saw in the cabinet of Donovan “came from the
coast of Scotland”; while the second is attributed to Leach,
who “says he obtained a fragment from the same locality.”
Lastly, in his “Marine Invertebrates and Fishes of St
Andrews” (1875), Prof. W. C. M‘Intosh supplies a more
localised record in these words—“ Occasionally from deep
water. Rare.” It would seem probable that the fishing grounds
beyond the Bell Rock were the home of his specimens
for in his introduction to the same volume Prof. M‘Intosh
describes St Andrews Bay as follows: “The greater part
of the sandy bay has a depth of less than 10 fathoms;
for at this point the 20-fathom line bends outwards to the
Bell Rock. The whole region is thus comparatively shallow,
and in contrast with that to the north of Arbroath Road, or
with the Firth of Forth and the neighbouring coast on the
south.”

It is therefore with no small satisfaction that this little
crab’s appearance in Forth is recorded —a satisfaction
enhanced by its occurring on the east coast, whose reluctant
waters yield so much less than do those of the west.

In othef than British waters, Pzrzmela denticulata has
a considerable distribution, ranging from sub-arctic regions
to the Mediterranean. It is stated to occur from the shore—
though this would appear unusual—to a depth of 40 fathoms.
Several days of heavy seas had preceded that on which
I found the crab at Canty Bay, and the presence with it of
flyas coarctatus, also a deeper water species, would point
to both having been brought inshore by the storm.

NOTES 185

Iceland Falcon at Sule Skerry.—In January last I received
a fine adult male Palco islandicus (wing 14.85 ins.=376.65 mm.)
which had been captured on 19th of the month at Sule Skerry—a
iow rugged islet or reef lying out in the Atlantic, some 4o miles
west of the Orkney Island of Hoy—where it arrived in an exhausted
condition during a hurricane from the north-west. The specimen
is now in the collection of mounted British birds in the Royal
Scottish Museum, Edinburgh.—Wmn. EacLEe CLARKE.

Great or Solitary Snipe in Ayrshire.—It is desirable to put
on record the occurrence of a male specimen, in fine plumage, of the
Great or Solitary Snipe, shot here on 8th September of this year by
Mr David Shaw Kennedy. The bird rose on old pasture land
much frequented by Common Snipe on the farm of Lower Hall,
Parish of Muirkirk, and its weight taken by myself was 84 0z.

This is the first record of a Solitary Snipe in my experience of
over thirty continuous seasons of snipe shooting here. The
specimen is being mounted for my collection.—ARcuH. FAIRBAIRN,
Muirkirk.

[The specimen, which we have seen, belongs to the pale grey
phase of plumage, distinguished by Mr Ogilvie-Grant from the
rufous phase which is perhaps more usual.—Eps. ]

Hairworms (Nematomorpha) in Scotland.—Two examples
of these well-known inhabitants of fresh-water pools have recently
come to my notice, and these very materially increase the known
range of distribution in Scotland, as related in my earlier account of
the species (Scot. JVat., 1915). One is a male example of the
Mottled Hairworm, Gordius villoti (Rosa), and this was found alive
in a water supply at Kildalton, Port Ellen, Islay, on 19th September
1921. Hitherto this species has not been found in the western parts
of Scotland, and the example is the first Hairworm of any kind to
have been recorded from the Western Isles.

The second specimen is a male Faceted Hairworm, Fara-
chordodes violaceus (Baird), found in a sample of water from the
Peebles district, on 15th June 1920. In the Tweed area I have
already recorded the species from Berwickshire, but this is the first
record from Peeblesshire. Both specimens have been added to the
collections of the Royal Scottish Museum.—James RITCHIE.

An Anopheline Mosquito in East Lothian.—On rst October
1921, about 6 p.m., I captured a female Anopheles plumbeus, Steph.,

186 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

at the west end of the new Longniddry Golf Course. I had just
shaken the branches of a bush into my umbrella, and was looking
to see what had been dislodged when the mosquito came flying
about my face. With my hand I knocked it down into the umbrella
and so secured it. So far as I know this is the first record of the
occurrence of an Anopheline Mosquito in East Lothian.—WILL1AM
Evans, Edinburgh.

Scottish Insect Notes.

A Lowland Beetle, Phalacrus substriatus, Gyll.,at Nethy Bridge.—
The occurrence of this rare beetle at Nethy Bridge during the
month of August is recorded by T. Hudson Beare (£.42M,
p- 233). The insect frequents the Bog Asphodel, and was swept
freely off this plant until the end of the month. Hitherto
P. substriatus has only been recorded from the Lowlands (Tweed
and Solway districts).

Rare Staphylinid Beetle at Rannoch. — P. Harwood records
(Z.M.M., p. 233) the capture of a single example of Ludectus
whitet, Sharp, near the summit of Cross Craig, Rannoch, on
16th July last.

An Addition to the British Hemiptera-Heteroptera.—Aradus
betule, L.., was found on toth July in some numbers under the bark
of an old birch near Camaghouran, Rannoch district. Although
careful search was made, this species, which is an addition to
the British fauna, was only found on the single tree mentioned.
In the note recording this occurrence, the author, P. Harwood,
describes the insect and compares it with its ally A. corticalts, L.
(Z.10M,, p. 227).

Diptera in the Pitlochry District.—A. E. J. Carter records the
occurrence of several interesting species of Diptera in the Pitlochry
district of Perthshire (Z.AZAZ, pp. 235, 236). On yth July a
female example of Oxycera dives, Lw., was taken on the hills between
the town and Ben-y-Vrackie, this being the first undoubted record of
that sex for Britain. Among the other species recorded the
following may be mentioned: Oxycera pardalina, Mg., Odontomyia
viridula, F¥., Hilara matrona, Hal., Zachytrechus notatus, Stan.,
Dolichopus longitarsis, Stan., Atherix this, F. (near the Tummel
Falls), Limnophora brunnetsquama, Zett., Rhamphomyia conformis,
Kow., Scatophaga ordinata, Beck., Rhamphomyia nigripennis, F.

BOOK NOTICES 187

BOOK NOTICES.

A History oF THE WHALE FISHERIES. By J. T. Jenkins, D.Sc.,
PhD: Wondon: EH. i and\G. Witherby, 1921.. Pp. 336:
Price 18s.

