A vertebrate fauna of the Orkney Islands

BIOLOGY LIBRARY

if)

A VERTEBRATE FAUNA

OF THE

ORKNEY ISLANDS

BY
T. E. BUCKLEY, B.A., F.Z.S.

MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS* UNION, ETC.
AND

J. A. HARVIE-BROWN, F.R.S.E., F.Z.S.

MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS* UNION, ETC.

EDINBUHGH : Printed by T. and A CONSTABLE,

FOR

DAVID DOUGLAS.

LONDON ..... SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON KENT AND CO., LTD.
CAMBRIDGE .... MACMILLAN AND BOWES.
GLASGOW . . JAMES MACLEHOSE AND SONS

VERTEBRATE FAUNA

OF THE

ORKNEY ISLANDS"

T H OM ?S E .V ^''iJ B K-L E Y

AND
J. A. HARVIJE-BROWN

DAVID
EDINBURGH: MDCCCXCI

.-'*?•> \

/Sr

LIBRARY

tOLdGY IJSRARf

PREFACE

THE plan of the present volume is built much on the
same lines as those of the two preceding ones, though
we have made one or two alterations which appeared
to us, if not necessary, at least an improvement on these.
Thus, instead of giving a list of all the species included
in the British Fauna, we have only given those about
which we had any information, by these means doing
away with a good deal of unnecessary matter.

We have been aided in our work by many able and
willing correspondents, who have spared themselves no
trouble in answering our numerous inquiries, besides
helping us in any other way in their power. On the
Mainland we are indebted to Mr. Cursiter for access to
his valuable library, and for the trouble he has taken in
looking up and pointing out to us any passages that
he thought would be of use in furthering our work.
Mr. Cursiter is a well-known authority on Orcadian and
Shetland antiquities, which are his special study, and

croo

VI PREFACE.

in addition to his almost perfect library of the literature
of the two groups of islands, possesses a very fine and
extensive collection of their antiquities, commencing from
the old stone age down to more modern times.

To Mr. T. W. Ranken we are indebted for many
notes not only his own, but those that were made by
his father, all of which are of great interest. Mr.
Ranken's brother-in-law being the proprietor of Eday,
has enabled him to give us all available information
concerning that island. From Mr. Irvine-Fortescue we
'have received a large number of most interesting and
valuable notes, made out with the greatest care, and
evidently written by a man who is both a sportsman
as well as a naturalist, and who is not in the least
likely to lead one astray by any rash statement. Mr.
E. S. Cameron, besides giving us the use of all the
information he had collected from various quarters,
kindly drove us to many places on the Mainland, thus
enabling us to visit with ease what it would otherwise
have cost us much trouble and inconvenience to do. It
is to his care and protection that the birds have been
allowed to increase and multiply on Eynhallow in the
way they have done. Mr. Watt, the owner of Skaill
House — one of the oldest and most interesting mansions

PREFACE. vii

in the Orkneys — also possesses the loch of Skaill, which,
to an ornithologist, is one of the most attractive in the
Mainland, and he has sent us many notices of waterfowl
from thence ; we think there is more still to be done
there and in that neighbourhood, Mr. Watt himself
being more an antiquarian than ornithologist. We have
also corresponded with Mr. Leask of Boardhouse and
Mr. Cowan of Kirk wall, the latter gentleman being quite
an authority on fish.

Sanday has perhaps given more rare birds to the
Orkneys than almost all the other islands put together ;
and the late Mr. Strang's place of Lopness has been ably
filled in all senses of the word by his successor Mr.
Harvey. The latter gentleman has added the Nutcracker
to the faunal roll, and he has been good enough to send
us an almost complete list of the birds of Sanday as well
as a very interesting description of the island itself.
Hearing that we were purposing to bring out a volume
on Orkney birds, Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie was good enough
at once to send us a note of the Pectoral Sandpiper
procured by him in Westray, and he has since by corre-
spondence given us a great deal of information on birds
both from that island and Papa Westray.

Through the kindness of Mr. Moodie-Heddle, the

viii PREFACE.

proprietor of Hoy, we were enabled to make, ourselves,
an almost complete survey of that island, which includes
North and South Walls, and we are extremely indebted
to him for his hospitality and aid. His own perfect
knowledge of the island helped us to visit, without loss of
time, the breeding-places of the more interesting birds,
and the knowledge thus obtained was largely supple-
mented by notes kept for many years both by his father
and himself, and since then by continued correspondence.
Indeed we think better results might have been arrived
at had Mr. Moodie-Heddle and Mr. Irvine-Fortescue
taken the whole subject in hand themselves.

The schedules we have received from the Pentland
Skerries show that Mr. Gilmour, the assistant light-
keeper, entered into that work con amore ; and the
number of interesting facts brought to light by the
Migration Reports can best be realised by a reference to
the chapter on those islands. We here tender him our
best thanks for the intelligent interest he has displayed
all through.

Wherever we have gone among the islands, we
have always met with the greatest kindness, and our
numerous inquiries have been answered to the best of
the giver's ability ; and we here wish to place on record

PREFACE. ix

the courteous help and kindness we have received from
one and all.

Almost at the last moment we obtained a number
of most interesting notes from Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie,
who was shooting during the autumn and winter of
1889, in Westray and Papa Westray. These, together
with the results of a birds'-nesting trip in May 1890,
will be found either incorporated into the body of the
work or in the Appendix ; and we are much obliged
to Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie for sending us, unsolicited, so
much valuable matter.

We are again indebted to Mr. J. G. Millais for the
use of three of his beautiful sketches of Orkney locali-
ties, and we think the reproductions are worthy of all
praise. The picture of the view of Loch Stenness
should have special interest to the ornithologist, as it
and Harray are the only localities where the Wild
Swan is known or recorded to have bred in the
British Isles.

For our title-page we have to thank Mr. Edwin
Alexander.

Many of our illustrations have been copied from
photographs taken by Mr. Norrie, sometimes under cir-
cumstances the reverse of comfortable or convenient ;

X PREFACE.

and we think that the reproductions, done by Messrs.
Annan, have ably seconded Mr. Nome's efforts. The
view of Papa Westray was done by Mr. E. Caldwell, who
came north specially to make this sketch. Apart from
the great interest attaching to the locality, there is a
fresh look about the picture which must specially attract
those who are fond of the sea and cliff scenery.

For uniformity's sake we have used the spelling of
the Orkney names of places as given in Bartholomew's
Reduced Ordnance Map, scale two miles to an inch, and
also because this map is of most use to the general
reader. An Orcadian gentleman pointed out to us that
many of these names have been incorrectly spelt, but to
have altered them might have led to confusion, and have
been of little practical utility. We think every locality
of consequence mentioned in the text will be found in
the accompanying map.

No Faunal List can ever be absolutely perfect. Man
is ever changing the surface of the earth in some way or
other, and thus, by altering the conditions under which
animals exist, the animals themselves must also vary
in either the extension or restriction of their range.
Since the Migration Committee took the lighthouses in
hand, the returns, from these places show these facts as

PREFACE. xi

to birds in a very marked degree. This must necessarily
soon put any work on Natural History more or less out
of date ; it is our duty to make our book as perfect as
possible up to the date of publication. We trust this
will be found a sufficient excuse for adding an Appendix
to contain fresh information, or information we may
have overlooked in the first instance.

In several cases we may have erred in giving all the
notes as we received them from our correspondents.
But these notes were given us in good faith ; and where
we think there has been any likelihood of mistakes on
their part we have pointed them out, so that our readers
can form their own judgment ; and we trust our cor-
respondents will take these remarks in good part, and
not think we are criticising them in any supercilious
spirit.

We are afraid our list of Fish is not altogether satis-
factory. We applied to several people to aid us, but the
information thus gleaned is very meagre. At one time
we contemplated leaving out the whole subject, but on
second thoughts we considered it better to put together
what notes we could get, and point out here to succeeding
Naturalists where fresh fields for their enterprise lay. It
is a subject which, though at present taken up by few,

Xll PREFACE.

would, we should say, well repay patient investigation.
In other branches of Natural History, outside our own
particular ones, such as Crustacea, Botany, etc., we are
given to understand there are several workers through
the islands, and had Messrs. Baikie and Heddle carried on
their proposed work, no doubt all these subjects would
have been included therein. In that case, from their
insular position, the fauna of Orkney, both vertebrate
and invertebrate, would have been very complete. It
would be well if others would take up the subject where
we here leave it, and add a second, and no less inter-
esting, volume.

T. E. BUCKLEY.

J. A. HAEVIE-BKOWK

March 2, 1891.

CONTENTS

PAGE

INTRODUCTORY, . . . xvii-xxiv

GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION OF THE OKKNEY ISLANDS

AND DESCRIPTION OF THEIR PHYSICAL FEATURES, 1-8

DESCRIPTION OF THE NORTH ISLES, . . 9-22

NORTH RONALDSAY, . .. ". .. . . - . 9

SANDAY, .... . 10

STRONSAY, ....... 13

ED AY, . . 15

NORTH FARA, . ... .17

WESTRAY, . . . . . . . 17

PAPA WESTRAY, . . .19

HOLM OF PAPA WESTRAY, . . ... . 21

DESCRIPTION OF THE WESTERN ISLES, . . 23-28

ROUSAY, . . . . 23

VlERA, . . . ... . 25

EYNHALLOW, . . . , . . . 26

GAIRSAY, ... . 27

EGILSAY, . . . . ., ' • . , 27

62

XIV CONTENTS.

PAGE

DESCRIPTION OF THE MAINLAND, SHAPINSAY AND

COPINSAY, . . 29-34

THE MAINLAND, .... 29

SHAPINSAY, ....... 33

COPINSAY, . . . . . . . 33

DESCRIPTION OF THE SOUTH ISLES, . . . 35-42

HOY AND WALLS, .... 35

GR^EMSAY, CAVA, RISA LITTLE, FARA, ETC., ... 39

FLOTTA AND SWITHA, ...... 40

LAMBHOLM, BURRAY, HUNDA, AND GLIMPSHOLM, . 41
SOUTH RONALDSAY, ... .42

DESCRIPTION OF STACK AND SKERRY, 45

DESCRIPTION OF THE PENTLAND SKERRIES, 49

MAMMALS, . . 61

BIRDS, . 91

REPTILES, . 265

AMPHIBIANS, 265

FISHES, 266

APPENDIX, . 297

INDEX, 305

ILLUSTRATIONS

ILLUSTRATED TITLEPAGE, by EDWIN ALEXANDEK. Engraved by ANNAN

and SWAN, . . . . . Titlepage

MULL HEAD, PAPA WESTRAY. From a Photograph by Mr. W.

NORRIE, ........ 22

COPINSAY. From a Photograph by Mr. W. NORRIE, ... 34

HOY CLIFFS, by J. G. MILLAIS. Engraved by Messrs. ANNAN and

SWAN, ......... 36

EISA LITTLE, by J. G. MILLAIS. Engraved by Messrs. ANNAN and

SWAN, ......... 40

STACK, LOOKING WEST. From a Photograph by Mr. W. NORRIE, . 46

NORTH END OF STACK AND SKERRY. From a Photograph by Mr. W.

NORRIE, ...... 48

CORMORANTS NESTING ON SEAL SKERRY, N. RONALDSAY. From a

Photograph by Mr. W. NORRIE, ..... 70

BREEDING-PLACE OF THE CORMORANT. From a Photograph by Mr. W.

NORRIE, . . . . . . .157

STENNESS, by J. G. MILLAIS. Engraved by Messrs. ANNAN and

SWAN> • • ' V - .168

KITTIWAKE'S NEST. From a Photograph by Mr. W. NORRIE, J 236

xvi ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

EAST SIDE OF PAPA WESTRAY, LOOKING NORTH-WEST, by E. CALDWELL.

Engraved by Messrs. ANNAN and SWAN, 246

THE ACTUAL GRANNIE BETWEEN THE CAVES ON PAPA WESTRAY IN
WHICH THE LAST GREAT AUK LIVED. From a Photograph by Mr.
W. NORRIE, 252

MAP OF THE ORKNEY ISLANDS. By Messrs. JOHN BARTHOLOMEW

and Co., . .... 314

INTRODUCTORY

CONSIDERING the number of local faunas already issued, it seems
not a little curious that Orkney should have been so long left to
take care of itself, there having been no attempt made to write a
Fauna of the whole group, since Messrs. Baikie and Heddle's work
appeared in 1848. And this is the stranger, as islands generally
possess, for the naturalist, a greater interest 'than a mainland.
Certainly there are articles in several of the Natural History maga-
zines which bear on the subject, and we ourselves wrote a paper on
the Mammals and Birds of Eousay,1 the result of a nine months'
residence on that island. But all these are isolated cases, and
require collecting and revising before they can be brought into a
" harmonious whole." The Zoologist, Field, and Land and Water,
contain numberless references to the capture of rare visitants, but
the want of a good index to the first named, and the comparative
inaccessibility of the two latter, render the work of collecting
these records almost impossible ; but such notices as we have been
able to cull from them will be found under the species to which
they refer.

Eeaders of our book need not expect much in the way of novelty,
even possibly there may not be much of interest, as local faunas
must, to a large extent, be repetitions of each other : still we trust
it will be a solid link in the chain, and we have done our best to
make the information as accurate as possible.

With a few exceptions, we have personally visited every island
of the group. By this we do not wish it to be imagined that such
a casual survey makes us complete authorities on the fauna of each
individual island, but it has enabled us to form a very good idea of
it as a whole. Our numerous correspondents, both residents and
visitors, have most ably assisted us, and enabled us to arrive at
what we trust will be found a very fair if not thoroughly exhaus-

1 Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc. Glasgow, vol. i. New Series, pp. 44 et seq.

xvm INTRODUCTORY.

tive summary of the whole faunal history of the islands, both past
and present.

The Orkney Islands have a long history, and a very large litera-
ture, for from very early times they have been of great importance,
perhaps more so during the Norse period and down to the fifteenth
or sixteenth century than they have ever been since.

Zoology, however, did not flourish much as a science during
those stormy periods, though occasional reference to the more im-
portant animals occur in the Orkneyinga Sagas. Several notes of
mammals and birds are to be found in Sibbald's Scotia Illustrata, still
more in the works of Wallace and Fea. The former of these two
latter authors gives many notices of birds, and we are indebted to
him for first recording the Eoller, Hoopoe and Bittern from these
islands, though the last-named bird seems to have been of doubt-
ful occurrence : the description of the Hoopoe is, however, made
pretty clear. Eagles are constantly mentioned, and a long list of
the breeding-places of the Peregrine is given, when that bird
enjoyed royal protection.

It is not, however, until we come to the latter half of the last
century that anything practical was done for Natural History. At
that time (circa 1770) the Eev. George Low, minister of Birsay,
encouraged by Pennant, wrote out his Fauna Orcadensis, which was
edited and published in 1813, by W. Leach, Low having died before
he could issue the work himself. Another posthumous work of his
is, A Tour through Orkney and Shetland, which only came to light
in 1879. This Tour abounds in Natural History references, and
was written in 1774.

In 1812, Bullock made two voyages to the Orkney and Shetland
Isles, and wrote several papers in the Transactions of the Linnean
Society. He also gave some notes to Montagu which were pub-
lished in an appendix to his Ornithological Dictionary, those concern-
ing the Great Auk being by far the most important. Bullock
procured many specimens of birds when in Orkney for his London
Museum, as may be seen by a reference to any of the numerous
editions of his Guide to that Institution, but he never seems to have
published any separate work on the Islands.

INTRODUCTORY. XIX

In 1837 E. Dunn published his Ornithologist's GvAde to the Islands
of Orkney and Shetland, which contains a very fair list of the mam-
mals and birds, though there are one or two curiously strange omis-
sions. If his statements are entirely to be relied on, the avi-fauna
of the islands has much altered within the last fifty years, as will
be seen by a reference to the various species. Dunn was more of
a collector than a naturalist, and, we are afraid, contributed not a
little to the decimation of the rarer birds of both Orkney and
Shetland.

Next, and equally important with Low, comes the Historia
Naturalis Orcadensis of Messrs. Baikie and Heddle, published in
1848, the standard work on Orkney mammals and birds, and to
which we so constantly refer in our volume. Only one part of
this work was ever published. Seeing that it was written by two
Orcadian gentlemen, it is a great pity that it does not contain much
fuller information, both as to the records of the, even then, fast-
departing eagles, and also of the increase of some species which
began to extend their range about that period throughout the
islands. There can, however, be no doubt about its usefulness
as giving a fair and interesting account of the Orcadian fauna
of their day, and from notes we have seen, made by one of
the authors, there is no doubt that, had a second edition ever been
called for, a great improvement would have been made.

In 1866 Crichton published a small book, A Naturalist's
Ramble to the Orcades, which contains a good deal of useful infor-
mation. He added the Honey Buzzard to the Orcadian list, though
unfortunately he gives no particulars as to where or when the
specimen was obtained. Than this, there is nothing that calls
for any special notice.

In 1883 Mr. Robert F. Spence began a history of The Birds of
Orkney. Of this work 280 pages were printed, which only carries
us down to the middle of the article on the Rook. Mr. Spence
very kindly allowed us to see the rest of the MSS. and to use it as
we liked, as it is very unlikely that the work will ever be finished.

We give here a list of those books and papers which we have
either consulted in writing our present volume, or which seem to

XX INTRODUCTORY.

us likely to be of special interest to any one who would care to
inquire further into subjects more or less connected with it. Our
thanks are specially due to Mr. J. W. Cursiter, of Kirkwall, for
his aid in making this so complete, but at the same time it must
not be looked upon as a Bibliography of the Orkney literature,
which subject has been taken in hand for some time back by
others more specially interested in that subject.

A.D.

1684. Scotia lllustrata, sive Prodromus Historic?, Natumlis Scotice.

Eoberto Sibbaldo. 1684.

1693. Wallace, Rev. James. A Description of the Isles of Orkney. 8vo.
Edinburgh.

- Reprint of 1693 ed. 8vo. Edinburgh, 1883.

1700. Wallace, James, M.D., F.R.S. An Account of the Islands of
Orkney. 8vo. London, 1700.

[This is merely a new edition of the foregoing by the first-
named author's son.]

1700. Brand, Rev. John. A Brief Description of Orkney, Zetland, Pight-
land Firth, and Caithness. 8vo. Edinburgh, 1700.

Reprint. 8vo. Edinburgh, 1884.

1751. Voyage to Shetland, the Orkneys, and the Western Isles. 8vo. Lon-
don, 1751.

1775. Fea, James, Surgeon. The Present State of the Orkney Islands
Considered. 8vo. Holy Rood House, 1775.
— Reprint. 8vo. Edinburgh, 1884.

1774 (1879). Low, Rev. George. A Tour through the Islands of Orkney
and Schetland. 1774. 8vo. Kirkwall. 1879.

1775 1 (1813). Fauna Orcadensis. Circa 1770. 4to. Edinburgh, 1813.
(Vide p. 86 of our present volume.)

1791. Old Statistical Account of the Orkney Islands. 8vo. 1791.

1805. Barry, Rev. George, D.D. History of the Orkney Islands. 4to.
Edinburgh, 1805.

Second edition, with Hendrick's Notes. 4to. Edinburgh, 1808.

Reprint, with Introduction. 8vo. Kirkwall, 1867.

1806. Neill, Patrick. Tour through some of the Islands of Orkney and
Shetland. 8vo. Edinburgh, 1806.

1814. Shireff, John. General View of the Agriculture of the Orkney and
Shetland Islands. 8vo. Edinburgh, 1814.

INTRODUCTORY. xxi

1814. Bullock, William. A Companion to the London Museum and
Pantherion. 12mo. Sixteenth ed. London, 1814.

1820. Peterkin, Alexander. Rentals of the Ancient Earldom and Bishop-
ric of Orkney. 8vo. Edinburgh, 1820.

1820. Edmonston, A., M.D. Observations on the Nature and Extent of the
Cod-fishery of the Zetland and Orkney Islands. 8 vo. Edinburgh, 1820.

1837. Dunn, Robert. Ornithologist's Guide to the Islands of Orkney and
Shetland. 8vo. London, 1837.

1842. T$QVT Statistical Account of the Orkney Islands. 8vo. Edinburgh, 1842.

1842. Wilson, James, F.R.S.E. A Voyage round the Coasts of Scotland.
2 vols. 8vo. Edinburgh, 1842.

1843. Zoologist, The. 8vo. London, 1843 et seq.

1848. Baikie, W. B., M.D., and Robert Heddle. Historia Naturalis
Orcadensis. Part I. (all published.) 8vo. Edinburgh, 1848.

1862. Clouston, Rev. Chas. Guide to the Orkney Islands. 8vo. Edin-
burgh, 1862. (This forms the Orkney division of Anderson's
Guide to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and contains a list
of Orkney Birds, which is, however, of little practical use, though
often quoted.)

1866. Crichton, A. W. A Naturalist's Ramble to the Orcades. 12mo.
London, 1866.

1871. Gray, R. Birds of the West of Scotland. 8vo. Glasgow, 1871.

1871-84. Yarrell, W. A History of British Birds. 4th ed. Svo.
London, 1871-1884.

1874. Saxby, H. S., M.D. The Birds of Shetland. 8vo. Edinburgh
and London, 1874.

1874. Bell, T. A History of British Quadrupeds. 2d ed. 8vo. London,
1874.

1879-87. Migration Reports. Published by a Committee of the British
Association. Svo. London, 1879-87. 9 vols.

1883. Tudor, J. R. The Orkneys and Shetland. 8vo. London, 1883.

1884. Buckley, T. E. A Few Notes on the Mammals and Birds of Eou-
say, one of the Orkney Islands. From the Transactions of the
Natural History Society of Glasgow, vol. I. New Series, p. 44
et seq. Read April 29th, 1884.

1888-9. Saunders, H. An Illustrated Manual of British Birds. Svo.
London, 1888-9.

Besides the above works, most of which we have consulted, we
have been favoured by the Rev. H. A. Macpherson with the loan of

xxii INTRODUCTORY.

some letters that passed between E. F. Sheppard (who made
several visits to the Orkneys during the years 1839-41) and T. C.
Heysham, of Carlisle, for whom the former gentleman collected
some eggs.

We have also been enabled, through the kindness of Mr. South-
well, to consult Salmon's Diary of his Tour in the Orkneys in 1831,
from the original, which is kept in the Norwich Museum. Besides
this we have incorporated into our work anything of value from
Salmon's paper in Loudon's Magazine of Natural History, vol. v.
pp. 415-425, entitled " Observations on the Eggs and Birds met with
in a Three Weeks' Sojourn in the Orkney Islands." His stay on the
islands seems to have extended from May 30th to June 21st, 1831.
Between his diary and the paper just mentioned there are several
discrepancies in Salmon's account of the birds he mentions. Take
one instance only : the Arctic Gull or Eichardson's Skua. In his
diary he states that he took a nest in Hoy, while in his paper in
Loudon's Magazine he says he was too early for eggs — this too on
June 14th. We could name other instances, but we think the
above will suffice. He says that in those days all the birds were
allowed to breed unmolested.

We made inquiries as to whether any ornithological notes had
been left by the late Joseph Dunn, and in this search we were
much assisted by Mr. Eagle Clarke and Mr. Porritt. Correspond-
ence with some of Dunn's relatives and intimate friends elicited the
fact that there were no notes forthcoming, and as all his effects were
sold and scattered after his wife's death, if there ever were any
they must have been lost. We found that others besides ourselves
had been inquiring in the same direction, but apparently with no
better results. This is a pity, as with Dunn's long experience of
the Orkneys his notes must have proved of great interest.

At the present time there is a Museum in Stromness and an
Orkney Natural History Society. Mr. S. Brown, the secretary to
this Society, kindly sent us a rough list of the birds in the Museum,
but, unfortunately, no records of the dates or localities of either
these or the mammals have been kept, which much lessens their
value, especially when specimens from other places besides
Orkney have been admitted.

INTRODUCTORY. XXlll

There was however a Museum in Kirkwall in former days, that
must at one time have possessed a good many interesting birds, as
will appear from what is mentioned in the body of the work.
Like so many other local museums, though started with much
vigour, this soon languished, partly perhaps because there was
not a sufficient number of people keenly alive to its interest, and
certainly it was starved from want of funds, as will be seen from
the extract we give from one of Mr. Eeid's letters, that gentleman
having been instrumental in starting the thing, and keeping it
going as long as he could. None of the specimens that the Museum
contained can now be traced ; probably not many are in existence.

" I forgot if I ever told you that in 1846, Baikie and Heddle,
with myself, moved in forming an Antiquarian and Natural History
Society, when all the best people in the islands willingly supported
the movement. I had, at that early date, commenced collecting
some of the rarer and (more) brilliant birds that came in my way.
These I presented to the museum (of) which I became secretary,
treasurer, and custodian. I gave a room in my own house, and the
Society nourished, being well supported at that time. After a year
or so I got married, and soon required the room which was occupied
as the museum, and the latter was removed to a larger long loft in
Broad Street, where we got a working tailor to keep it, sewing
at his work when he could. Well ! Baikie and Heddle left the
country, and I found difficulties in meeting the expense, and gave
up managing the Society, (which), after lingering on for a short time,
and the rent of the room not having been paid for two years, broke
up, and the whole collection was sold by public roup. During my time
of it, I got a great number of birds, from the eagle to the wren. I
do not remember having got any specimens of very great rarity."

Mr. W. Eeid, who has so often contributed to us various
notes on natural history, was born in Wick, but went to Kirkwall
in 1836, he being then twenty-two years of age, and remained there
thirty years, where he was in business as bookseller and stationer.
Mr. Eeid then returned to Wick, and ultimately settled down at
Nairn at the age of seventy.

Our list of mammals includes twenty-nine species. As might
be imagined from the nature of the country, we are indebted very

xxiv INTRODUCTORY.

largely for this number to the various species of seals and whales :
possibly future investigation may add one or two more of these
animals to the list.

Amongst the land mammals three are supposed to have formerly
inhabited Orkney, but were exterminated at a very early date —
viz., the Keindeer, Eed Deer, and White Hare. Since the commence-
ment of this century all these, together with the Hedgehog and
Brown Hare (which latter animal we have no reason to suppose was
indigenous), were re-introduced directly by man. The Eeindeer died
out, the Eed Deer flourished, but had to be killed down for various
reasons, but the White Hare still exists in one island, and the Brown
Hare, where protected, is sufficiently numerous. The Brown Hare
had been previously introduced, but was said to have died out, and
again to have been tried with better results : we have no record
of when the Eabbit was imported, but it was abundant in 1693.
Of the whole number of species included in our list, seven are of
doubtful occurrence : two of these are bats, two are seals, one a
whale, and the other two are the Water Shrew and the Water Eat.
The omnipresent Brown Eat and House Mouse were, of course,
inadvertently introduced, but there is no date of when the occur-
rence took place.

In our list of birds we have included no less than 223 species. Of
these the Great Auk is extinct everywhere. The Ptarmigan has been
exterminated entirely in the islands ; the Sea Eagle is only now
an occasional visitant there ; the Golden Eagle is still rarer. All
these were at one time residents, and seem to have been directly
extirpated by man. Indirectly — i.e. by means of cultivation and
draining — several species are getting rarer, but this is compensated
in some degree by the spread of others which are more dependent
on this cultivated area. Of those birds which man has tried to in-
troduce— viz., the Pheasant, Partridge, Eed-legged Partridge, and
Black-game, — none seem to have thriven, if indeed the most promis-
ing of all, the Partridge, has not now vanished like the other three.

Of the whole number, 223, we may take twenty-three species
as of doubtful occurrence. Most of these doubtful ones are in-
eluded in brackets ; the notes to the others will indicate sufficiently
those that are meant.

GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION OF THE ORKNEY

ISLANDS AND DESCRIPTION OF

THEIR PHYSICAL FEATURES.

THE ORKNEY ISLANDS, separated from the mainland of Scotland by
the Pentland Firth, lie between 58° 41" and 59° 24' north latitude,
and between 2° 22' and 3° 25' west longitude, thus extending over
an area of more than 2000 geographical miles.

Including the Pentland Skerries, the number of inhabited
islands is twenty-nine, and the number of small islands, called
holms, covered with herbage fit for grazing purposes, is said to be
thirty-eight, besides the small half, or nearly entirely submerged
rocks, called Skerries, which have none.

Shirreff in his General View of the Agriculture of the Orkney
Islands, published in 1814, gives the acreage of the whole group
of islands as about 384,000 acres, of which 84,000 were then
supposed to be in a productive state.

With few exceptions, the whole coast-line of the islands is
rocky, the highest part being the well-known cliffs of Hoy on the
west and south-west. The average height of the sea-cliffs is
certainly higher on the west side than on the east, though there are
many places on the latter where they rise to a considerable altitude,
such as Copinsay, and parts of S. Eonaldsay. Quantities of sea-
fowl breed through all these heights ; where the ledges are small,
narrow, and bare, Guillemots, Kazorbills, and Kittiwakes have
taken possession, while the greener slopes are occupied by Herring
Gulls, mixed here and there with a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
Any extent of sandy beach is rare, though there are some
patches on the Mainland. By far the greatest extent of such
sea-board, however, is at Sanday, but all these sandy reaches are
situated either on the east side of the islands, or else in some shel-
tered bays well out of the reach of the heavy wash of the Atlantic.

2 GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION AND PHYSICAL

There are many large and well-sheltered bays scattered
throughout the islands, well suited for wild-fowl, which can shift
their locality with ease from one side of the island to the other,
according to the wind, but good and safe anchorage for vessels
of any size in all weathers is rather scarce ; the best of these per-
haps are Longhope in South Walls, Stromness and Kirk wall in
the Mainland, Kettletoft in Sanday, Pierowall in Westray, and
St. Margaret's Hope in S. Eonaldsay.

The most remarkable of all these bays is Deer Sound, which may,
however, best be described as bays within a bay, and which, at
one point, almost separates the parish of St. Andrews, making one
of the portions into an island. This bay is one of the best-known
resorts for wild-fowl in the whole of the islands, as there is here
a larger extent of shallow water and diversified feeding-ground
than elsewhere.

All the islands are divided from each other by sounds, through
which the tides run with great force and rapidity, the velocity of
some of these streams (or "roosts" as they are locally termed)
rising, during spring-tides, to eleven knots an hour, and the noise
of these roosts resembles a huge river in full flood. These roosts,
too, are very dangerous to inexperienced persons, as the waves rise
to a great height, and then either break or seem to fall down
suddenly, and, should a small boat get into the full strength of
one of these tideways, she will fill and go down. Indeed such an
accident happened to a boat we once possessed when in Eousay,
and we heard, shortly after our departure, that the two men, to
whom she had been sold, got caught in a roost and were drowned,
a wave falling into the boat and taking her down.

With experienced boatmen, however, excellent fishing may be
had close to the heaviest roost. We have had splendid sport when
in the slack water between the two tideways on each side of the
island of Grsemsay, where, although the water was a little rough,
there was little or no current. Here we had great fun with the
larger "cuddies," taking in two at a time almost as fast as we
could put the flies out, while the huge breakers tossed and tumbled
harmlessly, with a thundering roar, on each side of us.

FEATURES OF THE ORKNEY ISLES. 3

The mountainous, or rather hilly, portion of these islands (for
nowhere, except perhaps in Hoy, do the hills attain to the dignity
of mountains), is included in the western side of the group. By
taking Hoy, the west side of the Mainland, as far as Scapa and
Kirkwall, Rousay and the north and west of Westray, we include
nearly all the land of any considerable altitude, except perhaps the
Ward Hill of Eday. The greatest height of all these is attained
by the Ward Hill in Hoy, which rises to 1564 feet.

In former times it would appear that all, or nearly all, the
islands were covered with heather, as, even in the most highly
cultivated districts, little patches of this plant are still to be found.
At the present time, however, the heather is fast disappearing
before the rapid strides of agriculture, and it is now chiefly con-
fined to Hoy and North Walls, the central and more hilly dis-
tricts of the Mainland, Eousay, parts of Eday, and of Westray.

Another cause for the rapid disappearance of the heather is
a habit the natives have of stripping the ground with a sharp
spade; the part thus taken off being used either for roofing or
for fuel. The roots being thus destroyed, the skinned part rarely
recovers ; an unsightly practice, which we wonder the proprietors
allow.

A great impetus was given to Orcadian agriculture about 1832,
when kelp-burning became unremunerative, and steam communica-
tion with the south commenced. Since then the reclamation of
the waste land has gone on to the present time, and now the
advance-guard of fields may be seen well up some of the lower
hills, the surrounding walls showing by their whiteness their new
appearing.

And thus the Grouse, Golden Plover, Short-eared Owl, and
other birds, interesting alike to the sportsman and naturalist, are
gradually getting crowded out. The draining of the moors drives
out the Snipe, once so extremely numerous, while the unnumbered,
so-called, shepherds' dogs — most happy misnomer — together with
the cats, are sadly reducing the breeding stock of such birds
as Lapwings, Eing Dotterels, etc., which once swarmed. Many
Orcadian gentlemen have noticed these facts to us, and regretted

4 GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION AND PHYSICAL

them. But when the area is so comparatively small, and the popu-
lation increases, agriculture must push ahead to the detriment of
the ferce naturce. Gamekeepers, too, except, we believe, on one
estate, are unknown, so the cats and dogs have things pretty much
their own way, and the wonder is that so much is left.

Eegarding this disappearance of these interesting indigenous
birds, we think the following notes from Mr. Watt of Skaill, him-
self a resident Orcadian, cannot fail to be of interest : —

" The Loch of Skaill, and Bay of Skaill, have, from early obser-
vation, been the resort of a variety of birds which frequent the
islands, and it is with regret that I have noticed within the last
twenty-five years that they are becoming every year fewer, in
particular the small waders, which used to go about the sands in
large flocks, and among these at times were to be seen some of the
rarer kind, such as the Phalaropes, Greenshanks, Kuffs, etc. Phala-
ropes I have not seen since about the year 1867; they used to
breed here. I shot a couple of brace of Knots in 1868 out of a
flock of ten, and last summer a friend of mine shot a brace near
the Loch of Stenness. In 1884 I shot a Greenshank on the margin
of the loch of Skaill, and in October last shot a Eeeve. The
Turnstones, which between 1863-70 were pretty numerous, I have
not seen for years, and sandlarks and Dunlins are in small numbers
compared to the flocks that used to frequent our shores. The last
two nested close to the bay and loch. The only reason for which
I can suppose these latter birds have fallen off in number is owing
to the cultivation of their former suitable and quiet breeding-
grounds, which has caused them to go further north, probably to
the Faroes, and the winters in the north, of late years, having
been much milder, there they have remained.1

" Snipe, Eedshanks, Golden Plover, and Green Plover or Lap-
wing, were plentiful, but now few; this again is owing to the
swamps being drained, and turned into fertile fields."

As before mentioned, the manufacture of kelp in these islands
has much decreased, but still a considerable amount is made,

1 Of course we do not agree with our friend in all respects, but the decrease
in the number of birds is undoubted.

FEATURES OF THE ORKNEY ISLES. 5

especially in Hoy and the Mainland, on the shores at the mouth
of Hoy Sound ; and also in Westray and K Eonaldsay. When
just taken out of the furnace, kelp looks very like a cinder, and
has a saline taste.

Wheat does not ripen so far north, but oats, bear, and barley,
though often very late, give good crops. Turnips, however, and
grass, grow well, giving good pasture and feeding for cattle.

Although, perhaps, a minor branch of farming, no notice of
agricultural resources in these islands would be complete without
mentioning poultry. Without going into statistics, the amount of
eggs exported from there is enormous, amounting to thousands of
dozens weekly. No wonder that fowls in these parts are often
called " the Orkney Bank."

In an abstract rental of the Bishopric of Orkney, capons are
specially mentioned, and although chickens were only valued at Id.,
and poultry at 3d., these are quoted as high as 6Jd. each. Since
those times, however, the fashion of making capons seems to have
died out.

From this extract it would seem that poultry, even in those
days, was an article of considerable importance. The large size and
good quality of the Orkney fowls has been attributed, and we think
with great likelihood, to the abundance of insect life formed by the
masses of decaying seaweed lying on the shore, or scattered as
manure over the fields, and this must have a great influence on
their egg-producing capabilities.

Owing to their being wholly surrounded and so much inter-
sected by sea, and also in no slight degree to the presence of the
Gulf Stream, the temperature of the Orkneys is very equable.
Great heat, even in the long days in the height of summer when the
sun is almost ever present, is unknown, but so again is any intense
cold, and it is rare that hard frost lasts for any time, nor does snow
lie long. Fogs are more prevalent in the summer and early autumn
than high winds. Mr. Tudor, in his Orkneys and Shetland} p. 199,
remarks that Mr. Scott of the Meteorological Office pointed out to
him that the special characteristic of the Orcadian climate is the

1 The, Orkneys and Shetland. J. R. Tudor. Stanford, London, 1883. 8vo.

6 GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION AND PHYSICAL

limited range of its temperature throughout the year, which only
amounts to 14° 5', in which respect it resembles the west of Ireland
and the Scilly Isles. The prevailing winds are from some westerly
point, and this may be seen at once from the shape and appearance
of the trees, where such exist. As long as they are protected by
walls they grow well enough, but immediately they rise above
that height the tops are at once cut off, and the boughs and twigs
trained in a contrary direction. Each tree thus forms a slight
protection to the one to the east of it, so that the furthest east tree
is generally the tallest. Besides the actual force of the wind, no
doubt the amount of salt carried in the form of fine spray has some-
thing to do with their stunted growth. Even the heather on the
west side of the hills grows so matted and thick that grouse might
almost as easily walk on the top as through it.

Trees formerly grew in many parts of Orkney, and roots have
been found in Otterswick Bay, Sanday, near low-water mark. At
Millbay, Stronsay, and at Eoithisholm in the same island, roots
and remains of birch-trees as thick as a man's thigh, with the bark
quite bright and entire on several parts of the tree, have been dug
up. We ourselves have seen remains of trees beneath high-water
mark, below Westness House, Eousay, proving that the sea has
encroached there within comparatively recent times, as it has at
Otterswick, Sanday. Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us that a very
few years ago there were still standing the remains of some sort of
fir-tree at the point of North Ness, at the entrance to Longhope in
Walls, which was tall enough to be quite a mark for vessels.
Trees also existed in other parts of Hoy, remains of which are still
found in the bays : and at Berriedale, near Kackwick, small trees
of willow, with birch, ash, and hazel, still grow along the edge of
one of the burns there, and to these Neill refers in his Tour.1

At the present time trees are only to be found, with the
exception of those in Hoy just mentioned, in small plantations,
near, or round, the residences of the gentry, and in many cases
these are by no means as well looked after as they might be.

1 A Tour through some of the Islands of Orkney and Shetland. Patrick Neill.
Edinburgh, 1806. 8vo.

FEATURES OF THE ORKNEY ISLES. 7

This, however, might well arise from the expense of planting and
replanting; and, seeing that no remuneration can possibly be
expected for all the outlay, no tree at the present time being of
any use for timber, or likely to be, and that these plantations are
only of use as affording a little shelter to the houses, and for
ornament, they can perhaps only be regretted from an ornithologist's
point of view, as, by their attractions, increasing the number of
species both resident and migratory.

Hardwood trees, such as plane or sycamore, mountain ash,
and wych elms are the common trees here, the first named being
the commonest, and found round every house where there is any
plantation at all.

No species of fir or larch seems now able to stand the climate.
This we noticed particularly in the plantation at Muddiesdale, close
to Kirkwall, one of the largest in the district; as here, all the larch,
and nearly all the firs, were dead or dying, the former being
covered to an inordinate extent with lichens.

Perhaps the largest planted area is that round Balfour Castle,
on the island of Shapinsay ; others of large extent exist at Birstane
on the Mainland, at Westness in Eousay, and at Melsetter in Hoy.

The largest trees are those about the Earl's and Bishop's Palaces
in the town of Kirkwall, where they have the most protection from
the wind : but, on the road leading up to the Gallows Hill, we
noticed that all the trees along the roadside were dead or dying.

Of rivers proper Orkney has none, though there are plenty of
small burns, many of which are so obstructed by mill dams as to
be of little practical use for fishing purposes. Of these burns,
Berriedale in Hoy ; the burn that flows through Durka Dale ; the
burn of Orphir, and Grsemeshall burn on the Mainland ; and Sourin
in Kousay, are the most important.

In lochs, however, Orkney shows more favourably ; and there
are few islands, except perhaps Shapinsay and Flotta, that have not
one or more, some of considerable size, such as Stenness and Harray
on the Mainland. Many of these contain trout, and some of very
large size, as witness the one caught at Loch Stenness, in October
1888, which weighed 30 Ibs.

8 PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE ORKNEY ISLES.

The Orkneys are divided into three groups, South, West, and
North. All the islands lying to the south of the Mainland, of which
Burray, South Ronaldsay, Hoy and Walls (these two being one
island), Flotta and Grsemsay are the principal ones, are included
in the South Isles. The West Isles include Gairsay, Viera, Egilsay
and Rousay; while the North Isles comprise Stronsay, Sanday,
Eday, North Ronaldsay, Westray, and Papa Westray.

Pomona, the largest of the group, is not known to the inhabi-
tants of the islands by any other title than that of the Mainland,
and we wish our readers to understand that this meaning of the
word holds good through all the text unless it is specially men-
tioned to the contrary.

It can easily be understood that a description of such well-
known, and for the most part, highly cultivated, islands as the
Orkneys, which are, or were, yearly visited by crowds of tourists,
cannot prove of nearly the same interest as the wild outlying and
scarcely visited islands of the Outer Hebrides. For one person
who has visited North Ronay, Mingulay, etc., there are a hundred
who have seen most of the Orkneys, and to describe the former is
almost like writing a chapter on a newly found country, while
Orkney has its guide-books, and, from its unrivalled archaeological
remains, has been explored from end to end.

In its rock scenery, however, Orkney comes well to the front,
and few of the principal islands are without some picturesque bit
of coast-line. There are few people who have not heard of the Old
Man of Hoy, and many of our readers will have seen the magnifi-
cent rocks of that island. Less known is the rock scenery of Rousay,
Westray, and Papa Westray, which, though by no means equalling
the best that Hoy can produce, are still worthy of notice, teeming,
as most of them do in the summer, with bird life of many kinds.

Bearing this in view, we have not considered it necessary to go
into details of each island at any great length, excepting when
particular interest attaches thereto. We have given our own
experience of them, more from an ornithological point of view than
any other, for more details referring our readers to Mr. Tudor's
exhaustive work.

THE NORTH ISLES.

NOKTH KONALDSAY.

THIS island is one of the smallest of the principal ones, being only
about three and a half miles long by one and a half at its broadest
part. Besides being the most northerly of the group, it is also the
lowest lying, being only some fifty feet high at its greatest elevation.
It possesses no sea-cliffs at all, the beach being composed of shingle,
well worn and rounded by the action of the waves, with patches of
sand here and there, which latter is apt to drift a good deal. The
foundation, so to speak, of the island, is rock.

The soil of North Konaldsay is light, but the whole island is
well cultivated, and gives fairly good crops, the grain being prin-
cipally a native black oat.

Though only separated from it by a narrow firth, the climate is
said to be milder than in Sanday, and Mr. Harvey told us that the
late Dr. Traill, who was an excellent botanist, could grow plants
that required a comparatively warm atmosphere — as, for instance,
the New Zealand flax — better at Holland House, his residence
there, than in Sanday.

There are four small lochs in the island, but they contain no
trout, their bottoms being excessively muddy, which gives a
decided tinge to the water. Their edges are in places covered with
reeds and coarse herbage, the resort of Dunlins, and in some places
the surface is covered with a plant bearing a pretty white flower.

One of these lochs is so overgrown with reeds and rushes that
there is little or no water visible. We saw a few Wild Ducks in
some of the little open spaces at the edge, but the whole of the
centre was occupied by one of the largest colonies of Black-headed

10 THE NORTH ISLES.

Gulls we have ever seen. There seemed to be thousands of them,
as they rose screaming at our approach; but, even if we had been
so minded, it would not have been easy to get to the nests, as
the ground was very boggy.

The whole island is surrounded by a dyke to keep the native
sheep, which are here more abundant than in any other island, out
of the interior, the most of which is under cultivation.

Kelp-making is here conducted on a rather more extensive scale
than is customary in these days. The time for burning the ware
commences about the middle of May, and thereafter during the fine
days of summer the smoke arising from the furnaces is quite a
characteristic feature of the place.

In the New Statistical Account it is reported that after a north-
east gale many strange birds are occasionally found here, such as
the Goatsucker, Golden-crested Wren, Cuckoo, and Snowy Owl.

Lying almost due north of the island, and only a few hundred
yards from it, is the Seal Skerry, the resort of the Great Grey Seal,
and of Cormorants, which here nest in some numbers. The Skerry
is nearly divided by a geo which runs north and south, and in
which there is a very considerable depth of water. Harvie-Browii
landed on the Skerry on July 2d, 1889, and after looking at and
determining the species of Seals, he went to visit the cormoranty,
of which due mention is made later on.

This is the only regular breeding-place known to us of the Grey
Seal in the islands, and it is remarkable on that account alone.

SANDAY.

The island of Sanday lies to the north-east of the Mainland of
Orkney. It is bounded on the north by N. Konaldsay and its
firth, on the east by the North Sea, on the south by Sanday
Sound and Stronsay, and on the west by Eday and the North
Sound. The greatest length of the island is twelve miles from
north-east to south-west, and its breadth varies from half a mile
to two miles, its whole surface containing about 12,000 acres,

THE NORTH ISLES. 11

of which four-fifths is under cultivation. There are two inland
seas, and the inlets and outlets to these are called " oyces." There
are several large bays also, so that the island shows a considerable
extent of coast-line. The tideways and currents running round the
island, though rapid, are not dangerous, except in stormy weather,
and the boatmen very often turn them to good account, by entering
into them in order to expedite their passage.

The climate is mild and healthy. There is not much snow or
frost, and the inhabitants generally enjoy good health and long life.
In three or four of the bays are found large quantities of shell-
fish, principally cockles and razor-fish or spouts. There are several
lochs, two or three of pretty large dimensions, but the only fish
they contain are the Common Eel and a species of Stickleback.
Some of the lochs are bordered with rushes and reeds, in which
the Coot, Water-hen, and some ducks and gulls breed.

Sanday is divided into three parts or parishes — the united
parishes of Cross and Burness, and Lady parish. The parishes of
Lady and Burness may be characterised as of a low flat surface in
general, but Cross, lying in the south and west, is more diversified,
having some elevations about 250 feet above sea-level. The soil is
to a large extent of a sandy nature, which most likely originally
gave birth to the name of the island. The seashore on the east of
Burness and Lady is in general a low-lying sandy beach, where
bent grass grows freely; but around Cross and on the west of
Burness it is mostly rocky, with precipices and curious caverns,
where the Kock-doves live and breed, and also a great number of
sea-birds. The rocks here are mostly of a secondary nature ; there is
a little limestone, and on the west side, facing Eday, sandstone and
sandstone flag is found. On the west shore of Cross parish there is
a curious rock called " Heelabir"; it partly consists of a great many
pieces of rounded sandstone and quartz, from half an ounce to
several pounds in weight, attached to its surface. There is also to
be seen near Scar House a large primary rock of several tons
weight, which formerly lay near Saville ; there is no rock of the
same kind to be found nearer than Stromness, from which it is
distant some thirty miles, N.N.W. or thereby.

12 THE NORTH ISLES.

There is a number of ruins, chiefly on the nesses or headlands
of the coast, which are supposed to be the remains of Scandinavian
buildings, such as broughs or forts, round towers, and tumuli,
many of which have never been examined.

There are no trees or bushes here except in gardens, and these
grow only as high as they have shelter, owing to the sea-spray,
which, in a storm, either injures them or kills them altogether.

For the foregoing account we are largely indebted to Mr. Harvey
of Lopness, who has also very kindly furnished us with an account
of the fauna of the island, of which he has a very good knowledge.

To Mr. Harvey's account we may add, that in the New Statistical
Account, published in 1842, it is said that "for at least thirty or
forty years back every farmer who had the opportunity was
inclined to take in the waste land in the parish of Lady (the eastern
portion of the island). Before that time it was considered imprac-
ticable, but now it seems as if in a few years' time there will be no
waste land in the parish."

One of the things that struck us most as we passed along the east
coast of Sanday was the dazzling whiteness of the sand, which was
quite different from many parts of the east coast of Scotland which
we have visited, and where the sand is much browner. We anchored
the yacht in Otterswick, which is well sheltered from nearly every
wind that blows ; in the bay we saw what we took to be a Black-
throated Diver, a rare bird in these islands. We walked through
all the north-east end of the island, the road running behind the
sand-hills, which here fringe the sea-coast. The Start Lighthouse
is situated on a peninsula, which is joined to the island by a slightly
raised gravelly beach. On interviewing the lighthouse-keeper, and
asking him if he received the Migration Schedules, he said he did,
but so few birds struck the light they were not worth recording.
He complained, however, of the number of Starlings, which made
a filthy mess of his lights. He put down the paucity of bird-life
there to the fact that the light is fixed red. He told us that many
Sandgrouse had been about, but that all had left ; however, we sub-
sequently saw some ourselves there, flying south-east.

With the exception of some shallow lochs, some of which were

THE NORTH ISLES. 13

nearly dry on this occasion, and the adjoining marshy ground, and
the land immediately adjacent to the shore, the whole island is cul-
tivated. The marshes were full of bird-life — Sheldrakes, Wild
Ducks, Coots, Peewits, Dunlins, and Terns, being everywhere pre-
sent ; all the terns we could identify were Arctic. We picked up
the wings of a Purple Sandpiper, and a Pintail drake, neither of
which are considered common birds there.

The highest part of the island lies to the south-west, and here
the rocks, though by no means lofty, have steep, grassy slopes,
ending in short precipices, which afford hiding-places to a good
many sea-fowl, especially Black Guillemots. The lochs have the
same characteristics as those we described in North Konaldsay,
but are of greater extent ; Coots are very common on them.

Sanday has long held the position of giving more rare birds to
the Orkney fauna than any other island perhaps in the group.
A reference to Messrs. Baikie and Heddle's book will show this,
and how the ornithology of the islands is indebted to the exertions
and accurate observations of the late Mr. Strang of Lopness. Mr.
Harvey, who succeeded that gentleman to the same farm, seems
also to be possessed of the same tastes, and has added one or two
more birds to the list, notably the Nutcracker.

Mr. Denison of Brough has a very interesting collection of birds,
mostly taken on the island, which he was kind enough to show us,
and from whom we got one or two interesting facts.

STKONSAY.

This island is much more interesting to the agriculturalist than
the ornithologist, nearly the whole of it being devoted to cultiva-
tion, with the exception of one considerable stretch of ground in
the south-east. This part of the island, which is called Koithis-
holm (pronounced Eousholm), we explored, but unsuccessfully, in
search of Whimbrels. The centre of this area is covered with
stunted heather, and contains a certain amount of peat ; the rest is
covered with grass, which gives good grazing for sheep. From the
narrow neck between St. Catherine's Bay and the Bay of Holland
the land rises gradually, and terminates at Koithisholm Head in

4 THE NORTH ISLES.

some steep rocks, which are tenanted by Shags, Cormorants, Herring
Gulls, a pair or two of Great Black-backed Gulls, and a like number
of Hooded Crows, which latter do an immense amount of damage to
the Shags' and Cormorants' eggs, the grass above the ledges being
covered with the shells. Two or three pairs of Golden Plovers, some
Eider Ducks, and a few Meadow Pipits breed among the heather.

Low in his Tour l mentions Stronsay as being " more unequal and
moorish (than Shapinsay), full of moss and peat, except along the
shore, where the ground is cultivated." In this respect it differed
from Sanday and North Konaldsay, which are so destitute of native
fuel that those who could afford brought their peats from Eday,
while the poorer class burnt cow-dung and dried tangle.

Off Stronsay, to the north-west, lies Linga Holm. This island is
all grass, the best parts being those at the north and south-west ends.
The centre is rather swampy, and round this the grass grows in
large tussocks, which afford excellent nesting and hiding-places for
the different birds that breed there ; indeed Linga Holm was one of
the best places we have visited either for numbers or variety of birds.
The beach is mostly shingle, but immediately below that the rocks
appear, especially at the south end, where they form a convenient
resting-place for the Common Seal, which is here found in some
numbers. The rocks and shoal water here extend out for a long
way towards Stronsay, and it is necessary to give this part a wide
berth when sailing up to Linga Sound. At one time the island
was inhabited, but there are no inhabitants there now, and it is
used entirely as a sheep farm. We found all the usual birds here
in abundance, especially Eider Ducks and Sheldrakes, and in a
small pool close to the sea, a Coot, one Wild Duck, and three Teal —
this latter is a rare bird during the breeding season in the Orkneys.
There was also a flock of about twenty Curlews, which, however,
would be non-breeding birds, or possibly migrants at that date
(July 3d). Many of the birds were still on their eggs ; and the
crew of the yacht brought in a quantity of the different kinds, most
of which proved to be very near hatching, to their great disappoint-

1 A Tour through the Islands of Orkney and Shetland in 1774. George Low.
Kirk wall, 1879. 8vo.

THE NORTH ISLES. 15

ment. On one part of the beach were quantities of whales' bones,
probably the result of some former whale hunt. There are a few
Babbits on the island.

There are also several small holms lying between Sanday and
Stronsay, such as the holms of Spurness and Huip, but these,
owing to pressure of time and the want of good anchorage near at
hand for the yacht, we were unable to visit personally.

EDAY.

This is one of the principal islands we have not personally
visited, but in regard to its avi-fauna we regret this the less,
inasmuch as we have been furnished with notes thereon by Mr.
Kanken, a brother-in-law of the proprietor, Mr. Hebden, all of
which are entered in their proper place. Eday was at one time
almost entirely covered with heather, and its large peat banks sup-
plied the neighbouring islands of Sanday and North Eonaldsay.
Now, however, the heather has largely disappeared, giving place in
the south-east to fields so large and well cultivated that the skipper
of the yacht remarked as we sailed past that they were " as good
as the Lothians." This change accounts for the gradual decrease
of the Grouse, and the total disappearance as a breeding species
of Eichardson's Skua ; for, whatever may have been the case when
Salmon and Dunn visited these islands, Mr. Kanken has frequently
assured us this bird no longer breeds there now.

Numbers of birds, however, breed on the Calf of Eday, an
island of some 500 acres, and on the Eed Head, which latter, 200
feet high, takes its name from the red-coloured sandstone of which
it is composed. The island itself is of irregular shape, and, with
the Calf, which is only a few hundred yards from Eday, contains
about 9000 acres.

Mr. Eanken sends us the following notes on the geology of the
island : —

" In its structure, from a geological point of view, Eday is com-
paratively simple, consisting of a well-defined basin occupied by
a series of extensive yellow and red sandstones, resting conform-
ably on flagstones of a grey or rusty colour. Both on the east and

16 THE NORTH ISLES.

west side of the island the shore section plainly shows the con-
formable passage of the flagstone into the outlying arenaceous
series, and, on the eastern shores especially, can be plainly seen
the inter-stratification of the flagstone, with bands of laminated
sandstone. About half a mile from the entrance to Calf Sound,
approaching from the south-east, an interesting fault may be
observed: the flags forming a low arch on which the coarser-
grained sandstone rests, and again, a little to the north of the point
of Veness, the flagstone is even more abruptly terminated, bring-
ing down the overlying sandstone to the west. Few fossil remains
are found in Eday.

" The sandstone strata form prominent hills both in the northern
and southern portions of the island, the beds of which are either
extremely coarse-grained or frequently conglomerate in their
character. The centre of the island being low, and only a few
feet above high-water mark, there is some risk of its being cut in
two in the course of time by the encroachment of the sea acting on
the sandy soil on both sides. The sandstones of Eday are remark-
able in very closely resembling the upper old red sandstone as
seen in Hoy, but it is generally accepted at the present day that
they form part of the flagstone series, and therefore belong to a
more ancient period.

" The greater portion of Eday and the whole of the Calf are
occupied by these sandstones, which rise at the Ked Head in the
northern extremity to a height of 210 feet, forming that bold and
precipitous headland and well-defined landmark. The cliffs on the
north-eastern exposure of the Calf, though not so high as the Eed
Head, are much indented by the action of the sea, and are called
the Grey Head. These headlands, with their remarkable colouring,
are very fine and picturesque, especially when viewed from the
sea, and are quite the finest rock scenery in the North Isles.
About half a mile south from Carrick there is a solitary standing-
stone, which, seen from Carrick Bay, looks not unlike a schooner
' running free ' in the distance. There are three lochs in the
northern portion of Eday, two of which are quite shallow though
of considerable extent, and being innocent of fish, except perhaps a

THE NORTH ISLES. 1 7

few eels, and almost free from weeds and herbage, afford but
little feeding-ground for birds. A few Swans, Golden-eye, Widgeon,
Teal, etc., frequent them and the small adjoining deep loch,
Dooney, in winter.

" Owing to the porosity of the subsoil, there is but little marshy
ground in the island, and consequently little running water, nor
are springs abundant.

"The Eider and Sheldrake, the Greater and Lesser Black-
backed, Herring and Common Gulls, Oyster-catcher, etc., breed in
considerable numbers on the Calf, and on its ledges large numbers
of Cormorants, Guillemots, and Kittiwakes nest annually."

NORTH FARA.

Lying between Eday and the south of Westray are Fara and
its Holm, which are connected at low water. Fara itself is wholly
cultivated, and neither of the islands possesses any interest to the
ornithologist. The Holm is covered with grass growing on a dry
bed of peat, but the people of Fara are now rapidly paring it off
for fuel, which will soon make the Holm nothing but bare rock
and sand. A few gulls, Twites, Starlings, Black Guillemots, and
one Eider Duck with one young one, were all the birds we saw.
On the Red Holm, on which we could not land on account of
the weather, a great number of Cormorants were resting.

WESTRAY.

Westray has some of the finest rock-scenery in the North Isles.
Noup Head, the north-west point, stands well out into the Atlantic,
and it is a fine sight to see the rollers sending their spray far up
its height after an autumn gale, even from such a distance away as
Rousay, as we ourselves have witnessed. To see these islands
properly they should be viewed from a boat as well as from land,
and this, unfortunately, time did not permit us to do, so we pre-
ferred to keep upon terra firma.

B

18 THE NORTH ISLES.

There are three or four hills in the island, the highest, Fitty Hill,
being 556 feet, the others varying from 250 feet to 350 feet.
Roughly speaking, the whole of the island to the south-east of
Pierowall is cultivated, the rest bare moorland and grass. Leav-
ing the road that runs due south from Pierowall, the town of
Westray, just opposite the foot of Fitty Hill we come almost
immediately on to the heather, which occupies the slopes and
bases of all the hills, it being of a better quality on the east side,
where it is sheltered from the westerly gales. At the same time,
though there are no Grouse resident on the island, a few, we are
given to understand, are occasionally driven across from Rousay in
the winter. Numbers of Lapwings breed on the heather at the
base of the hills ; further up we found a few Common Gulls and
Golden Plover, and a Wild Duck was flushed off her nest. At a
small marshy loch a pair of Black-headed Gulls seemed, by their
actions, to be breeding. Elsewhere the ground was covered with
grass, and in the damp hollows there was abundance of cotton grass.
On the west side many places were blown bare or cut up into
channels by the heavy westerly gales. Here and there, where there
was a little moisture, the runs of the Field Vole were visible.
Above Noup Head the ground is again covered with a sort of
stunted heather ; and on the rocks are colonies of rock birds and
some Herring Gulls, but we did not notice any Shags or Cormorants,
and Puffins were scarce. We saw four Ravens, probably bred about
the rocks in the Head ; these are by no means common in Orkney.

Another day we went round Bow Head, and on our way thither
passed a large number of kelp-furnaces, which seemed, from per-
sonal observation, the largest manufactory of that article in the
islands; the smell from the heaps of rotting seaweed was most
disgusting. With the exception, perhaps, of a few Rock Pigeons,
no birds breed on the Bow, and even at Noup Head the greatest
number of rock-birds seemed to be on the west side. The rocks at
and around Bow Head appear to be not more than from 80 to 100
feet high ; the top? next the sea are perfectly bare of everything
for some 40 or 50 yards inland, at which distance there is a
regular beach of stones, which shows that the sea must wash over

THE NORTH ISLES. 19

the cliffs with sufficient force to throw all the stones back to
form it. Beyond this distance the Sea-pink grows more luxuriantly
than in any other of the islands, and it is rooted in nothing but
rocks and stones, which constitute the formation of the headland.
The rocks themselves are of a peculiarly laminated character, the
lamination being almost entirely parallel. The lower part in many
places has been washed away, leaving an overhanging cliff. In
other places the sea has formed natural arches, or, the whole of
the upper part having been washed away, a long reach of gently
shelving rock, perfectly bare and smooth, has been left. At the
Bow, we saw a pair of immature Merlins and a Curlew, and, on
our way back, a single Swift. The predominating species of small
birds were Sparrows, Larks, a few Twites, Starlings, and Wheat-
ears, the two first named being the commonest. Buntings, if not
altogether absent, are rare in the Westray group.

There are two lochs in Westray, both of which are said to con-
tain trout, and are connected by a small burn. The upper one
— Burness — is overgrown with reeds, and there are a good many
Coots on it, and the Little Grebe is said to breed there, which is
likely enough, although we did not ourselves observe any.

A little to the north-east of the Bow lies the holm of Aikerness,
a long, bare, stony island, with a little grass at the north end.
We observed no birds on it, nor seals, but a few terns were fishing
close by. In the winter, however, it is at times visited by large
flocks of both Wild Duck and Widgeon.

PAPA WESTEAY.

The name of this island must always be connected in an orni-
thologist's mind with one bird principally, and that the Great
Auk. The connection will be found fully discussed under that
bird.

The island itself presents no points of particular interest, except
the rock-scenery, a description of which we quote from Harvie-
Brown's Journal further on. Nearly the whole area, the exception

20 THE NORTH ISLES.

being a small portion of the northern end, is cultivated; the
southern and eastern sides are low and sandy ; but the west, north,
and north-east are rocky, and the island attains its greatest height
at these points. The uncultivated area is covered with very short
stunted heather, in places barely discernible through the coarse
grass. Numbers of the common waders breed in this uncultivated
tract, and on the grassy height and on the rocks below we saw
the largest collection of gulls of different species that we met with
anywhere in the islands, all, as far as could be seen with a glass,
immature — most of them in the nearly adult plumage. At Fowls
Craig there are some Guillemots and Eazorbills, and a colony of
Kittiwakes. Other birds were Larks, a few Wheatears, Corn-
crakes, Eock Pipits, Starlings (not so numerous), but Sparrows in
numbers. No Eider Ducks were seen here nor on the Holm, next
to be described.

"The lamination of the pavement-like sandstone is perfectly
horizontal throughout the whole length of the cliffs — about J mile,
and say 50 feet in height — the top courses are furthest out over
the sea, each succeeding layer and each succeeding ledge, so
formed, being rather less, until the sea is reached, the top thus
overhanging by at least from 1 2 to 1 5 feet. On the ledges is a
very extensive colony of Kittiwakes ; and a more lovely one, taken
with its full surroundings, or one more perfectly disposed in abso-
lutely parallel and horizontal and equidistant ledges, it would be
difficult or almost impossible to conceive.

"At sea-level this pavement sandstone cliff is tunnelled by
innumerable caverns and arches, all running at the same angle of
from 20° to 25° with the general face of the cliff, and forming,
with the projecting portions of the cliff, a marvellous succession of
almost perfectly equidistant buttresses lying in a north-easterly
direction ; so that, rowing along from a southerly direction, not one
cave is visible, naught but apparently continuous lines of hori-
zontal and parallel strata ; whilst, if approaching from the opposite
direction, a wonderful procession of arches and caves and buttresses
is visible throughout the whole length, and, at the same time,
above the caves, the regularity of the ledges and projecting sand-

THE NORTH ISLES. 21

stone strata is uninterrupted by crack or crevice. The caves are
very much the same in size and height, and in width and depth,
and are, perhaps, about 15 feet high, thus occupying, roughly
speaking, about one third of the total height of 50 feet.

" There appeared to be no place where we could land and take
a photograph, as the buttresses are all upon absolutely the same
plane of projection, so we had to be content with the view direct
from the boat. It would have been equally impossible from the top
of the cliff, owing to the great overhang." — (From J. A. H.-B.'s
Journal, July 1889.)

On the south-east side, below the Holm, is St. Tredwall's Loch,
a good-sized sheet of water, with a few terns apparently breeding
about its edges. The only other bird we saw on it was a Eedbreasted
Merganser. In the marshy ground round it were a few Dunlins,
and a pair or two of Kedshanks. The loch is separated from the
sea on its east and south sides by a sandbank.

HOLM OF PAPA WESTKAY.

The Holm of Papa Westray lies about three-quarters of a mile
from the eastern centre of Papa Westray. The channel between
the two islands is quite shallow, and, from the lowness of the land
opposite, they would appear to have been connected at no great
distance of time back. To the north, east, and south-east, however,
the land is higher, and is bounded by cliffs, though none of these
are of any great altitude. These cliffs have the same laminated
appearance as those of Papa Westray itself, and, like them, are
tunnelled with caves, or pierced by geb's. Great numbers of
Black Guillemots inhabit the rocks on the south-east, and indeed
they seemed to be the most abundant species in the island. Mr.
Traill of Holland used to preserve the island very strictly, the
birds not being molested except at certain times. Since it has
passed out of his possession things are changed, and the day we
landed on it (June 22) all the nests had been robbed, as we
found scarcely any eggs or young birds. All the terns we could

22

THE NORTH ISLES.

identify were Arctic ; one of their nests contained three eggs, a by-
no-means common occurrence in Orkney in our experience. There
were also one or two pairs of Great Black-backed Gulls, a small
colony of Herring Gulls in a geo, a pair of Twites and Hooded
Crows, and a good many Oyster-catchers. There were three or
four Curlews, which did not seem to have been nesting, however ;
only one wild duck was seen, apparently a common Wild Duck ;
no Eiders nor Common Gulls; a white pigeon1 was sitting on
some ruins, and, judging by the quantity of droppings, these ruins
are frequented by a good many Eock Doves. All the Shags and
Cormorants we saw were merely sitting about on the rocks, not
nesting there.

There is no cultivation on the Holm, which is covered with
grass, and used as a sheep-farm ; nor are there any inhabitants.

1 Possibly an albino Rock Dove.

THE WESTEEN ISLES.

KOUSAY.

THIS island, lying north of the Mainland, and separated from it
by the Sound of Eynhallow, is of considerable extent, containing
in all about 15,000 acres. A very fair proportion is cultivated,
and besides, on the south and west, there is a large extent of good
green grazing ground. There is an excellent road running all
round the island. The whole of the coast-line is rocky ; low, and
mixed with patches of rough shingle on the south and east, and
on the north and west rising to cliffs of considerable altitude.
These cliffs afford nesting sites for a goodly number of rock birds,
so«ne Rock Pigeons ; and in one place a pair of Peregrines are
continually seen, though the nest has not been discovered. A
detached stack of rock, called the Lobist, on the west side, is
covered on the top with nests of the Herring Gull. A peculiarity
of the shingle is that it is composed of flat stones, and this appar-
ently arises from the fact that the rock from which the shingle origi-
nated is very soft, and easily split into large slabs, which again break
up into smaller, but still flat, pieces. These large slabs are much
used for roofing cottages. Inside the cultivated area, which natur-
ally lies near the coast, the ground is heathery, and rises to a height
of between 800 and 900 feet ; most of this is good grouse ground.
Ron say contains six lochs, but three of these are small and of
no interest ; the other three, however, all contain trout of good
quality. Two of these lochs, in the centre of the island, called the
"Muckle" and the Pirie" waters, are connected, and a burn runs
out of them into the sea at Sourin on the north side of the island.
The third, called " Wasbister," is low down, very near the sea-level,
and only about 150 yards from the sea itself; a small burn runs
out of it into the sea, but, like the burn that runs out of the other

24 THE WESTERN ISLES.

two lochs, sluices for the mill-leads pretty effectually prevent the
sea-trout from getting access to it. Though large sea-trout enter
the Sourin burn, these are generally poached by people who are on
the watch for them, and the only one we ever caught on the island
was about one pound weight, and not far from the sluice on the
Muckle Water.

The house of Westness is remarkable for being surrounded by
perhaps one of the largest, if not the largest, plantations in the
Orkneys. The trees are principally sycamore and wych elms, but
they are bent and stunted by the salt-laden strong westerly gales,
which would never allow a thing to grow at all were it not for the
protection of a high wall, and it is only towards the centre of the
plantation that the trees attain to any size. None of the coui ferae
seem to thrive at all — in fact, scarcely even start a growth. Yet
that trees did flourish naturally at one time is evident by the
remains that exist on the west side of Westness, where, when the
tide was out, under a very thin layer of sand, we found peat, and
in it the remains of their roots. Naturally this plantation is a
great attraction to the small birds, who build and roost there in
numbers, though the absence of Chaffinches, except as winter
visitants, is not a little remarkable.

Often as it has been described, yet to a lover of nature there
is always something new or grand in looking upon such an ocean
as the Atlantic, and when a heavy sea was running we have
often gone to Scabra Head, near Westness, as close to the cliff-
edge as we dared, to see the breakers coming in. This was not
always an easy matter, as, although the cliffs are some 80 or
100 feet high, the spray was so thick and heavy as to drench
one in a moment. Choosing a spot where the full force of the
Atlantic breakers was somewhat broken by an intervening rock,
we would sit down and enjoy the sight, though the earth shook
with the concussion of each huge wave. It was very interesting
to watch the Cormorants and Shags not far from the foot of the
rock ; just as a huge green wave was apparently about to immolate
them, the birds dived and were seen the next minute swimming
quietly in the trough between it and the next roller. This was

THE WESTERN ISLES. 25

more frequently seen, however, after the storm, and when the
waves, though still almost equally high, were less broken.

One of our pleasantest reminiscences of Orkney is a voyage we
made in a small boat round Eousay. The day was really fine, with
a suitable breeze and tide, and we saw the rock-scenery under
every advantage. Bound Scabra Head are some fine natural arches
and buttresses, the home of Guillemots and Eazorbills. Beyond
this the shore is low and rocky, but a little further on it rises rather
abruptly, until one comes to Bring Head, and still further on to
Hellia Spur, the highest cliffs of all. Here there is a very fine,
large colony of rock-birds, certainly the best in the island. The
top of the Lobist, a detached stack of rock, is covered with Herring
Gulls, the sides being inhabited by Eazorbills and Shags. Further
on we come to a set of fine natural caves called the Sinians of
Cutclaws ; these terminate inland in those curious openings called
gloups or blow-holes. Eound Sacquoy Head are some awful-
looking geos, but these and the rocks, almost until Saviskail Head
is passed, are inhabited only by Eock Pigeons and a few Shags.
Shortly after passing this Head the shore again lowers until,
at Saviskail itself, the short burn that connects Loch Wasbister
with the sea is reached ; here some fishing-boats are hauled up.
Faraclet is the next high cliff, dark and lowering, and, from its
sheerness, looking higher than it really is ; Cormorants and Eock
Pigeons are its principal inhabitants. This headland ends the
high cliffs, and we pass by Scockness, well sheltered from the
westerly gales by the land sloping down from Faraclet heights.

We visited both the Holm of Scockness and Kili Holm, and
found plenty of birds breeding there, such as Sheldrakes, Eider
Ducks, Corncrakes, Snipe, Dunlins, etc. The Holm of Scockness
is sandy in the north-east, and there are some rabbits there.

VIEEA.

This is one of the smaller islands, being about two miles long
and one broad in its widest part, and is nearly all cultivated, with
the exception of the west end, where there is some marshy ground

26 THE WESTERN ISLES.

and a small loch. At this end Dunlins breed abundantly, also a
colony of terns and a few Oyster-catchers. It was here too we saw
one of the only two Grey Seals observed by us during our residence
in Kousay. The island itself is rocky on the east and south sides,
though nowhere are the rocks higher than a few feet : the north-
west and west sides are shingly, and on the north-west promontory
is a very old cod-drying establishment, still used. It is not every
shingle that is suitable for this work, for, besides being exposed
to the air above, the fish must have some draught below them as
well, and for this purpose the coarse shingle is well adapted. The
fish — Cod, Ling, and Torsk, or Tusk, as it is more generally
called — are caught a little beyond the Westray Firth, in small
smacks of ten, fifteen, or twenty tons. Numbers of Golden Plovers
come here in the winter — so the keeper informed us — and at times
a fair number of Snipe. The channels round Viera are mostly
very shallow, except between it and the island of Egilsay.

EYNHALLOW.

Eynhallow is the property of E. S. Cameron, Esq., and lies
between Rousay and the Mainland in the sound to which it gives
its name. The tides here run with great speed on either side of the
island, and, even in calm weather, can only be crossed, except in
certain places, at high and low water. When in full force, boats
can only cross above or below, and in going outside the islands
care must be taken to keep on one side or other of the stream.
The island is mostly rocky; on the north-west side, facing the
Atlantic, the cliffs rise to about 200 feet in height, and these are
inhabited by a few Shags, Rock Pigeons, and a pair of Kestrels.
These rocks slope down on the west and east sides until at the
south end they are level with the water, ending in a long reef of
rock covered at high tide. Along the lower sides are heaps of
shingle, and above the shingle some larger slabs of stone, under
which the Black Guillemots and Starlings build, and in two places
the former birds breed in quite small colonies. The island, like
so many of the smaller holms, is covered with a coarse grass, to

THE WESTERN ISLES. - 27

which at one time sheep, cattle, and horses were brought across to
feed. The southern end of the island once contained inhabitants,
but all, or nearly all, of them having died of fever, it has since been
deserted. Rabbits are very abundant. Since the island came into
the possession of Mr. Cameron it has been very strictly preserved.
The consequence of this is that birds have increased vastly in
numbers, and at the time of our visit Eiders might be seen in every
direction sitting on their nests. The Common and Black-headed
Gulls have also established good-sized colonies, the latter breed-
ing— in almost quite dry situations — in the stunted heather and
short grass, their nests showing no difference from those of their
neighbours — the first-named birds. Before they were preserved, the
birds, as elsewhere, were systematically robbed, and when we were
there in 1883, the Eiders were quite rare birds by comparison.

GAIRSAY.

Lying almost due north of Kirkwall, this is the first island met
with when going in that direction. It is small, being only a mile
and a quarter long by about three-quarters of a mile broad on the
average, but the ground rises to a considerable height. Although,
as usual, the shores are mostly rocky, these nowhere rise to any
altitude, and they afford no great attraction for any species of rock-
bird. On the north side are some quiet bays, where we have seen
a good number of Wild Duck and Widgeon, there being good feeding-
ground for them there. Sweyn Holm lies to the north-east, and a
visit to it in the breeding season is of great interest, from the variety
and number of birds breeding there. Snipe and Eider Ducks are
very numerous, besides an abundance of Redshanks, Terns, Shel-
drakes, etc. Between Gairsay and Shapinsay are some skerries,
mostly covered at high water, but upon which, as the tide ebbs,
numbers of the Common Seal assemble.

EGILSAY.

The island of Egilsay lies to the east of Rousay, and is about
three miles long by one broad on an average. The sea-beach is

28 THE WESTERN ISLES.

mostly rocky, but above high-water mark on the east side are some
sandy hills, and sandy ground covered with a short, sweet grass, and
inhabited by a few Babbits. At the south end is a low reef of rocks,
called The Grand, mostly covered at high water, and a great resort
of the Common Seal. There are two or three lochs in the island,
and to the one at the south end the sea would appear occasionally
to have access. A small island in the latter loch contained a Ked-
breasted Merganser's nest, apparently just robbed. The other lochs
are more marshy in their character, and have a considerable amount
of reeds, amongst which a single pair of Black-headed Gulls appeared
to have a nest. Besides these birds, we saw several Coots, Wild Duck,
Little Grebes, and Waterhens, these last two birds not being very
common anywhere among the islands, at least in the breeding season.

The church of St. Magnus, now disused, but still well preserved,
is a most striking object, its thin round tower having a very
curious appearance, like a small mill-chimney. In this tower
several pairs of Kock Doves were breeding. There are a good many
small farms on the island.

Egilsay is in the shape of a wedge, and is highest at the blunt
or north end, gradually tapering down to sea-level at the south or
thin end. The central ridge is covered with the usual stunted
heather where not cultivated, and there are many marshy depres-
sions, where quantities of Dunlins and some Snipe breed, the island
affording, in the winter, excellent snipe-shooting.

Lying midway between Egilsay, Shapinsay, and Eday are
the Green Holms, two islands, as their name implies, covered with
grass, and both uninhabited. We visited these on two occasions in
search of Stormy Petrel's eggs. The larger island is on the north-
east side, high enough for some Cormorants and Shags to breed upon,
but it held no other rock-birds, except pigeons, that we observed.
The grass grows on a sort of dry peat, and it was in the cracks in
this peat that the Petrels bred on the smaller island; on the
larger holm they kept more to the stony cairns on the shore.

THE MAINLAND, SHAPINSAY, AND
COPINSAY.

THE MAINLAND.

POMONA, or the Mainland, as it is always called by the
Orcadians, is the largest island of the group, and it is on this
account that it derives the latter name. It is about twenty-
six miles long in its greatest length, and fourteen broad in its
greatest width. In two places it is nearly severed by the sea,
viz., between Scapa and Kirkwall, where the breadth is only a
mile and a quarter, and again at the south-eastern extremity of
Deer Sound, where the parish of St. Andrews is almost divided by
a very narrow isthmus, over which runs the main road.

The greater part of the coast-line is rocky, and is much
cut up by bays and firths on its north-eastern side, the chief of
these being the Bay of Firth, Inganess Bay, and Deer Sound, the
two principal indentations on the south side being the Bay of
Ireland and Scapa Bay. As is usually the case, the most pre-
cipitous parts are those facing the two oceans ; on the west side
the highest cliffs lie between Costa Head in the north and Breck-
ness Head in the south, close to which latter place is the celebrated
Black Craig. On the east, the rocks, from the Point of Ayre,
terminate in the bold rocky headland of Mull Head, in Low's time
tenanted by a pair of Sea Eagles, and which, that author remarks,
had been thus occupied from time immemorial. It is almost need-
less to add there are no eagles there now.

The absence of clean sandy shores is noticeable, but there
are a few patches cropping up here and there, as at Skaill in the
west, at Waulkmill Bay and Scapa Bay in the south, and Birstane
Bay in the north-east.

30 THE MAINLAND.

The remaining coast-line consists of rocks and cliffs of no great
altitude, the beach composed chiefly of stones and boulders covered
with sea-weed, a coarse shingle showing itself here and there above
the high-water mark.

Unpromising as it sounds to a wild fowler, yet, except upon
the western part, a goodly number of ducks inhabit the coast, the
numerous small burns which run down through the cultivated ground
bringing with them, besides the attraction of fresh water, a consider-
able amount of food. There are, however, certain places along the
coast which offer still greater attractions to these birds, and the
different waders, in the shape of ooze-flats, partly covered with
zostera, the grass so greedily sought after by both geese and ducks.
Principal among these is Deer Sound, which, itself a bay, has within
it other bays well sheltered from almost every wind that blows,
and thus in every way perfectly adapted to the requirements of
wild-fowl. Another spot is the Bay of Ireland, which presents
pretty much the same characteristics as Deer Sound, with the addi-
tion that it is near the large fresh-water loch of Harray, and the
cultivated lands adjacent, which provide excellent feeding-ground.

Lying in the west central part, and running from north to
south, is a chain of lochs of which Stenness and Harray together
form by far the largest area. Others of considerable size are
those of Swaimay and Boardhouse. The highest of all is Swannay,
which lies 137 feet above sea-level, and from it there is a regular
gradation until Stenness, the last of the chain, is reached, and to
this the sea has access at high spring-tides. Lochs Boardhouse
and Swannay run into the sea on the north-west, but a number of
smaller lochs are connected with those of Harray and Stenness, the
united waters of which run into the sea at the Bay of Ireland in
the south.

The lochs of Stenness and Harray, which are only separated
from each other by a very narrow isthmus formed of rough masonry,
through arches in which the water runs, lie in a kind of shallow
valley surrounded by hills, highest on the westward side, and the
slopes of which elevations are mostly cultivated. Perhaps one of
the finest and most characteristic views in Orkney is from the

THE MAINLAND. 31

Maeshowe. Away to the north-west lies the long reach of the
Harray loch, looking yet longer than it really is when seen through
the haze, which, even on a fine summer day, is so often present in
Orkney. To the south-west the high hills of Hoy appear ; thus,
at one glance, the eye can take in the highest land and the greatest
extent of fresh water to be found in the whole of the islands.

With the exception of two, all the lochs of any importance are
included in the area now under consideration. Most of these
are great resorts of wild-fowl, which in summer breed along
their margins; and in winter, when their numbers are largely
augmented by northern migrants, they collect in great flocks, which
are composed principally of Wild Duck and Widgeon. Along the
edges of one or two of these lochs are large flats covered with grass,
which run out into the water. These places attract numbers of
swans and grey geese, the greater number of these latter birds
being the White-fronted species. Most of these lochs, too, contain
trout, though others, even of some extent, such as the Loch of
Skaill, contain only eels and sticklebacks.

The other two lochs just referred to are Kirbister, in the parish
of Orphir, and the loch of Tankerness, the former containing trout,
the latter none.

Though now only a marsh, the loch of Aikerness, in the parish
of Evie, deserves a notice here, as it is often mentioned by earlier
writers as a breeding-place and haunt of several water-fowl ; even
yet Waterhens breed there. From Low's account it seems to have
been a shallow, grassy loch, and as early as 1804 was partially
drained.

Eastward of the lochs of Stenness and Harray, just described,
runs a range of hills, rising towards the south-east, until, at Lyra-
dale, it divides off into two branches, one running south-west, and
the other almost due east. In the south-west range lies the
highest hill on the island, viz., the Ward Hill,1 880 feet. The

1 Ward Hill. Refer to the hill of the same name and meaning in Caithness,
the fires on which are visible across the Pentland Firth, as " Ward and Watch "
Hills-Signal Hills. There is a " Ward Hill " in every island that possesses hills
of any height.

32 THE MAINLAND.

eastern branch terminates just above Kirk wall, at Wideford,
which is 720 feet in height.

The tops of all these hills are covered with heather, forming
almost the last stronghold of the grouse and hares in the island.
In the hollows, wherever there is sufficient moisture, the cotton
grass grows to a great extent, and the heads are finer than we
have seen elsewhere. We were particularly struck with this when
looking one day from the top of Wideford Hill down on to the
hollow between it and the hills lying to the south-west. The
whole of this hollow was white, looking much more as if it was
covered with snow than anything else.

A very fine panorama of almost the whole group of the Orkneys
may be obtained from Wideford Hill on a clear day, and there is
no better view of Kirkwall to be got from any other point.

After crossing the isthmus between Kirkwall and Scapa, the
ground rises somewhat quickly to the east of the town, but there
is no high ground anywhere on the east side of the isthmus.

The isthmus itself is low-lying, and, before they were drained,
the Crantit meadows afforded good snipe-shooting, and Waterhens
bred in the wetter localities. Through the greater part of this
peninsula, which includes the parishes of Holm and St. Andrews,
there is little of interest to the lover of scenery or the ornitho-
logist, unless it be Mull Head and Deer Sound, before mentioned.
Nowhere does the land rise above 300 feet in height, and it only
attains to that altitude in one place. There is some heather in
the central parts, and we should say the best grouse ground is that
belonging to Tankerness. Hares are also plentiful in that district.
At St. Mary's there are two lochs belonging to the Gr8emeshall
estate, which are said to afford good fishing, and ducks are abun-
dant there in the winter, but when passing them in the month of
June we saw only a few Mallards and a Coot. There is a fine
gloup about a mile or a little more to the south of Mull Head.