Although no better accounts of particular aspects of whaling
have ever been written than the vivid narratives of the Edinburgh
voyager and naturalist, William Scoresby, yet till now no one has
attempted to give a bird’s-eye view of the industry and to trace the
changes which have been necessary to keep it alive. Dr Jenkins’
excellent work follows whale-fishing in all parts of the world from the
time of the Basque fisheries in the tenth century to the finner-hunting
of to-day, and strikingly he brings out how time after time the history
of the fisheries repeats itself. A fishery begins, it waxes to a climax of
success, then it dwindles until some new stimulus—the discovery of a
new whaling ground, the development of a new method, such as steam-
propelled ships or the harpoon-gun—gives fresh life to the pursuit of
the monsters of the deep. For the naturalist the story, in spite of its
absorbing interest, is a sad one, for it is a recurring tale of the extirpation
of one fine creature after another—the Greenland Whale, the Southern
Sperm Whale, the Humpback, and now even the existence of the
ubiquitous Finner is threatened in Antarctic as in northern seas. Surely
“before it is too late, steps will be taken to control this ruthless
destruction.” Dr Jenkins’ book contains many fine pictures of whaling
at different periods.

ANIMAL LIFE OF THE BritisH Is_tEs: A POCKET GUIDE TO THE
MAMMALS, REPTILES, AND BATRACHIANS OF WAYSIDE AND
WooDLanD. By Edward Step, F.L.S. With 111 Plates from
Photographs, of which 48 are coloured. London: Frederick
Warne) & Co, Ltd. Pp. vii+- 134: “Price ros, 6ds net.

British naturalists have long felt the want of a concise and up-to-date
account of the mammalian fauna of these islands, and this volume in
some degree supplies the deficiency. It caters first of all for the
interested observer and the young naturalist who wishes to recognise
and know something of the habits of the creatures of the country-side,
and for such no better guide could be supplied. The descriptions are
accurate and sufficiently detailed to afford, along with the photographs,
a reasonably sure indication of the identity of any British species of
mammal, reptile, and amphibian ; and the notes on habits are full of
sound and interesting information. Special mention ought to be made
of the fine series of photographic reproductions which illustrate the work,
and of the unique coloured photographs, which in most cases give a
wonderfully accurate representation of the living animal. But on one
point where the scientific naturalist wishes help the volume is weak,

188 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

for the notes on the distribution of species are too general or too slight
to be of much service.

The book is brightly written and is assured, and deservedly so, of
a wide circulation.

SHOOTING TRIPS IN EUROPE AND ALGERIA. By Hugh P. Highton.
London: H. F. & G. Witherby. Price 16s. net.

As stated in the sub-title, this is a record of sport in the Alps,
Pyrenees, Norway, Sweden, Corsica, and Algeria. It is an interesting
and readable volume, and from a perusal of its pages one gains a pretty
accurate idea of the varied experiences of the sportsman in his quest for
game. The selection of guides (more or less of a speculation !), the
preparation of his kit, and the attempts to discover the best ground for
action, are all graphically described, while to the naturalist who has never
seen the chamois, the mouflon, and the Barbary sheep in their native
haunts, it is fascinating to read of the various methods adopted by the
~ hunter in the tracking, stalking, and outwitting of his prey, and to learn
from a sportsman of experience what is essential to success. The
author is alive, too, to the charm of natural scenery, which is described
in a vigorous style, while the sundry touches of humour and the excellence
of the illustrations go to make up a fascinating volume, which is at the
same time an excellent guide to the art of hunting in regions fairly
accessible to the British tourist.

Sympiosis: A Socio-PHySIOLOGICAL STUDY OF EvoLuTIoN. By
H. Reinheimer. London: Headley Brothers, 1920. Price
15s. net.

Convinced that much of the significance of the living world is lost if
the evolution of life be not viewed as a moral progress, the author ina
reasoned and learned treatise develops a moral philosophy of organisms.
In this, each organism comes to be known as “good” or “bad,”
progressive or decadent, for “it is the conscientious organism alone
which, strictly pursuing a legitimate pathway of life, and refusing to
dally with evil, in the end achieves successful survival.” To the author
the only legitimate pathway lies along the line of systematic biological
co-operation or Symbiosis, while the predatory or parasitic mode of life
is evil and invariably leads to degeneracy and extinction. Rightly,
great stress is laid upon the value of helpful inter-relationships and the
close correlation of organism and environment in the evolution of
organic nature, but no good purpose is served by so widening the
accepted meanings of terms that “‘conscientiousness” and “ morality”
become attributes of plants and animals which lack self-consciousness,
or co-operation comes to express the relationship between a cow and
the grass it eats.

NOTES FROM THE SCOTTISH ZOOLOGICAL PARK 189

NOTES FROM \y »wea

THE SCOTTISH ZOOLOGICAL PARK, 471.5%

A si/

; es
Basoon INTELLIGENCE.—In this column, in the issue (on

March-April, a note was contributed on the behaviour of a Baboon
which used an open knife he had taken possession of to lift, in a
very skilful manner, a large number of the tiles covering the floor
of his cage. The same animal has given other demonstrations of
his intelligence, and one the other day appeared to the writer
almost as striking as that formerly noted. Some structural altera-
tions were being carried out in the house near his cage, and,
noticing a piece of stick lying near, the writer picked it up and
passed it in to the Baboon’s cage to see what he would do with it.
He took it up at once and examined it thoughtfully for some time,
then turned to the door leading to an inner sleeping place and put
the end of the stick (which was about eighteen inches long by
some two inches wide and perhaps three-quarters of an inch thick)
into the space between the outer sill of the doorway and the closed
iron door, and, holding the other end of the stick, began to pull.
“Surely,” said an onlooker, ‘‘he does not understand the principle
of the lever!” It seemed, however, that he did! The space in
which the stick was inserted was about three or four inches wide,
and did not afford a good grip for the stick, so he withdrew it and
again contemplated alternately the piece of stick and the cage
surrounding him. Ina minute or two he went to a radiator which
is placed against the back wall of the cage, and inserted the end
of the stick between the top of the radiator and a wooden shelf
fixed close above it. Into this space the stick just fitted nicely, and
as soon as he got it placed, he pulled downwards with all his
strength on the end. The stick was strong, however, and so were
the fixings of the radiator and the shelf above, and not being able
to move anything by pulling, the Baboon got up on to the shelf and
bore all his weight on the end of the stick, jerking his body in an
effort to break something. He tried his strength at it both above
and below for some little time, and then finding that everything
resisted him, he took out the stick and, reverting to the method
of breaking things more characteristic of his tribe, began to tear
splinters from it with his teeth. Although, in this case, he achieved
nothing, the action seemed to show that the animal appreciated the
119 AND 120 2A

a
ro

190 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

probable effect of applying leverage, or perhaps that he remembered
what he had done on a former occasion, and endeavoured to repeat
his action with a different instrument. One noted too, that while
on the former occasion, when he had a knife, he inserted it between
the tiles of his floor, he seemed to be aware, without making any
trial of it, that the piece of wood could not be used in the same
way, but required different conditions for its exercise.