The cultivated area occupies a very large part of the whole
island. We have no statistics at hand to give the exact propor-
tions, but, roughly speaking, we should say at least a half, and
reclam ation of the waste land is still going on.

SHAPINSAY — COPINS A Y. 3 3

111 our chapter on the physical features of the islands we have
given an account of the principal plantations, but we may add that
no house of any age is without some amount of trees round it,
both, no doubt, for appearance and shelter.

SHAPINSAY.

This island, perhaps more than any other, shows to what extent
cultivation has increased in the Orkneys. In the Farmer for April
1866 it is stated that Shapinsay contains about 7000 acres, of
which, fifteen years previously, only 730 were under cultivation,
but that now (i.e. 1866) 5000 have been brought under the plough.
Since then, we believe, even more land has been taken in, until
there is little or no waste land left. The coast is, as usual, very
rocky ; and Elswick Bay, shut in as it is by Helliar Holm, is a
safe anchorage for vessels. There is one loch on the island, which
we are informed is good for ducks in winter.

One or two islands and skerries, lying between Shapinsay and
Kendall on the mainland, are great resorts of seals, and we have
counted thirty or forty here at one time, all P. mtulina. A few
Terns, Eider Ducks, and Eock Pipits breed on these islets, but in
no great quantities.

COPINSAY.

Lying off the east centre of the mainland, Copinsay is cele-
brated, even in Orkney, for the abundance of its sea-fowl. The
cliffs on its eastern side rise to a height of close on 300 feet, and,
amongst other birds, contains probably one of, if not the, finest
colonies of Kittiwakes in the United Kingdom. When disturbed,
these birds look, at some little distance off, like spin-drift covering
the face of the rocks. On the west side the ground slopes rapidly
down to the sea, and contains some good arable land, as also
does. Cornholm, which, with two other small holms, are connected
with Copinsay at low water.

The Horse of Copinsay is a black rock lying to the north of

c

34 COPINSAY.

Copinsay, and is also tenanted by sea-birds, and feeds two or
three sheep.

Salmon visited Copinsay on May 31st, 1831, and gives an
account of the birds breeding there and the eggs he took. The
species he met with were a pair of Peregrine Falcons, Guillemots,
Kazorbills, Kittiwakes, Cormorants, Shags, and Herring Gulls.

These Peregrines are mentioned by Low as having bred there
from time immemorial. He also gives an account of the manner
of taking sea-birds' eggs there, and says that of old the inhabitants
paid a rent for the privilege of taking them, but that it had
then been given them for nothing, quaintly adding that he thought
the danger of taking them was a sufficient tax.

THE SOUTH ISLES.

HOY AND WALLS.

THE island of Hoy, whose greatest length is fourteen miles, with
a width varying from four to five miles, contains the three divisions
of Hoy, and North and South Walls, the latter being almost an
island in itself. South Walls is almost wholly cultivated, there
being only a very small piece of rough ground in the centre and
south covered with the remains of stunted heather and coarse
grass.

With the exception of Melsetter and the land immediately
adjoining the sea as far as Mill Bay, and again at Hoy in the ex-
treme north-east of the island, and the small hamlet of Eackwick
on the west, the whole of Hoy and North Walls is uninhabited,
the country itself not being adapted for cultivation. It is -how-
ever capable of grazing a good number of sheep for the greater part
of the year, and there is also abundant summer pasturage for
cattle. The whole of this district is mountainous, being divided by
valleys through which run several small burns, and in which the
lochs lie. These lochs are, unfortunately, connected with the sea
only on the west side, the out-running burns having a fall varying
from fifty up to several hundred feet almost sheer down to the
sea, thus effectually barring out the sea-trout from gaining access
to them. For some reason burn-trout do not seem to have thriven
here, though introduced, together with Loch Leven trout, into
Heldale water, and Mr. Moodie-Heddle fancied they had been
carried down the burns during the spawning season and thus
destroyed.

All this large extent of country is covered with heather of
different degrees of utility, and divided by numerous burns, and it
is this wild mountainous character, as well as its unrivalled cliff-

36 THE SOUTH ISLES.

scenery, that gives to Hoy its great interest to the ornithologist.
The sea-eagles, once so numerous, are gone, never, we fear, to
return again, though, should they be inclined to do so, we are safe
in assuring them that the proprietor will do all in his power to
protect them; but the Peregrine still holds his own, nesting in
the most inaccessible precipices : the Manx Shearwater burrows
in the green and soft places in the cliffs ; while numbers of
Kichardson's Skua lord it over the rest of the gull tribe.

All the coast-line on the north-west of the island from Breibuster
Sound to Eackwick is precipitous, varying in height from 300 to
over 1100 feet, and, exclusive of the Berry, contains the finest rock-
scenery in the islands. The highest cliff in the whole range is at
St. John's Head, the land rising on each side to this culminating
point. These cliffs are by no means sheer precipices, but in many
places have long grassy slopes on which sheep graze in comparative
safety, and it is mostly below these slopes that the sea-birds build.
Geb's and rocky inlets also break up the coast-line in parts, and
there is a very fine one not far from Breibuster, inhabited by a
considerable number of Shags and a good colony of Kittiwakes,
etc. ; pigeons also inhabit the caves. That remarkable stack, the
Old Man of Hoy, lies between St. John's and Eora Heads, and
from most accounts the old gentleman has not many years to live,
as he is being gradually eaten away at the base by the heavy waves
of the Atlantic.1 At Kackwick the land slopes down very suddenly
to the valley, the hamlet being much scattered from pretty high
up the slope down to its base. It is here that the best rock-climbers
on the island lived, and still do so, and it is through their exertions
probably that eagles have become only a name in Orkney.

All this coast-line just described slopes down on the landward
side more or less abruptly to a valley through which runs the part-
road, part-track to Kackwick from Hoy Lodge. At this latter place
the proprietor is now taking in a considerable extent of ground,

1 Mr. Moodie-Heddle, however, informs us that the base is conglomerate, and
that it stands upon a piece of fire rock, so he does not think it runs much risk of
perishing, though a fragment of the softer sandstone forming the stack may some-
times fall off.

THE SOUTH ISLES. 37

with a large steading, and otherwise improving his property. From
the northward this valley is joined by the narrow glens of Segal
and Berriedale,1 which contain some of the few indigenous trees
in the island, as before mentioned ; 2 close to the track is one of
the strongest springs of water we have seen anywhere.

Separated by the strath through which the Eackwick road runs
on the one side, and another deep glen on the other, stands the
Ward Hill, 1564 feet in height, and the highest hill in the whole
group of the Orkneys. Bound its base the heather grows, but its
sides are much cut up with fissures, down which quantities of
stones and rocks are brought by the winter rains, forming large
" screes " or slopes of loose stones, and these, with its steep slant,
give the hill an appearance of even still greater height. In the
glen to the south of the Ward Hill, and facing north, are some
ledges of rock on which Golden Eagles, probably the only pair in
the islands, used to breed.

From Rackwick the land rises southwards very abruptly from 50
to 1000 feet in a very short distance, and the whole of the coast-line
all along is very steep, culminating at last in the magnificent, sheer,
red-coloured precipice of Berry Head, 600 feet ; after that the land
sinks down rather abruptly to Melsetter. Throughout this length
of coast are several " stacks " or upright pieces of rock detached
from the main cliff, their tops, as a rule, being covered with grass,
though none of them is so conspicuous as the " Old Man of Hoy,"
before mentioned.

The coast-line on the east of the island never assumes such
grand proportions as that last mentioned, the whole land falling
towards that point of the compass ; the shore is more indented
with bays, having sandy or muddy flats in their upper reaches.

Elsewhere along the eastern side the coast is mainly composed
of low cliffs, or steep banks clad with grass, fern, and heather,
having rarely any beach beyond boulders and weed-covered rock.
Only at two places towards the northern end of the line do the
cliffs rise to some 200 to 300 feet in the precipices known as the
White Breast and the Bring.

1 Berrie = Berry = Bergdale = the Rocky Glen. 2 Vide p. 6.

38 THE SOUTH ISLES.

All the best heather, and consequently the best grouse ground,
lies on the lower slopes of the hills, especially on the east side ;
that which is exposed to the west being poor and stunted ; the
tops and sides of the hills are covered with flow ground and benty
grass, the latter of little use, except in the early summer for sheep
and cattle. There are three lochs of considerable size, all in that
part of the island called Walls, and the largest, called Heldale
Water, contains char, the only loch that does so in Orkney.

Besides these lochs there are a number of much smaller ones,
called locally " Loom-a-shons," or "Loom-a-gens," on which the Red-
throated Divers breed, and these birds the proprietor does his best
to protect, though we fear they do not always escape the destroyer.
Colonies of gulls, both the Common, Herring, and Lesser Black-
back, breed on the flows on the tops of the hills or along the edges
of the lochs, mixed, in the former situation, with Richardson's
Skuas, but never in the latter.

Most of the burns, except those which run to the west, contain
trout and sea-trout, but the latter only come up in a spate and
retire to the salt water as the flood fines down ; indeed, the most
of the angling consists in spinning some form of minnow in the
salt water. The largest of these burns is the Rackwick, which in
its lower reaches is sluggish and canal-like ; it runs into a loch
close to the sea, and to which the latter has access at high water.

Immediately above Melsetter is a large patch of whins, in
which are great quantities of rabbits ; and a little below, on the
south shore, some links, and a white patch of sand which is very
conspicuous when crossing from Scrabster to Scapa with an incom-
ing tide.

As before mentioned, South Walls is almost an island, being
connected with North Walls by a very narrow neck of land, over
which the road to the Post Office, etc., runs. On the south side of
this isthmus is Aith Hope, and on the north Longhope.

At one time this neck of land was much broader, and links
existed, but these • have been washed away by the encroachments
of the sea, so much so that now even the ordinary tides cover the
Ayre at high water for thirty to forty minutes, the stream tides

THE SOUTH ISLES. 39

for an hour or more, according to the height to which the gravel
may have been thrown by the last gales. The water flows usually
from the north or Longhope side, but before or after bad weather
it comes occasionally from the Aith Hope side. Hope in all Scan-
dinavian tongues (Haup) means a bay which is the Hap, Haven, or
recipient of a stream.

The lower part of Longhope is excellent anchorage for sailing
vessels which cannot weather through the Pentland Firth for want
of a favourable wind. The upper part at one time contained
oysters, which were cultivated to a certain extent by the proprietor
of Melsetter, but owing to the mud and peat washed down by the
burns, and sheep drains made when the present owner of Hoy in-
creased the area under cultivation, and otherwise improved the
property, they died out, and at the present time there are few, if
any, left. Low says that in his time they were, though few, so
very large that they had to be cut into four pieces before they
could be eaten! Even cockles were nearly exterminated, and
several kinds of sea- weed affected, by this peaty deposit.

South Walls contains little of interest to the ornithologist.
The rocks on the south side contain a few rock-birds and pigeons,
and there is one fine colony of Kittiwakes. At the south-east end
there is a very curious old church, in which, in former years, the
Hoodies of Melsetter were laid out on a table to dry when dead,
showing the dry and antiseptic nature of the air.

GE.EMSAY, CAVA, EISA LITTLE, FAKA, ETC.

Lying along the north-east coast of Hoy, and between it and
S. Eonaldsay, are the islands of Grsemsay, Cava, Eisa Little,
Fara, Flotta and its Calf, and Switha, which however are only
deserving of a short notice here.

Graemsay, situated at the mouth of Hoy Sound, has two light-
houses, and is wholly cultivated, there being little or no grazing —
all arable. Eisa Little and Cava are small green uninhabited
islands, used for grazing purposes, as is also Fara, but this latter is

40 THE SOUTH ISLES.

inhabited. All these islands are frequented by Grouse, and of late
years a large colony of the Common Gull has taken possession of
Kisa Little; a good many seals also frequent the shores of this
island.

FLOTTA AND SWITHA.

Flotta is much the largest of the islands now under considera-
tion, and supports a considerable population. Still it is by no
means over-cultivated, and a fair number of grouse are yearly
killed there, especially late in the season, when a good many birds
come across from Walls. "We saw a few Curlews, Golden Plover,
and some of the commoner gulls ; but the shores, though rocky, are
not possessed of cliffs high enough to afford nesting-places for any
of the rock-birds. On the east side of the island is the bay of
Panhope, one of the best harbours in the South Isles, and, accord-
ing to Low, so called from there having been a salt-pan there,
which, however, had been given up even in his day.

Low also mentions that there was a great fishery for Coalfish
here, to which most of the boats in the South Isles repaired. This
fishery was followed, and occasionally interrupted, by dog-fish,
which, however, the islanders did not consider an unmixed evil, as,
although these creatures drove every other fish away when they put
in an appearance, their own livers yielded oil in such abundance
as to more than compensate for the loss of the fish driven away by
them. A like case is mentioned by Mr. Irvine-Fortescue as
occurring within the last few years at Scapa.

The Calf of Flotta is green, with some patches of brackens, and
has apparently a considerable depth of peat ; of birds we saw a few
Snipe, four or five Wild Ducks, with some Shags, Herons, and
Eiders ; some Kock Pipits and Twites among the smaller species.

Switha is a fine green grassy island, with high rocks on the
south and south-east side, sloping gently down to the sea on the
north. We saw a good number of the common waders, such as
Oyster-catchers, King Dotterel, etc., and, judging from the smell,

THE SOUTH ISLES. 41

Stormy Petrels must breed in the holes and cracks in the hard
peaty soil. In the rocks to the south-east we saw numbers of
Black Guillemots, some Kock Doves, and numbers of Herring
Gulls.

In Low's time Switha was a breeding-place of the White-
tailed Eagle.

LAMBHOLM, BUKEAY, HUNDA, AND GLIMPSHOLM.

Lying close to the north end of S. Eonaldsay are the islands
of Lambholm, Burray, Hunda, and Glimpsholm. Lambholm is
entirely cultivated, and possessed of no particular ornithological
interest. Burray, though much cultivated, still possesses Grouse,
and Mr. Cowan informs us that as many as twenty brace * may be
got there any day in August; it also used to be noted for the
abundance of its rabbits, but this did not compensate for the mis-
chief they did by burrowing into the sand, and so enabling the wind
to get hold of it and blow it about. Hunda is a small island about
a mile long, and connected to Burray at low water by a narrow
strip of beach ; it is a most desolate-looking island, scarcely a bird
to be seen on it, and contains but one croft. The uncultivated
part is, as usual, covered with stunted heather, mixed with an
immense amount of the crowberry plant ; the top of the surface is
being rapidly peeled off for fuel. The west side consists of low
rocks, which contain no birds, and on the east side we only met
with a very few of the commonest species, one Black Guillemot, a
Eed-breasted Merganser, a Snipe, and a few Eedshanks, etc., being
all we saw ; there is a little grass at the south-east end.

Glimpsholm is a fine grassy island, with a little stunted
heather at the north side, and on the south-east side a patch of
brackens. Here was the largest colony of Arctic Terns we had as
yet seen, their nests being placed at random in the short grass,
some even yet empty (July 5), others containing one and two eggs.
Besides terns there were quantities of the common shore waders.
There was a large flock of Curlews on the island, either migrants

Probably not so abundant now, judging from later information.

4:2 THE SOUTH ISLES.

or non-breeding birds : one appeared to be a very small one. Other
birds were a few Sheldrakes, a pair or two of Hooded Crows, but
no Eiders.

S. KONALDSAY.

Even in Low's time, S. Eonaldsay was described by that
gentleman as the granary of the South Isles, and cultivation has
certainly not gone back since then; indeed, when visiting the
island in June 1889, we saw fresh ground being broken up. No
wonder then that bird life is getting so much scarcer in the Ork-
neys; many of the indigenous birds are driven away before the
plough, and from the lack of cover, this loss is not compensated
for, at present, by any increase of such birds as can live under
the new state of things.

Of the two sides of the island the east is by far the more
interesting. Around St. Margaret's Hope, which is an excellent
harbour, and where the principal town of the island stands, there are
a few gardens, and on the south-west of the harbour some whins,
which attract a few Blackbirds, Eobins, and Linnets. Most of the
ground out to Hoxa Head is cultivated, with a few patches of
moorland here and there, and the south-east side consists of grassy
slopes. The Head itself is rocky, and a few Herring Gulls, Cor-
morants, and a pair or two of Hooded Crows, appeared to be
breeding there. Widewall Bay, at the head of which is a small
extent of sandy links, is a fine landlocked harbour, but too
shallow to be of much use for shipping ; its coast-line is mostly
sandy. Almost immediately opposite Widewall Bay, but on the
other side of the island, the sand links again appear, and are,
though small, rather more extensive.

The cliffs on the east coast are fine, though, except in one or
two places, not so precipitous as in many of the other islands,
being much intersected by green ledges, and containing many long
grassy slopes. There is a depression of some extent at Windwick,1
where there is a bay, but north and south of that the land rises to
between 200 and 300 feet. From the nature of the rocks, Guillemots,

1 The termination "wick" signifies, in Orkney and Shetland, a bay.

THE SOUTH ISLES. 43

Kazorbills, etc., are not so abundant, but they seem exactly suited
to the Herring Gulls, which, at this locality, have some of the most
extensive colonies we know of in the Orkneys ; mixed with these
are a very few pairs of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and still fewer
of their larger cousins. We were pleased, however, to find the (very
large) colony of Jackdaws, mentioned by Low in his tour, which
birds are decidedly uncommon in the islands ; and even our worthy
landlord at St. Margaret's Hope, who himself had a decided turn
for ornithology, did not know these birds existed in the island. A
male Peregrine was flying about amidst the crowd of Herring Gulls
disturbed by our approach, chattering most energetically, but the
female was invisible, nor could we see anything of the nest.
North of the sandy beach before mentioned at Newark Bay the
coast again rises, but to no great height, Grimness, a rocky head-
land, being the extreme eastern promontory.

The highest point of the island is, as usual, the Ward Hill,
nearly 400 feet high, not far from Stowse Head, which is as yet
uncultivated, and covered with the usual very stunted heather and
coarse grass. For all its size, there is no really good heather, and
consequently no grouse in the island, and only a few hares and
rabbits. There are many marshes and lochs in the island,
especially in the south. These latter, with one exception, con-
tain no trout, but they afford some of the best snipe-shooting in
Orkney, for which indeed S. Konaldsay has always been famous.
Besides Snipe there is abundance of Dunlins, Eedshanks, etc., but
few ducks. During our walk round the island we saw but very
little in the way of small birds, either in number or species, even
Common Buntings and Wheatears were rare — indeed, of the former
we only saw one individual. We saw none of the Black-headed
Gulls at the loch near the church as mentioned by Low, but many
Coots and a few Waterhens. This loch is very reedy at the
southern end, and the margins very boggy.

Swona, which lies to the south-west of S. Eonaldsay, is a
small rocky islet a little over a mile long by about a third broad.

44 THE SOUTH ISLES.

The centre is grassy, and the rocks, especially at the north end,
extremely sharp and jagged. This much we could see from Bur-
wick, in S. Eonaldsay, but as the island lies some distance away
from the latter place, and we could not hear that it possessed any-
thing particularly interesting from an ornithological point of view,
we did not think it worth while personally to visit it.

STACK AND SKERRY.

THESE islands, a sort of " No Man's Land," though said to belong
to the Heddles of Melsetter, lie almost forty miles west of Hoy,
and are thus described by Harvie-Brown : —

"June 18th, 1887. — Arrived off Stacker Suliskerry early to-day
with a light north-west wind, and made an easy landing on the
south-east side of the Skerry, just below the remains of a small
house.

" Great Grey Seals in some numbers were bobbing around us in
the surf. We were about two hours on the island, and then the
fog came down from the northward, and we hurried again on
board, as the wind freshened. Mr. Norrie took two general views
from the highest point of the island, facing east and then west, and
four others of geos and birds.

" The island is divided near the east end by a deep geo, impass-
able at low water. We landed two hours before low water, and
left just at low water.

" The most of the island is covered with Cochlearia officinalis,
fennel, chickweed, and a dark green, luxuriant grass, the latter
here and there in patches, fennel and chickweed most abundantly.
I saw no appearance of sea-pink.

" The rock which forms the island is composed of the newer
gneiss, changing into syenite, and Professor Heddle took speci-
mens.

" The height of the skerry is about 50 feet at the highest point,
and it slopes away to the east about half a mile ; to the west it
dips quickly where two geos from north and south nearly meet, and
in the hollow is a fine colony of terns. In some places the forests

46 STACK AND SKERRY.

of fennel, which, when bruised, gives forth a strong aromatic scent,
predominated over the cochlearia, and in others the order was
reversed. The fennel seemed to choose the deeper soil of the
Puffins' ground, the cochlearia preferring the stonier and thinner
soil. The dark green grass before mentioned occurred in patches
in the deeper soil in the hollows, and seems to have been principally
encouraged by the droppings of gulls and Eider Ducks, nests of
which were often placed in the thicker tufts. Here and there
were pools of spray or rain-water, with rich mould and grasses
round their margins, and muddy slopes, in which the footprints of
ducks and gulls were abundantly visible.

" Several of the pools are visited by the Great Grey Seals, which
travel even as far as the middle of the island, and here an annual
slaughter is made by boats from Sutherland, when the seals con-
gregate in October for breeding purposes.

"The birds observed on the Skerry were, Turnstones in flocks of
from five to twelve ; Oyster-catchers, common ; Eock Pipits fairly
abundant ; Shags very numerous, breeding all over the rocky fringe,
in the open crevices of the ruins of the old house, and in almost
every available spot, most of the young being hatched out. I saw
no Cormorants.

" Great Black-backed Gulls, a good many pairs amongst large
numbers of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Herring Gulls common,
apparently congregating mostly towards the east end, and on the
east side of the rent or tide geo. Black Guillemots not very common,
a few pairs among the barer rocks. Puffins very common all over
the vegetation-covered portions, and tunnelling all over it. Eider
Ducks common; I came upon several nests. The Arctic Tern was
the only species of tern identified, and I shot one and preserved a
foot, tail, and wing, to satisfy myself and others."

On another occasion, as related below, Harvie-Brown made
a second unsuccessful attempt to land upon the Stack, and we again
quote from his Journal as follows : —

"We sailed oil the night of June 28th, 1889, for Stack, from
Scrabster. A heavy sea running seriously interrupted the way of
the vessel, and we did not reach off till 9 A.M. next day.

STACK AND SKERRY. 47

" June 29th. — Impossible to effect a landing, and useless to
attempt it. Mr. Norrie, however, made seven or eight first-rate
' shots ' with his camera.

"The height of the Stack is 130 feet. A smooth square preci-
pice of a greenish-grey rock, seamed near the top with a broad
horizontal dark red vein of felspar, faces the south, and the same,
continuing round a very sharply denned angle to the west, also
faces the Atlantic.

" This latter surmounts a dangerously slippery, steeply sloping
under-cliif or pedestal. The entire summit, sloping and rounded
towards the east side to within 50 or 60 feet of the water, is
densely populated by Gannets; and on the north-west side they
are equally numerous upon certain broad shelves, where the rock
has broken away apparently, in large horizontal masses — great
steps of a giant stair ! The isolated portions at the ends also are
covered with the birds to even lower elevations above the sea, but
on the west side, where it is more precipitous and a smoother
rock, there is very little bird life. The colour of the whole is very
fine ; the top, snowy- white with birds and whitewash ; lined across
here and there with small black streaks, where the perpendicular
facets of the stair, or step-like ledges, occur ; the lower portions all
around dark with the action of the waves and spray and adhering
tangles ; the south and west faces of mural precipice — as already
mentioned — of an almost glaucous green or grey, and almost
lustrous surface, with the intersecting bands of dark red felspar
just below the snowy summit ; contrasts of colour by no means
common among our islets of the sea. Moreover, the snowy masses
of the adult Gannet companies are ' picked out ' quite strikingly,
and accentuated by the dark jackets of the younger birds, and by
the crevices holding shelves of sober-coloured Guillemots and
Kazorbills. We had a particularly fine light upon the rock for
the camera, and got good chances of views on all sides, notwith-
standing the high and deep heave of the Atlantic swell.

" We noticed that a very much larger percentage of immature
birds occupy the Stack than we have ever observed elsewhere at
any British haunt of the Gannet."

48

STACK AND SKERRY.

As far back as A.D. 1400, these islands, and probably also North
Konay and North Barray — of the Hebrideaii group — were known to
the Norsemen, and used by the Orkney Earls as a seal and egg-
preserve ; and even yet, when occasion offers, boats from Strom-
ness, and Tongue in Sutherland, go and harry them for eggs, as
was the case this year (1890), when something like one hundred
dozen of eggs were taken and sold in Stromness.

Since the foregoing was written Professor Newton has visited
Stack, and, in a letter to us, he also remarks on the large number
of immature Gannets, a much larger percentage than is generally
seen in other more visited localities, and this he ascribes to the
same cause as ourselves, viz., from the eggs being less frequently
taken, and the birds being less frequently disturbed.

THE PENTLAND SKEBRJES.

ALTHOUGH we have described these islands in a former work,1 still
they really belong to the Orkneys, being included in the parish of
S. Eonaldsay. In any case, however, a book on the Orkney avi-
fauna would be incomplete without a mention of these well-known
" Skerries." Lying as they do in the course of one of the most
famous migration lines in Scotland, many birds occur there almost
commonly, which, as visitants to the islands themselves, are
decidedly rare ; and it may well be, that owing to the attraction of
these lights, Orkney is indebted for many records of the rarer
species, which, without this attraction, would pass on. Other
lighthouses there are in Orkney, which have contributed their
quota to the Migration Eeports issued for several years back by
the committee formed for collecting these facts ; but the Pentland
Skerries are facile princeps, being, we believe, scarcely second in
importance to the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth.

We hope from this, however, our readers will quite understand
that it is not from the mere fact of there being lights on the
Skerries that birds are drawn out of their line of flight by them,
or that such lights placed vaguely anywhere would give such
good results ; it is because these lights are in the course of the
main fly-line over Orkney, which line is concentrated by the cliffs
on each side of the Pentland Firth, that we have such wonderful
results.

To go into the whole general subject of migration is not
necessary here ; there is quite enough to be said about the area
under consideration.

1 A Vertebrate Fauna of Sutherland, Caithness, and West Gromarty, 8vo, 1887.

D

50 THE PENTLAND SKERRIES.

It will be seen from our list that already some birds which
were at one time quite scarce in the islands are now getting
commoner. A species may fly over a certain area for years on
migration, and, there being nothing to attract it either for food
or breeding purposes, it will naturally pass on without a halt,
unless driven to do so by stress of weather. Should, however, any
part of our area be so altered by art or nature as to become suit-
able for that species, during one of its involuntary visits the bird
might be more inclined to linger, and eventually, though not all
at once, become a breeding species.

From the foregoing we think we may safely say in regard
to the distribution of birds during migration, as opposed to their
distribution at other times, that the former on their fixed and
well-known fly -lines indicate future breeding areas, if the places
become so altered at any time as to suit the species. We trust this
will explain to a certain extent the changes that are now going on
in the Orcadian avi-fauna, as regards the increase of some birds.

Though the fact is now well known to most ornithologists, that
nearly all the birds in our islands are to a certain extent migratory,
this may possibly be news to many of our Orcadian friends. In
some instances this may be more easily seen in those islands than
in many other parts of Scotland. Take, for example, the Chaf-
finch, a bird that is seen in most parts of Scotland the whole year
round, and where, for that reason, its migratory habits might be
easily overlooked ; yet in the Orkneys, though breeding in a few
rare instances, in winter it is, in many places, almost a common bird.

The autumn migration seems always vaster and denser to the
ordinary observer than the spring migration, and there are several
reasons which will readily account for this : —

First, For every pair of birds which pass north in spring,
which are not barren, or which do not have their eggs or young
destroyed, we may say from four to ten more come south in
autumn.

Second, In autumn and winter the areas where food-supplies
are obtainable by species are more restricted, and so the birds,
especially those that are most noticeable during migration, their

THE PENTLAND SKERRIES. 51

numbers now vastly increased by the addition of their young, are
collected into a smaller area.

Third, Fogs are more prevalent at that time of year, and these
seem to bewilder the birds, which are thus brought down from
their great migratory fly-lines, which are often very high in the
air, to a much lower level.

In spring, on the other hand, birds do not appear to come in
such rushes ; they then almost invariably migrate by night, and, as
the weather is generally finer, do not fly so low.

Were the Skerries rather larger, with a more broken surface,
and especially if they possessed a small plantation, however stunted,
no doubt the returns of warblers would be much greater ; as it is,
there is no inducement for these latter birds to remain, once the
daylight returns.

It can easily be understood why the Migration Keturns from
these places vary so much year by year, the wind and weather
having much to do with it. Birds like a wind a point or two
forward of the beam to cross with, i.e. on the shoulder, and
they dislike a following wind, as that disarranges their feathers and
their tails (or steering gear), and blows them helplessly about.
But, at the same time, this stern- wind is the one most favourable
to ornithological observation on our coasts. When birds travel
with a gentle wind on the shoulder (i.e. near the wind, like a ship),
they are often least seen ; but should the wind shift after they
have started, dead ahead, or, equally bad, dead astern, the first
landing-place and shelter is crammed with them, and then it is
that so many rarities turn up.

When the night is clear, and the wind and weather favourable,
birds travel at a great height, and are thus less attracted by lights,
and pass on ; but a hazy night, with a strong wind from the east
and south-east, causes them to lose their way ; they thus lower
their flight, and are attracted by the strong rays of the light-
houses, and such nights give us the best-filled schedules.

However, we need not pursue this subject further. All those
who wish to study migration should read the reports published by
the committee before mentioned. Of these there are nine, begin-

52 THE PENTLAND SKERRIES.

ning in 1879, and ending in 1887, and all the species are there
entered, with date and place, as far as they could be identi-
fied.

We will now proceed to mention those birds that occur on
migration at the Pentland Skerries, and at any other lighthouse
on the islands from which we have any returns of interest. Where
no lighthouse is actually mentioned, the Pentland Skerries must
be understood.

The best and simplest plan will be to take each family in
order, and make our notes as concise as possible, omitting, how-
ever, the water-birds as being presently of less interest.

Turdidce. — The rarest of these birds are the Missel-Thrush and
Ring-Ouzel. Missel-Thrushes were seen at North Ronaldsay at
the end of September 1882, and these birds have also been re-
corded from there in January. On the Pentland Skerries one was
seen for the first time on April 1st, 1888, and another on March
25th, 1889, marked " very rare," by Mr. Gilmour, the assistant light-
keeper, who says he has only seen these birds once or twice
before.

Ring-Ouzels are seen mostly on spring migrations ; one was seen
as late as May 17th. In April 1886 there was a rush, but this is
rare; they are generally in smaller lots. They are not so com-
mon in the autumn.

The other migrants are Fieldfares, Redwings, Thrushes, and
Blackbirds ; the latter rarely strike the light, and are perhaps the
rarest. The greatest " rush " of these species takes place about
the middle of October, and up to the first week of November,
varying, no doubt, according to the wind and other causes. Field-
fares return in greatest numbers in the end of April and the first
week or ten days of May, but Redwings and Thrushes are remark-
able for their scarcity in the spring records. An odd Thrush is
also occasionally seen in July. Blackbirds and Thrushes occur
pretty frequently in September, which, too, seems to be the most
usual month for the Ring-Ouzels.

Saxicolince. — Wheatears arrive in greatest numbers about the
first week of April, and occasionally in rushes, as at the Pentland

THE PENTLAND SKERRIES. 53

Skerries on April 6th, 1884, and again at N. Eonaldsay on
April 4th, 1885. They seem to be rarer on the return journey;
we have only a few notes of them in the schedules for autumn.

Whinchats (one reported in March 1887, and again in March
1889) occur every spring, but are rare ; also Stonechats, though they
are not common either, and are probably as much seen in the
other islands as on migration ; they are, however, very local.

Kedstarts are generally rare. They come about the middle of
May (May 17th, 1888, abundant) ; earliest, April 29 ; at times much
more numerous in autumn, as in September 10th and 12th, 1889 ;
seen as early as August 14th. The Black Kedstart has occurred
twice, once on March 31st, 1884, and again on April 24th, 1889.

Sylviince. — Eobins occur on both migrations ; they are as a rule
more numerous in spring, when at times they are very abundant,
as on April 19th, 1886, and April 14th, 1889. They occasionally
remain during the winter.

The Whitethroat (?) has only occurred once or twice in spring.
The Blackcap seems only to have been recorded once, in October
1888.

Phylloscopince. — Goldcrests do not figure very largely in the
schedules, but occur on both migrations ; they are principally seen
in the autumn, once as early as September 3d.

Willow Wren. — It seems strange there is no return of this
very common warbler, but our excellent correspondents may have
included them either under " Titmice " or " Whitethroats."

It is remarkable that there should be no record of the migra-
tion of the Sedge Warbler, as this is one of the commonest warblers
in the islands.

Accentoridce. — The Hedge-sparrow is recorded once or twice in
April ; in one instance with the note " not very common." They
seem to be still rarer in the autumn.

Paridce. — Though " Titmice " are recorded in several instances
it seems probable that other species are meant, most likely some of
the smaller warblers, judging from the description given and the
usual dates of arrival, May. All true Tits are excessively rare in
Orkney.

54 THE PENTLAND SKERRIES.

Troglodytidce. — Common Wren, spring and late autumn ; some-
times in considerable numbers in latter season; seen as late as
December, and may remain at times through the winter.

Motadllidce. — The Pied Wagtail is common on both migrations,
sometimes being seen in March, and the bulk departing in Septem-
ber; observed the second week in May. There seems to b& no
record of yellow wagtails.

The Grey-headed Yellow Wagtail has been twice observed, and
once shot by Mr. Gilmour; the first occasion was on May 19th,
1888 — when the bird was killed ; the second time was on May 3d,
1889.

Pipits are recorded only in three years, 1881, 1882, and 1887,
and then only in autumn. A rush of Eock Pipits was reported
from N. Eonaldsay on September 4th, 1885, which remained
throughout the winter (but these might be residents).

Laniidce. — A Eed-backed Shrike was obtained on May 19th,
1888 (see under Species), and this appears to be the only record of
shrikes we have.

Micscicapidce. — The Pied Flycatcher is very numerous at times,
more so on the spring migration in the month of May, when, in
1885, from the 2d to the 24th, great numbers were seen ; numbers
were seen again in autumn of the same year. Their numbers are
very fluctuating, or at least they are not observed in great quantities
every year. In 1888 and 1889 there were no spring returns at all,
and only two in autumn, one in September of each year.

Spotted Flycatchers are first recorded on May 16th, 1888, after
which they seem to have become more numerous ; this is the only
notice we have ; none for autumn. They are very rare in Orkney.

Sometimes the species are named in the schedules ; at other
times the word " Flycatcher " is used. Under this heading they
appear almost every year in both spring and autumn. We have
tried to separate the records, as far as possible, of the two
species.

Hirundinidce. — Swallows, Martins, and Sand-Martins are
generally comprehended under the term " Swallows." The second
fortnight of May is their usual time of appearing in the greatest

THE PENTLAND SKERRIES. 55

numbers, but they occur also in June. They begin to return as
early as the second week in August, the last being seen as late
as October.

Fringillidce. — Amongst this family are included Greenfinches,
an occasional House-Sparrow, Chaffinches, Bramblings, and Linnets,
the latter most likely including Common Linnets, Kedpolls, and
Twites. In spring finches move as early as February, and, in fact,
Linnets are recorded more or less throughout the year. Green-
finches were observed on January 1st, 1888, and a Kedpoll on
March 10th of the same year. Bramblings appear in April, but
are rare ; Mr. Gilmour identified them by their white rumps. Some
were seen again on October 18th, 1889; wind strong from the
south, and weather hazy. Chaffinches occur as early as February,
and through March and April, as late as May, at which date.
Greenfinches were observed. Chaffinches are seen in great numbers

at times at the end of October, and as late as the end of November.
Sparrows are only occasional visitants. Five were seen on May
29th, 1888, but at Auskerry, in May 1883, a flock was seen, as

also a Brambling, Chaffinch, and Greenfinch about the same date.

A sparrow seen at the Pentland Skerries on May 12th, 1889, may

have been a Tree-Sparrow, as it had much white about the head.
LoxiincB. — Crossbills were seen on July 9th, 1888. There was

a great migration of these birds throughout the north that year.

No other entry of these birds occurs.

Emberizince. — Common Bunting, Yellowhammer, Eeed Bunting,

and Snow Bunting. Common Buntings have been seen in January,

but in April and May are most abundant ; not common in autumn.

Yellowhammers are occasional in March and April, ra.re or absent

in autumn. Reed Buntings occur regularly in May and October.

Snow Buntings are abundant at times in October and November,

but sometimes as early as September 17th, and they have been

seen as late as May 1st.

Alaudidce. — There are a few records of Skylarks in spring,

sometimes as early as February 9th, continuing up to April ; return

begins in September, and continues at times up to December.

Occasionally come in rushes, as at N. Ronaldsay in October 1885.

56 THE PENTLAND SKERRIES.

Sturmdce. — Starlings are resident on the Skerries ; they
fluctuate in numbers, which may be due to merely local move-
ments. But in July 1883 there was a great continuous migra-
tion at Auskerry.

Corwdce. — Jackdaws, Hooded Crows, Kooks, and Ravens. All
these are resident in the islands, and breed, so no doubt many of
the migration reports refer to local movements. Jackdaws occur
continually in our schedule for February and March 1889, but as
they breed in S. Ronaldsay this is not to be wondered at. In
fact there is scarcely a month in which Corvidae, generally either
Eooks or Jackdaws, do not figure. Ravens are very rare, and Grey
Crows by no means common, as the actual numbers seen are so
often mentioned in the schedules. This would appear as if the
Orkneys were outside the great stream of these latter birds, which,
farther south, come to us in such masses.

Cypselidce. — Swifts are more often seen in autumn than spring,
but at Auskerry flocks were seen on May 1st, 1885, with this note
on the schedule : — " rarely seen until the middle of June."

Picidce.—Two records only occur, both in autumn, of the Great
Spotted Woodpecker.

Guculidce. — There is not a single record occurs of Cuckoos.

Strigidce. — The Short-eared Owl is reported to visit Auskerry
annually in May. A grey owl is reported from the Pentland
Skerries now and then in autumn; once on May 3d, 1889. A
Long-eared Owl on November 17th, 1888.

Falconidce. — Hawks occur in most of the schedules, but none
in 1888 or 1889.

Ardeidce. — Common Heron seen most months, but never in
any quantity.

Columbidce. — Rock-Doves are occasionally seen, but there are
only two records of Wood- Pigeons, viz., June 18th and October
7th of 1886.

Pterodidce. — For Sand-Grouse, see under the species. The
Pentland Skerries was one of the places where they were earliest
seen, viz., May 17th, 1888.

Eallidce. — The Corn-Crake appears regularly in May, and nests

THE PENTLAND SKERRIES. 57

on the Skerries ; autumn records are rare. When they do occur
the middle of September is about the last date. A young bird
on one occasion, 1884, remained all winter.

Charadriidce. — Golden Plovers, Einged Plovers, Lapwings, Turn-
stones, and Oyster-catchers, all figure in the schedules, but many
of these may only locally migrate, especially as now Lapwings are
inclined to stay in increasing numbers all winter.

Golden Plovers are recorded in February, April, July (rare
at this date), August, September, and October. At Auskerry
flocks were seen on May 15th, 1883, all day in large numbers.
From N. Konaldsay, Golden Plovers are often recorded in August,
and many remain there all winter. August seems the busiest
month all round for Golden Plovers.

Ringed Plovers: records of no great interest; they are constantly
occurring, and breed there.

Lapwings : flocks in February and March, and again in Septem-
ber ; rare in October ; indeed, not common during any of the other
months, but a pair or two nest on the island. Turnstones remain
all winter, but Oyster-catchers are mostly seen in end of February
and March, and again in September.

Scolopacidce. — Woodcocks are regularly noted in the schedules,
but we seem to have few spring records in February, March, and
April. In autumn they occur regularly, at times in rushes, not
only here, but at N. Eonaldsay, 1884 being a very good season for
them. The "rush" comes about 15th to 20th of October. Com-
mon Snipe, very few and unimportant entries, with one exception,
viz., in February 1885 : — "the first was seen on the 16th, and on
the 19th a large number all day on the island, where they bred for
the first time in 1888." A Jack Snipe was seen on July 4, 1884, a
very unusual date. Dunlins generally arrive at the end of April or
beginning of May ; they breed on the island. Purple Sandpipers
are mentioned, but very rarely, and only in winter. Eedshanks
are mentioned, but their movements are of no great interest.
Whimbrels, no record. Curlews occur in the schedules in every
month in the year ; perhaps rarest in April and May, but a flock
is reported in June (1889). Many of these must be non-breeding

58 THE PENTLAND SKERRIES.

birds, as they breed only rarely in Orkney. They seein least
common in July.

There seems to be only one real rush of waders generally
reported, and that was in September 1883, when great flocks of
" Sandpipers " flew into the rays of the light one night at 9 P.M. ;
light east-north-east wind with fog. This rush seems to have
occurred also in October and November up to December 12th.
There are one or two notes of interest in relation to the sea-birds,
such as that on the 22d of February 1889, viz.: "Guillemots in
great numbers were seen flying east, and Razorbills, a good number,
were fishing about the island." Puffins arrive about April 8, arid
leave on or about August 15.

Terns arrive about May 10th, but are only seen about their
breeding-grounds in the mornings, until they begin to breed. One
year the terns left the Skerries on July 16th, which Mr. Gilmour
accounted for by their being harried by some fishermen ; for eight
years previously they had always taken their young out, but on
this occasion not one was hatched.

As showing the variety of birds that may be found there on a
good migration day in spring, we note that on May 17th, 1888,
Mr. Gilmour recorded in his schedule for that date the following
species : — Redstarts numerous, more females than males ; King-
Ouzels ; Flycatchers (species not mentioned) ; Black-headed Bunt-
ings ; Whinchats ; Wagtails (Pied) ; Common Buntings, and Red-
breasts. This same May the Grey-headed Yellow Wagtail and
Eed-backed Shrike were obtained. Mr. Gilmour informs us that
few birds strike the lantern in spring to those which do so in the
autumn ; at times moths are abundant at the light in the latter
season.

We must now conclude our chapter on the Pentland Skerries
and the Migration Keports. We feel we have by no means done
full justice to the excellent and interesting schedules sent in by
the various lighthouse-keepers, but to do that would be far too long
a business for this work. We trust, however, that we have written
enough to create a renewed interest in the minds of Orcadian

THE PENTLAND SKERRIES. 59

naturalists, and that this may bring forth fruit in the discovery of
species yet unrecorded from their islands, which may turn up at
these two most interesting times of the year — spring and autumn.
It may not be uninteresting to note that in 1804 the Lesser
Black-backed Gull and Eider Duck were found breeding on the
Pentland Skerries by a Mr. Simmonds, when on a tour round
the northern lighthouses with Eobert Stevenson, the eminent
engineer.

Class 1. MAMMALIA.

Sub-class MONODELPHIA.
Order CHIROPTERA.

Sub-order MICROCHIROPTEEA.

Family VESPERTILIONnXE.
Vesperugo pipistrellus (Schreb.). Pipistrelle.

We have very few notes of bats at all, but Mr. Moodie-Heddle
sends us two instances of their occurrence. One was seen in the
evening flying about the rigging of a vessel lying off Fara, in the
South Isles, in either 1834 or 1835. In the other case, one or
more haunted a plantation at Melsetter in the summer of 1879.

We have entered these notices under this species, as,
although none were secured, they are more likely to belong to
this, which is the common northern form, than any other.

Mr. Reid also saw a bat caught at Kirkwall in 1861, but
does not name the species.

Mr. Eanken says he has seen "bats" ten or twelve times in
Orkney, always in the neighbourhood of his garden, or of the
Cathedral at Kirkwall.

Mr. Harvey mentions having seen what he took to be a
bird, but which was evidently, from his description, a bat, in
July and August of the three successive years from 1884 to
1886, in Sanday.

Vesperugo noctula (Schreb.). Noctule.

The late Mr. Heddle had a note of one captured at S. Eonaldsay,
and preserved by the Eev. J. Gerard, but this probably relates
to the American bat described further on.

62 MAMMALS.

Vespertilio murinus, Schreb. Mouse-coloured Bat

The late Mr. Heddle mentions that he saw bats in Orkney, of two
species, and his son, Mr. Moodie-Heddle, records this species
as occurring in Walls and Sanday.

Vespertilio, sp.

11 Occurrence of a Foreign Bat in Orkney. — About September 1847 a
bat was caught by some people digging potatoes in the island of
South Ronaldsay, and it was kept alive for some weeks on
sugar and water, I believe. It was considered a very great
curiosity then, though any bat would have been equally so.
I obtained the kind permission of the Eev. John Gerard to take
it to London for examination. Mr. Waterhouse informs me
that Mr. Gray [i.e. the late Dr. J. E. Gray] believes it to be a large
specimen of Vespertilio pruinosus. It is a native of North America.
Its general appearance is not unlike the Noctule. The general
colour may be called badger-like. A bat is a very likely animal
to be brought in a ship : insects, we know, are brought from
America to Liverpool in great plenty." — John Wolley, 3 Roxburgh
Terrace, Edinburgh, November 16, 1848 (Zoologist, 1849, p. 2343.)1
" Occurrence of a Foreign Bat in Orkney. — Mr. Newman in the
Preface to the volume of the Zoologist for 1 849 refers to my paper
with the above heading (Zool. 2343). He seems to infer that it
was rather * slow ' of me not to seize so plausible a pretext for

adding a new bat to the British list. Mr. , Mr. , and

Mr. are men of far better spirit ; they have shown some

most exotic-looking birds to be truly British. But as Mr.
Newman says that I ' do not attempt to account for its pre-
sence in the Orkneys, and that the subject requires more minute
investigation,' I will now endeavour to say a little more
about it than I did in my first communication. I grant that the

1 Tom. cit. Preface, p. vi : "In Mammalia we have the occurrence of a new Bat,
supposed to be Vespertilio pruinosus ; it was caught by some people digging
potatoes in the island of South Ronaldsay, and Mr. Wolley, the gentleman who
communicated the fact (Zool. 2343), seems content to regard the species as purely
North American, although he does not attempt to account for its presence in the
Orkneys. The subject requires more minute investigation. . . ." — Edward
Newman, 9 Devonshire Street, Bishopsgate, Nov. 11, 1849.

MAMMALS. 63

subject requires further investigation, and such I intended
to have given it during a second visit this summer, by ascer-
taining positively whether any bats are constant inhabitants of
the Orkneys, and, if so, of what species; but I was unfor-
tunately only there a few days, and in such weather as no bats
could be expected to withstand. If I did not attempt to account
for the presence of this bat, I certainly hinted at my views on
the matter by saying that a bat is a very likely animal to be
brought in a ship, and by observing that this specimen was
looked upon as a very great curiosity, as any bat would have
been. Of the circumstances of its discovery I had undoubted
evidence. The people who found it were as much astonished and
frightened at it as Mr. Gerard was surprised to see it ; and
this gentleman preserved it with great care, as a thing of most
unusual occurrence, though he did not know that it was otherwise
than a common bat. I may say that he is now some years past
eighty, and has all his life been an observer of nature as exhibited
in the Orkney Islands, and especially in South Eonaldsay.
This country, entirely destitute of trees, and so exposed to every
wind, seems very ill adapted for the constant residence of any
species of bat ; and therefore these considerations, with the
evidence of the people, at once inclined me to believe it was an
accidental visitant. I was told at the British Museum that the
characters I had observed — the hairiness of the upper side of
the interfemoral membrane, and the yellowish band of hair on
the wing underneath the principal bones — were peculiar to a
family of American bats, called, from the first circumstance,
Lasinores, and on my bat (for it has since been very kindly
presented to me by Mr. Gerard) being compared with those in
the Museum, it was attributed to the species called pruinosus,
although considerably larger than the specimens in the collection,
and it may perhaps be a nearly allied species. Had any species
of the group been known to inhabit Europe I should have had
better hopes of finding that this bat was really indigenous to the
north of Britain. All things considered, I have little doubt
it was brought by one of the very numerous vessels which pass
between South Eonaldsay and John o' Groat's from various
parts of the world, or which lie up in the far-famed roadstead,

64 MAMMALS.

the Long Roads ( 1 Hope), of which South Ronaldsay forms the
eastern breakwater. Very many exotic insects are introduced
by vessels at Liverpool and other sea-ports, and bats can hide
in a corner, and do without food in cold weather almost as well
as an insect. I hope the reasons I have now stated will serve
to explain my contentment in looking upon this bat as an
intruder." — John Wolley, Edinburgh, December 15, 1849.1

N.B. — Vespertilio pruinosus is recorded by Hurdis as an
autumnal straggler to Bermuda.— J. M. Jones, The Naturalist in
Bermuda, p. 13 (London, 1859).

For the whole of this article we are indebted to Professor
Newton, who kindly took the trouble to work out the history
of the specimen.

Order INSECTIVORA.

Family ERINACEIDJE.
Erinaceus europaeus, L. Hedgehog.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue was told that a few Hedgehogs were brought
to Orkney by the sons of Dr. Logic, minister of Dirleton, and
turned out about 1870. There seems to be no word of them
since.

Family SORIOIDJE.
Sorex tetragon urus, Herman. Common Shrew.

Orc.=Rone Mouse (J. G. M.-H.). Sheer-Mouse (B. and H.).

Messrs. Baikie and Heddle consider this species as not very
numerous, but the late Mr. J. G. Heddle found it common in
Walls.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue has seen dead Shrews occasionally about
Swanbister, and has also seen and heard them in Hoy.

1 Tom. cit. 2813, 2814. [" A very minute description of the Ronaldsay specimen
is given by J. Wolley, which occupies nearly two pages. The specimen is sup-
posed to be in the Cambridge Museum, but Wolley seems to have had others for
comparison, and, as none appear to have been labelled, the Orkney specimen
cannot easily be picked out now.]

MAMMALS. 65

Crossopus fodiens (Pall). Water Shrew.

[We have no further record of this species beyond the one men-
tioned by Messrs. Baikie and Heddle as having been killed in
Walls in 1847.]

Section AECTOIDEA.
Family MUSTELID^.
Lutra vulgaris, Erxl. Otter.

The Otter is the only species of this genus found in the Orkneys.
Otters are yet abundant in most of the islands, the large extent of
seaboard giving them great facilities for escaping observation and
for concealment. In the early spring they wander much up and
down the inland streams, and make regular roads in cutting off
corners from one pool to another. This, and the green mounds
on which they leave their droppings, which latter always seem
very small for the size of the animal, betray their presence any-
where, although the animals themselves are rarely seen. The
greater part of the year they keep to the sea-coast, where they
live on fish, especially flounders, and, as we are informed, on
ducks and rabbits. Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us that they always
leave the stomach of any fish they eat.

The same gentleman also says : "I have killed many Otters,
and had the young ones to about a year old. They are playful
and easily tamed, and quite as good-tempered as an average
young dog. They show more activity early in the morning,
and again in the evening, than at mid-day. The danger of
losing them in fostering is in their getting milk beginning to
turn sour; this with them, as with young seals, brings on
diarrhoea, which is usually fatal. I can usually find an Otter,
if about, and have had as many as thirty skins at one time."

Mr. W. Harvey writes us from Sanday that a few years ago
an Otter " made her habitation and brought forth her young
within 150 yards of this (his) house, entering at the mouth of a
drain" (in lit. January 2, 1888).

The skins of those Otters that frequent the sea and sea-shore
E

66 MAMMALS.

are better and darker than those that frequent more inland
situations.

Otters are said to breed twice a year in Orkney, in spring
and autumn, and to bring forth from two to five young.

Very few otter-skins ever appeared among the exports from
Orkney. In 1804 there were three, and in 1805 there were nine.

Sub-order PINNIPEDIA.
Family TRIOHECHID^.

Trichechus rosmarus, L. Walrus.

Although we might reasonably presume that the Walrus was of
considerably more frequent occurrence in former years, when
the animals themselves were abundant in their more natural
habitat, we seem to have no records to prove this. The first
mentioned by Baikie and Heddle was killed in Eday in 1825,
and another is reported to have been seen in Hoy Sound in 1827.
Professor Heddle of St. Andrews told Harvie-Brown that he
himself saw an adult and young Walrus in 1849 or 1850 off the
coast of the parish of Walls : and in a copy of Baikie and Heddle
containing some MS. notes by one of the authors — R. Heddle —
which we have lately had the pleasure of examining, there is
this statement : "that a Walrus was seen off Eday in 1855, and
(another) in the Pentland Firth off Waas,1 in 1856."

In an extract from an article in Hardwicke's Science Gossip
on the Seals and Whales of the British Isles, Dr. Brown states
that two Walruses were seen in 1857, one in Orkney and the
other in Shetland.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us that there is an instance of a
Walrus occurring at Longhope, not mentioned by Baikie and
Heddle. " In this case it annoyed people going to church by
putting its tusks over the gunwale of the boat ! ! I saw one just
outside the surf during a westerly gale about 1863-4, at Hawick,
near Longhope. The tusks were quite visible, but not very large."

" Whale-ships have several times come into Longhope of
recent years, with young Walruses on board."

It seems to us that this last sentence may account for one
1 Waas = Walls.

MAMMALS. 67

or two of the Walruses seen in Orkney, more especially in the
case of the one just mentioned as being so familiar.

Family PHOCID-ffi.
Phoca vitulina, L. Common Seal,

Oic.=Sel/cie.

Low speaks to the abundance of seals in the Pightland (Pentland)
Firth, and in his Fauna Orcadensis, p. 18, says: "Seals seem
to be subject to a plague or murrain. About four years ago
they drove ashore around our coasts in scores."

This "murrain" seems to have occurred twice since then,
once in 1836, and again in 1869 or 1870, since which time
certain bays have been quite deserted by seals.

In the old Statistical Account, 1797, vol. xix. p. 398, there is
a description given of a seal-fishery formerly held at the " Barrel
of Butter," * and the seals there caught would most probably be
of this species; at the present time seals are rarely seen in
that neighbourhood.

Amongst the Orkney exports for 1801 appear 12 seal-skins;
in 1802 there were 373, and in 1803, 14 only. It is just
possible that these may have been the last of the fishery on the
Barrel of Butter.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle sends us the following very interesting
notes : —

"Seals are still common in the South Isles, though their
haunts have somewhat changed since 'Baikie and Heddle*
was published. Ten years ago they were nearly extinct here
(in the island of Hoy), being reduced to three or four. I pre-
served them near Melsetter, and they got so tame that I could
come within a few yards of them, and even handle the young
ones. Since then they were getting too numerous, and killing
so many sea-trout that we have had to slaughter a good many."

" The Common Seal calls out very much before any markedly
bad weather."

"In places where they lie much ashore, and are constantly
crawling over rough rocks, the nipples of the females seem to get
painful, and they repulse the young when they attempt to

1 Barrel of Butter — a small skerry lying in the middle of Scapa Flow.

68 MAMMALS.

suck. Frequently the young ones on these occasions crawl
up to the houses, and get fed with cow's milk, though, from
inattention, they rarely survive."

" On dissection of males of P. vitulina, I have several times
been struck with the peculiarity of there appearing to be four
or more testes."

In answer to some questions we put to Mr. Moodie-Heddle
on these notes we received the following answer : —

"The young seals were at a place where they were pre-
served, but the incident has happened elsewhere. The last case
when one was fed was two years ago ; but a young one was
going about the beach neglected by its mother last summer
(1887), and was more than once taken and put into the water
near the other seals by the people. Another got into a crack
in a rock, and had to be helped out by a man ; the mother
remaining in the water close by. The young one referred
to first was ultimately taken up here by a Mr. Curzon, who
was collecting insects, to whom I gave it, but it took diarrhoea,
and died about ten days after."

" Seals know very soon when they are safe. I could get
within 30 yards of some where preserved, whilst the same seals
would not let me within 150 yards, when at another beach
some miles off. They actually got so tame with us that I have
known two young ones killed with stones by some navvies
working on the road; and one, half-grown, picked up asleep,
and taken into a ship's boat (it was floating asleep)"

" They will stand a few shots, as long as none are killed,
without much alarm ; but if one is killed near a rock they
either desert it or are shy of it for some time. Seals not only
leap before bad weather, but call out, making a strange wild
sound — at night in particular. They jump much, and pursue
one another at the breeding season, and appear, in copulation,
to thrash the water into foam."

In 1883 we found this species of seal abundant at most of
the skerries lying inside the islands between Kirkwall and Kou-
say, and on one occasion counted as many as thirty heads up at
one time near the Taing Skerry, which lies between Gairsay
and Shapinsay. From being constantly fired at when ashore,

MAMMALS. 69

they rarely venture to land on any of the larger islands now,
keeping almost exclusively for that purpose to the before-
mentioned skerries; three that we procured, all females, had
small-shot buried in their blubber.

As autumn approaches, and possibly on account of the
young ones getting stronger, and more able to follow the
mother, the seals congregate less together, and are to be seen
more about the island shores.

When in Orkney in 1888, Buckley saw the seals referred to
by Mr, Moodie-Heddle, and they were wonderfully tame. He
was told that it was only the habitues that were so tame,
strange seals that often came to join this herd being very uneasy
at the approach of any one. One day fifteen were counted at
the stones, at another time twenty-three, the former number
being the usual complement.

"We saw many seals the same year at the "Grand" of
Egilsay, a long narrow reef of rocks running out a long way
to the east of the island ; we found them also numerous at
Linga Holm, near Stronsay.

Phoca hispida, Schreb. Ringed or Marble Seal.

[Obs. — We have no information about the occurrence of this seal
in Orkney further than the bald statement by Messrs. Baikie
and Heddle that one or two specimens have been obtained.]

Phoca groenlandica, Fab. Greenland or Harp Seal.

We have not heard of any more specimens of this species having
been obtained here since Messrs. Baikie and Heddle wrote. As,
however, it has occurred on different occasions on the Mainland
of Scotland, both east and west, it is quite likely to have paid
these islands a visit, and even been shot, without much atten-
tion being paid to the fact.

In a note just received from Mr. Moodie-Heddle, referring
to some Great Grey Seals that were found dead, he says there
was one he heard of that was marked exactly like a Greenland
or Harp Seal, and was of large size : it had no head when
found. This was in the winter of 1889-90.

70 MAMMALS.

Halichaerus gryphus (Fabr.). Grey Seal.
Qrc.=Selkie.

It has now been pretty well decided that all the notices of
P. barbata should really be referred to this species, and this is
the course we have here adopted.

Pitcairn, in his Retrospective View of the Scotch Fisheries^
1787, makes mention of the great abundance of the seals at
Stack and Skerry1 — "as the author has seen from 500 to 1000
Seals caught in little more than forty-eight hours' time, from a
rock that lies about eight leagues to the westward of Hoymouth
in Orkney, where there are great numbers of them, and in many
other places thereabout." — Vide p. 37.

At p. 436, vol. xvi. of the old Statistical Account, 1795, there
is mention made of a seal-fishery at Soulisgeir. A large sloop
used to go there once a year about Martinmas, but since a fatal
accident, which took place in November 1786, it had been given
up. In 1792 thirty-six sealskins were sold at Stromness at
2s. 6d. each.

The Grey Seal certainly is not common in the more
sheltered firths about the Mainland, Rousay, Gairsay, and
Shapinsay, as, during the time we were in Rousay (and we
were constantly cruising about in a small boat, seeing plenty of
the Common Seal), we could only identify the present species on
two occasions. One of these occasions was at the west end of
Viera, where a Grey Seal kept its head out of the water and its
nose straight in the air for two or three minutes at a time
between each submersion, and always appearing in the same spot.

It is probable that the Grey Seal breeds in Sanday, as Mr.
Harvey tells us that young seals with long shaggy whitish
hair have been frequently found alive along the shores of that
island, and that they are about 4 feet in length. Mr. Irvine-
Fortescue was informed that a large seal is seen swimming into
the caves round Stronsay, and he remarks that a few are usually
to be seen about the South Isles also.

Speaking of seals generally in Sanday, Mr. Harvey writes

1 Rocks lying about forty miles north-west of Hoy Head, much frequented
by seals, and already described, vid. pp. 45-48.

i

MAMMALS. 71

us : "I have shot a good many seals of various colours and sizes,
some a dusky red, some a dark mottled grey, a few very light
grey, with streaks of white. One was a very old seal, nearly
white, whose teeth were worn away, and drops of lead1 had
apparently been imbedded in his head and neck for years.
The skin was very pretty, but the oil (? blubber) was scant and
thin like grease. He measured 9 feet in length.

" I have got Common Seals from 5 to 9 feet long, and Great
Seals from 9 to 12 feet in length. About twenty-five years ago
I observed one with the largest head I ever saw, about 200
yards from land. I struck him with a ball and wounded him.
About a fortnight after, he was found ashore at Elsness by a
farm servant, who afterwards informed me that the * selkie '
was as big as a large horse, and measured 15 feet long, and that
he got about 12 gallons of oil from it."

" The Great Seal used to be frequently killed on the * Selky '
skerry, lying north of the island of N. Eonaldsay; they are
there called Orkenies."

Harvie-Brown visited this skerry in July 1889, and saw
several Grey Seals in the water, but none on shore, as some
boats had just passed the skerry and disturbed them.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says that this last winter (1889-90)
several Grey Seals came ashore, dead, on the Firth side of Hoy,
along with multitudes of Cormorants, Auks, etc., apparently
from want of food.

The same gentleman has had the young of this species
tame, and says they are very faithful and fond of following
their owners about, but he does not consider them as intelligent
as P. vitulina.

Cystophora cristata (Erxl). Hooded Seal.

[06s. — Besides what Messrs. Baikie and Heddle say as to the
reputed occurrence of the Hooded Seal in Kousay and Papa
Westray, Mr. Moodie-Heddle's father mentioned that he once
or twice saw what he took for this seal at a little distance.
We prefer to keep this in brackets for the present, as, had a

1 Anglicd, shot.

72 MAMMALS.

specimen of such a striking-looking beast been procured, it
is more than likely that some special notice would have been
taken of it.]

CETACE^I.

Obs. — Mr. Moodie-Heddle says that there is still considerable
mystery attaching to the species of whales obtained in Orkney.
He is inclined to think that two species of high-finned Whales
are confounded, as also two species of Cachalot. A large
whale of close on 60 feet in length was ashore and nearly cap-
tured at Longhope about 1880. This was evidently a Cachalot,
but did not appear high or square-headed enough for Catodon
macrocephalus.

That our notes on whales are very imperfect we are well
aware, but we have tried to make them as accurate as possible.

Probably there is no class of mammals so little known to
the ordinary naturalist as the Cetaceae. This of course arises
from the extreme difficulty of studying them in their native
haunts ; their comparative rarity, except certain species, and
the incomplete view one gets of them in their natural element,
render it exceedingly difficult to recognise them either there,
or even when stranded on the beach.

When a huge Rorqual is seen " blowing " — the commotion
caused thereby, resembling the ricochet of a cannon-ball out
at sea — that is perhaps put down as a " Tinner " if one of
the party who sees this phenomenon knows anything at
all of whales, but whether the rare Sibbald's, or the Lesser,
or the Common species it is impossible to tell. Again, a
lesser animal is seen to send up a much smaller jet. " There
goes a Bottlenose," says one ; but how many species again are
included in that extraordinary term ! Any small black animal
showing its back here and there every now and then above the
water is put down, and very often rightly, to a Porpoise, but how
many would know that beast when lying dead before them ! And
the word Dolphin is used pretty much in the same way. From
their position, the Orkney Isles, with perhaps the exception of

MAMMALS. 73

the Shetland Isles, present the greatest facilities of any part of
Great Britain for studying the habits, or giving records of the
capture of these, literally, monsters of the deep, though unless
there be a naturalist on the spot one is more likely to hear how
much oil, spermaceti, or whalebone a defunct whale affords,
than of what species it is, or what are its measurements.

Order CETACEA.
Sub-order MYSTACOCETL

Family BAL-fflNID^E.
Balaena mysticetus (£.). Greenland Whale.

Low writes in his Fauna that, even in his time, this animal had, to
a great extent, taken leave of our seas, as he supposed, on
account of the increase in shipping and consequent disturbance.
He says that several have come ashore of late years (i.e. subse-
quent to 1770 or thereabouts), mentioning one in particular
40 feet long. This came ashore in Walls.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle's father has left a note that this species
is now very rare, those that occur being either weak or diseased
animals.

One was said to have been got at S. Konaldsay in 1828, but
Mr. Cowan tells us he does not believe that the true Greenland
Whale was ever seen in the Orkneys.

Family BAKENOPTERIDJE.
Megaptera longimana (Rudolph). Hump-backed Whale.

Mr. Cowan says this species is rare in Orkney. We have no
special record of any specimen.

Balaenoptera musculus (£.). Common Rorqual.
Ore. = Firmer.

This is probably the whale referred to by Low, which he says is
seen most frequently in the autumn, when the sounds and seas

74 MAMMALS.

are full of herring and mackerel. Several of our correspondents
state that this is a common species, and Mr. Reid informs us
that specimens from seventy to eighty feet in length have
occasionally come ashore. One was got at Hunda in 1852 which
was 62 feet in length.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says this species is occasionally seen in
Scapa Flow. He has never seen more than three together, and
this only on one occasion. They appeared to be a family party,
as one was much smaller than the others, and they were
frequently seen during the whole of one summer.

Balaenoptera sibbaldi (Gray). Sibbald's Rorqual.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says that a specimen that appeared to be of
this species ran ashore at Longhope in either 1883 or 1884 : it
was over 50 feet long, and the head seemed smaller than in
C. inacrocephalus.

Baleenoptera rostrata (Fair.'). Lesser Rorqual.

Under this heading Mr. Irvine-Fortescue writes us as follows : —
"What I believe to be a specimen of this whale was picked
up dead in Scapa Flow in the end of 1884, and brought to
Waulk Mill Bay. I took the following measurements : — Total
length in a straight line from head to tail, 24 ft. From tail to
front side of back fin, 8 ft. Breadth of tail, 6 ft. 8 in. Half
the girth of the animal, 8 ft. (this would give 16 ft. as the
girth). Fore flipper, 2 ft. 10 in. long, 1 ft. 10 in. girth, 11 in.
broad. Twenty-seven corrugations or folds in half of belly
(this would give fifty-four altogether). 12 ft. 5 in. from tail
to the commencement of the folds. Dorsal fin, 1 ft. 3 in. high ;
11 in. broad at base. Whalebone about 14 in. long when
longest; pale pinkish white or cream colour, except along
the outer edges of the plates, which were dark-coloured."

"The animal was a female, and contained a foetus about
6 ft. long, but this I did not see."

"What I take to be this whale appears not unfrequently in
Scapa Flow, singly and in twos and threes. "

MAMMALS. 75

Sub-order ODONTOCETI.

Family PHYSETERID^.
Sub-family PHYSETEEIN^.

Physeter macrocephalus, L. Sperm Whale.

While Low says this species is often driven ashore, and instances
one taken in Hoy Sound, later writers all concur as to its rarity,
and this seems most likely, seeing that this species is more
southerly in its range.

Hyperoodon rostratum (Chemnitz). Beaked Whale.

There can be no doubt whatever that, although we have received
no actual record of the capture of this species from any of our
correspondents, the Beaked Whale is a common animal at times
round the coast. It is unfortunate that the name " Bottlenose "
is applied in so comprehensive a manner, as it seems to include
every cetacean smaller than a Rorqual.

Family DELPHINID-2E.
Sub-family BELUGIN^.
Delphinapterus leucas (Pall.). White Whale.

A White Whale was stranded at Auskerry in October 1845, after
a gale of easterly wind (Bell. Brit. Quad., 2d ed.). We have
no further record to add to this.

Sub-family DELPHININJ2.
Orca gladiator (Lac6p.). Killer. Grampus.

Low mentions this species as found in great numbers on all the
coasts, and at certain times at the mouth of Hoy Sound.

76 MAMMALS.

Messrs. Baikie and Heddle consider it to be commoner during
the herring season than at other times, which is very probable,
from the greater abundance of food.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says the Grampus is not very common
near land, but is oftener seen out at sea.

On July the 8th, 1890, not very far from the entrance to
Scrabster Bay, we saw from the deck of the yatch six or more
of what we took to be specimens of this species. They passed
close under our keel, and were visible for a considerable time,
both before and after this dive downwards. They swam near
the surface, frequently flinging themselves perpendicularly out
of water, the whole length of the body from head to tail
being visible, and continuing this exhibition as far as our vision
could follow their motions, all following nearly the same track,
in a smooth sea. The very white appearance of the under
parts- was strikingly apparent both beneath the water and when
springing out of it.

Globicephalus melas (Trail). Pilot Whale.

Orc.=Bottlenose.

A common species, occuring in very large herds at times, rarely
under 100, and as high as 500 individuals.

From the comparative ease with which they are driven
ashore arises their trivial name of " caing," or driving. Often
this word is spelt with an apostrophe, thus, "ca'ing," but this
is a mistake, as, with the apostrophe, it means " calling," which
is altogether misleading.

As early as 1691, Wallace (2d ed.) mentions 114 of these
whales as driven ashore near Kairston, on the Mainland, and
since then, so common is the practice, that it is needless to give
every individual case ; but, as showing their value, we may
mention that about August 1839, 195 of these creatures were
secured off Flotta, and fetched a total of £500, 12s. 6d.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us that "they breed at all
seasons. I have taken full-grown young, and a foetus of a few

MAMMALS. 77

inches long, out of whales in the same school, in July. When
many have to calve, they seek sheltered water for the purpose.
I once saw Scapa Flow full, on such an occasion — many
thousands, extending for miles."

" The Caing Whale is fond of following a leader, and, in
absence of any 'flecked' whale, follows usually some old male of
its own species, as if trusting to his age and experience ; even
if he be wounded and runs on shore they follow.

" They seem to see well in the air, as I have noticed them
rise up as if ' treading water,' and take a prolonged and steady
look at a boat, when 15 or 20 yards off only,"

The Caing Whale feeds on cuttle-fish. In the stomachs of
some run ashore in November 1889 Mr. Irvine-Fortescue found
handfuls of the beaks of these creatures.

They only appear in Scapa Flow occasionally, several years
frequently passing without a whale-hunt taking place. Of those
run ashore on the occasion last referred to, in Weethick, on the
east side of Inganess Bay, Mr. Irvine-Fortescue found the
largest bull measured 21 ft.; the female was considerably less.
The smallest female containing a foetus was 14 ft. Two foetuses
measured 6 ft. each, and another born on the beach was also
6ft.

The same gentleman also remarks that he never heard one
of these whales make the slightest cry, but some of the men
who were killing them last November (1889), said that when
they were being killed " some cried like pigs, and others bogled,"
i.e. bellowed.

Phocaena communis, F. Cuv. Porpoise,
Common in summer and autumn.

Delphinus acutus (/. E. Gray). White-sided Dolphin.
Ore. = Flecked or Flaked Whale (J. G. M.-H.).

Mr. Moodie-Heddle has kindly sent us a very good drawing,
description, and measurements of one of these animals, which

78 MAMMALS.

were taken from one, evidently a male, killed at Scapa, in 1858.
The measurements correspond iii all respects with those given
in Bell's Brit. Quad. (p. 471, 2d ed.), which were taken by Dr.
Duguid from one killed at the same time and place, as we
show further on.

They are not very rare animals, as Mr. Moodie-Heddle has
seen many, and three ran ashore at Melsetter at one time, in
1886.

The local name for this species is the Flaked or Flecked
Whale, probably from its markings, and we think the following
quotation from one of Mr. Moodie-Heddle's letters will be of
interest : —

ft When the Flaked (i.e. flecked) Whales, as the people call
D. tursio (ID. acutus) here, get among the herd of Caing Whales,
the latter refuse to ' drive,' the Flecked ones always turning off
shore as soon as the water shoals, and the Caing Whales
following them."

The following very accurate description is from one taken
at the time and place above stated : —

" Dark mark round eye, f in. wide; eye small, pupil crescentic.
The blow-hole is situated between the eyes; crescentic, the
concave side towards the snout, depressed. An external
auditory meatus is situated superior and posterior to the eyes,
over the anterior edge of pectoral fin, and would allow a No. 1
pellet of shot to pass through.

" The head sharp and beaked, the lower jaw a little longer
than the upper. Teeth |-^| largest in the middle of each jaw,
and gradually diminishing in size towards each side. No teeth
at symphyses of each jaw for the space of an inch. Teeth
conical, slightly recurved and incurved at back, straight in
front; those in lower jaw most incurved, while those in the
upper point forward.

Palate smooth and spotted. Tongue not free, but frenum
being large admits of great movement ; black in centre, white at
margin. At symphysis of lower jaw lip turned upward, and has
two slight elevations, which fit into corresponding notches in
upper lip. There is a regular prolabium in upper lip so as to give
it a pointed appearance. Colour of back jet black ; long streak

MAMMALS. 79

towards tail, of a dirty yellowish colour; sides dusky, with
conspicuous oblong white streak along middle. Fins and tail
black, except a small portion of under part of tail."

For these measurements and description we are indebted
to Mr. Moodie-Heddle.

Delphinus tursio, Fair. Bottlenosed Dolphin.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue sends us the following notes of two Whales
which were stranded alive inside Swaribister Pier, in September
1888. He was from home at the time, but a friend of his, Mr.
Halcro, took the following measurements and description,
which seem to refer them to this species : —

" Length, 8 ft. 6 in. ; diameter of bodies, 22 in. (this would
give the girth about 5 ft. 6 in.) ; tail, 2 ft. broad ; dorsal fin,
13 in. high, about centre of back, i.e. about half-way between
head and tail ; dentition, g-i-J."

" The two were male and female. The species could probably
still be determined from the skeleton."

" This may be the species which I have observed occasionally
among the herds of bottlenoses (Caing Whales). They appear
to be about 5 ft. long or rather more, and paler in colour than
the Caing Whales. The dorsal fin is higher in proportion to
their size, and sharper-pointed."

Delphinus albirostris (/. E. Gray). White-beaked Dolphin.

We are indebted to Mr. Moodie-Heddle of Melsetter for the
following measurements, and the drawing from which our
engraving is taken, of a specimen of this species, which is now
recorded from Orkney for the first time : — Entire length,
9 ft. 1 in.; girth at fin, 5 ft. 4 in.; length of mouth, 10J in.;
from snout to blow-hole, 1 ft. 2 in.; from blow-hole to dorsal
fin, 2 ft. 9 in.; length of dorsal fin along curve, 2 ft. 2J in.;
height, perpendicular, of fin, 1 ft. 2 in. ; length of pectoral fin,
1 ft. 8 in.; breadth of tail, 2 ft. 6 in.; dentition, |4g.

80

MAMMALS.

Eyes and blow-hole in one line across,
jected about 1 inch beyond the upper.

The lower jaw pro-

The upper snout, as far as the depression at forehead, and to
the angle of the mouth, pure white ; also white from mouth to
pectoral fin and on the belly ; two finely shaded whitish bands
on each side ; other parts from a grey to purplish black.

The teeth were conical, sharp, and bent inwards and back-
wards. Tongue large, and of a livid colour. Blow-hole single,
and a full crescent.

The animal from which this description was taken was shot
at Longhope on June 28th, 1853. When on shore, it respired
deeply, this being heard at some distance ; it squeaked on being
lanced, and had but little blubber.

Seven or eight of these animals had frequented the shallow
bay at the top of Longhope for some weeks before being
chased. They were observed to swim with more rapidity than
the porpoise, and rose higher out of the water.

The drawing and description we sent up to Mr. Southwell,
who kindly identified the animal for us.

MAMMALS. 81

Order UNGULATA.

<n

Sub-order AETIODACTYLA.
Family CERVID.33.

Cervus tarandus, L. Reindeer.

There seems to be no actual proof that the Reindeer existed in
Orkney within historic times, nor do we remember hearing or
reading of either the bones or horns of this animal ever being
found in any of the numerous brochs that have been opened
in the islands from time to time.

Certainly it would be a curious thing if the former Orkney
notables took the trouble to cross the stormy Pentland Firth to
hunt an animal that could be found at their own doors, espe-
cially when, from all we can now make out, the Reindeer was
by no means abundant when they did arrive in Caithness.

At page 19 of their work, Messrs. Baikie and Heddle refer
to the introduction of the Reindeer into Orkney, but give no
further details. We have tried to collect all the information we
could on the subject, and we here append the results. Mr. Henry
Leask, of Boardhouse, by Stromness, writes as follows : —

"In reply to your inquiry about the reindeer introduced
into Orkney, I am sorry that I can give you little information. I
presume they must refer to a few reindeer brought from Arch-
angel about seventy years ago by Mr. Robert Traill, son of
Provost Thomas Traill, of Frotoft, and sent to his farm of Wide-
ford, about two miles east of Kirkwall. I remember seeing
them there, once only, and I should say there were three, four,
or perhaps six, but not more than six. I do not know how
long they lived, nor the cause of their death. I would presume
want of their natural food and climate." — 18^ Jan. 1888.

In another letter, dated 30th Jan. 1888, Mr. Leask
writes : —

"The excessive dampness of our climate would alone, I
suspect, account for their death, apart from any lack of their
most usual food. There is now nobody I know of who can

F

82 MAMMALS.

give information about them ; indeed, very few whose memories
look so far back."

Mr. Moodie-Heddle of Melsetter tells us that a MS. note
by the late Dr. Traill of Woodwick mentions that the deer
spoken of by Baikie and Heddle died the first winter, the climate
not agreeing with them.

At Westness House, Eousay, is, or was in 1883, a pair of
Reindeer horns nailed up near the front door, but inquiry from
the owner, General Burroughs, failed to discover from whence
they came ; possibly they might be a pair belonging to one of
these imported animals.

Since the above was written, Mr. Cursiter has pointed out to
us that the fact of the re-introduction of the Reindeer into
Orkney was noticed in the Proceedings of the Antiquarian Society
of Scotland, and that a full account is given in their 8th vol.,
old series, at p. 216.

Cervus elaphus, L. Red Deer.

There seems to be no historic evidence of when the Eed Deer
died out in Orkney, though the shed horns found in the peat-
mosses of the Mainland seem to testify to their having once
inhabited these islands.

Since then, however, the late Mr. Heddle of Melsetter pro-
cured a young stag and two hinds from Caithness, which bred
several seasons about the farm, but were too tame to stock the
hill.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle further adds : " We had a hind at
Melsetter about 1851, and got two other young ones and a young
stag about 1860 ; they bred until we had some thirteen or four-
teen. The old ones were too tame ; only a few of the younger ones
would keep to the hills. There was so much annoyance about
the crofters' crops that I killed them all off in 1870-72, except
one1 hind which is still on the hills. They throve perfectly"
(in lit. Jan. 1888.)

We saw some of the horns of those that were killed off,
when in Hoy in 1888, and they were fine and well-shaped.

1 Found dead in the spring of 1889.

MAMMALS. 83

In vol. ii. p. 141 of the Journal of the Royal Physical Society
of Edinburgh, the remains of Red Deer, along with tusks of
Wild Boar, and bones of Sheep, Cattle, and Horses, are recorded
as having been found at Skaill.

Many Ked Deer's horns, both shed and attached to the skull,
are in the collection of Mr. Cursiter at Kirkwall, all of which
have been found in some one or other of the islands. The same
gentleman also has some bones which he is inclined to believe
are the legs of deer : these, if belonging to that animal, are of
much greater value in determining the former existence of the
species in Orkney than are horns, which may well have been
imported from Caithness and Sutherland for useful pur-
poses.

From their never being mentioned in the old Sagas as
inhabitants of the islands, it would appear that the Red Deer
was extinct before the Norse times, the hunting of both the
Rein- and Red-Deer by the Jarls in Caithness being especially
mentioned.

In Rod and Gun for Nov. 14th, 1889, it is mentioned that
" some time ago Mr. John Spence, Barony, Birsay, found, at a
depth of about five feet, in peat-moss, a deer's foot; and now
Mr. J. B. W. Stevenson, Overstanger, in the same parish, has
brought to light a deer's horn, jaw, and feet. They were found
imbedded in the middle of the dried bed of Loch Isbister, at
the depth of about a foot from the surface."

Order RODENTIA.

Sub-order SIMPLICIDENTATA.

Section MYOMORPHA.

Family MURID.32.

Mus sylvaticus, L. Longtailed Field Mouse.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle corroborates the statement by Baikie and
Heddle that this species is common in Orkney ; we have not
ourselves met with it.

84 MAMMALS.

Mus musculus, L. Common House Mouse.

Abundant everywhere. In a note by the late E. Heddle, one
of the authors of the Hist. Nat. Ore., it is stated that the
"Button Mouse " mentioned in a foot-note at p. 15 of the above
work, " is the young of Mus musculus, the colour heightened by
open-air life.— E. EL, 1856."

In the Northern Ensign of May 1857 it is recorded that no
less than three thousand four hundred and ten mice were killed
on the farm of Husbay in Stronsay, in a few days, while
thrashing out some stacks, besides what were destroyed by dogs
or escaped.

Mus rattus, L. Black Rat.

In the old Statistical Account for 1793, vol. vii. p. 546, it is said
that the " Black Muscovy Eat, which is the only one now to be
met with (in Orkney), has destroyed the Grey or Brown Eat."
This seems to be reversing the general order of things.

In Baikie and Heddle's time the Black Eat was said to be
confined to the island of S. Eonaldsay, and was even then
(1848) decreasing fast, thus corroborating Low's statement.
Mr. Eanken, writing in 1889, says that the last Black Eat he
heard of, was killed by a horse treading on it in a stable, at
Osquil (?), in the winter of 1877-8. Unfortunately a cat had
gone off with the remains, so that Mr. Eanken was unable to
verify this instance.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says the Black Eat is getting rare, but
is still to be found in S. Eonaldsay ; we have not had as yet
any opportunity of personally verifying the latter statement.

Mus decuman us, Pall. Brown Rat.

Orkney does not seem to be altogether the happy hunting-ground
of the common rat, as he has a habit, unhappily unknown on
the mainland or others of the British Isles, of dying out of some
of these islands. Thus rats, which were introduced into Eousay,
left somewhere about 1836, according to Baikie and Heddle,
and were unknown there in 1883, when Buckley was there. And,

MAMMALS. 85

a propos of this migration, Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us that
"Captain Balfour, father of the late David Balfour of Balfour
and Trenabie, said he saw the rats leave Rousay in a body, and
take to sea. It is only recently that the Brown Rat got a
footing in S. Ronaldsay" (in lit. Jan. 6th, 1888.— J. G. M.-H.).

Tea, pp. 43, 44, of his State of the Orkneys and Shetland, says : —
' ' Rats will not live in the island of Eday. Some years ago a
ship laden with wheat was wrecked on this island. The rats
with which the ship swarmed immediately swam ashore, but all
of them died in the sight of the inhabitants."

In a note by the late Mr. J. G. Heddle of Melsetter he says
that in 1858 rats were extinct in Stronsay and Shapinsay, but
that they appeared again in Stronsay in 1868. Mr. Harvey,
writing us from Sanday, 28th Jan. 1888, says: — "I have of
late been carefully considering the habits of the rat, so abundant
in this island, and I have come to the conclusion that we have
only one species. I got one lately that measured fully 9
inches long, the tail being about the same length. It is to be
found in our office-houses, barnyards, fields, and about the sea
beaches and loch sides. Our cats do not care to encounter
them, but some dogs are eager to kill them.