THe New CuHIMpANZEE.—The new Chimpanzee presented to
the Park by Mr Kenneth Burbridge of Freetown, Sierra Leone,
is now on view in the Acclimatisation House. The newcomer is
a young female probably two or three years old, and is a very
important and interesting addition to the attractions of the place.
Mr Burbridge has proved a very good friend to the Park: it was he
who obtained and brought home the white monkey which was
noticed in an earlier column of these notes, and he has also pre-
sented a number of mangabey monkeys and civets. Mr Burbridge
had, in fact, obtained three Chimpanzees, but unfortunately one
escaped on the journey to the coast, and another died before leaving
Sierra Leone. The newcomer is particularly tame and gentle, and
one of her accomplishments is shown in a keen inclination to greet
everybody who approaches her by a formal shaking of hands. She
is very lively and playful, and seems at present in excellent health.
The Chimpanzee is probably the most intelligent of all living
animals next to man. In a wild state it apparently has sufficient
intelligence to supplement the powers of its own body by using
stones and sticks to throw or strike with at an enemy. This shows
a considerable advance beyond the intellectual level of most other
animals, with the exception, perhaps, of some of the Chimpanzee’s
near relatives, and anyone who watches a Chimpanzee in captivity
will be almost certain to see some examples of what are evidently
thought and reason.—T. H. G.

INDEX

A

Acidota, see under Beetles

Anopheles, see under Diptera

Ant, Formica fusca, in E. Sutherland,
61

Arran, Hemiptera from, 159

B

BAXTER, E. V., I

BAXTER, E. V., and RINTOUL, L. J.,
Pintail as a Scottish Breeding
Species, 37 ; Tree-creepers on Isle
of May, 75; Report on Scottish
Ornithology in 1920, including
Migration, 105, 135

BEARE, T. HUDSON, Breeding of Red

Admiral Butterfly in Scotland,
76
Beetles, Aczdota cruentata and A.

crenata in Clyde Area, 48

Bark-, Records in Scotland, 87

Ceuthorrynchus erysimtiv, chlor opterus,
near Glasgow, 162

Clyde Area Additions, 25, 47

Cryptohypnus riparius, as a Possible
Agricultural Pest, 181

Eudectus whitet at Rannoch, 186

in Scottish Forests, 43

Osier, Leptidea brevipennis, introduced
to Scotland, 103

Phalacrus substriatus at Nethy Bridge,
186

Phyllodrepoidea crenata, spread in
Scotland, 99

Sitona, Distribution in N. of Scotland,
178

Sitona lineellus in W. Arran, 94

BEVERIDGE, G., Ravens in N. Uist,

10; Greenland Falcon and Pink-
footed Geese in N. Uist, 158

191

Bird-Associations in Scotland, I1, 49
Census, Need for, 22
Birds, Changes in Numbers, 110
Extension of Breeding Range (1920),
109
H. S. Gladstone’s Value of, 131
in the Garden, 7I
in a Storm, 67
Migrants, Uncommon (1920), 107
Migration (1920), 119, 135, 136
New to Faunal Areas (1920), 107
New to Scotland, 179
Plumage, Unusual (1920), 117
Protection of Wild, 97
Ringing Returns (1920), 116
Bittern, in Berwickshire, 132
Bluethroat, Lapland, at Fair Isle, 76
BoAsE, H., Common Scoter in Perth-
shire, 104
BOLAM, G., Small Birds in the Garden,
71
Book Notices: Types and Breeds of
Farm Animals, C. S. Plumb, 29 ;
Territory in Bird Life, H. E.
Howard, 29; Key to the Orders of
Insects, F. Balfour-Browne, 30;
Field Observations on British
Birds, F. M. Ogilvie, 62; Kin-
cardineshire, G. H. Kinnear, 62;
The Resources of the Sea, W. C.
M‘Intosh, 93 ; Growth and Shed-
ding of the Antler of the Deer,
W. MacEwen, 93; Early Annals
of Ornithology, J. H. Gurney, 94 ;
A History of the Whale Fisheries,
J. T. Jenkins, 187; Animal Life
of the British Isles, E. Step,
187; Shooting Trips in Europe
and Algeria, H. P. Highton,
188 ; Symbiosis: A Socio-Physio-
logical Study of Evolution, H.
Reinheimer, 188

192 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Bos primigenius, see Ox
Brock, S. E., Bird-Associations in
Scotland, 11, 49
Bruce, Wm. S., Obituary Notice, 165
BuTLER, E. A., Small Collection of
Hemiptera from Arran, 159
Butterfly, Red Admiral, in Scotland in
1920, 28
breeding in Scotland, 76
Buzzard, Rough-legged, in Aberdeen-
shire, 98

C

CAMPBELL, B., Late Breeding of Red
Squirrel, 3

Capercaillies, Last of Indigenous Scot-
tish, 169

CARMICHAEL, J., Prehistoric Red Deer
in Forfarshire, 161

Cat, Wild, Slaughter of, 65

Chen nivalis in Solway, 48

CLARKE, Dr W. EAGLE, as Editor, 1;
Greater Snow Goose in Solway,
48, 69; Iceland Falcon at Sule
Skerry, 185

CLARKE, Dr W. E., and STENHOUSE,
Dr J. H., Eastern Lesser White-
throat and Yellow-legged Herring
Gull at Fair Isle, 179

Coleoptera, Additions to Clyde Area,
25

see also Beetles

COLLINGE, Dr W. E., Need for a Bird
Census, 22 ; Winter Occurrence of
Common Tern in Scotland, 133

Crab, Pea~, Feeding of, 28

Pirimela denticulata in Firth of

Forth, 183

Cryptohypnus, see under Beetles

CUTHBERTSON, A., Importation of
Greater Wood Wasps (Stvex gigas)
to Clyde, 58; Sirex gigas in Dum-
bartonshire, 161

D

Deer, Red, Prehistoric, in Forfarshire,
161

Diptera, Anopheline Mosquito in E.
Lothian, 186

Diptera, British Blood-sucking Flies, 58
in Pitlochry District, 186
Nematocera from Arran and Loch

Etive, 59, 89, 121
New Species described, 121
Studies, 28
Swallow Fly, Stenopieryx hirundinis,
in Edinburgh, 21
Dove, Turtle, in Kirkcudbrightshire,
125