"It is a fact that Rats do not live in the island of North
Ronaldsay. Several have been landed from stranded ships,
but were found dead in a short time. I have this information
from good authority. It is also reported that the rat is not to
be found on one or two other islands."

On the Mainland rats haunt the large heaps of rotten fish
that are placed in the corners of the fields for manure, these
heaps and the sides of the banks adjoining being riddled by their
holes.

Sub-family ARVICOLIN^E.
Arvicola amphibia (L.). Water Vole.

[Obs. — In reference to the Water Vole said by Messrs. Baikie and
Heddle to have been taken at Rackwick in 1844, Mr. Moodie-
Heddle writes us that he has never seen the species in Hoy.
We ourselves never came across a specimen, and so for the
present we think it better to keep the note in brackets.]

86 MAMMALS.

Arvicola agrestis, De Selys. Common Field Vole.
Ore. = Cuttick or Levellyn.

A very abundant species through most of the islands of the group,
their runs being very conspicuous through the moss and grass.
Curiously enough, however, they seem to be entirely absent from
the whole of the island of Hoy, as Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs
us, and we certainly saw none there in 1888, though their
presence was detected on all the other more important islands
we visited.

Sub-order DUPLICIDENTATA.

Family LEPORHXE.
Lepus europaaus, Pall. Common Hare.

Although Low in his Fauna Orcadensis makes no mention of
hares as inhabiting the Orkneys, yet in his Tour, made in 1774,
at page 11, he says: — ". . . by a Mr. Moodie of Melsetter,
who likewise introduced hares and partridges into the island
(Hoy), neither of which seem to have thriven, owing probably
to the great number of ravenous birds in their neighbourhood,
and the want of proper shelter from them." From this in-
ternal evidence it would appear that the Fauna was written
before he undertook his Tour through the Orkney and
Shetland Isles.

Since then the Brown Hare was introduced into the Main-
land by Malcolm Laing the historian in 1818. For some
reason or other this attempt appears to have failed ; but another
by his brother, S. Laing, and Baikie of Tankerness, about 1830,
was more successful, and at the present time hares exist on several
of the islands, Hoy, Eday, Kousay, Shapinsay, the Mainland,
and S. Ronaldsay; to this latter it was introduced by Lord
Zetland. Until lately they existed also in Papa Westray ; but,
since the departure of the Traills, the inhabitants have exter-
minated them ; they were introduced there either by the
present Mr. Traill or his father.

Mr. Heddle's father coursed hares in 1831, though he does
not state whether in Hoy or the Mainland ; this would seem,

MAMMALS. 87

however, to imply that in either case all the first importations
had not died out.

In their work Messrs. Baikie and Heddle state that hares
existed only in Hoy and the Mainland in 1848.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us that, after their introduction to
some of the islands in Orkney, he has seen hares that almost
any one would have taken for a Blue Hare in summer coat j and
we ourselves were quite struck with the colour of the Eousay
hares ; they seemed darker, and had not that rich reddish brown
that they have on the mainland of Scotland.

The same gentleman tells us that hares grow extremely
heavy, especially when newly introduced into an island. A
man, Guthrie, who used to drive the coach from Kirkwall to
Stromness, assured him that he knew of one killed on Wideford
Hill weighing 14 Ibs !

We saw plenty of Brown Hares in Hoy and the Mainland
in 1888, wherever they were looked after and the ground
was suitable. Tame cats, of which there are so many in
Rousay, are their greatest enemies, both there and on the
other islands.

In a further note by Mr. Heddle he says the average weight
of hares in Orkney is 8 Ibs. They sometimes vary so much
in colour as to resemble L. hibernicus, locality, and not the
season, seeming to cause this.

Lepus variabilis, Pall. White Hare.

White Hares existed in Orkney at the commencement of, if not
even later than, the sixteenth century. In an old work, the title
of which is Descriptio Insularum Orchadiarum per me, Jo. Ben,
ibidem colentem, in anno 1529, is the following paragraph: —
"Albi lepores hie sunt, et capiuntur canibus." Jo. Ben was
John Bellenden, Archdeacon of Moray.

The foregoing paragraph refers to Hoy, and Barry has
inserted the translation into his History of the Orkney Islands.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us that the bones of this
species are still sometimes found in the " Picts' houses."

The White Hare has since been re-introduced into Gairsay by

88 MAMMALS.

Col. Balfour (about 1875). There were ten or a dozen turned
down ; but some of these were found to have had their legs
broken on arrival, and may possibly have died. The rest, how-
ever, throve, and were often seen by the then tenants, two
brothers of the name of Harcus, who never disturbed them
during their tenancy, which ended about 1884. These hares
turned white in winter. In the Sagas it is related that
during the twelfth century Earl Harold went to Gairsay to
hunt hares.

Lepus cuniculus, L. Rabbit.
Orc.=Cunmg (B. and H.).

As early as 1693 Wallace talks of " Kabbets " as being abundant
in many of the islands. — (Description of Orkney, pp. 12, 13.)
Low, in 1774, mentions them as especially common in Burray,
but adds that " the profit made by the flesh and skins of these
is by no means compensated by the damage they do in boring
the sandy grounds and subjecting them to blowing."

Shirreff, in his work,1 informs us that, in 1779, 36,000
rabbit-skins were shipped from Stromness. In Burray, a
Captain Sutherland had a rabbit-warren, and the Eabbits were
allowed free access to a field of turnips, as that gentleman found
that the roots never rotted from being broken by those animals,
nor did what remained prove less useful to his cattle.

The following may prove of interest as showing what a
regular article of export these rabbit-skins were : —

In 1801, 9076 skins were exported; in 1802, 621 only; in
1803, 13,848; in 1804, 13,842; in 1805, 9744; in 1819, 25,980;
and in 1820, 25,080.

Messrs. Baikie and Heddle, writing in 1848, also mention
that Rabbits are found in most of the islands, " existing in
thousands " in Sanday and Burray. These authors also make
mention of a " considerable trade " done in rabbit-skins, but
that the value of these so decreased as to be at last almost
unremunerative. At the present time the only island we know
of entirely given up to them is Eynhallow, where, in 1883,

1 General View of the Agriculture of the Orkney Islands, 1814.

MAMMALS. 89

they were extremely abundant. They are well kept down in
Rousay by the principal farmers there, but at one time the
west side of the island was overrun with them.

Referring to Rousay, Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us that when
he first remembered the island there were no wild grey Rabbits
to be seen, but the hill behind Westness was full of holes made
by escaped tame ones of various colours. At the time Buckley
was there he saw nothing but the common grey ones.

At the present time, Rabbits exist in every island of any
size, but nowhere (except, as said before, in Eynhallow) in
large numbers.

DOMESTIC MAMMALS.

Of these we have very few notes, and there is little to be said
about them. The old native breeds have been improved almost out of
existence, though a few sheep still remain in one or two places.

Being so well supplied with sea communication, Orkney is now as
well farmed, and has as good stock, as any part of Scotland ; and by
this time farmers know exactly what is best adapted to the climate,
both as regards live-stock and seeds and roots, etc.

ShirrefF mentions a curious sort of horse-sickness as existing in
Eday, and he states that a Mr. Murray of Greentoft lost seventy-two
horses by this disease alone in twelve years.

The native Sheep (Ovis aries) still exists on some of the islands,
though now much reduced in numbers from the importation of the
better breeds. In N. Ronaldsay there are a good many of this native
stock, and these have to feed themselves almost exclusively on sea-
weed, a wall going round the whole island to keep them out of the
cultivated ground. They are of all colours — white, brown, black, and
speckled, the white and the brown predominating. For a short time
during the lambing season, the ewes are admitted to graze on parts of
the island.

We think the following note on Pigs, given us by Mr. Heddle,
will be of some interest : —

"In Orkney, more especially in Hoy, large herds of swine were
kept on the hills some fifty years or more ago, and this was probably
a custom of very ancient date. They were kept out all spring and

90 MAMMALS.

summer, being killed off in the autumn for winter use. They were
kept off from the arable ground by hill dykes made of turf, which were
at that time kept in good order. For shelter there were houses built
of turfs, and at the entrance two stones for the pigs to go between and
rub themselves, as otherwise they would have rubbed themselves
against the turf walls, and knocked them down. Their colours were
brown and black — probably the two commonest varieties — and black
and white. There were strict local laws that the pigs kept over the
winter for stock should be ringed before being allowed down to the
arable ground, so as not to unduly root it up. In those days there
was no grass laid down or any root crops in the island."

"The old Orkney race is now extinct, or merged in improved
breeds ; it had high shoulders and a long snout. The Chinese pig was
imported here direct for crossing."

Neill, in his Tour, refers to swine seen going about on the Hoy
hills half wild.

Class 2. AVES.

Sub-class A VES C A El N ATM.

Series ^EGITHOGNATH^E.

Order 1. PASSERES.

Sub-order OSCINES.
Section 1. OSCIKES DENTIKOSTEES.

Family TUBDID-E.
Sub-family TURDINM

Turdus viscivorus, L. Missel-Thrush.

In a MS. note in a copy of Baikie and Heddle made by K.
Heddle, one of the authors, it is stated that " the Missel-Thrush
has bred for two years in the garden at Westness " (island of
Eousay). This would be between 1845 and 1856. Buckley
saw nothing of the bird there in 1883.

The Missel-Thrush is apparently a very rare visitor to the
Orkneys, and most of our correspondents pass the bird over
in silence. Indeed, Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us that neither in
his father's nor his own time has the bird been seen at Mel-
setter.

Mr. T. W. Ranken, however, has found this bird breeding in
Kirkwall, and writes us as follows : —

" I first noticed this bird in the garden here on the 4th of
May 1874; later in the month it was joined by another, and
they bred in the garden, and succeeded in rearing three young

92 BIRDS.

birds, the nest being placed in the bough of a sycamore about
12 feet high. I believe this is the first and only recorded
instance of this bird nesting in Orkney. I have observed this
bird singly on several occasions, but never saw their nest here
again."

Mr. Spence says that in 1875 a pair of Missel-Thrushes
built their nest and reared their young at East Bank, near
Kirkwall.

The first Missel-Thrush ever seen by Mr. Gilmour on the
Pentland Skerries was on April 1st, 1888. Another was seen
by him on March 20th, 1889, and Mr. Gilmour adds this note :
"Very rare; only once or twice I have seen it before."

Turdus musicus, L. Song-Thrush.

Orc.=Mavi.

Low mentions this species as common, and resident in Hoy and
the Mainland, breeding in both islands.

We have notes of the Thrush as being a common bird in
most of the larger islands from all our correspondents ; and we
ourselves found it in Hoy and the Mainland, but saw none in
the Westray group, Sanday or N. Ronaldsay. Mr. Harvey,
however, records it as breeding in the former of the two last-
named islands.

From observations we made in Rousay the Thrush seems
mostly to leave that island in the winter; and Mr. Irvine-
Fortescue noticed that during a heavy snow-fall in the winter
of 1886, Thrushes deserted the locality of Swanbister, and went
down to the shore.

Thrushes breed in S. Eonaldsay, though they are much
rarer there than Blackbirds. Mr. Keid, St. Margaret's Hope,
informed us of a nest of young birds, in a garden near there, in
1889. We also saw Thrushes in the plantation of Muddiesdale,
near Kirkwall, the same year.

On December 8th, 1889, Mr. Monteith-Ogilvy saw a Thrush
on the garden wall of Holland House, Papa Westray, and says
it is the only one he saw there.

BIRDS. 93

Turdus iliacus, L. Redwing.

A regular autumn migrant, arriving in greater or lesser numbers
every year.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us that in Hoy the Kedwing is
more numerous than the Fieldfare; he also adds that it is
frequently seen there in July, and that from some notes by his
father and the late Mr. Traill of Woodwick, " it would appear
that this bird undoubtedly bred in Kousay in 1863."

Mr. T. W. Ranken also sends us a note of a nest taken in
the Palace Garden, Kirkwall, which he supposed to belong to
this species, and gives full particulars. As, however, the bird
was not obtained, this must still remain doubtful for the
present.

We record these statements as they were given us, but it
would have been more satisfactory had some of our correspon-
dents sent us a specimen of a Redwing shot in summer, even
although the nest was not forthcoming.

Turdus pilaris, L. Fieldfare.

A regular winter visitant to most of the islands, some remaining
the whole winter through, though a good many doubtless go
farther south.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue considers that in his district they
almost all pass on, and that there (Swanbister) they only remain
for a few days at a time.

In the winter of 1875-6 immense flocks of Fieldfares were
seen in Orkney, and Mr. Watt of Skaill, CL propos of this, says of
both this and the Redwing : — " Used to appear in large flocks
about autumn, but I have not seen any in this district since
1875-6."

Mr. Harvey says they arrive in Sanday in October, and are
sometimes seen in April.

Mr. T. W. Ranken says that Fieldfares arrive about the
middle of October, and that he has seen them as late as the
21st of April.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us he has seen this species at
Melsetter in July 1877, in June 1880, and June 24th, 1882.

94: BIRDS.

These are extremely uncommon dates on which to see Fieldfares,
and here the ordinary explanation of " Missel-Thrushes " will
hardly avail, as these latter birds are so very rare in Orkney.

If these Fieldfares had not bred at, or near, Melsetter, their
appearance at that time is quite abnormal.

We have since been informed that these birds showed no
signs of breeding ; there were some eighteen or twenty in the
flock, and Mr. Moodie-Heddle is sure they were not Missel-
Thrushes.

Turdus merula, L. Blackbird.

Not rare in Low's time ; resident the year round, and breeding
in Hoy.

It seems, however, to have increased since then, from all
accounts, which is likely, seeing how many small plantations,
gardens, whin hedges, etc., have sprung up.

Thus Mr. Watt of Skaill, writing us in 1888, says :— "In
1863 there were only one or two couple in this parish, and
these were carefully preserved, so they have increased in
numbers, but not much, as I only know of six or seven pairs,
but they are a nuisance in the gardens. A pair build every
year in our old smithy, off the garden."

Mr. W. Reid informs us that Blackbirds were more numerous
in 1865, in which year he found a nest in the Old Palace
Garden, Kirkwall.

The Blackbird builds chiefly in the gardens in Sanday, as
we are informed by Mr. Harvey and Mr. Denison. Buckley
saw none in 1888 in N. Ronaldsay or the Westray group.
He however saw a few in S. Eonaldsay in 1889, and was
informed they bred there.

Here, as elsewhere, Blackbirds are migratory, and we have
a note that on November 4th, 1830, and again on April 17th,
1837, great numbers were seen in Sanday.

Our experience in Rousay is to the effect that this species
is much more numerous in winter than in summer, though to
some extent this may be accounted for by the garden then
acting as a gathering-ground for a good part of that island.

BIRDS. 95

Mr. Monteith-Ogilvy informs us that he saw two pairs of
Blackbirds about the garden of Holland House, Papa Westray,
in the summer of 1889, but only one male in the winter.

Turdus torquatus, L Ring-Ouzel.

The Eing-Ouzel, since and during Baikie and Heddle's time,
appears to have been a regular spring and autumn migrant,
though by no means a common bird.

It seems to have bred in Hoy for the first time in 1847, and
since then there has been a pair or two most seasons there,
either in Berriedale or Segal.

According to Mr. Harvey, it is seen in Sanday during the
month of April in pairs; but in N. Eonaldsay it is or was
rare, as Dr. Traill of Woodwick, writing from that island, said
that on May 6th, 1885, he observed a fine specimen of the Eing-
Ouzel, which lingered in his neighbourhood for a few days, and
then disappeared, and that this was the first specimen he had
seen there.

Professor J. W. H. Traill of Aberdeen University saw a Eing-
Ouzel in Lyradale, Harray, about 1865.

In Eousay, Buckley observed a pair in April 1883, but they
did not stay to breed.

In 1888 Mr. Scarth told Buckley that he and his grieve saw
a blackbird with a white ring round its neck in May of that
year, at Binscarth.

Eing-Ouzels occur regularly, though not perhaps very
abundantly, on spring migration at the Pentland Skerries. Mr.
Gilmour has sent us several notices of their occurrence there
at that time.

In an article in the Scottish Naturalist for October 1888,
p. 344, Professor Traill of Aberdeen University criticises the
statement in Howard Saunders' Manual of British Birds, " except
the Orkneys and Shetlands, to which it (ie. the Eing-Ouzel) is
a comparatively rare visitor," thus : —

" In former years I was well acquainted with the birds of
Orkney, more especially so with those of the parish of Harray
on the Mainland (or Pomona ... of geographers, but not of
Orcadians). This parish is separated from the sea by hills

96 BIRDS.

almost all round. ... In one of the glens I once found a nest
with four eggs, one of which I took, and still have in my pos-
session as a proof that the bird does breed in Orkney."

Sub-family CINCLINJE.

Cinclus aquaticus, Bechst. Dipper.

It seems strange that this bird, so common throughout Sutherland
and Caithness, should be almost entirely absent in Orkney, as
there are sufficient burns in some of the islands to enable a few
to get a living. Whatever is the cause, we can at present put
on record only one instance of its occurrence. A bird of this
species was seen at Rack wick Burn, Hoy, by Mr. Arthur Dendy
and Mr. Moodie-Heddle at the end of August 1883.

Sub-family SAXICOLIN^E.
Saxicola cenanthe (L). Common Wheatear,

Orc.=Stanechat — Chack — Chacko (B. and H.).

A very common summer visitant to all the islands, sometimes
breeding in Hoy at an elevation of between 1100 and 1200 feet.
Buckley noticed that at Rousay they greatly frequented the
stony beaches, probably attracted by the number of flies bred
in the rotting sea-weed.

The prejudice against these birds, mentioned by Low, seems
to have died out, at least we never met with any one who
wantonly destroyed them, as seems to have been done in his
time.

Pratincola rubetra (L.). Whinchat,

We have little to add to our information regarding this bird since
Baikie and Heddle wrote. Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us that
Whinchats have bred for some years near Melsetter, and also
in a valley near the burn of Berriedale, — both in Hoy. In
the former place we saw a female on June 1st, 1888, the only
occasion on which we observed the species in Orkney that year,
but the season was intensely cold and stormy, and therefore
very unsuitable for seeing the soft-billed summer migrants.

BIRDS. 97

Although these birds occur sparingly on spring migration at
the Pentland Skerries, yet they seem very local in Orkney, and
again in 1889, the only one seen by us was at the same place
as the one seen the previous year.

Pratincola rubicola (£.). Stonechat.

Under " Stonechat " are probably included both this species and
the Wheatear, and it is not easy to discriminate, for this reason,
all the records of Stonechats sent us by our correspondents.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us that a Stonechat was killed
near Kirkwall in 1847, and that they are seen pretty often in
Hoy, and may breed there.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue saw a pair during several successive
summers in Eamsdale, Orphir, where he was certain they bred,
although unable to find the nest. They did not come to that
locality in 1885, 1886, or 1887.

It is also said to have been seen in the summer of 1887, near
Quanterness; and in July 1888 we saw a pair of old birds with
their young in that locality, where they had evidently nested.

On April 5th, 1888, Mr. Moodie-Heddle wrote us that the
Stonechats were about, but that he had not seen a Wheatear (at
Melsetter).

Mr. Gilmour considers the Stonechat a very rare bird at the
Pentland Skerries, the first he saw there being on April 5th,
1889 : at first sight he took them to be Whinchats, but the
white collar identified them. Writing us in 1890, Mr. Irvine-
Fortescue says that in 1889 he saw several pairs and family
parties, and that they seem to be more numerous than formerly.
In that year he saw them in Lyrava Bay in Hoy : also at
Linnadale and Naversdale in Orphir, in all of which places
they appeared to be breeding.

Ruticilla phcenicurus (L.). Redstart,

This elsewhere rapidly increasing species has not as yet become
more frequent in Orkney than when Baikie and Heddle wrote.
Our excellent correspondent, Mr. Moodie-Heddle, passes the

G

98 BIRDS.

bird over in silence, though we may expect when it does spread
to these islands, that Hoy will be the first place where it will
be found breeding.

We can at present add but very few instances of its occur-
rence to that already recorded, viz., one shot by Mr. W. Eeid
at Highland Park, Kirkwall, in 1852.

In another instance Mr. Millais saw a male sitting on a turf
bank about two miles from Kirkwall, on the Stromness road,
on April 20th, 1887 ; he was driving at the time, and the bird
allowed the trap to come within a yard or two of it.

Mr. Gilmour has since reported to us several instances of
this species being seen at the Pentland Skerries. On May 1st,
1888, he saw a male and female, along with Ring-Ouzels, Field-
fares, Chaffinches, Whinchats, and one Snow Bunting, a curious
collection of summer and winter visitors.

On the 17th Redstarts were numerous, there being more
females than males. This, Mr. Gilmour adds, was a great migra-
tion day.

Again, on May 10th, 1889, Mr. Gilmour saw a Redstart at
the same place.

Mr. Ranken sent us another specimen, a female apparently,
which had been picked up dead near the little ness at Gleitness,
near the end of October 1889. Unfortunately the bird was
too much decomposed for preservation, and from its emaciated
appearance seemed to have been starved to death.

Ruticilla titys (Scop.). Black Redstart.

On the 20th of December 1859, Mr. W. Reid shot a specimen of
this bird at Kirkwall, and in answer to some inquiries, sent
us the following particulars : —

" The Black Redstart which I shot at Kirkwall was a male,
in fine plumage. There was snow on the ground at the time.
I was returning to town, having been out after hares, and had
one of the barrels of the gun loaded, when I saw the little bird
clinging to the north gable of the Earl's Palace, as if hunting
for the eggs and larvae of insects, as I thought. It moved

BIRDS. 99

from place to place, still clinging to the wall, when I shot
it. Mr. Eanken and Dr. Duguid identified it. I took the
little bird and a very fine specimen of the Waxwing to Wick
with me in 1866. I took over to H. Osborne the two birds,
and he has no doubt as to the Redstart being the black one.
I had previously shot the common Redstart in 1852. What
happened to the specimen was this : the cat one day, supposing
it was something to eat, got hold gof it and so destroyed it, that
it was no longer fit as a specimen." (W. Reid, in lit. 11/4/88.)

We have alluded in a former work to the occurrence of the
Black Redstart in the Pentland Skerries.1 Since then Mr.
Gilmour has sent us a note of another seen by him there, on
April 24, 1889.

Sub-family SYLVIIN^E.
Erithacus rubecula (L.). Redbreast.
Ore. = Robin. (B. and H. )

Resident in Low's time, and now breeds on several of the islands,
as Hoy, Rousay, and the Mainland, though in the latter it
appears more local.

Mr. Ranken states that, though his father did not appear
to have seen many about Kirkwall, it has now become common
and indigenous there, and a pair generally nest in his garden.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue considers it rare at Swanbister,
and that it is not such a confiding bird in Orkney as farther
south. A pair seem to have bred there in 1889, as a young
one was frequently seen.

Mr. W. Watt says they are rarely to be seen at Skaill, and
then only a chance one, when frost and snow continue severe
for longer than usual.

At Sanday it appears only on migration in October, and
Mr. Harvey says that it cannot live there in winter, though
he adds in another note that on the 28th of January 1888 he
saw two or three Robins in his garden.

In 1883, Buckley found it common and resident in Rousay,

1 Fauna of Sutherland, Caithness, and West Cromarty, p. 107.

100 BIRDS.

and noticed that their numbers from April to December con-
tinued steady.

Writing in January 1888, Mr. Moodie-Heddle says that
Robins are not nearly so numerous in Orkney as formerly ; a
severe frost some ten years ago killed them in great numbers.

In Walls and Hoy, Robins are three times as numerous in
the months after September as in summer.

The only place where we saw the Redbreast in 1888 was
at Binscarth; they certainly were not as numerous as usual
that season.

In April 1889 there seems to have been a perfect "rush"
of Redbreasts at the Pentland Skerries; Mr. Gilmour never
remembers to have seen so many.

Sylvia rufa (Bodd.). Whitethroat.

Gray says that the Whitethroat appears to have occurred once or
twice in Orkney and Shetland. We have no record from any
of our correspondents of this bird in the first-mentioned group,
and Gray gives nothing more than the bald statement. Morris
says that one was shot on Sanday, by the late Mr. Strang, on
May 25th, 1850.

Sylvia atricapilla (L.). Blackcap.

Since Baikie and Heddle wrote, several more specimens have been
recorded from Orkney, and from two correspondents we have
had notes as to their breeding near Kirkwall in two successive
years.

Mr. T. W. Ranken's father heard one singing in his garden
on June 17, 1825, and the same gentleman saw one which had
been shot in Sanday on 22d of March of the same year. Three
are recorded from Melsetter; one was found dead in 1867,
another was shot 1st October 1868, after an easterly gale, and
a third was killed in 1872.

As regards the occurrence of the Blackcap during the
breeding season, Mr. T. W. Ranken writes us : —

" A pair of Blackcaps were frequently seen at Grainbank
this summer (1886). I heard the male sing on several

BIRDS.

occasions. The nest with eggs was found, but was taken by
some boys from Kirkwall."

Mr. Cowan sends us notes which probably refer to the same
birds, but adds that they nested in 1887 as well.

Mr. Harvey tells us the Blackcap is seen in Sanday about
April, for a week or two.

We heard so many accounts of the occurrence of this
species near Kirkwall, during our visit in 1888, and of its
breeding there, that we were most anxious to see it for
ourselves, and place the matter beyond a doubt. On inquiry,
however, we found that, probably owing to the cold backward
season, the birds had not stayed that year. Both the localities
given, viz., Muddiesdale and Grainbank, are close to Kirk-
wall.

We have given all the above information as we got it, and
it must be taken for what it is worth. We ourselves have
very little faith in the bird ever having bred in the islands,
and March and April are very unusual dates for such a bird to
be seen anywhere in the north, October being the most usual
month when it does put in an appearance. Probably some
other bird with a black head has been taken for it.

Sylvia salicaria (L.). Garden Warbler.

[Obs. — Mr. Moodie-Heddle says he has a note of a Garden
Warbler killed at Melsetter in 1868, weight 5 drs. 1J scr. ; we
prefer, however, to keep this species in brackets until further
confirmation.]

Sub-family PBYLLOSCOPINJZ.
Regulus cristatus, Koch. Golden-crested Wren.

A common autumn and winter visitant to most, if not all the
islands, but Mr. Moodie-Heddle says it has not been so
common of late years.

Both the late Mr. J. G. Heddle and the late Mr. Eanken

102 BIRDS.

record it as having bred in Orkney : in the first instance in
the garden of Mr. Traill of Wood wick, about the year
1830.

In the second case Mr. Kanken's father said that he only
once saw its nest in his garden. The nest was attached be-
neath the branch of a sycamore, but he failed to find it until
after the young had evidently been hatched and flown. We
may add that a sycamore is not a usual tree for this bird to
nest in.

Regulus ignicapillus (G. L. Brehm.). Fire-crested Wren.

[Obs. — Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us that this species has
occurred several times along with the preceding, after gales.
This, however, requires further confirmation.]

Phylloscopus collybita (Fieill.). Chiffchaff.

[Obs. Baikie and Heddle say that the Chiffchaff occasionally visits
Orkney in summer, but is not known to breed.

Gray says that in a MS. note in Baikie and Heddle's work
there is mention of the occurrence of a single specimen in
Orkney in 1850.

Seeing how scarce, if not entirely absent, this species is in
the northern counties of Scotland and the Outer Hebrides, we
prefer to include it in brackets until we have further and more
accurate information of its occurrence in our district.]

Phylloscopus trochilus (L.). Willow Wren.

Common as this warbler is throughout the north of Scotland, it
seemed, from the accounts we received, to be quite rare in
Orkney.

Mr. W. Reid says he has shot it, and Mr. Cowan adds that
it is an occasional visitant. Mr. Irvine-Fortescue heard and
saw it on one occasion at Swanbister, on May 14th, 1887, and
adds that this is the only occasion on which he did so.

BIRDS. 103

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says that a small warbler visits Mel-
setter, and from his description of its nest, it is most probably
the Willow Wren, though we saw nothing of it there our-
selves in 1888.

At Binscarth, however, some six or seven miles from Kirk-
wall, we saw and heard several Willow Wrens in that year;
indeed they appeared quite common : of course this may have
been their first appearance there, though more likely it had
never been recognised.

Sub-family ACROCEPHALIN&.
Acrocephalus phragmitis (Bechst.). Sedge Warbler.

The first instance of the occurrence of this bird in Orkney seems
to have been in 1857, when the late Mr. Banken obtained one
on July 29th.

Since then the species has become much commoner, and Mr.
T. W. Eanken says it has been frequently seen and heard at
Muddiesdale ; and Buckley, when in Eousay in 1883, considered
that there were about three pairs in the Westness garden.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue sends us notes on the occurrence of
the Sedge Warbler at Swanbister. Prior to 1881 he had never
seen or heard this bird in Orkney, but in that year he heard it
in some bushes near his house on May 2d, and, although the
birds remained all through that summer and again during the
two following ones, it was not until June 27th, 1884, that he
found the nest with young. Since then they have come
regularly every year and bred there.

In 1886 a pair came to Grainbank for the first time, so that
it would appear that the species is still spreading.

We found the Sedge Warbler fairly common at Melsetter
in Hoy, at least three pairs in 1888; and Mr. Moodie-Heddle
informed us they had bred them for over twenty years.

104: BIRDS.

Family ACCENTORID^.
Accentor modularis (£.). Hedge-Sparrow.

The Hedge-sparrow seems to have increased, both as a migrant
and as a breeding species, since Baikie and Heddle's time.

Mr. W. Reid mentions his shooting one as a rare occurrence,
even as late as 1862, so that the increase must have commenced
at least as late as that date.

Writing in 1887, Mr. Moodie-Heddle says:— "This bird
is now more common, and breeds most seasons at Melsetter,
either in the lower parts of the hedge, or in apple-trees against
a wall."

Mr. T. W. Ranken sends us the following notes on this
species by his father and himself : —

" I have seen two in Kirkwall, one in 1842, and another in
1844. Another was shot by Dr. Duguid, near Kirkwall, in
April 1849 (B. M. R.). These birds are more frequently seen
now, 1887, and a few nests may be found in a season. The
hedges at Wideford are the best locality to find specimens, but
they are by no means common in Orkney."

Buckley shot a specimen in the Westness garden, Rousay, in
the autumn of 1883, but they did not breed there at that time.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle sent us a specimen shot at Melsetter in
April 1888, and a pair bred there in May; but the young
perished in the nest from cold.

Family PARIDJE.
Parus major, L. Great Titmouse.

The following is the only notice we have of the occurrence of the
Great Tit in Orkney.

Mr. T. W. Ranken~says :— " 2d July 1884. I frequently got
quite close to a specimen of this bird in the plantation of
Muddiesdale to-day, once being so near to it that I was almost
within arm's-length, and have no hesitation in stating that this
straggler was certainly identified. I have never seen another
here."

BIRDS. 105

Parus caeruleus, L. Blue Titmouse.

We have very few records of this species in Orkney since the one
given by Messrs. Baikie and Heddle.

Mr. Eanken saw the bird referred to by those authors, but,
being afraid of blowing it to pieces, fired too long a shot and
missed it.

Since the foregoing was written, however, the son of the
above-named gentleman, Mr. T. W. Eanken, saw a Blue Tit at
Kirkwall on the 20th of May 1888. Mr. Millais also informs
us that in April 1887 he saw a Blue Tit at Stromness, in which
place he had once before met with the species, though he has
forgotten the precise date.

Family CERTHIID^I.
Certhia familiaris, L. Common Creeper.

Although Baikie and Heddle include the Creeper in their list, they
give no actual instance of its occurrence, only the bare statement
that it has been occasionally shot in Orkney.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says that one was shot near Stromness
in 1841, and Mr. T. W. Ranken says : — "I have seen this bird
in the garden here on two different occasions ; the last time in
the month of June 1884, the bird passed behind the trunk of
a tree within two yards of where I was sitting."

Want of trees is naturally not conducive to the spread of
such an arboreal species in Orkney, and the difficulty of getting
up plantations would prevent its increase.

Family TROGrLODYTID-EI.
Troglodytes parvulus, Koch. Wren.

Ore.: pronounced like Wirann. (J. G. M.-H.)
Seems to be fairly common and resident in many of the islands,
breeding in bushes when such are obtainable, at other times in
long heather, by the sides of burns, etc.

106 BIRDS.

Mr. Watt, of Skaill, considers it by no means a common
bird on the west side of the Mainland.

Mr. Traill, of Woodwick, informed Mr. Spence that con-
siderable numbers visited N. Eonaldsay during easterly winds
in the winter of 1880-81.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle sends us the following notes : —

" Usually builds among heather roots, under banks of burns,
and in bushes about streams, and in gardens. Should the
wind shift and blow coldly on the place where they are making
a nest in a bush, they will leave it and begin another, even
though the first is about completed. The young are very
tender, and hard to rear, if removed from the nest. A Wren
built in a basket hanging to the roof of a tool-house at Mel-
setter, 1875, and the first hatch was twelve young ones, the
next (of the same season) ten young ones, and there was one
egg found in the nest after the last hatch had flown.

" The bird was not only tame, but became so bold, that she
would peck my fingers when I put them to the hole in the side
of the nest."

In Rousay, Buckley found a Wren's nest in an elder-tree,
about 12 ft. from the ground, an unusual height for this bird to
build.

Mr. Millais has examined the Orcadian Wren and finds it
is much more strongly barred than the English form, though
perhaps not quite so much so as that from St. Kilda. Harvie-
Brown and Eagle Clarke noticed that the Wren seen by them
in Papa Westray, in 1890, appeared to be light in colour and
very large.

Family MOTACILLID-E.
Motacilla lugubris, Temm. Pied Wagtail.

The habits of this species must have changed much since Low's
time, when he considered it migratory, never being seen after
May. It is now resident the year round, breeding in some of
the larger islands, though less numerous in the winter.

In Rousay great numbers are seen in August and September,
but they get scarcer after that time.

BIRDS. 107

In 1888 we saw the Wagtail in several localities on the
Mainland, but nowhere abundant, nor did we meet with it
at all in the North Isles, although Mr. Harvey records it from
Sanday, and as breeding there.

Motacilla melanope, Pall. Grey Wagtail.

It is more than probable that this species has to do duty for the
Yellow Wagtail in Orkney, in most instances, as well as in many
parts of the north of Scotland.

Both Mr. Kanken and Mr. Watt seem to have met with
this species, though only on very rare occasions; but Mr.
Harvey notes it as resident and breeding in Sanday.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle mentions that it breeds occasionally in
Hoy, and that both it and the Yellow Wagtail are shyer in the
breeding season than the Pied Wagtail, or at least are not so
much seen.

Motacilla rail, Bp. Yellow Wagtail.

Although mentioned by Baikie and Heddle as having been observed
several times, in a note written by the latter he says : — " There
is some confusion between these species," i.e. the Yellow and
Grey Wagtails. The one mentioned in these authors' book as
having been killed by Mr. Eanken, was shot on the 19th of
November 1845, and this date alone seems to point to its being
the Grey species.

Mr. Eeid mentions having shot one at Wideford, in
September 1858, but here again a doubt would seem to exist,
as the word " yellow " is often applied to the common (in the
north) " melanope," and none of these specimens are now avail-
able for examination.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says also, that confusion exists in
Orkney between the Grey and Yellow Wagtails: he adds,
however, that the latter bred at Melsetter in 1880 and 1881, and
probably at other times. He sent the eggs up to the editor
of the Field, who identified them as those of the Yellow
Wagtail.

108 BIRDS.

Motacilla viridis, Gmel. Grey-headed Wagtail.

A bird of this species was shot by Mr. Gilmour, the light-keeper
of the Pentland Skerries, on May 19, 1888, and the legs and
wings sent to Harvie-Brown for identification. Mr. Gilmour
described it as a wagtail with a blue head, a little white on the
chin, and bright yellow underneath. The wind was south-east
at the time, and the weather hazy. Another was seen at the
same place and by the same person, on May 3, 1889, the wind
and weather also being the same.

Anthus pratensis (£.). Meadow Pipit,
Ore. = Teeting.

It seems strange that Low should mention this species as common,
and leave out the Rock Pipit entirely from his list ; he seems,
however, to have confused the two species, as he asserts that
the Meadow Pipit comes to the shore in the winter, and retires
to the hills in summer to breed.

We found the Titlark less common, perhaps, in Orkney than
in other parts of Scotland, though fairly numerous in the
South Isles, and it is resident.

Salmon mentions the Titlark in his Diary (1831) as occurring
in Sanday, but says nothing about the Rock Pipit, which is
generally abundant, so perhaps he confounded the two species.
We saw no Meadow Pipits there in 1888, though we observed
them in the south end of Stronsay.

Mr. Monteith-Ogilvy informs us that in 1889 he found
this species numerous in Papa Westray : we saw none there,
nor in Westray, in 1888.

Anthus trivialis (L.). Tree Pipit.

We are indebted to Mr. T. W. Ranken for the only notice we have
of this bird in Orkney. He writes as follows : —

" This bird I have seen in the garden here on more than one
occasion, sitting on the topmost branch of the taller sycamores,
ascending every few minutes to a height of about thirty feet,

BIRDS. 109

returning again to the same spot, the descent being slow, the
wings and tail expanded, the flight in graceful circles, singing
all the time until it reached the starting-point. The middle of
June is the time of year I have observed the bird."

From this description there would appear no doubt of the
correct identification of the species.

Anthus obscurus (Lath.). Rock Pipit.
Ore. = Tang Sparrow.

A very common and characteristic Orkney species, being abundant
everywhere along the coast, and in all the small holms, and
often seen sitting on the houses in Kirkwall, or on the rigging
of vessels in the harbour. They are constantly observed
resting on a species of sea-weed, which grows just below
high-water mark, and from this habit, Mr. Irvine-Fortescue
tells us this weed has acquired the trivial name "Teeting-
tang " ; he adds that this weed is, or was, occasionally given as
food to pigs.

The Eock Pipit breeds amongst the stones on the top of the
cliffs, in small holes, and even amongst nettles ; we found one
on Egilsay in this latter situation.

On May 27th, 1888, we found a young Rock Pipit, not
long out of the nest, flying about some low rocks to the west of
Kirkwall ; this seems a very early date.

Family LANIIDJE.
Lanius excubitor, L. Great Grey Shrike.

Low, in his Fauna, remarks that he never knew of any of the
" butcher kind " in Orkney.

Since Messrs. Baikie and Heddle wrote, many more specimens
of the Great Grey Shrike have been obtained in Orkney.

Mr. T. W. Ranken's father saw one which had been shot at
the Head of Holland, near Kirkwall, in the summer (1) of 1845;

110 BIRDS.

he also mentions that two were shot near Kirkwall by Mr. W.
Reid and the late Dr. Duguid, in April 1849.

Mr. W. Reid shot two in one day at Wideford, in October
1884, after an easterly gale.

We have many other instances of the capture of this species
in Orkney, which it is scarcely necessary for us to enumerate
here ; we have particularly mentioned the above, as April and
' 'summer "are not the most usual seasons for this species to
occur.

Lanius collurio, L. Red-backed Shrike.

On May 19th, 1888, Mr. Gilmour, the light-keeper at the Pentland
Skerries, shot a bird of this species, and sent the wings and legs
to Harvie-Brown for identification. This is the first recorded
instance of the Red-backed Shrike in Orkney.

In July of the same year Mr. Moodie-Heddle informed us
that he saw a bird at Hoy, which he was inclined to refer to the
Pine Grosbeak, sitting on a wall near the house, but, from his
description of its colouring, beak, and mode of flight, it seems
much more probable that it was a Red-backed Shrike. The
bill was described as having the upper mandible projecting
over the lower, and as being toothed, and its flight was a series
of jerks, or dashes, with a drop at the end of each : the note
was like that of a Twite, but much louder and coarser.

Family AMPELID^.
Am pel is garrulus, L. Waxwing.

Of this bird Mr. Moodie-Heddle says that two specimens were
killed in Orkney in March 1851, but gives no further particulars.

Mr. Reid says that one in his possession was found dead at
Caldale, near Kirkwall, in 1852, and that another was shot the
same year at Stronsay. Mr. Reid also adds that he has shot
this bird himself.

Mr. W. D. Baikie informed Mr. Ranken that he shot a
Waxwing out of a flock of five, which were in company with
some Starlings, near the hill of Tankerness, in the autumn
of 1864.

BIRDS. Ill

Family MUSCICAPIDJE.
Muscicapa grisola, L. Spotted Flycatcher.

A very rare species in Orkney, and we have received but few
notices of its occurrence of late years.

Mr. T. W. Ranken has observed this bird on several occa-
sions feeding in his garden at Kirkwall, and generally succeeded
in getting near enough to identify the species.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us that the Spotted Flycatcher
bred at Melsetter in 1867, and during several years since then.

Mr. Spence observed the bird thrice in Orkney in 1882, on
every occasion on the Mainland.

Mr. Harvey of Sanday gives April as the time when the
Spotted, as well as the Pied Flycatcher occur in that island.

Mr. Gilmour informs us that Spotted Flycatchers were
numerous at Pentland Skerries on May 17th, 1888.

We ourselves have never seen this bird, even in Rousay, a
most likely locality.

Muscicapa atricapilla, L. Pied Flycatcher.

Numerous instances of the occurrence of this species in Orkney
are given by Messrs. Baikie and Heddle, and, since the date of
their work, many more have come to our knowledge. Most of
these have occurred in either May or October, the two great
months of migration.

It would be superfluous for us to give every occurrence
known to us. We merely give those that seem to have any
special interest attached to them.

Dr. Traill of Woodwick informed Mr. Spence that, during a
continuance of easterly wind in the winter of 1880-81, con-
siderable numbers visited N. Ronaldsay.