Ducks, Gadwall, in Berwickshire, 24
Mallard, late Nesting, 24
Pintail, as a Scottish Breeding

Species, 37
Scoter, Common, breeding in Perth-
shire, 104
Shoveller, breeding in 1899, 42
Dunlop, Robert, death of, 66

E

ECKFORD, E., Great Extinct Ox in
Peeblesshire, 104

Epwarps, F. W., Diptera Nematocera
from Arran and Loch Etive, 59,
89, I21

Entomology in South London, 48

Evans, W., Note by, 11; Palmated
Newt in Argyllshire, 21 ; Swallow-
fly, Stenopteryx hirundinis, in Edin-
burgh, 21; Dusky Ant (/ormica
fusca) in East Sutherland, 61;
Rare Millipede, /sobates varicornis,
in Midlothian, 68; Breeding of
Red Admiral Butterfly in Scot-
land, 76; Fulmar Colony at St
Abb’s Head, 126; Cryptohypnus
riparius, a Species of Click-Beetle,
as a Possible Agricultural Pest,
181; Anopheline Mosquito in E.
Lothian, 186

EvANS, W. EDGAR, Rare Crab, Pir7-
mela denticulata, in Firth of Forth,
183

Extermination of Old Scottish Fauna,
65

F

FAIRBAIRN, A., Great Snipe in Ayr-
shire, 185

INDEX 193

Falcon, Greenland, in N. Uist, 158
Iceland, at Sule Skerry, 185

FERGUSSON, A., Coleoptera of Clyde
Area, 47; Rare Staphylinid
Beetles (Acidota cruentata and
crenata) in Clyde, 48; Weevil,
Sttona lineellus in W. Arran, 94 ;
Spread of Rare Beetle, Phyllo-
drepoidea crenata, in Scotland, 99

Formica, see under Ant

G

Gadwall, see under Ducks

GILLESPIE, T. H., Notes from Scottish
Zoological Park, 31, 63, 95, 127,
163, 189

GLADSTONE, H. S., Black-tailed God-
wit in Kirkcudbrightshire, 4; Late
Nesting of Mallard, 24 ; Waxwings
in Dumfriesshire, 36; Decrease of
Ring-Ouzel, 125; Turtle Dove in
Kirkcudbrightshire, 125; Last of
Indigenous Scottish Capercaillies,
169

Godwit, Black-tailed, in Kirkcudbright-
shire, 4

Goldfinch, Immigration to Dumfries-
shire, 42

Goose, Greater Snow, in Solway Area,
48, 69

Pink-footed, in N. Uist, 158
White-fronted, in Renfrewshire, 4

Gordiid Worms, see Hairworms

GorpDon, T. H. M., Beetle, Cexthor-
rhynchus erysimi, v. chloropierus,
near Glasgow, 162

GORDON, T. H. M., and MurpHy,
J. E., see under Murphy, J. E.

Gull, Herring, Yellow-legged, new to
Scotland, 179

H

Hairworms in Scotland, 185
Hedgehogs, as climbers, 67
Hemiptera, Avadus betule at Rannoch,
186
from Arran, 159
Heronry deserted, 3

Homes, H., Breeding of Shoveller in
1899, 42

Hoopoe, in Aberdeenshire, 178

Hunter, D.G., Fulmar Petrel nesting
in Forfarshire, 125

I

Ibis, Glossy, in Scotland in 1920, Io
INGLEs, W. M., Waxwings in Hadding-
tonshire, 36
Insects and Forestry, 43
Scottish Notes, 186
Tsobates, see Millipede

J

Jackson, DoroTHY J., Notes on Dis-
tribution of Sz/ona in N. of Scot-
land, 178

K

Kinc, J. J. F.-X., Osier Beetle,
Leptidea brevipennis, introduced to
Scotland, 103

L

LAIDLAW, T. G., Green Sandpiper in
Berwickshire, 10; Gadwall in
Berwickshire, 24; Marsh Tit in
Berwickshire, 86; Bittern in
Berwickshire, 132

LARNocH, W., Fulmars on Arbroath
Cliffs, 158

LESCHALLAS, J. H. P., Great Spotted
Woodpecker in Argyllshire, 134

LuMSDEN, J. F., Glossy Ibis in
Aberdeenshire, I0

M

MACKEITH, T. T., Blackcap Warbler
at Kilmacolm, 21

Mallard, see under Ducks

Malloch, P. D., death of, 98

194. THE

MALLOcH, T., White-fronted Goose
and Leach’s Fork-tailed Petrel
in Renfrewshire, 4; Six Eggs
in Oystercatcher’s Nest, 134

Marten, Pine, slaughter of, 65

Matheson, M., quoted, 162

MAXWELL, Sir HERBERT, How Hedge-
hogs climb, 67; Golden Oriole in
Wigtownshire, 132

Meinertzhagen, Col., quoted, 67

Migration of Birds (1920), II9, 135,
136

A. L. Thomson’s Regort, 131

Miillipede, /sobates varicornis, in Mid-
lothian, 68

Mollusca, Pinna fragilis off Shetland,
162

W. D. Roebuck’s Census, 130

Munro, Dr J. W., Notice of his

‘““Forest Insect Conditions,” 43
Scottish Bark-beetles, 87

Murpuy, J. E.,and GoRDON, T. H. M.,
Additions to the Coleoptera of
the Clyde Area, 25

N

Naturalists’ Union, 33
Nematomorpha, see Hairworms
Newt, Palmated, in Argyllshire, 21

O

Oriole, Golden, in Wigtownshire, 132

Ornithology, Scottish, Report for 1920,
105, 135

Ouzel, Ring-, Decrease in Dumfries-
shire, etc., 125, 167

Ox, Great Extinct, in Linlithgowshire,
168

in Peeblesshire, 104
Oystercatcher, Six Eggs in Nest, 134

1p

Pests of Agriculture, 27, 181
Petrel, Fulmar, in Forfarshire, 125,
158
at St Abb’s Head, 126
at Troup Head, 4

SCOTTISH NATURALIST

Petrel, Leach’s Fork-tailed, in Renfrew-
shire, 4.

Pheasant, food of, 27

Pinna, see under Mollusca

Pintail, see under Ducks

Pirimela, see under Crab

Protection of Wild Birds, 97

Q

Quail in Midlothian, 125

R

Ravens in N. Uist, 10

Redstart in Ross, 162

RINTOUL, AL aJj2

RINTOUL, L. J., and BAXTER, E. V.,
see under Baxter

RITCHIE, Dr J., as Editor, 1; the
Walrus in British Waters, 5, 77;
Golden-toothed Sheep of Aberdeen-
shire, 36; Insects and Forestry—
some Effects of the War, 43;
Scorpena dactyloptera off Dunbar,
161; Fan-shell, Pinna fragilis,
off Shetland, 162 ; Obituary Notice
of Dr W. S. Bruce, 165; Great
Extinct Ox in Linlithgowshire,
168 ; Hairworms in Scotland, 185

Rook, food of, 27

Rookeries deserted, 3

NS)

Sandpiper, Green, in Berwickshire, Io

SAXBY, T. EDMONDSTON, Glossy Ibis
in Unst, Io

Science, The March of, 12g

Scorpena dactyloptera off Dunbar, 161

Scoter, see under Ducks

Scottish Naturalists’ Union, 33

Sheep, Golden-toothed, of Aberdeen-
shire, 36

Shoveller, see under Ducks

Sirex gigas, imported to Clyde, 58

in Dumbartonshire, 161
Sitona, see under Beetles
Snipe, Great, in Ayrshire, 185

INDEX 195

Squirrel, late breeding of, 3

STENHOUSE, Dr J. H., Lapland
Bluethroat at Fair Isle, 76

STENHOUSE, Dr J, H., and CLARKE,
Dr W. E., see CLARKE

Stenopteryx, see under Diptera

Stilt, Black-winged, in Wigtownshire,
27

Swallow-fly, see under Diptera

SYKEs, C., Wryneck in Midlothian, 158

aly

Taylor, W., death of, 98

Tern, Common, Winter Occurrence in
Scotland, etc., 133, 167

Thomson, Dr A. Landsborough, 2, 131

Titmouse, Marsh, in Berwickshire, 86

TOMLINSON, M. R., Quail in Mid-
lothian, 125

Great Spotted Woodpecker in Perth-

shire, 134

TRAIL, H., Fulmar Petrel at Troup
Head, 4

Tree-creepers on Isle of May, 75

U

Urus, see Ox

Ww

Walrus in British Waters, The, 5, 77

Warbler, Blackcap, in Kilmacolm, 21

Wardlaw Ramsay, Col. R. G., death
of, 66

Waxwings in Dumfriesshire, Hadding-
tonshire, and Lanarkshire, 36

Immigration in 1921, 167

Weevils, see under Beetles (Sz¢ona, etc.)

Whitethroat, Eastern Lesser, new to
Britain, 6

WILSON, W., Hoopoe in Aberdeenshire,
178

Woodpecker, Great Spotted, nesting
in Argyllshire and Perthshire, 134

Wood-Wasp, see Sivex

Wryneck, in Midlothian, 158

Z

Zoological Park,

born in, 64, 128

Notes from: A White Monkey, New
Polar Bear, 31; Ptarmigan from
Spitsbergen, 32 ; a Baboon’s In-
telligence, 63, 130, 189; New
Aviary for Wading Birds, 96; the
King Penguins, 127 ; a New Chim-
panzee, 190

Recent Additions to, 31, 64, 95, 163

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CONTENTS

Editorial Notes .

The Walrus in British Waters—/ames Ritchie, M.A., D.Sc.,
ARS LE.

Bird- Associations in Scotland — The Jate ret ve Ee

Brock, M.C.

The Need for a Bird Census — Walter EL. Cube IDS as.
DROS PURSE OR OL

Additions to the Coleoptera of the Clyde Area ee £.
Murphy and Thos. H. M. Gordon ;

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Petrel at Troup Head—Augh Trail, 4; Black-tailed God-
wit in Kirkcudbrightshire—Hugh S. Gladstone, 4; White-
fronted Goose and Leach’s Fork-tailed Petrel in Renfrew-
shire—Thomas Malloch, 4; Glossy Ibises in Scotland in
1920—T7. Edmondsion Saxby and James F. Lumsden, 10;
Ravens in North Uist—George Beveridge, 10 ; Green Sand-
piper in Berwickshire—7. G. Laidlaw, 10; Blackcap
Warbler at Kilmacolm—Z. Thornton Mackeith, 21; The
Palmated Newt in Argyllshire—Wm. Evans, 21 ; Swallow
Fly, Stenopteryx hirundinis, L., in the Morningside suburb
of Edinburgh—Wm. Evans, 21; Gadwall in Berwick-
shire—7. G. Laidlaw, 24; Late Nesting of Mallard—
Hugh S. Gladstone, 24.

Current Literature : : ts : : 5

Book Notices :

Types and Breeds of Farm sre eee Charles S.
Plumb . i

Territory in Bird Life—Z. “Eliot jet
Keys to the Orders of Insects—Frank Balfour Sree M, Ae
TER Sees : ; : : ;

Notes from the Scottish Zoological Park : :

PUBLISHERS’ NOTE.

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STUDIES IN BIRD MIGRATION
By WILLIAM EAGLE CLARKE, IS.0., LL.D. F.RS.E.

Member of the British Association Committee on the Migration of Birds
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CONTENTS

A Scottish Naturalists’ Union .

The Pintail as a Scottish Breeding Species—Lvelyn V. Baxter
and Leonora Jeffrey Rintoul

Insects and Forestry—Some Effects of the War (¢/lustrated)—
Uke ‘ : ; :

Bird-Associations in Scotland (concluded from page 21)—The
late Captain Sydney E. Brock, M.C.

Diptera Nematocera from Arran and Loch Etive—/. W.
PLRAWALAS BAe i Lasioe, ke ,

Notes:

The Golden-toothed Sheep of Aberdeenshire—/. Ritchie, 36;
Visitation of Waxwings—W. M. Ingles, H. S. Gladstone,
36; Breeding of Shoveler in 1899—/. Holmes, 42 ; Gold-
finch Immigration to Dumfriesshire, 42 ; Coleoptera of the
Clyde Area—A. Fergusson, 47; Great Snow Goose in
Solway—W. Eagle Clarke, 48; Two Rare Staphylinid
Beetles (Acidota cruentata and A. crenata) in the Clyde
Atea—A. Fergusson, 48; Entomology in South London,
48; Importation of Greater Wood Wasps (Sivex gigas)
to Clyde—A. Cuthbertson, 58 ; British Blood-sucking Flies,
58; Dusky Ant (Formica fusca) in East Sutherland—
W. Evans, 61.

Book Notices

Notes from the Scottish Zoological Park

PUBLISHERS’ NOTE.