Mr. T. W. Ranken informs us that on May 3d, 1885, he saw
a pair flitting about the garden of the National Bank house.
They frequently came within a few feet of him. The night
was very cold, and they seemed to have difficulty in obtain-
ing food.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle sends us a note that the Pied Flycatcher
bred at Melsetter in 1864.

112 BIRDS.

Section 2. OSCINES LATIKOSTKES.

Family HIRUNDINIDJE.
Hirundo rustica, L. Swallow.

Low mentions Swallows at p. 25 of his Tour as building at Stowse
Head in S. Ronaldsay, every year in numbers, as well as in
Kirkwall, and, as he also mentions Martins and Sand Martins
as breeding at the same place, he must have been sure of his
point.

Barry, probably quoting from Low's Fauna Orcadensis, men-
tions Swallows as building in the chimneys of houses in Kirk-
wall, but Dunn makes no mention of them.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says that Swallows have become more
frequent in Hoy of late years, and that they breed there.

Mr. T. W. Eanken says he has noticed Swallows at Kirk-
wall almost annually for the last ten years, and that a pair
built under the eaves of his house in the summer of 1876.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue has seen this bird either at Kirkwall
or Swanbister on different occasions since 1878, more frequently
of late years, but even yet not common.

Buckley saw Swallows at Rousay on two occasions only in
1883, but was told that they had once bred there.

Mr. Harvey says that the Chimney Swallow comes to
Sanday in June, and breeds about the chimneys and the eaves
of houses. There is a specimen in Mr. Denison's collection.
Buckley saw a pair of Swallows hawking about the shores of
Hoy, not far from Melsetter, on May 30th, 1888, and another,
perhaps one of the same pair, near the same place, a few days
later.

From the foregoing remarks it would appear that Swallows,
although once fairly numerous in parts of Orkney, became very
scarce, and are only now again increasing.

Chelidon urbica (L*). Martin.

As before mentioned, under the preceding species, Low found
Martins breeding at Stowse Head in S. Ronaldsay; but in

BIRDS. 113

his Fauna he gives the Cathedral at Kirkwall as the only
locality. Barry says that in his time they bred in the windows
of the latter place.

Although Mr. Watt informs us that the Swallow bred at
Skaill House, the bird he refers to is more likely to have been
the Martin: he informs us that "they are rather uncommon,
and only occasional visitors. Many years ago, a pair nested
under the south window-sash of Skaill House. Last summer
(1887) a pair were to be seen flying round the house -, these,
after a short time, left, and did not appear again."

Mr. Cowan informs us that a few birds nested in Burgar,
nearEvie; but there were none there in 1888. Mr. Ranken
says he has seen this species more often in Orkney than the
Swallow, sometimes in small flocks, and that a few pairs build
in Kirkwall. The late Mr. J. G. Heddle remarked that they
were formerly found at Melsetter, as if this was not the case
at the time he made this note, but his son, Mr. Moodie-Heddle,
says (1887) that they have become more frequent of late years,
and breed (i.e. in Hoy).

None were seen in Rousay by Buckley in 1883.

Writing from N. Eonaldsay, Dr. W. Traill of Woodwick
informed Mr Irvine-Fortescue that, on May 31st, 1885, he
saw a flock of House-Martins, consisting of between two and
three dozen individuals, flying backwards and forwards over a
mass of decaying seaweed, probably attracted by the flies bred
therein. Generally, the Martin is a rare species in that island,
a pair or a stray bird being only generally seen, and that usually
after an easterly gale.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says they are rare at Swanbister. He
informs us that they formerly nested in the old manse of Birsay,
and that he saw the birds and nests some twenty years ago or
more. About ten years after the house was white-limed, when
they ceased to nest there.

When in Orkney in 1888, we found the House-Martin
the commonest of all the species. We saw some at Melsetter,
and at Rackwick and Little Rackwick, in Hoy ; at the two
latter places hawking along the sea-cliffs. Several were seen
flying about the Cathedral on the 9th of June.

H

114 BIRDS.

A pair of House-Martins used to breed in a house in St.
Margaret's Hope, S. Konaldsay, but there were none there
in 1889, nor did we see any in Hoy that year, though one was
observed by Miss Heddle at Melsetter.

Thus, from what we have related, it would appear that, like
the swallows, Martins fluctuate both as regards their breeding
areas and also their visits on migration.

Cotile riparia (L.). Sand-Martin,
Ore. = Witchuck (Low only).

Although recorded as a visitant and as breeding in Orkney since
the time of Low, it is curious to find, both from Messrs. Baikie
and Heddle, and also from one or two correspondents, that,
like the other members of the Hirundinidce, Sand-Martins are
irregular in their visits in different years.

From Mr. Watt we learn that they no longer breed at
Skaill, a locality given by Low, and Baikie and Heddle, nor has
he seen the bird in Orkney.

Both Mr. T. W. Eanken and Mr. Irvine-Fortescue have seen
the bird, though not in great numbers, and the former tells us
it breeds in the sandy rabbit-warrens.

Mr. Harvey informs us that Sand-Martins breed in Sanday
in holes in the beach and links, though we saw none there in
1888. It was in Sanday that Salmon met with this bird, in
1831, and it was the only species of Hirundo seen by him on
his Orkney tour.

Buckley saw some about the Loch of Wasbister in Eousay
in 1883, but on asking his attendant what they were, he said he
did not know the bird, so that they were evidently uncommon
there at that time, nor could he discover any breeding-
place.

In a later letter Mr. Moodie-Heddle says that the Sand-
Martin is much scarcer than formerly, perhaps owing to the
increase of brown rats — so much so that the younger people
hardly know the bird ; it used to breed near Melsetter in his
father's time.

BIRDS. 115

Sections. OSCINES CONIROSTRES.

Family FRINGILLHXE.
Sub-family FRINGILLIN^.

Carduelis elegans, Steph. Goldfinch.

As is the case all through the north, the Goldfinch is an extremely
rare bird, but whereas in parts of the northern mainland of
Scotland the bird was at one time almost common, such never
seems to have been the case in Orkney.

Mr. Cowan says, " not seen by him, but known to be here."
The only positive instance of its occurrence seems to be that of
one that was shot near Kirkwall by Hubbard in 1858, as a
note by the late Mr. J. G. Heddle informs us.

Chrysomitris spinus (L.). Siskin.

[Obs. — Like the preceding, the Siskin seems to be extremely rare,
if not of doubtful occurrence in the Orkneys, and the only
specimen of which we have any actual record is a female which
was brought to Mr. T. W. Ranken ; it was in bad plumage, and
had been caught by a boy. Mr. Ranken suspected that it had
been turned out of, or escaped from, a cage, as it was quite tame,
and for this reason we enter the species under an observation.]

Ligurinus chloris (L.). Greenfinch,

Ore. = Green Linnet (B. and H.).

This is a bird that has become a resident since Baikie and Heddle
wrote, possibly on account of the increase of plantations. In
their time it was only known as a winter visitant, as, indeed,
seems to be the case in Sanday, and probably all the other
islands in which no suitable breeding-place is to be found.

The Greenfinch now breeds commonly on the Mainland,
and Mr. T. W. Ranken and Mr. Irvine-Fortescue have found

116 BIRDS.

the nest on several occasions, but both these gentlemen agree
that, if not formerly overlooked, it is only within the last few
years that it has done so. Indeed, it seems to have been by no
means common about • Swanbister, and certainly did not breed
there before 1879 or 1880.

At Westness, Rousay, there were three or four pairs in the
summer of 1883 breeding in the garden, and Buckley took a
nest there. He noticed great additions to their numbers in
autumn, getting more numerous still in winter.

The Greenfinch breeds at Birstane, near Kirkwall, as Mr.
Reid, of S. Ronaldsay, informs us, and we found a nest in
the plantation of Muddiesdale, on the 25th of June 1889, con-
taining five fresh eggs.

Passer domesticus (L.}. House-Sparrow.
Ore. = Sparrow.

Sparrows were abundant in Orkney even in Low's time, and
this is the more singular, as there are yet places in the High-
lands where the bird is either rare or altogether absent.
They occur abundantly through most of the islands, being very
numerous in the garden of Westness, Rousay, building in the
ivy on the walls there. Mr. Harvey tells us it is resident in
Sanday and breeds in old ruined walls.

Mr. Watt of Skaill says they are very numerous there, and
that there is one, almost white, that has been about his residence
for the last two years [1888].

Mr. Moodie-Heddle sends us the following curious note :
— "Near Swanbister, in the Mainland, from 1873 to 1879, and
probably yet, almost every sparrow was more or less white.
At Melsetter, two seasons ago, a pure white one was flying
about all summer."

In 1888 we found Sparrows abundant in all the islands,
except the uninhabited holms, and were much struck with the
large size and brilliant plumage of those at Pierowal, Westray.1

1 See also under Wren (p. 106).

BIRDS. .117

Passer montanus (£.). Tree-Sparrow,

In reference to a question regarding a previous note sent
us by Mr. Moodie-Heddle that most sparrows in Orkney (? Hoy)
were Tree-, not House-, Sparrows, that gentleman writes us :
— "I don't say this of my own knowledge, as I have not
examined the point ; but the late Dr. Traill, of Woodwick, and
also a gentleman from near Manchester (I cannot recall his
name) who came about eggs of Richardson's Skua more par-
ticularly, both said that the sparrows about Melsetter were
nearly all Tree- Sparrows, after examining some."

All the sparrows seen by us in 1888 at Melsetter and else-
where were the common House-Sparrow.]

Fringilla ccelebs, L. Chaffinch.

By no means a common bird everywhere, even in winter, and
decidedly rare, as yet, in summer.

Mr. Ranken's father saw a pair in some willows at Papdale
on May 24th, 1839; and again, on the 4th of July, a male in
the shrubbery surrounding St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.
The same gentleman also remarks that many were seen in
Orkney during the season of 1845.

At the present time Mr. T. W. Ranken thinks they breed,
though he has never actually seen a nest. Mr. Irvine-Fortescue
informs us that he has Chaffinch's eggs, taken by Mr. Robert
Spence in Kirkwall, but that, previous to the winter of 1887-88,
he had only seen one Chaffinch, a male, at Swanbister. At
the end of November 1887, and again in 1889, a small flock of
both sexes appeared in the bushes about that place, and they
remained all the winter, mixing with the Greenfinches and
Common Buntings.

Buckley saw nothing of these birds in Rousay during the
summer of 1883, though there were plenty of trees in the
Westness garden. The first seen were on October 22d, and they
got more numerous as the winter advanced.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says that Chaffinches are now more

118 BIRDS.

numerous in Hoy, and that some have bred since 1859; we,
however, saw none there in 1888.

Mr. Reid of S. Ronaldsay informs us that he has taken
several Chaffinches' nests at Muddiesdale, and we ourselves saw
some birds there in June 1889, which were evidently breeding.

Fringilla montifringilla, L. Brambling.

We have little to add to what Baikie and Heddle say of this bird.
Mr. T. W. Kanken says he thinks he has seen Bramblings,
two or three at a time, in company with Snow Buntings, the
two species separating when disturbed, but he never actually
saw one dead in Orkney. Mr. Gilmour, the lighthouse-keeper
on the Pentland Skerries, has seen birds there that he supposed
to be Bramblings on one or two occasions. As he specially
mentions that, when flying, the rump was white, it is most likely
that his identification was correct. At page 98 of his Birds of
Shetland Mr. Saxby says : — " I have ascertained that this species
has also become more abundant in Orkney during the last ten
or twelve years, but it has not yet been observed there in
summer." No authority, however, is given for this statement.

Linota cannabina (L.). Linnet
Orc.=Lintie.

Common, and resident even in Low's time, receiving large addi-
tions to its numbers in winter : it breeds in many localities
in the Mainland, and also in Rousay and Hoy. A male shot
in Rousay in December still retained some of the pink feathers
on its breast.

Linota linaria (/,.). Mealy Redpoll.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us that he knew of a specimen
of this bird, but that, from its great tameness, he imagined it
to have been an " escape." Mr. T. W. Ranken also says he has
seen the species occasionally, but does not consider it by any
means common.

BIRDS. 119

Linota rufescens (FidlL). Lesser Redpoll.

Qrc.=Lintie.

Probably confounded at times with the common linnet. Mr.
Moodie-Heddle says it is only an occasional visitant to Hoy.
Mr. T. W. Ranken says it is indigenous, though not plentiful,
on the Mainland, breeding in bushes, not on the ground ; while
about Stromness, in May 1890, Mr. J. Young found Linnets,
Redpolls, and Twites equally common.

Mr. W. Reid considers this bird only a visitor. Mr. Harvey
says it breeds in Sanday, but this requires further confirmation,
the only species we saw there in 1888 being the Twite, though
it is extremely likely that the Common Linnet breeds there
sparingly as well.

Mr. Gilmour noticed a Redpoll on the Pentland Skerries in
March 1888.

Linota flavirostris (£.). Twite.

Ore. = Heather Lintie.

Abundant everywhere and at all seasons, breeding on the ground,
amongst heather in most places, but taking kindly to trees,1
bushes, and even ivy, where these are to be found.

We took nests in these latter situations in Rousay in the
Westness garden, always using a glass to be sure as to the
identity of the bird ; indeed, we ourselves never happened to
come across a nest in any other situation, though all our corre-
spondents from other places give bunches of heather as the
most usual site.

Mr. T. W. Ranken tells us he has found a Twite's nest in
the shell of a decayed turnip.

Sub-family LOXIIN^E.
Pyrrhula europaea, Fieill. Common Bullfinch,

Since Baikie and Heddle wrote their book we can only hear of one
other instance of the occurrence of the Bullfinch in Orkney.
Mr. W. Reid saw one at Butquoy, Kirkwall, in 1865.

1 Twites also breed in currant bushes in the Outer Hebrides. (See Fauna of
the 0. H., p. 63.)

120 BIRDS.

Loxia curvirostra, L. Common Crossbill.

Since 1806 at least, flocks of Crossbills have visited the Orkneys,
as we have notes of them from the Mainland, Hoy, and Sanday,
Pentland Skerries, etc. At Melsetter they occurred plentifully
in 1849, 1855, 1857, and 1866; three flocks of about twenty-
five in each in 1868 ; and again in 1873.

Numbers were seen in the Bishop's Palace Gardens, Kirk-
wall, on July 21st, 1840.

Mr. T. W. Eanken told us that a pair of Crossbills built
three times in the plantation of Muddiesdale in 1882, and on
each occasion the nest was ruthlessly harried by egg-collectors.
Buckley, however, saw some of the eggs that were taken on one
of these occasions, and they were certainly not Crossbills.

There seems to have been a migration of Crossbills to
Orkney and the north mainland of Scotland in July 1888.
One was seen on the Pentland Skerries on the 9th of that
month, and another was picked up dead about the same time,
and is now in the possession of Mr. Cameron of Burgar.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle, writing from Melsetter on the 16th
July of the same year, says his children reported to him
several birds that must have been Crossbills : " All were
reddish-coloured, and they were taking the green-fly off the
lower side of the sycamore leaves with their tongues," the
children thought. They said " they were clinging on the
branches with their heads down."

As the trees here referred to are only some 20 feet high, the
birds could be very easily well watched.

Some of these birds Mr. Moodie-Heddle found dead; but
one or two were still to be seen at Melsetter in the following
May (1889).

Sub-family EMBEEIZIN^.
Emberiza miliaria, L. Common Bunting.
Ore. = Bunting or Thistle-cock.

Common, and resident in all the cultivated islands the year round,
as it has been from the time of Low, who mentions that it is

BIRDS. 121

very good eating. It seems, however, to be less abundant in
N. Eonaldsay and the Westray group. In September 1882
Mr. Cowan shot an albino at Finstay.

Emberiza citrinella, L. Yellow Bunting.

When Baikie and Heddle wrote, the Yellowhammer was a rare
bird even in winter. Since then it has become abundant and
resident through most of the South Isles, especially during the
last twenty-five to thirty years, the sowing of whin hedges and
making of small plantations no doubt having encouraged it to
breed. Mr. W. Eeid says that its nest was not a rarity even
as far back as 1855. Now, Mr. Eanken says, he sees many
birds about Kirkwall, and often finds their nests.

Mr. Watt, however, tells us that as yet the Yellowhammer
is unknown at Skaill, but that he sees plenty when driving into
Kirkwall through the parish of Firth.

In Eousay we found it, in 1883, resident, but by no means
common, nor did we perceive that many additions arrived in
winter.

In 1888 we saw the Yellowhammer in Hoy and on the Main-
land ; around Kirkwall it may be called common.

Emberiza schceniclus, L. Reed-Bunting.

Mr. Watt of Skaill informs us that in a copy of Pennant belong-
ing to Low there is a pencil note thus : " The Eeed Sparrow.
At Whiteford Hill, July 1778."

In March 1845 the late Mr. Eanken shot a male and pre-
sented it to the Kirkwall Museum.

Since 1 848 this species has become more numerous, though
by no means common as yet. Mr. W. Eeid informs us that the
Eeed Bunting breeds every year now at Crantit, near Kirkwall.
Mr. Moodie-Heddle found a nest at Melsetter in 1865.

Eeferring to the pair that are recorded by Baikie and
Heddle as breeding at Muddiesdale in 1845, it does not appear
that the nest was found, though the late Mr. Eanken con-
sidered, from its cry and manners, that it (the female) evidently

122 BIRDS.

had a nest. Previous to that the same gentleman saw a pair
at Papdale in July 1839, and in April 1840 another pair at
Scapa.

In Rousay it is rare, and was seen by Buckley in 1883, on
two or three occasions only. Mr. Cursiter informs us that a
pair of birds, which, from his description, were apparently of
this species, haunted a piece of ground at Quanterness, near
Kirkwall, in the summer of 1888.

Reed Buntings are also seen at the Pentland Skerries.

Plectrophanes nivalis (L.). Snow-bunting.
Ore. = Snow-flake.

A very abundant winter visitant to all the islands, their numbers
varying according as the winter is severe or open.1

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says he has seen what he took to be
this bird in summer plumage on the top of some of the higher
hills in Hoy, and Mr. Irvine-Fortescue also remarks that he saw
what he imagined was a family party of three or four Snow
Buntings on Hoy Hill on September 21, 1882.

A Snow-Bunting, killed in Sanday in the month of April,
and in the possession of Mr. Denison of West Brough, is in
full summer plumage.

Section 4. OSCINES SCUTELLI-PL ANT ARES.
Family ALAUDID-E.

Alauda arvensis, L. Skylark.
Ore. =Lamock : Lady's Hen.

Very abundant, and resident in all the islands, Mr. Salmon in
1831 remarking on their abundance in Sanday.

In Rousay we remarked that the Larks did not seem to
soar to such a height as we have observed them on a hot

i On December 14th, 1889, Mr. Monteith-Ogilvy shot the only Snow-Bunting
he saw in Papa Westray that year up to that date. That winter was a very open
one.

BIRDS. 123

day in the south, but perhaps the cold summer of 1883 may
have had something to do with this.

In Orkney the Skylark begins to sing early in the year,
sometimes even in winter. Here boys will not disturb larks'
nests, the bird being still called " Our Lady's Hen."

Mr. Ranken mentions a case where a mouse attacked a tame
lark in a cage, and in connection with this Mr. Moodie-Heddle
asks the question, " Can Short-tailed Field Mice destroy these
birds' nests ? " as he once found a piece of carrion, about three
ounces in weight, in a nest of this mouse, all minced up.

Alauda arborea L. Wood Lark.

[Gray, p. 125 of his Birds of the West of Scotland, says that the
most northern locality he has been able to find for this species
is Orkney, where, on February 20th, 1844, a specimen was shot
at Stromness, in Dunn's garden. We have no other record
than this, which at least seems open to doubt, when, according
to Baikie and Heddle, Dunn said that the Skylark left the
Orkneys during the winter.]

Section 5. OSCINES CULTIROSTRES.
Family STURNIDJ3.

Sturnus vulgaris, L. Common Starling.
Orc.=Stare, Stirlin (B. and H.).

Abundant in Low's time, and certainly not less common now.
Resident, and breeding in almost any place that they can find
suitable for placing their nest, even under stones on the beach
and in low dykes. It is quite likely that their abundance may
be caused by the absence of all ground vermin ; and even rats,
those great destroyers of eggs, besides young birds, are not
common in every place.

They both nest and roost in " doo'-cotes," and indeed so
much so as to drive out the rightful inhabitants.

124 BIRDS.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says that the large flocks of Starlings
disappear when cold weather arrives, but a few remain through
the winter. They do not roost in the bushes in cold weather,
but in holes about the farm-steadings, several going into the
same hole. They also roost in the cliffs, and when netting Rock
Pigeons in a dark night, he has seen the Starlings fluttering
about the lanterns quite bewildered. Albinos are by no means
rare, and we have seen several, the last being in a church-
yard at Pierowalin Westray. — a pure white specimen. Starlings
are perhaps less numerous in the Westray group, and North
Isles generally, than in the rest of the Orkneys.

The following amusing account of this bird was sent us by
Mr. Moodie-Heddle : — "A Starling has bred here for some years,
which is so tame that it will sit close by and imitate, or try to
imitate, any sound I make to it. It whistles to the dog, calls
like a Crow, Landrail, gull, Ring-dotterel, etc., so well, that I
am often deceived myself. Sometimes, after trying in vain to
imitate a sound I have made to it, it will lose its temper, and
shuffle up close to where I am, ruffling its feathers up and
screaming with anger. It has been here for three years at least."
Low also mentions the fondness of the starling for imitating
other birds' notes.

Pastor roseus (L). Rose-coloured Starling,

Has occurred on several occasions; indeed rather frequently.
Besides those mentioned by Baikie and Heddle, a MS. note by
the last-named author says that two were killed at Kirkwall
in 1855.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us he has known of five or six
instances of its occurrence in Hoy alone during the last four
years, the last being in 1886, when the bird was observed by
his factor and several others : he also adds that whenever he
has looked into the stories of white starlings, it has been a
Rose Pastor : this in some three instances.

One of the two referred to as having been killed near Kirk-
wall in 1855 was shot by Mr. T. W. Ranken's father in Sep-

BIRDS. 125

tember; it rose from the gooseberry-bushes along with some
Blackbirds, where they had been devouring the fruit. The other
was killed a few days before that in the parish of Evie.

Mr. Begg informs us he has shot several Eose-coloured
Pastors in Hoy.

Family CORVIDdS.

Nucifraga caryocatactes (L.). Nutcracker,

Mr. Harvey informs us that a Nutcracker was shot in Sanday
on 1st of October 1868, as it was feeding on worms like a
crow. He adds, " the only one seen here." The specimen is
now in the possession of Mr. Denison of Brough, Sanday, where
we saw it.

Pica rustica (Scop.). Magpie.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us that one was seen in Hoy in 1845,
and again in 1849.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says that some years ago a Magpie
appeared at Swanbister. It was suspiciously tame, and he
afterwards heard that two ladies had lost a tame one in Harray
that summer. It remained a day or two at Swanbister, and
then disappeared.

Corvus monedula, L. Jackdaw,

Low in his Tour says : — " Saw here (S. Eonaldsay) the only
Jackdaws to be found in the southern parts, and, for aught
I know, in the Orkney Isles. A few pairs build in Stowsehead
every year." Messrs. Baikie and Heddle add another locality
in the same island, but on the opposite side, viz.: — Barthhead,
as a breeding site.1

Mr. W. Reid, our old and valued correspondent, says that

1 In a note left by the late Mr. Robert Heddle he says this information has
not been confirmed.

126 BIRDS.

they were seen, but not breeding, at the time he left Kirkwall
in 1866.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says (1887), " Several times killed
among crows and rooks. Once, 1871, at Melsetter, flying over-
head in a mist, taken for a crow. About Kirkwall several were
seen during the springs of 1855-1858, and appeared to have
bred there."

Mr. Kanken says : " Like the Rook, the Jackdaw was
only an occasional visitor to Orkney some forty or fifty years
ago ; now they are numerous ; hundreds may be seen in the
neighbourhood of Kirkwall. The Jackdaws congregate,
during the breeding season, principally at Winwick, South
Eonaldsay, building in clefts in the cliff, and making their
nest of dry seaweed."

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue also mentions the Jackdaws appearing
at Kirkwall, and, in February 1883, he saw a considerable flock
of Rooks and Jackdaws, of which about a fifth appeared to
be the latter bird.

Mr. Watt of Skaill tells us he has never seen Jackdaws in
his parish.

Mr. Harvey says that a few Jackdaws appear in Sanday in
spring on rare occasions.

In 1888 we found them breeding in the chimneys in the
Earl's Palace, Kirkwall. Other large colonies were seen by us
at Hersta and Stowse Heads, in South Ronaldsay, in 1889.

Corvus cornix, L. Crow,

OTC. = CTOW. Craa. Hoodie-craa.

Most of the crows observed in Orkney belong to the grey variety ;
indeed, we have only one notice of the black, which, Mr. Reid
informs us, was shot by Hubbard, a bird-stuffer from Norfolk, at
Kirkwall in 1856. The Grey Crow, though in places not so
numerous as formerly, owing to stricter game-preserving, is still
common enough, doing vast havoc amongst the eggs of sea-birds,
carrying off such large morsels as those of the Guillemot, and
eating them just above the ledges from which they were taken.
At Rousay we have seen quite a heap of such shells, some of

BIRDS. 127

which would almost have done for cabinet specimens, and again,
in 1888, we found quantities of Cormorants' eggs above the
cliffs at the south end of Stronsay, just freshly sucked.

We certainly consider the Crow to be by no means the
abundant species one would expect in a county with such an
extent of sea-cliff. Of course all the islands have a pair or two,
but, seeing that they are systematically destroyed in two islands
only, the wonder is that they are not ten times more numerous.

Corvus frugilegus, L. Rook,

The Eook seems to have been only of doubtful occurrence in
Low's time.

Messrs. Baikie and Heddle give several instances of the
occurrence of this species, either as single birds or in flocks,
and say that in autumn 1846 a small flock took up its residence
for a few weeks in the plantation at Papdale, near Kirkwall.
They, however, do not record it as a breeding species up to
1848. Now, however, they are plentiful, breeding in the trees
round the Bishop's Palace in Kirkwall, and Mr. Moodie-
Heddle informs us they do so at Melsetter and elsewhere. We
have occasionally seen them in Eousay.

Mr. Salmon says [1831] that the Crow (? Carrion) and Eook
are never seen on any of the islands.

Mr. Eanken says : " Used to be only an occasional visitor
to Orkney, and was looked upon as a rare bird. Now, there are
large flocks to be seen about Kirkwall. I have seen forty or
fifty nests in the garden at one time, which I have pulled down,
as I find their appearance banishes the small birds from it ; and
I find that the Eook does not scruple to feed its young with the
nestlings of small birds. A pair of Eooks built their nest inside
a chimney-can, last summer,1 in a house opposite this one. The
heads of the young birds protruded above the can when ap-
proaching maturity. Several other pairs built outside the foot
of the chimney-cans. The farmers in Orkney have a decided

1 For an instance of this in Caithness, vide Vertebrate Fauna of Sutherland,
Caithness, and West Cromarty, p. 150. D. Douglas, 1887.

128 BIRDS.

dislike to the Rooks, believing that they do more harm to crops
than good, by eating so much grain and potatoes."

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue tells us that, in March 1878, there
were about thirty Eooks' nests at Muddiesdale, where they first
nested in 1876, and that, in 1883, there was then a colony at
Tankerness.

There is generally a flock of between forty and fifty Rooks
to be seen at Skaill during the spring, Mr. Watt informs us,
but they remain there only for a few days.

In Sanday the Rook is yet a rare bird. Mr. Harvey writes
us from there that he shot one on Jan. 27th, 1888, as it was
feeding on the side of a corn-stack in a heavy snow-storm.

We have seen most of the rookeries on the Mainland ; as
yet they have not spread to Rousay.

Corvus corax, L. Raven.
Ore. = Corbie. Kroot.

From all accounts, much scarcer than formerly.

In vol. i. of the old Statistical Account, dating 1791, a price
was set on the heads of Ravens and other vermin.

Low mentions that two or three white varieties of this bird
have been found.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says that, about 1873, he used to see a
flock of about a dozen or so frequently at Swanbister, but that
now [1887] he seldom sees even a pair. Mr. Watt says that he
does not often see them at Skaill, but that they breed in the
rocks between there and the Black Craig.

Mr. Ranken has counted nine sitting together on the sea-
beach at Eday.

In Rousay Ravens bred [1883] in two places, but the young
were not allowed to fly, the keeper going down into the rocks
to a place where he could shoot them, the nests being inacces-
sible. We saw a good many there in the autumn as they came
to feed on a dead cow on the beach below the house.

In Sanday they are seen only occasionally, and not at the
breeding season.

BIRDS. 129

In Wolley's Egg-Book, vol. iii. pp. 283-4, appears the fol-
lowing : —

"April I5th, 1849. — The cathedral having been undergoing
repairs, the ravens which always built on it (and near to a pair
of Kestrels) have left, and, according to report, gone to the old
ruins of the Bishop's Palace. Here I climb up, and as the nest
of Eaven (or Crow) is empty, I fancy it has been taken. The
year before I saw nine (?) Eavens at once upon the cathedral."

Eavens are getting very scarce now in the Orkneys, and in
1888 we only met with them once, in Westray, where we
saw a family party of four or five. Mr. Millais says they breed
regularly in one place, not far from Stromness. One bird used
to attend him regularly when he went out " flighting," on the
chance of picking up a wounded bird ; it would never come near
enough to be shot at.

Order 2. MACROCHIRES.
Family CYPSELID^I.

Cypselus apus (L). Common Swift.

Has been seen more frequently since Low's time, but has not
increased much since Baikie and Heddle wrote.

Mr. Eanken's father saw a Swift wheeling round St. Magnus
Cathedral, Kirkwall, in company with three or four Swallows,
on June 20th, 1847, the second time only in nine years and a
half that he had seen them in Orkney. Mr. T. W. Eanken has
for several years past, but not always consecutively, seen Swifts,
sometimes three or four at a time, circling round the spire of
the cathedral, and Mr. W. Eeid has also frequently seen them
there at the same place. Swifts have also been observed,
though rarely, on other parts of the Mainland. Mr. Irvine-
Fortescue has seen them occasionally at Swanbister. Mr. Watt
has also observed them at Skaill, and in the summer of 1866
he shot one near the palace of Birsay.

It is rare in Hoy. The late Mr. J. G. Heddle shot one
there in 1861. Mr. Moodie-Heddle shot another in harvest

I

130 BIRDS.

time at Melsetter about 1871, which had its feet full of clay;
he used to see a pair there almost every year.

In Sanday, Swifts are also rare, but are seen occasionally.
Mr. Harvey shot one there in June 1883.1

We saw one in Westray on June 25th, 1888; the only
Swift we saw that year in Orkney.

Family CAPRIMULGIDJE.
Caprimulgus europaeus, L. Common Nightjar,

Since Messrs. Baikie and Heddle published their work, we have
very few records of the Goatsucker in Orkney. In a note by
the latter author he says : " Still occasionally seen in Sanday."
Mr. Cowan says it is a rare visitant.

Mr. W. Eeid saw two killed at Kirkwall in April (?) 1868.

In 1888 Mr. Harvey got a pair of Nightjars in Sanday. The
first was seen towards the end of May, and picked up nearly
dead from cold, on the 4th of June ; this was a male. The
female was shortly after caught near Mr. Harvey's house in a
stable, and was bought by that gentleman, who sent the two
to be stuffed.

Order 3. PICI.

Family PICID^S.

Sub-family PICIN^E.

Picus major, L. Great Spotted Woodpecker.

An irregular autumn and winter visitant ; at times their numbers
amount to a regular "irruption," as in 1861. Since then
scarcely a year has passed without some few of these birds
being seen or procured, and there seems to have been another
rush in 1868; when they were numerous at Melsetter in Sep-
tember of that year.

1 Probably the one that is now stuffed, and in the collection of Mr. Denison
of West Brough, Sanday.

BIRDS. 131

They seem to have been procured in most of the islands of
the group from N. Konaldsay southwards. Some that were
shot in Sanday, in October 1870, were sent to the museum at
St. Andrews.

Dr. J. F. M'Conaghy sends Mr. Spence the following note :
— " Woodpeckers (Norwegian). Two shot in Sanday in Sept.
1868. Numbers of these birds were seen in N. Ronaldsay and
Sanday. The weather, previous to their arrival, had been
remarkable for strong gales from the west. It was considered
that these specimens might be American, but Dr. Rae felt
confident that they were Norwegian. It was interesting and
melancholy to see a flock of these birds alight on a number
of logs of wood, part of a cargo of a ship wrecked on the east
side of Sanday, and begin vigorously to tap the wood accord-
ing to their habit."

Mr. Moodie-Heddle saw a single Woodpecker tapping at
the posts put up for wire-fencing at Melsetter in Sept. 1887;
and Mr. W. Irvine-Fortescue saw a bird in the garden of West-
ness, Rousay, in 1887.

The Great Spotted Woodpecker would seem to be a some-
what early migrant, as it has been seen in Orkney both in the
middle and end of September.

Picus minor, L. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.

At present we have no further notice of the occurrence of this
bird in Orkney than the one the editor of Low's work mentions
having killed at Stromness in the winter of 1774; and another
recorded by Baikie and Heddle as having been seen in Sanday
in 1823.

Gecinus viridis (L.). Green Woodpecker.

Since Baikie and Heddle's time, we have only heard of one
instance of the occurrence of the Green Woodpecker in Orkney.
Mr. T. W. Ranken informs us that he saw a specimen of
this bird in his garden at Kirkwall in July 1885. It was cling-
ing to a high branch of a sycamore, and kept moving upwards
in a direction more or less oblique, and the tapping it made in
its search for food was quite distinctly heard, and attracted his

132 BIRDS.

attention. After watching it for a few minutes, the bird flew
away, evidently startled by people passing near where it was
perched.

Sub-family IYNGIDJE.
lynx torquilla, L. Wryneck.

A rare visitant, but we have notes of several having been either
seen or captured since the solitary specimen recorded by Baikie
and Heddle.

In a MS. note by R Heddle, one of the authors above men-
tioned, he says that a Wryneck was seen at Melsetter in an
apple-tree, and that several have been killed at Holm, etc.,
since the publication of their book.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle sends us notes of two seen at Melsetter,
one in 1841, and another in 1850; but these may well be the
same as those just referred to, and of which we have no dates.

The late Mr. Ranken saw a specimen which had been
obtained in Orkney by Dr. Duguid in 1855.

Mr. Traill of Woodwick informed Mr. Spence that a specimen
was got in N. Eonaldsay about 1865, and another was obtained
by Dr. Logic of Kirkwall a year or two later, taken in one of
the North Isles. Since then Dr. Traill obtained another speci-
men, picked up dead near his garden in N. Ronaldsay on May
6th, 1886.

Buckley shot a male Wryneck in Rousay on September 8th,
1883, as it was flying and settling on a stone wall along the
roadside.

DESMOGNATHJE.
Order 1. COCCYGES.

Sub-order COCCYGES ANISO-DACTYLL

Family ALCEDINIDJE.
Alcedo ispida, L. Common Kingfisher.

We have no further instance of this bird's appearance in Orkney
since the one mentioned by Low as having been seen by him.

BIRDS. 133

Indeed from its rarity all through the north of Scotland, as w ell
as in more northern countries, it could never be anything else
than a very uncommon visitant.

Family CORACIID-ffi.
Coracias garrula, L. Roller.

The first mention we have of the Eoller in Orkney is in the 2d
edition of Wallace's Description of the Orkneys (1700), where he
mentions this bird as occurring along with the Hoopoe.

In a MS. note by the late Eobert Heddle, he says that in
thirty years Mr. Strang saw seven Eollers in Sanday. Mr.
Moodie-Heddle says his father shot a Roller on the Melsetter
links, but gives no date.

In a letter from E. F. Sheppard to T. 0. Heysham, he
says: "About the middle of June 1843 a Roller was caught
by a cat in S. Ronaldsay, which, I was told, was not the first
time this bird had been killed there."

In 1869 Mr. Peter Anderson, lighthouse-keeper, shot a
Roller in Sanday about October of that year.

Mr. Ranken informs us that a specimen of this bird was
found lying dead underneath a boat in the island of Eday in
the winter of 1874.

Family UPUPIDJE.
Upupa epops, L. Hoopoe.

As early as 1693 the Hoopoe is mentioned by Wallace as having
occurred in the Orkneys.

Besides those mentioned by Messrs. Baikie and Heddle in
their work, we have notes of several others having been obtained.

Mr. W. Reid tells us he has noted in Land and Water some
four or five specimens shot in Orkney since 1841.

Mr. Begg, Stromness, informs us that he, in 1842, shot three
Hoopoes at one shot, out of a flock of fourteen, in Sanday, and
he has stuffed two since. It is not often that these birds
appear in such numbers.

Mr. Cowan mentions that there was a Hoopoe in the late

134 BIRDS.

J. Dunn's collection, shot in Sanday. Hubbard killed one in
1858, and the late Mr. Hebden another in Eday, in 1859.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue saw a specimen in the flesh killed at
Stromness about the years 1878 or 1880, and now, or lately, in
the possession of Mr. James Spence.

On May 12th, 1883, Mr. T. W. Eanken heard that a dead
Hoopoe had been picked up in Sanday a few days before, which
had probably died from the effects of the boisterous weather
that had prevailed for the previous three weeks.

Mr. Harvey informs us that a Hoopoe was shot in Sanday,
in April 1886, while feeding with some Starlings : this is most
likely the one in Mr. Denison's collection at West Brough.

Sub-order COCCYG-ES ZYGODACTYLL

Family CUOULID-ffi.
Cuculus canorus, L. Cuckoo.
Ore. = Gowk. (Low only. )

Although Low mentions that the Cuckoo breeds in Orkney, in the
old Statistical Account for 1793, vol. vii. p. 546-7, it is stated,
u No Cuckoos are ever seen in this country (Kirkwall)."

It is not even yet by any means abundant, but visits most of
the islands at times, and is most numerous in Hoy and the
Mainland.

Mr. Eanken's father gives dates, from 1855 to 1862, on which
he saw or heard the Cuckoo, and Mr. W. Eeid also mentions
seeing one at Crantit in 1858, as if both these gentlemen con-
sidered the bird a great rarity. Mr. Eeid adds that since then it
had been seen and heard in several plantations, but not by him.

Mr. Cowan also says the Cuckoo is a yearly visitant, but
yet uncommon.

Dr. Traill of Woodwick informed Mr. Spence that "since
more trees have been planted this bird has been more frequently
seen, and is common in Eousay as well as at Binscarth and
other parts of the Mainland."

Mr. Harvey calls it a rare visitant to Sanday, and mentions

BIRDS. 135

one shot in August 1880, which was sent to a merchant in
Kirkwall.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says that it now occurs annually at
Melsetter and Binscarth. He also adds, in a letter dated
Dec. 26th, 1887: "Cuckoos used to be very common behind
Melsetter, where there were some 20 acres of tall gorse in which
small birds bred. The rooting out of this made them pass us,
and for some years we heard none. The gorse is getting up
now again, and the Cuckoos are beginning to return." Thus
one was heard there on May 10th, 1890.

In Eousay we heard the Cuckoo on only one or two occasions
in 1883.

Mr. Eanken says that the Cuckoo visits Orkney now every
summer, and he has seen three together in Muddiesdale
plantation. A trustworthy informant assured him that some
years ago he counted seven sitting on a garden wall early one
summer morning.

Mr. Monteith-Ogilvy informs us that a Cuckoo was seen in
Papa Westray in 1889.

Order 2. ACCIPITRES.

Sub-order STRIGES.

Family STRIGIDJE.
Qrc.=Katogle, which is applied to all Owls.

Strix flammea, L. Barn Owl.

[Obs. — Though mentioned by Low, Mr. Moodie-Heddle thinks
that gentleman must be in error, as he has never seen this bird
or heard of it breeding in Orkney. Certainly we saw nothing
of it in Rousay, where, according to Messrs. Baikie and Heddle,
it is said to breed. As might be expected from its distribution
in the neighbouring counties of Sutherland and Caithness, it is
a very rare bird in the north, and we have no notes of it from
any of our Orkney correspondents.

In a note by the late Kobert Heddle he adds, " does not
breed in Orkney."]

136 BIRDS.

Family BUBONIDJE.
Asio otus (L.), Long-eared Owl.

This species seems to have become commoner of late years, at
least in Hoy, as Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us they frequently come
to Melsetter, where there are some trees, and that they even
bred there in 1882. No doubt, could plantations be grown to
any extent in the islands, these birds would increase.

The late Eobert Heddle stated that a bird of this species
was killed at Papdale in 1849. Another was shot in Shapinsay,
on 8th October 1873, by the late James Sinclair, birdstuffer.
Mr. Barnett, Crown Chamberlain, shot one at Muddiesdale on
December 4th, 1879, and another a few days afterwards. He
gave one of these birds to Mr. J. Petrie, writer, who had a large
collection of Orkney birds.

Mr. Ranken tells us he has frequently seen this species in
Orkney in the winter. A friend of his obtained a pair in
Muddiesdale plantation on December 17th, 1887. They are
naturally rare in Sanday, but we have a note of one killed there,
in October 1830, by Mr. Strang of Lopness.

Mr. Buchanan of the National Bank, Kirkwall, showed us
a Long-eared Owl killed in the Muddiesdale plantation in
January 1888, and told us he had shot at least ten of these
birds there, always during snow in winter.

Asio accipitrinus (Pall). Short-eared Owl.
Ore. = Cutty-face.

Low, both in his Tmr and Fauna, mentions this Owl as being very
plentiful and breeding in Hoy. Messrs. Baikie and Heddle
also mention the species as very common in Orkney, and
remaining throughout the year.

In Eousay we were told that it was much commoner formerly,
i.e. previous to 1883. In that year we got one nest of six eggs, the
only one the keeper could find in the island. This pair very pro-
bably bred again, as neither of the birds were killed, and Buckley
constantly saw a pair hunting along the edge of the Muckle
Water in the late afternoons of July and August when fishing
there, which always returned to the same hill on which the

BIRDS. 137

keeper had previously taken the nest. After the late autumn
we saw more of these birds in the island.

The Short-eared Owl occurs all through the Mainland, and
has been shot on several of the other islands, as Sanday and
Westray ; it does not, however, breed in Sanday.

Mr. Kanken says it is more plentiful than any other
species of owl in Orkney, and remains there the whole year
round, breeding in the heather.

In the Swanbister district it has become very rare. It
formerly nested regularly there, so Mr. Irvine-Fortescue informs
us, but he fears now (1888) that they are driven away for ever.
Dunn, the naturalist in Stromness, used to give 6d. each for the
Hen-Harrier's and Short-eared Owl's eggs. Although this was
cheap, adds Mr. Irvine-Fortescue, the natives thought it dear, and
the birds decreased in consequence. Much of the long heather,
which formerly was plentiful, is now burned for pasture ; this,
too, is much against the owls.

In 1888 Buckley was informed by the keeper at Rousay
that he had only found one Short-eared Owl's nest that season,
and this he did not disturb: he thought, however, there was
another, but did not look for it.

In 1889 we saw young birds that had been taken from a
nest on Wideford Hill, where a pair or two still linger.

Every one knows that this owl can and does hunt in the
day-time in the breeding season ; but does it ever do so in the
winter ? The places most frequented by it, and many other
species of owls, during the breeding season, are in the north,
where there is practically no darkness during the time the
young are being fed, so the old birds must hunt in the light.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us he has seen a Short-eared Owl
take a half-fledged snipe on the wing.

Syrnium aluco (L.). Tawny Owl,

[Obs. — Low in his Fauna mentions that this species is found in the
more hilly parts of Orkney in summer, but he never saw or
heard of it in winter, so concluded it was a migratory bird.
He compares its shyness with the boldness of the Short-eared
Owl.

138 BIRDS.

Messrs. Baikie and Heddle seem to have taken Low's descrip-
tion to a great extent for their own use, as they say it is not
common, but builds in retired hilly districts, and is extremely shy.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle considers the foregoing authors were in
error altogether about this owl, and adds that he never saw it
in Orkney.

Mr. Harvey sends us word that a Tawny or " Screech " Owl
was shot in Sanday about 1869, and this very unsatisfactory
note is the only one we have received from all our correspond-
ents about the species.]

Nyctea scandiaca (£.). Snowy Owl.

Though perhaps never so abundant as in the Shetland Islands,
the Snowy Owl seems always to have been a not very uncommon
visitor to the Orkneys.

Professor Newton called our attention to the following
account in Bullock's Catalogue : — "In July 1812, in the island
of N. Konaldsay, one of the Orkneys, we were informed that
a bird of this kind had been seen on the rabbit warren on (or ?)
Links for several weeks, and shortly after I had an opportunity
of examining it for some time at the distance of about forty
yards. It was a male (the specimen now in the museum), and
its companion had been killed a few months before on the
island: one of them had likewise visited the adjacent isle
Westra, and remained there for some time."

In a letter from E. F. Sheppard 1 to T. C. Heysham, dated
Sept. 28th, 1840, he says: — "except the Snowy Owl, which, from
the description given me of the bird, I am inclined to think has
many times been seen there (Orkney) in the winter season, but
as there are few gunners and few collectors, it has very rarely
been shot. There is a specimen in the Edinburgh museum
which was shot in Orkney some years ago."

About November 1840 Sheppard's brother, who seems
to have resided in Orkney for some considerable time, wrote

1 Mr. Sheppard, who lived at Ipswich, was a martyr to rheumatism, and was
ordered by his doctor to try Orkney for a change. Although not by any means
curing him, it seems to have somewhat relieved him, and he made several stays
of longer or shorter duration at Stromness. He communicated pretty regularly
from there with Mr. T. C. Heysham of Carlisle.

BIRDS. 139

him saying, that when in a boat on the Loch of Stenness, he
saw a Snowy Owl, which passed within 150 yards of them.

Mr. Eanken tells us that a fine specimen of this bird was
shot at Lopness, Sanday, by the late Mr. Strang in 1844. This
bird is nearly pure white, and is in the possession of Mr. Eanken,
whose brother-in-law, Mr. Hebden of Eday, has also a beautiful
specimen, shot by his father at the Red Head of Eday.

Mr. Harvey tells us that one was shot in Sanday, Oct. 1869,
while eating a rabbit. Mr. Eeid sends us a note that these
birds are frequently seen and shot.

There is a stuffed specimen in the collection of Mr. Denison
of West Brough, Sanday, which was obtained in that island, and
is perhaps the one referred to as having been shot in 1869.

Under date of Oct. 29th, 1889, Mr. Eanken informs us in a
letter that "there is a large white owl in Sanday just now,
most likely a Snowy Owl."

Nyctale tengmalmi (Gmel). Tengmalm's Owl.

[Obs. — In a note by Mr. Moodie-Heddle is the following : " This
(Tengmalm's Owl) was killed at Melsetter, Nov. 7th, 1851, by
Dr. M. F. Heddle. The bird had remained all summer in a
tree near the house, within 12 feet of the dining-room window.
Dr. Heddle, who had only arrived the evening before, was not
aware of this, and killed it with such a large charge of snipe-
shot at close range, that the skin was spoilt— the wings, how-
ever, were put in spirits.1

" The bird was not very like the usual coloured figures in
Jardine's Naturalist's Library, etc., being less reddish coloured,
and the wings spotted with yellow like a Golden Plover's, but
the spots larger." This is the bird referred to by Gray in his
Birds of the West of Scotland.

We have also a notice of another of these birds from Mr.
Cowan of Tankerness House, who informs us that a Tengmalm's
Owl was seen at Eendall, on the Mainland, by Major Beadnell,
E.A., in 1882, and Mr. Cowan adds that the Major is a com-
petent judge.

We think the foregoing evidence scarcely sufficient to

1 The wings are not now forthcoming.

140 BIRDS.

warrant our including this species otherwise than in brackets,
especially as in a pencil note by Professor Heddle in a copy
of Messrs. Baikie and Heddle's work he says, "No, it was
passerina."]

Bubo ignavus, Forst. Eagle Owl.

According to Messrs. Baikie and Heddle this is the " Stock Owl "
mentioned by Wallace, though we can find nothing in the con-
text to warrant their assertion. They, however, mention that
an Eagle Owl was killed by Mr. Strang at Sanday in 1830.
That it is believed to breed in the Hammers of Birsay is a state-
ment for which we can find no foundation. Indeed, it is most
unlikely that the breeding-place of such a fine bird would not
be well known.

Low, in his Fauna, says that he never saw the bird himself,
but was credibly informed that it was still to be met with in his
day in the Orkneys, especially in the hilly parts.

In a pencil note by the late Eobert Heddle he observes that
the Eagle Owl does not breed in Orkney.

In the same letter as the one referred to under Snowy Owl,
Mr. Sheppard's brother says that he also saw a bird which he
thought to be the Eagle Owl.

Athene noctua (Eetz.). Little Owl.

\_0bs. — Included in the list of Orkney birds, published in Anderson's
Guide to Highlands and Islands of Scotland, but no locality or
date is given. This may possibly refer to the small owl (see
Tengmalm's) killed at Melsetter. It is impossible now to say
to what species this bird belonged, but that a small owl was
killed at Melsetter there can be no doubt ; probably it was
6r. passerinumJ]

Sub-order ACCIPITRES.
Family FALCONID-E.

Circus aeruginosus (£.). Marsh Harrier.

Messrs. Baikie and Heddle mark this bird as an occasional visitant
to Orkney, and mention Sanday and Rousay as localities.

BIRDS. 141

The late Mr. Heddle of Melsetter saw " one bird of this
species for three years at Melsetter," but Mr. Moodie-Heddle
writes us that he never saw or heard of it in Orkney. He
adds : — " One (was) said to have been killed by Dr. Logic,
another by Dr. Traill in 1866."

Mr. Watt of Skaill, writing us in Jan. 1888, says that in the
early part of the summer of 1865 or 1866 an uncle of his, who
knew birds well, when walking in company with Mr. Watt
through the township of Yucanabee, saw a Marsh Harrier, and
Mr. Watt adds that since then he had been told that it had
been known to nest in Orkney, but gives no authority for this
statement. Mr. Boyes informs us that when in Orkney in
1866, he saw a Marsh Harrier, stuffed, in J. Dunn's possession
at Stromness, but got no particulars.

Mr. Spence writes that a Marsh Harrier was preserved by
the late James Sinclair, which had been shot by Mr. Watt of
Skaill in December 1875, but that gentleman never mentioned
the fact to Buckley, who, when on a visit to him in 1888, made
particular inquiries about this species ; we therefore must con-
clude Mr. Spence had been wrongly informed.

We are at length able to add this bird to the Orkney list
decisively, through Mr. Millais, who has sent us the following
account of his capture of one : —

"I was shooting Eock Pigeons at the eastern end of the
cliffs known as the ' White Breast ' (Hoy), and had landed to
climb up to the top of the rock where a wounded bird had
fallen, and was endeavouring to catch it before it tumbled over
the rocks again, when I saw a large Harrier, with a light cream-
coloured head, beating along the face in my direction ; where-
upon I lay down, and waited till he came to within about 30
yards, and then shot him. He proved to be, as I thought, a
Marsh Harrier, being a young bird of the year in first plumage.
This occurred on November 28th, 1883."

" On another occasion, when returning with James Suther-
land in his boat from Eisa Little, a large Harrier, which I
imagined to be of this species, passed quite close across the
bows of the boat. My gun was lying a few feet off, and the
bird was out of shot before I could reach it, the weather being
rough."

142 BIRDS.

Circus cyaneus (L.). Hen-Harrier.

0™.=Kattabelly.

Probably the commonest hawk throughout the islands. It is not
mentioned by name in Wallace's Description of Orkney, but it is
most probably one of the species included in the comprehensive
term "Hawks," or, more likely still, "Gleds." Low in his Fauna,
after remarking that the species is very frequent all the year
round, makes the curious remark that, in winter, it is almost
white, except the tips of the wings, but in the summer it is more
ash-coloured. Dunn, in his Ornithologist's Guide, 1837, makes no
mention of the bird, which is strange, but then he takes no notice
of the Kestrel, so we must conclude that the omission is an over-
sight. Very common in 1848, according to Baikie and Heddle.

Several appear in a list of birds from the Orkneys, stuffed
by Mr. Small, Edinburgh, up to 1885. Buckley met with it not
uncommonly in Rousay in 1883, but mostly in the autumn and
early winter. In that year the keeper on Rousay shot the male
from the only nest he found, the female, strange to say, never
coming near it ; this is quite contrary to our usual experience of
harriers. A bird seen in November had only partially assumed
the adult grey plumage of the male.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle writes us: "Very common. I had a
tame harrier when a boy, which would sit on my shoulder when
rabbit-shooting, and jump down to get the brains when a rab-
bit was killed. It was not the least afraid of the gun, although
originally got by being winged." He also goes on to say : —

"I have kept many hawks of different kinds, and have
always considered them the easiest birds to tame, if you know
how to go about it. Persistence for a few hours will enable you
to make the wildest old hawk sit on your hand and eat from
your fingers. I have done so with old birds taken near the
nest, both Peregrines and Kestrels. Merlins are somewhat
harder, or, at least, take longer time."

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue informs us that the castings of the
Hen-Harrier and Kestrel contain, among the fur and small
bones of mice, voles, etc., a considerable quantity of the wing-
cases and other remains of beetles. Many years ago this
gentleman saw an albino Hen-Harrier flying about Melsetter,

BIRDS. 143

and the same autumn he read in a newspaper that such a bird
had been killed near Thurso. Mr. Spence found these birds
most numerous in the parish of Orphir, and in 1882 obtained
altogether eight specimens of their eggs in that district.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue sends us the following notes : —

" I have over and over again seen grouse, snipe, and other
birds rise from under a Hen-Harrier, the latter making a spas-
modic sort of endeavour to drop down on the bird, but never
making even really a dash, much less the least attempt at giving
chase. A Hen-Harrier flying over a swamp will put all the
snipe out of it. Grouse and all other birds rise as the harrier
comes along, while a Peregrine or Merlin, on the other hand,
causes the birds to sit close. I do not believe a harrier can
catch any bird that is not asleep or incapable of flight. I have
found the remains of half-fledged grouse in their nests, but their
principal food is the common vole, and on account of the num-
bers of this animal which they kill, I think they should be
preserved."

" The Hen-Harrier is sometimes called the ' Goshawk ' by the
Orcadians, hence mistakes may arise ; these birds are much
scarcer in winter."

"In 1887 there were several nests (near Swanbister), usually
there are not above two, on the Ward Hill of Orphir. But,
although I wished them left alone, I think few young birds
escaped. The old birds took one or two chickens, which I
would gladly have replaced to save the hawks, and people, con-
sequently, killed the young birds and took the eggs."

" In a nest containing from three to five young birds, no two
are of the same age, and there must be nearly a fortnight or
so between the oldest and the youngest. The first hatched,
no doubt, help to hatch the remaining eggs, while the parents
are off hunting."

Mr. Harvey informs us that the Hen-Harrier does not breed
in Sanday.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us (1888) that not more than
two pairs of Harriers breed in the whole of Hoy. There were
two nests at Swanbister in 1888, but both were harried, to Mr.
Irvine-Fortescue's sorrow, as he likes to see the birds on his
ground. In the same year there was a nest in Rousay.

144 BIRDS.

In Mr. Irvine-Fortescue's collection are two most beautifully
marked Hen-Harrier's eggs, indeed they might well be passed
off as Buzzards'.

Buteo vulgaris, Leach. Common Buzzard.

In some notes by Mr. Moodie-Heddle's father, it is stated that a
large buzzard (species not mentioned), had been seen several
years at Melsetter, — in October 1857, and again in 1860 and
1861.

In an article by Capt. Clark-Kennedy on Wild Sport in the
Orkney Isles, in Baily's Magazine for April 1884, p. 162, that
gentleman mentions seeing a Common Buzzard feeding on some
dead animal, near Stromness.

Buckley saw what he took to be one of this species in
Kousay, on November 2d, 1883, and Mr. Millais tells us he
noticed a Common Buzzard flying very high in a southerly
direction over Hoy, in August 1888.

These are all the notices we could collect of this species,
showing how extremely rare the bird is here.

Archibuteo lagopus (Gmel). Rough-legged Buzzard,

Mr. E. Gray, in his Birds of the West of Scotland, p. 48, has this
paragraph : — " In January 1866 a fine adult specimen was shot
in the island of Eaasay (sic), in Orkney." As there is no island
of this name there, Mr. Gray probably refers to Rousay. It
was at Trumbland House, the residence of Gen. Burroughs, in
that island that we saw two fine stuffed specimens of the
Rough-legged Buzzard, and were told that they had been shot
there, though we do not now remember the dates of their
capture.

Buckley distinctly saw one in Rousay, on November 1st,
1883, hovering over the hill not far from Westness House.

Aquila chrysaetus (L.). Golden Eagle.

It is very improbable that the Golden Eagle was ever a common
species ; indeed, it is likely that it was always confined to the

BIRDS. 145

island of Hoy. Wallace wrote of the abundance of the " Eagle
or Erne," but he probably referred to the White- tailed Eagle,
and even Low never seems to mention the Golden — as distinct
from the Sea — Eagle. Kobert Dunn mentions this species as
breeding on the west side of Hoy Hill, but adds that " it is so
scarce that I only saw a single pair." Ten years later Messrs.
Baikie and Heddle also mention a single pair only, though they
add that " several years ago they had two breeding-places," on
this same island of Hoy ; this, however, need by no means imply
that there were two pairs of birds, as it is well known that
eagles do not always use the same eyrie two years in succes-
sion ; indeed, to do so seems the exception, though the two sites
may not be very far apart.

In Salmon's Diary of a visit to Orkney, under date June
2d, 1831, we find this entry : —

" Went over to the island of Hoy. . . . There are two sorts
of Eagles breed among the rocks, the Golden Eagle (Falco chrys-
aetos) and Sea Eagle (Falco ossifragus) or Fishing Eagle. We
were informed by a man who has taken their nests for several
years past that both of them lay from two to three eggs. He
had taken three eaglets from the nest of the Golden Eagle this
summer, and one of them is now living at Stromness."

Through the kindness of the Rev. H. A. Macpherson, we
have been favoured with the loan of the correspondence between
T. C. Heysham and E. F. Sheppard during the latter's stay in
Orkney. Sheppard, though not a collector himself, used to
get eggs and birds for his friends, and sent Heysham some
eggs both of the Golden and White-tailed Eagle.

In a letter dated 21st October 1840, Sheppard said that
in 1839, there were four Eagles' nests in Hoy, and that every
one was robbed. Two were Golden and two White-tailed Eagles,,
and all the eggs from their nests were white. One of these white
eggs of the Golden Eagle was sent to Heysham, who, from its
colour, considered it really was that of the White-tailed species.

In the summer of 1840, Sheppard said the Hoy men
only took one egg of the Sea Eagle, the Golden Eagles having
shifted their quarters and built their nests where they could
not be got at.

K

146 BIRDS.

In another letter, dated July 5th, 1841, Sheppard
writes :< —

" I am sorry to say there are no Golden Eagles' eggs to be
had this season. The Hoy cragsmen say there are this year
but one pair of these birds and a single bird, and that they do
not even know whether there is a nest or not."

From internal evidence in this letter it appears that the
Hoy men considered the eggs of the Golden Eagle much more
valuable than those of the Sea Eagle, and that the former birds
rarely seemed to have laid highly-coloured eggs, the on)y
difference between the eggs of the two species there being
that the Golden Eagle's eggs were rather smaller and rounder.

In 1842 Golden and Sea Eagles' eggs were taken in Hoy
and sent to Heysham.

In 1843 the whole island of Hoy came into the possession
of one proprietor, who stopped the taking of Eagles' eggs alto-
gether, as far at least as he could.

In a letter from Eobert Dunn to T. C. Heysham, dated
December 23d, 1844, he says: —

"The Golden Eagles do not breed in Shetland that I know
of at all. I know of one pair that breeds in Hoy."

We have italicised this statement, as it bears out what we
are trying to make good, viz., that only one pair of Golden
Eagles bred in the Orkneys.

Gray was informed by J. Dunn, Stromness, that no
Golden Eagles had bred in Hoy for a number of years, and that
the only recent specimen procured there was one shot in 1857,
and supposed at the time to be one of the only pair that had
many years previously bred near Had wick (1 Rackwiek) on the
west side of Hoy.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle, writing us in December 1887, says that
the Golden Eagle has not bred in Orkney for about thirty-five
years, and that it "rarely occurs." He adds that within his
memory it bred in Hoy.

Mr. T. W. lianken informs us that his father obtained a fine
specimen of the Golden Eagle at Firth, which had been injured
by a lad named Cursiter shortly before. It was a full-grown
male, and weighed 12 Ibs. This was in January 1845.

BIRDS. 147

One, now stuffed at Binscarth, Mr. Irvine-Fortescue tells
us, was obtained at Linnadale in the following curious way : —
" A man named Andrew Ground water came upon an eagle one
morning on the hill not far from his house, which had apparently
just killed a hare. He went back for his gun, and returned to
look for the bird, intending to shoot it as it rose. When he
approached, the bird, instead of flying away, lowered its head
and spread out its wings. Seeing this the man walked back a few
steps so as not to injure the bird too much, and fired. On skin-
ning the bird only one shot was found in it, which had entered
between the eyes. Groundwater sold the bird to a tinker for
half-a-crown, and Mr. Scarth got it from the tinker for five
shillings. This was about thirty years ago. On another
occasion the same man found another eagle eating one of his
tame ducks, but his inherent respect for the " Sabbath " pre-
vented his going after it. Dunn told Groundwater afterwards
that if he ever shot another eagle he would give him a guinea
for it."

From inquiries made in Hoy in 1888, and from our own
observations, it is highly probable that there never was more
than one pair of Golden Eagles in Hoy. The place where they
bred was pointed out to us ; indeed, there was no difficulty in
locating it for ourselves, there being only this one likely spot
among the inland rocks. They may have bred on the sea-cliffs,
but this is against all our present knowledge of the habits of
this bird, and it seems very probable that the Hoy men palmed
off the smaller and rounder Sea Eagles' eggs as those of the
Golden species, as at that time they were the rarer, and com-
manded a higher price.

Haliaetus albicilla (£.). White-tailed Eagle.

To within a comparatively recent date this species seems to have
been abundant wherever the rocks afforded a convenient site
for nesting. Wallace speaks of them as being a regular pest : —
" Eagle or Earns and Gleds are here in plenty, and very harm-
full to the young store ; yea, they have been found to seize
upon young children, and carry them a good way off, and there

148 BIRDS.

is yet a man alive who was thus carried away by an Eagle
(while a child) to her nest, but was so speedily, by the blessing
of God, prevented, that no harm was done to him. We have
a law that if any kill one of the Eagles, or Earns, he is to have
a hen out of every house in the parish in which it is killed."

In the old Statistical Account of Scotland (1793), vol. vii.
p. 393, it is stated that the Commissioners of Supply give a
crown for every Eagle that is destroyed in Orkney.

Low, in his very interesting Tour, mentions Hoy (where
he saw several pairs of the Erne, or Ringtailed Eagle), and Mull
Head, in the parish of Deerness, on the east of the Mainland,
as breeding-places of the Erne, as also one place on the island
of Switha. It was after the inspection of the south and east
of this island that Low started off from Kirkwall on his voyage to
Shetland, and he seems never to have finished his tour through
the rest of the Orkneys, or we should have had many more exact
sites given us. Robert Dunn only gives Hoy as a breeding- place.
Messrs. Baikie and Heddle, however, give three sites in Hoy,
one in Eday, one at Costa Head on the Mainland, and one in
S. Eonaldsay, as being known to them " about fifteen years
ago." They add : "At present they build at the Berry and at
Brseburgh, in Hoy." Even in 1848 the practice of offering
large sums for eagles' eggs had done much injury by the
destruction of many nests, and, say Messrs. Baikie and Heddle,
" but that the present proprietor protects the birds very care-
fully, the species would soon be extinct in Orkney." Crichton
mentions that a pair of birds " which have been known
to settle here year after year have only been very casually
noticed in the course of the present season (1860), and have
not as yet taken up their permanent abode." l J. Dunn,
writing R. Gray, says, " Only one pair of Sea-Eagles have
nested in Hoy for several years back ; they are supposed to be
very old birds, and unproductive. In 1865 their nest was got
at, but was found to be empty, and, in the following year, their
nest in another part of the cliffs was also reached, but found to
contain one egg, and that an addled one." During his stay in
Westness, in the island of Rousay, Buckley was informed that
1 A Naturalist's fiamble in the Orcades, p. 63.

BIRDS. 1 49

eagles once bred there, but could get no dates given him. They
were probably destroyed on account of the havoc they made
amongst the native sheep, which were of a very small breed, and
therefore easily carried away. The Erne still visits the island,
though rarely, and General Burroughs has an immature one
stuffed in Trumbland House.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle writes us : " There has only been
occasionally a nest for the last twenty-five years. I remember
when there used to be seven or eight breeding-places (referring
to Hoy). My father and grandfather used to keep a pair tame.
I believe they have really been exterminated by people offering
rewards for. the eggs, since I never knew of any one shooting or
trapping an eagle in Orkney, within my memory" (Dec. 1887).

In a pencil note by the late Mr. Heddle in a copy of Baikie
and Heddle's book, he says : " My care does not save them ;
only one pair built in 1862.— J. G. H."

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue, in or about 1874, had pointed out to
him the place where a pair of these birds had bred the previous
year, between Hoy Head and the "Old Man;" he was also
informed, though perhaps not on very trustworthy authority,
that a pair of Eagles (most probably White-tailed) were shot off
the nest, in Hoy, in the spring of 1869.

Mr. J. Barnett has a note of one shot on the island of. Viera,
a day or two before Christmas, 1882, apparently a young bird.

Mr. Ranken informs us that a pair of Eagles frequented the
Red Head of Eday, a former breeding site, in the winter and
spring 1887, and that they were most likely of this species,
from the description given of them. Mr. Ranken paid a visit
to the island in the hopes of seeing them — not shooting them —
but was unfortunately disappointed, the birds having left the
locality.

Mr. Watt of Skaill has noticed Eagles there nearly every
year from 1875 to 1882, and he one year saw a pair circling
over the hill of Kurfield, in the months of June and July.

The following notes we had from Mr. Moodie-Heddle himself
during our visit to him in 1888 : —

White-tailed Eagles were very common in Hoy, there being
at one time ten or twelve pairs in the sea-cliffs. He thinks

150 BIRDS.

they became extinct from being continually robbed, the old
birds at last becoming too old to breed ; he never heard of many
being killed. They fight a good deal amongst themselves. A
pair were observed so engaged in Hoy, and a short time after-
wards a dead one was found by a shooting-party in the heather,
most probably one of the combatants. A pair which were kept
tame in Hoy once began to build a nest in their cage, but some
one stupidly took the sticks away when cleaning the cage,
and they never tried again. Before that time the two birds
lived peaceably together, but after that they began to fight, and
a few years after the hen killed the cock.

About forty years ago a Sea-Eagle came ashore, in Hoy, dead,
fast in a fish, and another time a halibut was found with an
eagle's feet still in its back, the bird having rotted off: this
latter case, however, was in Shetland.

A pair of Sea-Eagles were observed in Hoy fighting in the
air, and were seen to fall dead, or nearly so, by a keeper who
picked them up. They were stuffed, and in the possession of
Mr. Heddle's father at one time. The man who found them is
still living in Stromness (May 1888).

White-tailed Eagles when excited or angry ruffle out the
small feathers of their neck, and keep them stiff.

We have been, perhaps, unnecessarily full in our notes on
the Orkney eagles, but as a breeding species they are now quite
extinct, and rarely occur even as a passing migrant.1 Indeed the
Sea-Eagle is rapidly disappearing all through Scotland, so it be-
hoves naturalists to try and make their memorials accurate and
full, seeing that, in the Orkneys at least, this is all that is left us.

Astur palumbarius (L.). Goshawk.

[Obs. — Though several writers, from Low downwards, have
recorded this bird as common and breeding in the Orkneys, in
one instance -adding, in a great flight of imagination, that they
did so in " tall fir trees," there can be no doubt that all this
is an error, and that some other bird, perhaps the Peregrine,
has been taken for it.

1 Mr. Millais in all his experience has only once seen this species in Orkney.

BIRDS. 151

Be this as it may, the Goshawk must be an extremely rare
visitor there now, as we have no authentic record of its
occurrence, except that mentioned by Gray, in his Birds of
the West of Scotland, where at page 36 he says : " Mr. Stewart
also states that he saw a living specimen of the Goshawk, in
August 1866, on board the yacht CMoe, the owner, J. Rattray,
Esq., having procured it in Orkney a short time previously."

Messrs. Baikie and Heddle say that this species is not
abundant, though some few remain the whole year round.

Mr. Heddle of Melsetter says : " Very rarely observed. I
never saw one. Indeed I cannot get an authenticated notice of
one being seen by a person I could depend on for identification."]

Accipiter nisus (L.) Sparrow-hawk.

Although most writers on the birds of Orkney, from Low down
to Messrs Baikie and Heddle, record this as a common species,
this is far from being the case. We ourselves never met with
the bird during our residence at Westness in Rousay, where
trees for roosting, and numberless small birds for food, should
have proved great attractions. What is generally called the
Sparrow-hawk in the Orkneys is in reality the Kestrel.

The true Sparrow-hawk does, however, occur, and more
commonly than we at one time supposed. Mr. Moodie-Heddle
writes us: "I killed one at Melsetter in 1870, which is the
only one I ever saw in Orkney, or heard of. What is commonly
called the Sparrow-hawk is the Kestrel."

One killed in 1887 at Smoogroo, on the Mainland, by Miss
Flower, who has shot several, is now stuffed and in the posses-
sion of Mr. Cameron of Burgar. Mr. Reid tells us he has also
killed the Sparrow-hawk in Orkney.

Mr. Spence tells us that he knew of one instance in which
the eggs of this bird were obtained from the Head of Holland.

Mr. Ranken says he has often seen this species in the plan-
tation of Muddiesdale, and has known it build in the same
cleft of rock with the rock-pigeon, apparently both being on
terms of good neighbourhood.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says he sometimes sees a small hawk

152 BIRDS.

flying low and very quickly over the fields, and just topping the
walls, but he never saw one near enough positively to identify
it as a Sparrow-hawk.

Mr. Buchanan tells us he has shot several Sparrow-hawks,
and affirms that they bred in the Muddiesdale plantation in
1886, from which nest he shot four young and one old bird.
He has also shot them elsewhere with the down on.

Milvus ictinus, Sawgny. Kite.

" Gleds " are mentioned by Wallace as being common in Orkney,
but it is more probable that he meant the Hen Harrier, as
no one else seems to have met with this species until 1877.
On April 24th of that year Mr. Eeid informs us a Kite was
shot at North Wa', Sanday, by J. Wilson, and was preserved
by James Sinclair, Taxidermist, High Street, Kirkwall. This
specimen passed into Mr. Petrie's collection, and afterwards into
the possession of Mr. Whitaker. Neither Mr. Moodie-Heddle
nor his father, whose experience extends over more than half a
century, ever saw or heard of this species in Orkney.

Mr. Spence mentions that another Kite was shot in Sanday
in 1878. .

Pernis apivorus (£.). Honey-Buzzard.

Crichton in his Rambles in the Orcades, p. 78, says : "Among other
circumstances of the day, I met and obtained a very fine skin of
the female Honey-Buzzard (Falco apivorus) shot rather earlier in
the season." No locality or date is given, and we have no other
mention of the species, which, however, might well occur on
migration.

Falco (sp. 1). Falcon.

It is impossible now to tell to which species the falcons mentioned
by Baikie and Heddle belonged, as in those days Hancock
had not pointed out the difference between the Greenland and
the Iceland forms. To those mentioned above we have a note
that the one kept alive by Mr. Traill of Wood wick was taken
about 1831, and was the last seen (J. G. M.-H.). This probably
refers to Hoy.

BIRDS. 153

Since then Mr. Moodie-Heddle saw a " Jer-Falcon " on Oct.
15th, 1887, a notice of which appeared in an article in the
Field of Oct. 22d, under the heading " An Autumn Day in the
North of Scotland." Mr. Moodie-Heddle adds the note, "the
first noticed in the south of Orkney."

Mr. E. S. Cameron of Burgar House says (in lit. 2d Jan.
1888), " Robert (Murison, General Burroughs' keeper on
Rousay) tells me that he saw two ' Jer-Falcons ' above
Trumbland, and that he could not be mistaken."

Mr. Cowan also has the note, "a rare visitant."

Falco islandus, Gmel. Iceland Falcon.

In one instance at least we are able to identify one of these white
falcons. In 1874 an Iceland Falcon was shot in Orphir, and
had a place in Mr. Petrie's collection. When this collection
was broken up, this bird, with the Kite before mentioned, was
bought by Mr. Whitaker of Rainworth, Nottingham.

Falco peregrinus, TunstalL Peregrine Falcon.
Orc. = PuUigrun (B. and H.).1

Wallace, at page 20 of his Description of the Orkney Islands, gives
the following long list of the places in which these, in his day
valuable, birds bred there : — " Hawks and Falcons have their
nests in several places of these Islands, as in the Noup, Swendal,
and Rapnes in Westra ; at High Berrie and Aithhead in Wals ;
at Braebrake, Furcarsdale, and Rackwick in Hoy; at Halcro',
Greenhead, and Hocksa in South Ronaldshay; at Bellibrake
and Quendal in Rousa ; at Rousum Head and Lambhead in
Stronsa ; in the Calf of Eda ; at Gatnip, Gultak, Mulehead in
Deirness ; Copinsha, Black Craig of Stromness, Yeskrabie, Birsa,
Marwick, and Costahead in the Mainland." Wallace also adds
that "the King's Falconer comes every year and takes the
young, who has twenty pounds Sterling in salarie, and a Hen
or Dog out of every house in the countrey, except some houses
that are priviledged." In a note sent us by Mr. Moodie-Heddle
he says: "Hawk hen: an ancient right existed by which the

1 "Puiligriin, I fancy, is only an attempt to repeat Peregrine, which some
stranger had used in their (Orcadian native) hearing. I have once or twice heard
it called ' The Blue Hunting Hawk.' "— J. G. M.-H.

154 BIRDS.

king claimed a hen for his hawks from every ' reek ' or house
having a fireplace." Peregrines are still not uncommon in the
islands, though they are no longer protected. Salmon saw
a pair in Copinsay in 1831, which were breeding in the most
inaccessible spot in the sea-cliffs there. This pair would most
probably be occupying the same site as that seen by Low in the
same island in 1774, as Peregrines, like eagles, keep to the same
sites for, probably, centuries, unless constantly disturbed.
(Vide Ootheca Wolleyana, vol. i p. 99.)

A pair frequented the rocks on the west side of Rousay in
1883, although we could not discover their nest, and birds were
seen throughout the year there. Again, in 1888 we were
informed by the Rousay keeper that the Peregrines were again
in the same place that season, but he could not find the nest.
Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us that he thinks only about a quarter
of the number of Peregrines remain during the winter that are
to be found at other times.

Mr. Spence tells us that in 1882 he paid a visit to Copinsay
to try and get the eggs of the Peregrine, but was told by the
man who makes a living by taking and selling eggs, that for
some years back the birds had forsaken their eyrie there. Mr.
Ranken, however, tells us that the Peregrine again nested in
Copinsay in 1887, and they did so also in 1888 and 1889.
On June 5th, 1886; Mr. Halcro told Mr. Fortescue that he saw a
Peregrine fly out of some long heather on the steep south-west
side of the Waulkmill Bay. On reaching the spot he found the
apparent beginning of a nest, but it came to nothing. With
this exception, Mr. Irvine-Fortescue never heard of one
attempting to build in his neighbourhood.

Mr. Ranken says that the bird* is still fairly plentiful in
Orkney, and he has seen young birds that have been obtained
on several occasions. Mr. Watt informs us they nest in
Marwick Head.

Mr. Heddle tells us there are about four pairs breeding in
Hoy ; they are not disturbed, but get no more numerous in the
breeding season. We saw one at Rackwick in June 1888,
evidently nesting.

Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie informs us that the Peregrine is common
about Papa Westray, breeding in the North Craigs of the holm ;

BIRDS. 155

and, on August 21st, 1889, that gentleman shot a young male
that was carrying off a Teal he had just killed ; he would not
have fired at it, except to save his duck.

Falco subbuteo (L.). Hobby,

[Ols. — Referring to Messrs. Baikie and Heddle's paragraph on the
Hobby in their book, Mr. Moodie-Heddle says : " Much rarer
than would appear from B(aikie) and H(eddle). I never saw
one. My father saw one at Aikerness, Evie, about 1865. Mr.
Ranken killed one on Wideford Hill, on October 25th, 1845,
which was soaring over a grouse he had wounded." This is, no
doubt, the one referred to by Messrs. Baikie and Heddle in
their book.

Mr. T. Ranken tells us he has seen the Hobby flying on more
than one occasion, its flight being more readily distinguished
than that of the other hawks. The one, however, just referred
to as having been killed by Mr. Ranken's father at Wideford,
was, on investigation, found to be only a young and rather
small Peregrine, so we think it still open to doubt if the Hobby
has ever occurred in Orkney.]

Falco aesalon, Tunstall. Merlin,

Writing in 1848, Messrs. Baikie and Heddle record this species as
very common. Since then, however, it seems to have become
rarer. Mr. Moodie-Heddle says it is not uncommon, but rarer
of late years. One was sent to Mr. L. Dunbar, to be stuffed, by
Mr. E. S. Cameron, Burgar, Evie, on September 2d, 1887, and
to this there is the note, " not very plentiful in Orkney." We
have eggs taken in Rousay in 1883, where they are resident, a
few pairs breeding through the hill. They appear much more
plentiful in the autumn, probably young birds bred in the
neighbourhood, and some migrants as well. In Westness they
used to haunt the garden in the evening, coming after the
many small birds that roosted in the trees and bushes there.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says it is common during the autumn
migration, but he has not heard of a pair nesting in his

156 BIRDS.

neighbourhood for years. Mr. Watt tells us he sees Merlins
daily.

In Hoy, Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us there are only two
or three pairs ; we saw an old female there in June 1888. We
also in the same season saw a pair of immature birds at the
"Bow," in Westray, and none elsewhere.

Mr. Spence says he has "found this bird in greater numbers
in Orphir and Firth than elsewhere. In the former parish it
breeds on the grassy crags along the shore and on the slopes of
the hills. In the latter its favourite nesting-places are the
Keelie-lung Hills and the back of Wideford Hill."

Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie informs us that Merlins are common in
Papa Westray, and that they breed there or in the holm.

Falco tinnunculus, L. Kestrel.

Orc.=Mousie HawJc, Wind Cuffer.

From Low's time downwards the Kestrel seems to have been a
common species, breeding indifferently in the sea-cliffs, in inland
situations, and in old ruined buildings. One pair bred for
many years back, according to Messrs. Baikie and Heddle, in
the tower of St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, a fact that was
noticed by Wolle}'.

The Kestrel remains the whole year round, and is probably
the commonest resident hawk in Orkney, occurring in every
island.

The Kestrel has become much rarer of late years in Hoy.
We saw three at Melsetter, and also a pair at Waulkmill Bay
on the Mainland, in 1888.

Pandion haliaetus (L.). Osprey,

Very rare. In a note by the late Mr. Heddle of Melsetter,
he says : " I saw one actually catch a trout in Holm lake in
1850 (.? 1848). J. Gk H." The present proprietor of Hoy
writes us : "I don't think these (Ospreys) have bred here
within the memory of man. Indeed I know of no suitable
building-place. My father saw one fishing at Holm loch, May
12th, 1848."

BIRDS.

157

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue informs us he saw a pair of birds that
he took to be Ospreys, in Hoy, in May 1864 ; they appeared to
be hardly large enough for eagles.

Order 3. STEGANOPODES.
Family PELECANIRE.

Phalacrocorax carbo (£.). Cormorant.
Ore. = Palmer, Great Scarf .

The Cormorant, though by no means an uncommon bird, is still
far from numerous, and seems to prefer the west side of the
islands to the east.

158 BIRDS.

Mr. Watt says that with him Cormorants are numerous on
his (west) side of the Mainland, but that he has never, to his
knowledge, seen the Shag in the bay or about the Skaill rocks.
On the other hand, Mr. Irvine-Fortescue observes that, on
a visit to Copinsay in 1884, he only detected one Cormorant,
though Salmon found them breeding there in 1831.

Buckley observed in Eousay that Cormorants were not
nearly so numerous as the Shags, neither did they mix
with those birds, nor herd together among themselves as does
the Shag, except when breeding.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says the Cormorant is called " Palmer "
in Orkney. He fancies this is from the white spot on the
thigh being like the shell worn by pilgrims. This spot he has
seen, in some cases, at all seasons of the year. During our
visit to Orkney in 1888, and while staying at Melsetter with
Mr. Moodie-Heddle, we noticed that Cormorants had a regular
line of flight from Longhope, on the one side of the island, to
their breeding-places on the other, which varied slightly, accord-
ing to the direction or strength of the wind.

Cormorants are generally local in their breeding-places, and
their nests are, as a rule, higher up the cliffs than those of the
next species. There is a colony on a small stack at Costa
Head, when we could only detect one Shag on its nest, all the
rest being the larger kind. All the nests into which we could
see contained only three eggs. Many Cormorants were nesting
on Roithisholm, at the south end of Stronsay, and some of the
eggs we picked up on the top of the cliff, where they had been
carried by the crows, were evidently quite fresh — this was on
July 4th; . . . other nests, again, contained young birds nearly
able to fly.

There is an interesting Cormorantry on the Seal Skerry off
N. Ronaldsay which Harvie-Brown visited on July 2d, 1889, in
company with Mr. Norrie, who took some excellent photographs
of the birds on their nests ; they were very tame, and allowed
him to approach within a very few yards of them.

The following is from the Field of April 22d, 1882 :—
" Throughout Orkney accounts are being received of the tame-
ness of the common and crested Cormorants, owing to want of

BIRDS. 159

food. They feed chiefly on sillocks or young saithe, which
are this year very scarce on our coasts. These birds in some
places are so tame that they are coming up to the houses in
the country and feeding with the tame birds. A gentleman
walking out along the shore came upon two Cormorants and
a Shag sitting up under a ledge of rocks. They seemed to pay
no attention to him. He held out his stick, when the Shag
gripped it, at the time making a hissing sound. He went up
above them and forced them into the sea. But they seemed
to be in a semi-conscious state, falling over and over before
they managed to get to the water." x

Young Cormorants remain blind from a fortnight to three
weeks after hatching.

Phalacrocorax graculus (L.). Shag,

Very abundant everywhere, breeding in most of the suitable
localities, and collecting in immense flocks in the autumn in
the bays and firths amongst the islands.

Shags nest in very low rocks, especially in the geos and
caves, but they require to have deep water immediately under-
neath, into which they can drop at the approach of danger
instead of having to fly overhead. Their nests are composed of
seaweed, and we have often watched them carrying great
streamers of tangle, which they dive for, to the rocks. They
have the power of resting for a short time on the water with
their wings spread out to dry.

Shags do not apparently breed their first year, nor do they
assume the adult plumage then, as numbers of immature birds
may be seen at the breeding season sitting on the rocks or fish-
ing in the firths. Probably it was from their different plumages
that Messrs. Baikie and Heddle founded their third species, but
in a pencil note by Mr. Eobert Heddle, one of the authors,
he remarks that " in all probability P. graculus is a synonym of
P. cristatus" from which it seems that he changed his opinion
about this new species after the book was published.