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From Gurney & Jackson’s List

STUDIES IN BIRD MIGRATION
By WILLIAM EAGLE CLARKE, I1S.0., LL.D. F.R.S.E.

Member of the British Association Committee on the Migration of Birds
as Observed on the British and Imsh Coasts, and Author of its Final
Reports, 1896-1903, etc.

With Numerous Illustrations, Maps, and Weather Charts.
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problems of this difficult but fascinating subject. It is certain that to the serious student
of bird migration the volumes are indispensable.’ — Zhe Atheneum.

“This book has been long expected, and it is certainly one worth waiting
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8vo, with 384 fine Woodcuts and 3 Maps. £1, ls. net.
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CONTENTS

PAGE

The Extermination of the Old Scottish Fauna; azd Editorial
Notes : : ; : , : § 65

The Greater Snow Goose in the Scottish Solway Area: A
First Record for Great Britain—W. Eagle Clarke . : 69

Small Birds in the Garden—George Bolam . : . i

The Walrus in British Waters (concluded from page 9)—James
Ritchie : : : : 5 5 7)
Scottish Bark-Beetles—Records and Observations—/. W.

Munro : : : 5 ; : : 87

Diptera Nematocera from Arran and Loch Etive (continued
from page 61)—F. W. Edwards . 4 . : 89

Notes:

How Hedgehogs Climb—Aerbert Maxwell, 67; Birds in a
Storm in the Outer Hebrides, 67; Waxwing in Kirk-
cudbrightshire—/. S. Gladstone, 70; Tree-creepers on
the Isle of May—Z. /. Rintoul and E&. V. Baxter, 75;
Lapland Bluethroat at Fair Isle—/, 4. Stenhouse, 76;
The Marsh Titmouse in Berwickshire—7. G. Lazdlaw, 86 ;
A Rare Millipede (/sodates varicornis) in Midlothian—
W. Evans, 68; Breeding of the Red Admiral Butterfly in
Scotland—Z7. Hudson Beare and W. E., 76; A Local
Weevil (Sztona lineellus) on the West Coast of Arran—
A. Fergusson, 94.

Book Notices. 3 : 5 ; : 4 93

Notes from the Scottish Zoological Park : : : 95

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i
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EDITED BY tS
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me,
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H. S. GLADSTONE, M.A., F.R.S.E., F.Z.S.

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‘The Scottish Naturalist

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I9ll, in all Twenty Volumes, handsomely bound in
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ng a ale ee a:

From Gurney & Jackson’s List

STUDIES IN BIRD MIGRATION
By, WILLIAM EAGLE CLARKE, 15.0, LL.D, F.RS.E.

Member of the British Association Committee on the Migration of Birds
as Observed on the British and Irish Coasts, and Author of its Final
Reports, 1896-1903, ete.

With Numerous Illustrations, Maps, and Weather Charts.
Ze WOlSse\ Sq.) Wemlyy OVO niZlisinet:

‘There is no other English ornithologist better qualified to write on the migration of
birds than Mr Eagle Clarke, whose name has long been inseparably associated with the
problems of this difficult but fascinating subject. It is certain that to the serious student
of bird migration the volumes are indispensable.”’— Zhe A thenaum.

“This book has been long expected; and it is certainly one worth waiting
for.” —Nature.

An Illustrated Manual of British Birds

By Howarp SaunpeERS, F.L.S., F.Z.S., etc. Second Edition. Demy
8vo, with 384 fine Woodcuts and 3 Maps. £1, ls. net.
‘Excellent alike in style and matter, it ought to be in the hands of every lover of
birds.” —A nnals of Natural History.
‘The whole book forms the most concise and at the same time trustworthy book on
birds of a single region that has ever been written.” — Science Gossip.

GURNEY & JACKSON, 33 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON, E.C.

Taxidermist to the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh

CHARLES KIRK

Artist in Taxidermy

—
SPORTING TROPHIES AND NATURAL

HISTORY SPECIMENS OF ALL KINDS

--MOUNTED WITH ARTISTIC SKILL..
@

SKINS DRESSED FOR FURS OR RUGS

56-58 Gt. Western Road, Glasgow

Telephone: Charing 706 Established 1896

CONTENTS

The Protection of Wild Birds; azd other Editorial Notes .

Spread of a Rare Rove Beetle (PhyWodrepoidea crenata) in
Scotland—Anderson Fergusson, F.E.S.

Report on Scottish Ornithology in 1920, including Migration—
Evelyn V. Baxter, H.M.L.0.U., and Leonora J. Rintoul,
H.M.B.O.U.

Diptera Nematocera from Arran and Loch Etive (Lllustrated)
(concluded from page 92)—F. W. Edwards, B.A., FES.

Notes:

Osier Beetle (Leptidea brevipennits) introduced to Scotland—
J. J. FX. King, 103; Great Extinct Wild) Ox (Bes
primigenius) in Peeblesshire—R. Eckford, 104 ; Common
Scoter in Perthshire—Z. Boase, 104 ; Quail in Midlothian—
M. R. Tomlinson, 125 ; Turtle Dove in Kirkcudbrightshire,
and Decrease of Ring-ouzel—/. S. Gladstone, 125 ; Nesting
of Fulmar Petrel on Forfarshire Coast—D. G. Hunter, 125 ;
The Fulmar Colony at St Abb’s Head—Wm. Evans, 126.

Notes from the Scottish Zoological Park ; : ;

PUBLISHERS’ NOTE.

PAGE

97

99

105

I21I

127

The Annual Subscription for 1921, payable in advance, 15s. post free,
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Edinburgh.

COVERS FOR BINDING “THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST,”

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PRINTED BY OLIVER AND BOYD, EDINBURGH.

Nos. 117 AND 118. | 1921 | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER.

The Scottish Naturalist

A Magazine devoted to Zoology

eGiVAs
With which is incorporated lan egatooiettn GIY 58
W208 3 és
ud

“The Annals of Scottish Natural Historyf>/0"_ a

oe <a :
re Ae ON

i. rs
EDITED BY ew ie a

PAVE Sik th Catt BevMo) WS. lois Eres ure 3
Keeper, Natural History Department, Royal Scottish Museum SS; : ay AG

af SL ey

Wilt Tee EE VOAGNC Sock RT Se bias TCs

Member of the British Ornithologists’ Union

Pen be Givi hi Reve SAW BARS SUBna Heke Se
Assistant-Keeper, Natural History Department, Royal Scottish Museum

ASSISTED BY
EVELYN V. BAXTER. F.Z.S., H.M.B.O.U. W. EAGLE CLARKE, I.S.0., LL.D.
LEONORA J. RINTOUL, F.Z.S., H.M.B.O.U. ANDERSON FERGUSSON, F.E.S.
H. S. GLADSTONE, M.A., F.R.S.E., F.Z.S.

EDINBURGH: OLIVER & BOYD, TweeppaLe Court
LONDON: GURNEY & JACKSON, 33 Paternoster Row

Price 3s. Annual Subscription, payable in advance, 15s. post free.

The Scottish Naturalist

All Articles and Communications intended for publication, and.
all Books, etc., for notice, should be sent to THz Epirors, Royal -
Scottish Museum, Edinburgh.

Subscriptions and Advertisements should be addressed to the
Publishers, Messrs OLIVER AND Boyp, Tweeddale Court, Edinburgh.

Authors of General Articles will receive 25) Reprints (in covers) of
their Contributions gratis. Additional Copies, in covers, may be had from
the Printers, at the ordinary prices ruling, provided such orders accom-
pany the Manuscript, or when proofs are being passed.

WATKINS & DONCASTER

NATURALISTS

Keep in Stock every kind of APPARATUS and
CABINETS required by Entomologists, Orni-
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A LARGE STOCK OF
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Full Catalogue (80 pages) mailed free to any address

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By Special Appointment to H.M. the King

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THE JUNGLE, 167 Piccadilly, London, W.1

From Gurney & Jackson’s List

STUDIES IN BIRD MIGRATION
BY WILLIAM EAGLE (CLARKE, 1S O, LED, FRS.E.

Member of the British Association Committee on the Migration of Birds
as Observed on the British and Irish Coasts, and Author of its Final
Reports, 1896-1903, etc.

With -Numerous Illustrations, Maps, and Weather Charts.
2) Vols, Sq.) Demy 3vo.- 21s: net:

“ There is no other English ornithologist better qualified to write on the migration of
birds than Mr Eagle Clarke, whose name has long been inseparably associated with the
problems of this difficult but fascinating subject. It is certain that to the serious student
of bird migration the volumes are indispensable,” — Zhe Atheneum.

“This book has been long expected, and it is certainly one worth waiting
for.”—Nature.

An Illustrated Manual of British Birds

By Howarp SaunpeErs, F.L.S., F.Z.S., etc. Second Edition. Demy
8vo, with 384 fine Woodcuts and 3 Maps. £1, ls, net.
‘Excellent alike in style and matter, it ought to be in the hands of every lover of
birds.” —A znals of Natural History.

‘“The whole book forms the most concise and at the same time trustworthy book on
birds of a single region that has ever been written.’’—Sczence Gossip.

The Birds of Ireland

An Account of the Distribution, Migrations, and Habits of Birds, as
observed in Ireland, with all additions to the Irish List, including an
Introduction and Tables showing the Distribution of Birds in the
Breeding Season. By RicHarp J. USSHER and ROBERT WARREN,
With a Coloured Plate, Maps, and other Illustrations. 450 pp. 8vo,
clothye-Als 10s:

British Wild Flowers

By Joun E. Sowersy, Author of Zhe Ferns of Great Britain.
Described, with an Introduction and a Key to the Natural Orders,
by C. PiERpPoINT JOHNSON. Reissue, to which is added a Supple-
ment containing 180 Figures, comprising later discovered Flowering ©
Plants, and the Ferns, Horse-tails, and Club-Mosses. Super-royal
8vo, with 1780 Coloured Figures. £3, 3s.

GURNEY & JACKSON, 33 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON, E.C.

CONTENTS

PAGE

The March of Science; and other Editorial Notes : oe, 2G)

Winter Occurrence of the Common Tern in Scotland— Walter
JB, (CMBR SOL Ney SMS : . ‘ api ees ee

Report on Scottish Ornithology in 1920, including Migration
(concluded from page 120)—LEvelyn V. Baxter, H.M.B.O.U.,
and Leonora J. Rintoul, H.M.B.O.U. : : Pu ins ues

On a small Collection of Hemiptera from the Isle of Arran,
Scotland—Z. A. Butler, B.A., B.Sc. FES. . in AS

Notes:

Large Prehistoric Antlers of Red Deer, from Barry, Forfarshire
—/J. Carmichael, 161 ; Golden Oriole in Wigtownshire—
Sir Herbert Maxwell, Bt, 132; Bittern in Berwickshire—
T. G. Laidlaw, 132 ; Nesting of Great Spotted Woodpecker
—/. H. P. Leschallas and M. R. Tomlinson, 134; Six Eggs
in an Oystercatcher’s Nest—7Z. Malloch, 134 ; Wryneck in
Midlothian—Cvossley Sykes, 158; Greenland Falcon and
Pink-footed Geese on North .Uist—G. Beveridge, 158;
Fulmars on the Arbroath Cliffs—W. Larnach, 158; Red-
start common in Ross, 162; “ Blue-mouth” (Scorfena
adactyloptera) off Dunbar—/Jas. Ritchie, 161 ; ““Wood-wasp”
(Stvex gigas) at Edinbarnet, Dumbartonshire—A. Cuthdert-
son, 161; Beetle (Ceuthorrynchus erysimt v. chloropterus),
from Summerston, near Glasgow—7. 4. MZ. Gordon, 162 ;
Great Fan Shell (Pizna fragilis) off Shetland—/as. Ritchie,
162.

Notes from the Scottish Zoological Park 5 : a ai(Oie3

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

A few Complete Sets of “The Annals of Scottish
Natural History,” from its Commencement in 1892 to
I9iI, in all Twenty Volumes, handsomely bound in
cloth, gilt top, are still available, at the reduced
price of £4, 4s. net.

Many of the Back Numbers can still be supplied.

OLIVER AND BOYD, Tweeddale Court, Edinburgh

| NoVEMBER- DECEMBER.

Nos. 119 AND 120. | IQ2!

The Scottish Naturalist

A Magazine devoted to Zoology weicars~
3 A aoe -@ dione

po = >
Fie ~ af? o- ¥\
With which is incorporated E> qu i
“The Annals of Scottish Natural Histogy,': 182 AR ¥ sa
rf .
\ge\ SOS a
EDITED BY es tes aSy/
A

PAUMGE, Seiko Gare Mev AC Oh OC. eH Salter,

Keeper, Natural History Department, Royal Scottish Museum

Wer EEA Mi) Tn VEAUN Ss) BoReS. Heo Ec:

Member of the British Ornithologists’ Union

JIB ARG NE | MISES IS IO IETS Sle Waa I ato Deen alg Opis
Assistant-Keeper, Natural History Department, Royal Scottish Museum

ASSISTED BY
EVELYN V. BAXTER, F.Z.S., H.M.B.O.U. W. EAGLE CLARKE, I.S.0., LL.D.
ANDERSON FERGUSSON, F.E.S

LEONORA J. RINTOUL, F.Z.S., H.M.B.O.U.
H. S. GLADSTONE, M.A., F.R.S.E., F.Z.S

EDINBURGH: OLIVER & BOYD, Tweeppate Courr
LONDON: GURNEY & JACKSON, 33 Parernoster Row

Price 3s. Annual Subscription, payable in advance, 15s. post free.

“The Scottisa Naturalist a

All Articles and Communications intended for publication, and
all Books, etc., for notice, should be sent to THE Epirors, Royal
Scottish Museum, Edinburgh.

Subscriptions and Advertisements should be addressed to the
Publishers, Mrssrs OLIVER AND Boyp, Tweeddale Court, Edinburgh.

Authors of General Articles will receive 25 Reprints (in covers) of
their Contributions gratis. Additional Copies, in covers, may be had from

the Printers, at the ordinary prices ruling, provided such orders accom-
pany the Manuscript, or when proofs are being passed.

WATKINS & DONCASTER

NATURALISTS

Keep in Stock every kind of APPARATUS and —
CABINETS required by Entomologists, Orni- |
thologists, Botanists, etc.

A LARGE STOCK OF
BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS, BIRDS, EGGS, ETC.

Full Catalogue (80 pages) mailed free to any address

36 STRAND, LONDON, W.C., ENGLAND

By Special Appointment to H.M. the King

ROWLAND WARD, LIMITED

NATURALISTS

Practical and Artistic Taxidermists
Designers of Trophies of Natural History
Preservers of all Specimens of Animal Life

Skin Dressers and Furriers

THE JUNGLE, 167 Piccadilly, London, W.1

a

From Gurney & Jackson's List

STUDIES IN BIRD MIGRATION
BY WILEIAM DAGEE (CLARKE, iSO. Wild. ERS E.

Member of the British Association Committee on the Migration of Birds
as Observed on the British and Irish Coasts, and Author of its Final
Reports, 1896-1903, etc.

With Numerous Illustrations, Maps, and Weather Charts.
2 Nols. Sq.’ Demy 8vo. 21s. ‘met.

“ There is no other English ornithologist better qualified to write on the migration of
birds than’ Mr Eagle Clarke, whose name has long been inseparably associated with the
problems of this difficult but fascinating subject. It is certain that to the serious student
of bird migration the volumes are indispensable.’ — 7he Atheneum.

“This book has been long expected, and it is certainly one worth waiting
for.” —NVature.

An Illustrated Manual of British Birds

By Howarp Saunpers, F.L.S., F.Z.S., etc. Second Edition. Demy
8vo, with 384 fine Woodcuts and 3 Maps. 1, ls. net.
“Excellent alike in style and matter, it ought to be in the hands of every lover of
birds.” —A xanals of Natural History.

‘““The whole book forms the most concise and at the same time trustworthy book on
birds of a single region that has ever been written.” —Sczence Gossip.

The Birds of Ireland

An Account of the Distribution, Migrations, and Habits of Birds, as
observed in Ireland, with all additions to the Irish List, including an
Introduction and Tables showing the Distribution of Birds in the
Breeding Season. By RicHarp J. USSHER and RoBeRT WARREN.
With a Coloured Plate, Maps, and other Illustrations. 450 pp. $vo,
cloths, pl2s: net:

GURNEY & JACKSON, 33 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON, E.C.

A PHOTOGRAPHIC ATLAS. SECOND SERIES
By EE. K. PEARCE

With 125 photographs Royal 8vo 15s net

“The photographs are as good as any we have seen of this class of insect—a
peculiarly difficult class to represent pictorially in any natural manner; the venation of
the wings is well brought out wherever the banding or colouring of the wings does not
obscure it, and there are excellent short notes as to habitat, larval habits, and so on
under the pictures.’—/Va/wre on THE FIRST SERIES.

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS,

FETTER LANE, LONDON,

E.C. 4:

C. F. CLAY, Manacrr I

CONTENTS

PAGE
‘William Spiers Bruce, LL.D.”—/James Ritchie, M.A., D.Sc. . 165
Editorial Notes . ; , ‘ : : S109)

The Last of the Indigenous Scottish Capercaillies (Illustrated)
—Flugh S. Gladstone, 7. RS.E, L:2.S." § LO

The Eastern Lesser Whitethroat, an Addition to the British
Avifauna; and the Yellow-legged Herring Gull, a New
Record for Scotland— W. ELagle Clarke, Z.S.0., LL.D., and

J. 7. Stenhouse, M.B., Surg.-Admiral ‘ : nT)
Cryptohypnus riparius, a Click-Beetle, as a Possible Agricultural

Pest— W. Evans, F-R.S.L. : é ‘ Pein cess
A Rare Crab (Pirimela denticulata) in the Firth of Forth—

W. Edgar Evans, B.Sc. . : : : Sel One
Notes:

Great Extinct Ox or Urus in Linlithgowshire—/as. Ritchie,
168 ; Hoopoe in Aberdeenshire—W. W2/son, 178 ; Iceland
Falcon at Sule Skerry—W. Eagle Clarke, 185; Great or
Solitary Snipe in Ayrshire—A. Fatrbairn, 185; Notes on
° the Distribution of Weevils of the Genus Sz¢oma in the
N. of Scotland—Dorothy J. Jackson, 178; An Anopheline
Mosquito in E. Lothian—W. Evans, 185 ; Scottish Insect
Notes, 186; Hairworms (Wematomorpha) in Scotland—

Jas. Ritchie, 185.

Book Notices . : é ; ; : By SE?
Notes from the Scottish Zoological Park : : eo NLO®
Indexsfon 1921. : 5 : : é ae LOR

PUBLISHERS’ NOTE.

The Annual Subscription for 1922, payable in advance, 15s, post free,
should be addressed to the Publishers, Oliver and Boyd, Tweeddale Court,

Edinburgh,

COVERS FOR BINDING “THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST,”

Special Cloth Cases for Binding the 1921 Volume can be supplied at Is. 6d.
each (by post 1s. 1od.), by Oliver and Boyd, Tweeddale Court, Edinburgh.

PRINTED BY OLIVER AND BOYD, EDINBURGH.

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