1 For another instance of Cormorants starving see under Grey Seal, p. 71.

160 BIRDS.

Sula bassana (L.). Gannet.

Seen at most times of the year about the islands, but never at
the breeding season, except at their nesting station of Stack or
East Sulisgeir, and on their line of flight up and down the
Pentland Firth.

Mr. Watt informs us that only a few Gannets are to be seen
about Skaill, or at least that they do not come close inshore
there ; though, during stormy weather, they frequent the more
sheltered bays and firths.

For three successive years we have vainly attempted to land
on the nesting station of Stack, but, from its formation, the
least swell makes it impossible, or at least extremely dangerous,
to attempt it, and a dead calm is a thing not often met with in
the North Atlantic. Seen in certain positions and some distance
off, the Stack reminds one of an iceberg, white as it is with the
droppings of the Gannets.

During a visit made to the Stack by Harvie-Brown in July
1887 he made the following notes on the birds seen there: —

" A very large proportion of the Gannets were in the younger
stages of plumage, a larger proportion, indeed, than I have ever
noticed before at any other nursery. This tends to the belief
that this station is not so persistently robbed, nor so regularly
or so frequently visited and landed upon as others, such as
Sulisgeir (West), which pays its annual toll of from two to three
thousand birds. The glasses revealed a very considerable pro-
portion of dark birds amongst the white ones ; and, on the
wing, immature birds of the first, second, and third year were
clearly distinguished, and almost constantly in sight.

"Considerable numbers of other rock birds, principally
Kittiwakes and Guillemots, with a few Razorbills, occupied cer-
tain ledges and convenient cracks and crevices. Of Cormorants
and Shags we' saw none."

Mr. Spence gives the following account of the curious capture
of a Gannet : —

"In July 1863, while Dr. James Logic of Kirkwall was return-
ing from visiting a patient in Harray, he succeeded in capturing
a fine specimen of the Solan Goose in the following manner :

BIRDS. 161

As he was driving along the Stromness road by the Bay of Firth,
he was suddenly startled by the appearance of a huge white bird
which kept swooping and dashing about the lantern of his gig.
The night was very dark, and as the bird's screams sounded
unearthly enough for anything, it was some little time before Dr.
Logie ascertained the precise nature of his visitant. Presently he
observed the bird alight in a deep ditch by the roadside, and
getting out of his gig, he, with the aid of the lantern, so dazzled
the bird that it was easily captured. A closer inspection showed
it to be a remarkably fine specimen of the Solan Goose. The
bird is now stuffed, and in Dr. Logic's possession."

Order 4. HERODII.

Family ARDEID^.
Ardea cinerea, L. Common Heron.

Low describes the Crested Heron as common in the winter, but
says he thinks it does not remain through the summer, its place
then being taken by the Ash-coloured Heron ; however, as the
former bird is merely the Common Heron in full breeding
plumage, and the latter the young bird, it is quite probable that
this species bred in Orkney in his time.

Eobert Dunn does not seem to have discovered its breeding
haunts either, so it must have been very local (as in fact it is
now), or very rare at that season; indeed, it is not generally
supposed to breed in the Orkneys, but we have received many
statements to the contrary.

Mr. Watt of Skaill informs us that it breeds in Lyre-geo,
sometimes called Heron-geo, between Skaill and Stromness.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says : "I believe one once nested on
the Black Craig, Stromness. I saw an egg which had been got
there. They may nest yearly, but it requires to be confirmed.
Small flocks of half-a-dozen or so have certain roosting-places,
where they may be almost always found, as on the holm of
Wasbister, loch of Harray, and Veness, Orphir, when not dis-
turbed," etc. etc.

Mr. Eanken tells us they build in the cliffs in Sandwick parish,,
and that his father obtained young birds from that district.

L

162 BIRDS.

Harvie-Brown found three or four pairs breeding at the
Black Craig, in or about the year 1863,, within some 6 or 8 feet
of the summit of the cliff.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle writes that the Heron breeds in one
locality in Hoy, and that every year a few nests may be found.
At this spot the bird makes its nest amongst long heather and
bracken at the edge of a cliff, where there are a few small
birches and rowan-trees.

There is also a pencil note in a copy of Macgillivray by
Mr. Heddle's father, that the Heron builds in Orkney in rocks,
and gives Skaill, Hoy, and the island of Glimpsholm, as localities.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle continues : "I have no doubt that they
(the Herons) may shift, but that they breed at all these places
occasionally. At Pegal Head and Blsa Little one may usually
see about the same number any day of the year, i.e. from 30 to
50, according to wind and weather."

Mr. Reid notes that they did breed, or were said to breed,
at the heads of Roithisholm, Stronsay, but we saw no Herons
there in 1888.

Herons are abundant all through the Orkneys in winter;
indeed, at any season, except when breeding, when they are at
present scarce.

Ardetta minuta (£.). Little Bittern.

We have no record of any other specimen of this species from
Orkney besides the one given by Baikie and Heddle, as having
been procured in Sanday in 1806.

Botaurus stellaris (L.). Bittern.

[Obs. — ln a MS. note on this species by the late Mr. Heddle of
Melsetter, he remarks, " very doubtful " in Orkney ; but his son
informs us that he believes his father did kill a Bittern after
this, about the year 1851.]

Family CICONIIDJE.

Ciconia alba, Bechst. White Stork.

We have no further notes on this bird since Baikie and Heddle

BIRDS. 163

wrote, when they mention that one was got in S. Eonaldsay in
1840.

Family PLATALEID-ffl.

Platalea leucorodia, L. Spoonbill.

On October 22d, 1859, Mr. W. Eeid saw a Spoonbill in the
"Peerie Sea," close to Kirkwall, which was fired at but not
killed. He purchased one, out of five specimens that had been
shot three days before on Shapinsay, for 2s. 6d. ; they came
after a north-east gale, and there were nine in the flock.

Speaking of these same birds Mr. Bryce M. Ranken says he
saw two of those that were shot ; one, a small specimen, had
the irides red, the other ash-coloured.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle has a note that a Spoonbill was killed
by his father near Kirkwall in 1861, and that he had it stuffed.

On October the 10th, 1889, four Spoonbills were observed at
the loch of Burness, in Westray, and two were killed by local
gunners living on the loch side. One of these was shot by
Thos. Seater, Burnhouse, and is now in the possession of Mr.
Peace, architect, Kirkwall. It is an immature bird; the ends
of the primaries are grey, there is no occipital crest, and only
a faint yellow tinge on the feathers on the front of the breast.
The other was shot by Thos. Rendall, Longhouse. This bird
was allowed to rot, as no one cared to have it.

For the foregoing particulars we are partly indebted to Mr.
Monteith-Ogilvie.

Family IBIDJE.

Plegadis falcinellus (L.). Glossy Ibis,

Mr. Ranken's father writes,, under date September 17th, 1857:
" To-day I saw in Dr. Duguid's possession a specimen of this
ram avis, shot in Orkney. Upon the head there was a semi-
circle of dull white feathers, very narrow, extending from above
each eye." The bird was shot by Mr. Hewison at the head
of Work (? Waulk), near Kirkwall.

164 BIBDS.

Order 5. ANSERES.

Family ANATIDJE.
Chenalopex eegyptiaca (Gin.). Egyptian Goose.

[Obs. — A bird of this species was sent to Mr. Small, of Edinburgh,
for preservation. It was killed on the 19th of December 1863.

Mr. Small writes us as follows regarding this bird : " I
looked over my books and found the Egyptian Goose belonged
to Mr. Heddle of Hoy. He bought it out of a poulterer's shop
here, who told him it was killed in Orkney. Mr. Heddle
knew birds very well" (in lit. September 13th, 1888).

In answer to our inquiries, Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us he
remembers his father getting the bird, but that he does not
think it was killed in Orkney. There were two or three killed
about the same time in different places, and it was suggested
they might have escaped from some private pond.]

Anser cinereus, Meyer. Greylag Goose,

From all accounts a very rare bird in Orkney. Mr. Reid writes
us that in the storm of the winter of 1837-8 he shot two
geese at Papdale, which he took to be of this species.

Mr. James Barnett mentions that he saw a small flock of the
Greylag Goose in Sanday, in October 1878.

Some years ago Mr. Irvine-Fortescue was told that a flock of
geese, supposed to be of this species, pitched near the hill of
Kirbister, Orphir; and when we were at Swanbister in 1888,
this gentleman showed us the skin of a bird of the year he had
shot near there. It was one of a pair which pitched in a field
some 200 yards from the house. He wounded it at the end
of October 1881, and killed it a fortnight later.

Mr. Millais considers this species a rare spring visitor.

Mr. Harvey says that the Greylag Goose or Wild Goose
occurs in Sanday during the winter.

On October 18th, 1889, Mr. Baikie of Tankerness killed a

BIRDS. 165

Greylag Goose at that place, and Mr. Eanken, in a letter of the
23d of that month, says, writing of this specimen : " A single
Greylag Goose visited the little loch where this one was shot,
last season, for a few days early in March, and that bird was
also a solitary specimen. It became so tame as to feed with
the tame geese and ducks."

Speaking of geese generally, Mr. Watt tells us he has seen
large flocks in winter, their favourite haunts in his parish
(Sandwick) being Wasbister, by the loch of Stenness, and some
low marshy ground by the loch of Voy. He has only seen a
chance one or two at Skaill.

Anser brachyrhynchus, Baill. Pink-footed Goose,

Mr. Millais writes us as follows : " I have seen this goose twice
on Loch Harray, and once shot one which fell some distance
inland, but having left my dog at home that day, I could not
find it, though I am sure it was this species, as I have killed
a considerable number of them in the south."

This, so far, is the only instance of the occurrence of this
species in Orkney that has come to our knowledge. We think
that, owing to Mr. Millais' intimate acquaintance with wild
fowl, there can be little doubt that the birds referred to were
Pink-footed Geese.

Since the foregoing was written, Mr. T. S. Cameron informs
us that the remains of a Pink-footed Goose were picked up by
Miss Flower, near Swanbister; the bird had been pulled to pieces
by Hooded Crows, but enough remained to identify the species.

Anser albifrons (Scop.). White-fronted Goose,

From recent accounts, quite the commonest of all geese in Orkney.
Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says this species is a regular winter
visitant to the north and west of the Mainland, possibly
passing on in severe winters. He further says : " I find very
great difference in the amount of white round the base of the
bill; some have almost none, others a good deal. They are
extremely local, apparently keeping to the basins of the lochs

166 BIRDS.

of Stenness, Harray, Boardhouse, etc. I have never seen it
except in the neighbourhood of the loch of Harray." The same
gentleman gives several dates on which he saw these birds,
from 1884. He saw a flock during very severe weather in
March 1888, at the loch of Harray, and remarks that the bad
weather from the 9th to the 21st of February, when all the
lochs except the loch of Stenness were frozen over, did not
drive them away. The largest flock Mr. Irvine-Fortescue ever
saw consisted of about fifty birds, their usual number being
from six or seven up to thirty. A skin of this species in
that gentleman's collection is of a remarkably light colour,
almost that of an albino.

Mr. Cameron of Burgar House also informs us that the
White-fronted Goose is very common about certain lochs in
that neighbourhood, and he has shot many specimens. On
one occasion he slightly wounded one of these geese, which
he took home, and kept in company with some Grey-lag Geese,
where we saw it in 1888. Mr. Cameron also saw an albino
with a flock of ordinary-coloured birds, from which, however,
it seemed to keep slightly apart.

This species stops until quite late in April, and on one
occasion an egg was picked up on a long green point running
out into a loch much frequented by these birds, which Mr.
Cameron presumed had been dropped by one of them.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says the White-fronted Geese "are
particularly local in their habits, every winter frequenting
the same spots, and never seen far from their usual haunts. I
can understand this in the Brent Goose, but the White-fronted
feeds in new grass fields, stubble fields, and on newly-sown fields,
all of which are found all over Orkney."

Bernicla brenta (Pall). Brent Goose.
Orc.^Horra, Goose (Low).

In the Statistical Account of Orkney it is stated that this Goose
only visits Deer Sound, Hoy Sound, and the Westray Firth, and
no other part of Orkney.

Mr. Bryce M. Eanken obtained some Brent Geese from

BIRDS. 167

Deerness in 1845 and 1848. On the 17th Feb. 1845 he saw
seven in Scapa Bay, which allowed him to approach quite close.

Mr. T. W. Eanken shot one in Sanday in Sept. 1866, which
is an early date for the occurrence of this bird.

The Brent Goose is a common but local species on the Main-
land, Deer Sound being still its most noted haunt there.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue has never seen or heard of this bird in
Hoy Sound, " which," he adds, " seems an unlikely place, unless
Messrs. Baikie and Heddle meant the adjoining bays. At Deer
Sound I have never seen more than some thirty or forty in a
flock."

Mr. Denison, of West Brough, Sanday, tells us that both
this species and the Barnacle, though still found in Sanday,
are much rarer than formerly. Mr. Harvey writes us from
the same island : " The Brent Goose comes to Catisand in
winter. One of these birds, in the spring of 1886, took up
with our ducks and remained in their company, and fed as
they did until January 1887, when it vanished one night. It
was as tame as the ducks, and went with them in their house.
A pair came hovering near for about two weeks in April 1887,
but then vanished. I imagine that one of them was the one
referred to."

Bernicla leucopsis (Bechst.). Bernacle Goose.

Low mentions this as a spring visitor to Orkney. It occurs in
Sanday, according to Mr. Harvey and Mr. Denison ; and Mr.
E. S. Cameron of Burgar has shot it there.

These geese occur also in Stronsay, as the Eev. Mr. Caskey
of Orphir informed Mr. Irvine-Fortescue, and are regular autumn
and winter visitants there ; Mr. Irvine-Fortescue saw a skin of
one in Mr. Caskey's possession.

The Bernacle does not seem to be a very common visitant
to the Mainland. The first Mr. Irvine-Fortescue saw near
Swanbister was at " the Ting," or Toy Ness, as it is sometimes
called, on the 6th of May 1882, and he was told by a man who
had a cottage there, that a pair had been about for some
days. On the 7th of November of that year he saw four at

168 BIRDS.

the same place, and shot them all with an ordinary 12-bore
gun.

On another occasion, in Feb. 1887, Mr. Irvine-Fortescue saw
three fly across the loch of Harray, coming from the east, and
settle in a field. He fired a long shot at them, and one was seen
for some time afterwards in the neighbourhood of the loch of
Stenness.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us that a Bernacle Goose was
killed at Melsetter in 1857, and he himself shot another there
in 1872.

Bernicla canadensis (£.). Canada Goose.

Mr. M. S. Graeme, yr of Graemeshall, told Mr. Irvine-Fortescue
that he saw three Canada Geese on the loch of Graemeshall
in May 1883.

Cygnus olor (Gmel.)< Mute Swan.

Kept in a semi-domesticated state in two places, one being on
Loch Saviskail, in Rousay, the other on Loch Skaill in the west
of the Mainland.

Cygnus musicus, Bechst. Hooper,

Fea, writing in 1775, says : " Here also are several small holms (in
Loch Stenness) where Swans were formerly in use to build with
several other kinds of fowls ; but to the eternal disgrace of some
of our people, the eggs of the Swans were meanly taken away,
and, as is alleged, basely sold to the southward for hatching for
gentlemen's ponds. Thus that royal bird deserted the country."
The author is clearly of opinion that such thieves were liable
to a prosecution at the instance of his Majesty for thus trespassing
on his prerogative ; for the Swan is protected by royal authority,
and it is no less than felony to steal or kill one of them (vide
pp. 40, 41).

Speaking of the migration of geese and swans, Fea gives
the following very interesting note. At p. 50 he says : " It is also
remarked that the Swans and Wild Geese assemble with us in
great numbers in the spring, when they are going to take their

BIRDS. 169

flight. They announce their intention by their noise, and
altogether set off in different flocks, seemingly under different
leaders, and take an annual departure regularly, always making
the Brough of Birsay, the westermost point of high land, their
Cape Farewel."

Shirreff, in his General View of the Agriculture of the Orkney Isles,
published in 1814, carries the breeding of the Wild Swan down
to a later date. He says that several pairs used to nest on the
islands in the loch of Harray ''until about twenty years ago,
but being much annoyed about that time deserted the lake."
If Shirreff is accurate, this would extend the date of the birds
breeding there twenty years after Fea said they had given up
doing so.

The Hooper is rare in the winter, but common in the early
spring months, as late on as the first week in April. In the
Field for April 17th, 1886, Mr. E. S. Cameron gives an account
of the numbers seen by him, both on the Mainland and Eousay,
and the localities they frequented, and from this it appears that
this species outnumbers the next.

Both Mr. Ranken and Mr. Irvine-Fortescue talk of swans in
much the same terms as above, and the former gentleman adds
that, though often within shot, he never fired at these birds.

A large flock of Wild Swans arrived in North Ronaldsay
on January 27th, 1881, the wind blowing from the west. They
alighted on the shore, and were so exhausted that a man who
saw them alight said the surf rolled some of them over. They
soon recovered, and flew over to a fresh-water loch, where they
made themselves at home, and, by being kept perfectly quiet
and unmolested, got so tame, that Dr. Traill, on whose property
they were, being out one day with a retriever when some of
the Swans were feeding on the bank, instead of flying away in
a hurry, they merely swam into the water, when he and his dog
stood looking at them.

On October 25th, 1887, Mr. Irvine-Fortescue saw six swans,
two white and four grey birds, passing in front of his house
from S.S.W. to N.N.E. They seemed as if about to alight on
the shore, but changed their minds and continued their north-
easterly course.

170 BIRDS.

Mr. Harvey writes us that swans occur annually in
winter in Sanday.

Mr. Watt says that the loch of Skaill is a favourite nesting-
place for swans on their journey north and south, it being in
their line of flight. At one time, in 1886, there were between
50 and 60 on the loch; there had not been so many together on
the loch since 1857, when Mr. Watt's grandfather counted
between 70 and 80 at one time. Mr. Watt further says :—

" It was most interesting to watch them on the wing, and
their graceful movements on the water, and to hear the ' Hoop,
Hoop' and bugle-notes of welcome as each small lot of their
friends approached, and, when they alighted, gathered round
them bowing, and going through all sorts of elegant movements,
and making melodious sounds. We have a few tame Swans on
the loch, which the wild ones gather much confidence from. I
could approach them within 60 yards, but on the appearance
of a stranger they made off."

On the loch of Skaill is a Hooper that has been there for
a long time, some injury to the wing preventing it from leaving.
We saw it there in 1889.

Cygnus bewicki, Yarr. Bewick's Swan.

Probably in former years not distinguished from the preceding
species. We have a note of one from Hoy in 1850, which is
probably the earliest one identified.

Mr. E. S. Cameron of Burgar has recognised this species on
the loch of Hundland in 1885, and he shot a male on April 3d
of that year.

On March 1st, 1888, Mr. Irvine-Fortescue saw three Bewick's
Swans arrive on the loch of Harray ; they came from the south-
east. " In this case," adds that gentleman, " I am certain of
the species."

Tadorna cornuta (Gmel). Sheldrake.
Orc.=£% Goose.

A common species in Low's time, and he remarks that they go
elsewhere during the winter. They are much more numerous

BIKDS. 171

in the North than the South Isles, generally building in rabbit-
burrows, though the Kousay keeper reported to us in 1883 that
a Sheldrake had its nest under a large overhanging bunch of
heather, above a fresh-water loch some distance from the sea.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says he once watched a Sheldrake coming
out of a rabbit-burrow where she had her nest, and noticed that
she dragged her spread-out tail over the sand at the mouth,
most likely to prevent her tracks from being seen.

The same gentleman informs us they make good pets, but
are so fond of strawberries that it takes some ingenuity to keep
them away from the beds, once they have found them out.

They seem, from what we have been told, to be very
courageous and pugnacious, one that the late Mr. Eanken had,
tame, having lost an eye in a fight with a barn-door cock.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says they are very rare in the neigh-
bourhood of Swanbister, never more than two pairs at most
being seen there ; he heard of a nest at Waulkmill Bay.

During our visit to Orkney in June 1888 we found Sheldrakes
very abundant through some of the North Isles, nowhere more
so than on the island of Sanday; they were rare, or absent,
through the Westray group and N. Konaldsay.

They now seem more inclined to remain the winter through
than in Low's time, and Mr. Harvey, in a letter from Sanday,
28th of January 1888, writes us that Sheldrakes have been
there for two or three weeks. Mr. E. S. Cameron of Burgar
has also shot these birds there, in February 1886.

Anas boscas, L. Wild Duck.

.— Stock Duck.

Common and resident, receiving large additions to its numbers
in the winter. The Wild Duck is one of those birds that suffer
greatly from "egging," and also the advance of agriculture.
They much frequent the smaller holms in winter, being almost
undisturbed in such situations. We have often noticed, when
watching a flock in winter, that the individuals composing it
seemed all paired. The mallard moults first, the duck apparently
being able to use her wings as long as the young need her care.

172 BIRDS.

Chaulelasmus streperus (L.). Gadwall.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue tells us that he, on one occasion only, came
across this bird in Orkney. On December 4th, 1880, he saw a
flock of six or eight on the loch of Harray, near the standing
stones of Stenness, at the holms of Wasbister. He " set up " to
them in his gunning punt, but they took alarm before he was
well within range, and he only got three; he never saw the
rest again, though he went to look for them. The gizzards of
those obtained only contained a few stalks of some water
plant. We saw the skin of one of the above-mentioned birds
in that gentleman's possession.

Mr. Watt informs us that the Gadwall is a winter visitor,
and is to be seen occasionally, in pairs, on the loch of Skaill.

Spatula clypeata (L.). Shoveller.

Besides the instance recorded by Messrs. Baikie and Heddle, Mr.
Moodie-Heddle of Melsetter informs us that he shot a Shoveller
at that place in 1873, and has several times seen them; and
Mr. Millais says that several have been shot in the North Isles,
especially in Sanday.

Querquedula crecca (L.). Teal.

Fairly numerous, and breeds in several of the islands, as at the
lochs of Skaill and Tankerness on the Mainland, and on Sanday.
It was by no means common in Eousay, nor did we note it as
breeding there in 1883, though Mr. Reid, S. Ronaldsay, tells
us he has seen Teal's eggs taken from the head of the burn
which flows past Trumbland House.

Querquedula circia (L). Garganey Teal.

From the little information we have of this species it must be a
very rare bird. In a pencil note by the late Robert Heddle,
it is stated that one was killed in Sanday in March 1820 by
Mr. Strang.

BIRDS. 173

Dafila acuta (L.). Pintail.

This seems to be a very rare species on the Mainland. The only
occasion on which Mr. Irvine-Fortescue (who is a capital field-
naturalist, and a keen wild-fowler) observed it, was at Swan-
bister on May 20, 1888.

Mr. Harvey says it occurs, perhaps not uncommonly, in
Sanday during winter, and when there in July 1888, we
picked up the remains of a drake, the wings being quite perfect.

Mr. Watt tells us he has seen Pintails on the loch of Skaill
in March, but never during the breeding season.

On the 2d of February 1885,, a Pintail was sent from Kirk-
wall to Mr. Small of Edinburgh for preservation.

Mr. E. S. Cameron has an adult male in his collection, which
was shot by moonlight on February 27th, 1888, at the loch of
Quanterness by Mr. M'Cree of Kirkwall, a most enthusiastic
wild-fowl shooter.

Mareca penelope (L.). Widgeon.

A common, but local, winter visitant, at least on the Mainland,
where their great haunts are the lochs of Stenness and Harray ;
here they occur in flocks of from 100 to 200. Mr. Irvine-
Fortescue says the Widgeon arrives soon after the middle of
October; he has seldom seen it on Kirbister Loch, in Orphir
parish, and then only three or four at a time. At Swanbister
they are irregular in their numbers and times of visiting that
place ; they have been seen there in September, and once as
many as eighteen together; in the winter of 1886-7 they were
almost entirely absent.

Mr. Watt has only seen a few at a time on the loch of
Skaill.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us that they breed every year
in Hoy, and have done so for some time back. He says : " At
one small loch my shooting tenant kills usually seven or eight
brace on the 1st of August. Baikie and Heddle were not
aware of this, and perhaps the Widgeon did not then breed here."

This is the only place known to us, as yet, where the
Widgeon breeds in Orkney.

174 BIRDS.

At times these birds are very abundant, so much so that
Dr. Rae, of Arctic fame, once shot thirty-four with a small
breech-loading 14-bore gun in one night at "flight." We
saw a Widgeon drake in full plumage on the loch of Skaill on
llth of June 1889.

Fuligula ferina (L.). Pochard.

A common and regular winter visitor, some years appearing in
vast numbers on the lochs of Skaill and Stenness. Besides the
Mainland, we have notes of its occurrence in Sanday and
Rousay, and doubtless it appears in winter in all suitable locali-
ties. Pochards appeared on the loch of Kirbister, Orphir,
at the beginning of, if not before, September 1883, and one
apparently haunted that loch all that summer.

In 1883 Buckley saw four drakes on Loch Wasbister.
Rousay, during June and July, but only one remained until
August, when it was shot, and appeared to be a " pricked " bird,
unable to fly ; there were no ducks with the drakes. A few
birds appeared again in the autumn.

Mr. Watt writes us from Skaill : " Several large flocks (of
Pochards) are to be seen during the winter on Stenness and
Skaill. In the summer of 1884 I noticed about a dozen on the
loch ; three or four could fly, the rest could not. In August I
took my boat, and went after them along with a friend. He
succeeded in shooting a few. At the time I thought they were
moulters, but since think they may have been flappers, the
young of some weak or wounded birds that were unable to
migrate with their flocks. I never heard of the Pochard breed-
ing here ; if so, I think it is from force of circumstances, not
from choice."

With all due deference to Mr. Watt, we think that the
Pochard might well breed on Loch Skaill, which is kept as
quiet as possible, and is well adapted to the requirements of the
bird; and from what we are told it is very probable the
Pochard breeds in other lochs in the neighbourhood as well.

On the 12th of June 1888 we saw a male Pochard in
fine plumage on the loch of Skaill ; the day was so windy, it

BIRDS. 175

was almost impossible to hold the glass steady enough to dis-
tinguish the different kinds of fowl, of which there were many,
on the water.

Mr. E. S. Cameron informs us that Pochards begin to arrive
in the end of August, and that larger flocks of them are seen
than any other duck. Their favourite localities are the loch of
Boardhouse on the Mainland, and Bay Loch, Sanday.

Fuligula marila (L.). Scaup.

A winter visitor; not plentiful in Sanday, according to Mr.
Harvey.

On the Mainland it appears to be very common from
all accounts, appearing in hundreds on the loch of Stenness. On
the loch of Harray, however (which is really the northern divi-
sion of the same sheet of water), Mr. Irvine-Fortescue informs
us he has scarcely seen any, and never more than half-a-dozen
or so in a flock ; they seem to be shifty birds, as the same gentle-
man tells us at times scarcely one is to be seen, even in Sten-
ness. Mr. Irvine-Fortescue also adds that he saw what he took
to be a bird of this species on the loch of Rango in summer
about the year 1883, probably a pricked bird. In other parts
of the Mainland the Scaup appears in small flocks.

On August 28th, 1888, Mr. Cameron informs us that he saw
a small lot of Scaup on the loch of Scockness, a small, secluded
loch, fringed and half-covered with water-plants, in the island
of Rousay. The birds were very tame, but he could not ascer-
tain whether the party consisted of birds bred on the spot, or
were merely early arrivals. There seemed to be two pairs with
their young, and the old drakes were already in full plumage.

Fuligula cristata (Leach). Tufted Duck,

A common, though not an abundant, winter visitor to Orkney.
In Sanday Mr. Harvey remarks that they are very shy.

On the Mainland, the lochs of Harray and Skaill are a
resort of this species, and they also occur in the "Peerie Sea,"
near Kirkwall.

176 BIRDS.

In Eousay, Buckley saw a male Tufted Duck along with
two Pochard Drakes on Loch Wasbister on June 16th, 1883,
and on the 28th of August he shot a female. They were com-
mon enough there in the winter, and seemed fonder of the fresh
water than the other species of ducks.

Mr. Millais has found the Tufted Duck breeding in Orkney.
In July 1888, thinking it possible that this species was breeding
on a loch, he took a boat to land on a grassy island. On
approaching it, a duck with white-barred wings and white face
flew off, and circled round the boat within forty yards. After
landing he found the nest, containing two young, just hatched,
and two addled eggs.

Nyroca ferruginea (Gm.). White-eyed Duck.

[Obs. — Messrs. Baikie and Heddle say this duck has been observed
in Orkney, though rarely, and one of the authors, the late Mr.
Eobert Heddle, had a note of one killed in 1854 — a female. In
the absence of any more satisfactory records we enclose it in
brackets.]

Clangula albeola (L.). Buffel-headed Duck.

[Obs. — Eeferring to the specimen mentioned by Messrs. Baikie and
Heddle, we have received the following note: "Buffel-headed
Duck. This is a mistake ; the skin came from Dunn, and was
not even killed in Great Britain."]

Clangula glaucion (L.). Golden-eye,

A common winter visitant, according to all our correspondents,
and our own observations are to the same effect. Mr. Irvine-
Fortescue writes us that they are terribly shy of a punt, and so
restless that other ducks are not alarmed when they rise. Mr.
Crichton, at p. 44 of his Rambles in the Orcades, mentions seeing
a pair of these ducks on the loch of Stenness on June 5th, 1860.
Kegarding the plumages of the Golden-eye, Mr. Millais
informs us that he has never yet seen or shot a bird in the

BIRDS. 177

second or third year's plumages in Orkney, though they are
not, in the former, very rare in Scotland generally. He adds
that the birds in the third year's plumage are always rare, and
he has only killed two males in that state.

On June llth, 1889, we saw three Golden-eyes, apparently
young males, on the loch of Skaill, and Mr. Watt informed u&
that they had been there all the season.

Cosmonetta histrionica (L.). Harlequin Duck,

[Ols. — We have nothing to add to what Messrs. Baikie and Heddle
have already written on this bird ; but. knowing how rare it is,
and how very unsatisfactory the evidence regarding the speci-
mens referred to this species has turned out, we keep it in
brackets until some better-authenticated example occurs.]

Harelda glacialis (L.). Long-tailed Duck,
Ore. = Caloo.

A. very common species in winter. Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells u&
he has seen several in July, and many now remain until May.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says a few Long-tailed Ducks frequent
the loch of Stenness in small flocks, never above a dozen.
He has also seen a few immature birds in Harray, but never
an adult.

Mr. Millais informs us that when this species is assuming
its breeding dress it becomes exceedingly wild, and it was
several years before he himself could obtain them in that
plumage.

Obs. — In Mr. Salmon's Diary of a visit to Orkney, under
date of June 12th and 13th, 1831, we find the following note: —

" We found a nest which we have every reason to believe belongs to
the Smew (Mergus albellus) ; it was close to a small loch in the parish
of Burness (island of Sanday). We put the female off her eggs and
after flying round two or three times, she alighted in the loch, and
although we could not get near enough to shoot her, yet we could dis-
tinctly perceive that it was what is figured by Bewick under the name
of the Lough Diver or female Smew by the formation of its bill. The
nest contained eleven eggs, rather larger than those of the Teal (Anas
crecca), but very similar as to shape, the colour quite white. It (the
nest) was composed of moss and lined with feathers and down."

M

178 BIRDS.

We insert this here, as we have good reason and good
authority for supposing this nest to have been that of the
Long-tailed Duck, and we thus notice it as a guide for future
observers. Certainly it would be more likely, from what we
know of the habits of the two birds in other countries, to have
been that of a Long-tailed Duck than a Smew.

Somateria mollissima (L.). Eider Duck.
Ore. = Dunter.

As this is a species that is rapidly spreading all along our west
and north coasts, we have entered more fully into its history than
might otherwise have appeared necessary.

Wallace in his Description says : " Here is plenty both of wild
and tame fowls — Dunter Goose " — but gives no exact localities.

Low in his Tour mentions that he saw numbers of Eider
Ducks swimming about near the Calf of Flotta, and that,
although he was too early for eggs, yet he found several of
the nests of the previous year, with the down still remaining
in them, as the inhabitants made no use of it. On Hunda
he says that the " Dunter " sometimes builds there, but he seems
not to have met with this species elsewhere in his Tour, or at
least does not mention the fact.

Barry, in his History of Orkney, page 294, says : " THE
EIDER DUCK. It is our Dunter Duck, and frequents all
our sounds and bays in winter, and leaves us in the spring,
with the exception of a few that breed in the holm of Papa
Westray, where they form their nests of seaweed, and pluck
the rich, soft down from their own breasts to line them."

In the Statistical Account of Orkney, page 88, it is stated :
" It remains in Sanday all the year, and breeds there."

Dunn, in all the places where he mentions this bird, seems
to consider it as rare, commoner in winter than in summer, " a
few pairs " remaining to breed.

Mr. B. M. E/anken mentions that he saw " a flight of eight
birds, consisting of the parents and six young ones to-day (May
30th, 1845), at Carness. Five of the young were males in
somewhat different stages of plumage, well feathered, and
almost as large as their parents. Dr. Duguid was with me."

BIRDS. 179

This is an extremely early date for young birds to be well
enough grown to show such difference in plumage.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue writes us as follows : " I have seen a
pair or two with young ones in Swanbister Bay, but not for a
year or two. They are more numerous along the Hoy and
Walls shores of Scapa Flow and among the north isles. I
have seen a nest among the heather, fully 200 yards from the
nearest water (a small loch), and half a mile from the sea, and
about 100 feet above sea level. Eiders (I have an idea) do
not lay above three eggs at a time." l

Mr. E. S. Cameron, of Burgar House, sends us the following
interesting notes, which we here reproduce in full: "The
Eider has increased very largely during the last few years, and
I attribute this to the better protection afforded to their eggs
(a favourite food of the crofter and fisher classes), by the
proprietors of the smaller islets and holms, such as Eynhallow
and Damsay, this latter belonging to the Scarths of Binscarth."

" With regard to Eynhallow, the following facts speak for
themselves. Previous to my purchase of the island in 1884, I
never saw more than two or three broods of young Eiders
about its shores, the first eggs laid there being invariably taken
by fishermen and others. In 1884 I set to work to preserve
the island strictly, and engaged a man, James Wood, to reside
there during the nesting season. One dark and stormy night
the house he lived in was pulled down and the furniture thrown
into the sea. Wood was fortunately absent at the time getting
provisions. In 1887, there were 200 Eider Ducks' nests on
Eynhallow, and the number of broods hatched out was 190.
The greatest number of eggs seen by me in one nest was ten,
the average number of the clutch being four or five."

" I have seen three nests in a space of a yard in circumference.
When the young of the Eider are all hatched she carries them
to the sea upon her back, and this she has been seen to do by
William Wood, farm bailiff, and James Wood, my watcher on
Eynhallow. When staying, during Christmas 1886, with General

1 Three to four is a very usual number in the Outer Hebrides (see Fauna
of 0. H. p. 108). Nine have been found (op. cit.), and five is common in the
Inner Hebrides. — J. A. H.-B.

180 BIRDS.

Burroughs, of Rousay, we saw from the dining-room window
over a thousand Eiders in Viera Sound."

" On 10th October 1887, Flower and I went to shoot rabbits
on Eynhallow ; we then counted nearly a thousand Eiders on
the north side of the island."

" During the summer we frequently observe Eiders (females
in every case), upon the mill-dam of the farm of Burgar. I have
often seen Eiders (ducks in every instance), on fresh-water
lochs, a mile and more from the sea."

" In the throat of an Eider Duck skinned by Flower was a
whelk shell measuring an inch and a half long and three
quarters of an inch broad."

" William Wood has been most successful in hatching out
young Eiders under domestic ducks. They did well upon the
same food as that given to the mothers, but invariably drifted
out with the tide and regained their liberty, when about seven
or eight months old. They did not show any black or white
in their plumage during the first winter, and the repeated
examination of young males has convinced me, that they moult
into their first nuptial dress in the second autumn. The
blending of the black, white and brown of birds of the year
differs considerably in individuals of the same age."

" I am guiltless of having often fired at Eiders, but upon one
occasion, on February 18th, 1886, while cruising round Sanday, I
fired a heavy shoulder gun into a large flock, specimens being
required for friends. Six were stopped by the shot."

In 1883 we found Eiders abundant round the east end of
Rousay and the holms adjacent thereto, both during the breeding
season and in winter. During the moult, a large flock of males
frequented the sound between Viera and Gairsay and the
Mainland, apparently unable to fly, as, on a rifle ball being fired
into their midst, they merely dived.

In 1888 we found the Eider abundant in many of the
islands, especially the smaller holms. On the estate of Tanker-
ness were the remains of Eider Ducks' nests more than two
miles from the sea. We saw very few about Sanday, and none
about the Westray group or N. Ronaldsay. They seemed
most abundant on the islands of Damsay and Eynhallow, and
on Linga Holm, near Stronsay.

BIRDS. 181

Mr. Watt tells us the Dunter is rare in the neighbourhood
of Skaill.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle mentions that, after the young are
hatched, the drakes go out to sea, and this is what the Orkney
fishermen all declare is the case.

In the throat of a male Eider shot by Mr. Millais he found
a "Kazor-fish" five inches in length. He also goes on to say
that the barren hens in the summer assume a very curious dark
form of plumage, which he has not noticed except in the breed-
ing season. Up to the first week in July, the same gentleman
says, the old males may be seen sitting about everywhere on
the shore as tame as barn-door fowls, but that a week afterwards
not one is visible, they having gone northward to the great bay
between Sanday aud North E-onaldsay, where they stay for a
fortnight until they have assumed their curious sleek plumage
and new wing feathers. They then migrate north to return
again in October in small numbers, which gradually increase
till the following spring.

The young birds of the year are not common, though one
will occasionally see a flock of them, but the second and third
year's birds are very scarce, adults being most conspicuous.

We only saw one Eider about Papa Westray and the holm
in the summer of 1888, but Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie informs us
that he saw numbers there in the autumn of 1889.

Somateria spectabilis (L.) King Eider.

No one, as yet, has been able to corroborate Bullock's state-
ment that this bird breeds in Papa Westray, where, in June
1812, he took a nest with six eggs.

The bird itself, however, has been obtained on several
occasions, as mentioned in Baikie and Heddle's book and in
the fourth edition of Yarrell.

Besides these instances, Mr. E. S. Cameron of Burgar shot
an adult male in March 1884, which he sent to Mr. Dunbar,
Thurso, for preservation.

Eeferring to Mr. Bullock's statement just mentioned, Mr.
Monteith-Ogilvie writes us as follows : " I am not quite so sure
. . . that the King Duck has not bred in Papa Westray."

182 BIRDS.

" I was assured by one, Andrew Burgas, some time the shep-
herd to Mr. Traill of Holland, on asking him what birds came
here, that there was another kind of ' Dunter ' (Eider) came here
(which he described and also recognised by Yarrell's picture as
the King Eider), and that he had on two occasions found the
nest on the holm within recent years. This he told me without
any prompting on my part, but of course the statement, as it
stands, is of no value. I will make full notes of this before I
go, and send them on that you may see if you think the evidence
is worth anything" (in lit. 8/12/89).

We give the substance of these notes as follows : " Andrew
Burgas, the before-mentioned shepherd, says that a pair of
'Dunters,' the female of which was smaller than the common
Eider, and the male of which ' had a red knob on his neb,' and
was also smaller, bred for two consecutive years (somewhere in
the seventies) on the holm ; one year the nest was taken and
the eggs eaten, the second year it was not interfered with.
Since then he has not found the nest. Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie,
having a copy of Yarrell with him, showed Burgas the picture
of the Common Eider, covering the title, he said, ' Oh, no, that's
the common dunter.' He next tried him with Steller's Eider,
but Burgas said he ' never saw one like that.' Lastly he showed
him the King Eider, turning over the leaves rather quickly, but
Burgas stopped him at once and said, ' that's the very bird.' "
As Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie very wisely remarks, all this may have
been got up from some one else who had been inquiring about
the King Eider, but we have thought it best to place this im-
perfect information on record for future and further observation.

CEdemia fusca (£.). Velvet Scoter,
Ore. = Felvet Duck.

This bird is not mentioned by any of the earlier writers, Dunn
being apparently the first person to record it from the Orkneys.
It is a common winter species in many parts of the islands,
notably in Damsay Sound and the adjacent waters. It does not,
however, occur- in Sanday, according to Messrs. Harvey and
Denison.

BIRDS. 18$

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue remarks that this bird remains about
Swanbister Bay almost, if not quite, the whole year round.

Mr. Millais informs us that this species occurs very
numerously round the islands of Cava, Risa Little, Fara, and
Flotta, but mostly old males, the females not being in greater
proportions than one to two of the former ; young birds of the
year are very rare, he having only shot one, a young male.
Mr. Millais has observed them in June, and on August 2d, 1888,
he killed an old male that was moulting his pinions, the feathers
round the fore part of his face were grey, the rest of the
plumage normal.

Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie writes us that after leaving Kirkwall
he saw no Velvet Scoters about Westray, Papa Westray, or
San day.

CEdemia nigra (L.) Common Scoter.

A very rare bird in Orkney, and not mentioned by any of the
earlier writers down to Dunn.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us he has never seen a single
specimen of this bird in Orkney : his father saw them in Long-
hope in 1857, and notes them as rare.

Mr. Eanken writes that, in April 1844, his father found a
dead bird of this species that had been washed ashore on the
sandy beach which connects Deerness and St. Andrews, and
that that was the only one he ever saw in Orkney.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue informs us that a few frequent the
Swanbister bay in winter, but he never saw more than six or
eight in a flock.

The late Mr. Robert Heddle had a note of one killed in
Sanday in 1849, but it must be rare there as elsewhere, as
neither Mr. Denison nor Mr. Harvey has sent us any notice of it,

Mr. Millais has only seen two Common Scoters in Orkney,
one near Fara, and the other in Grsemsay Sound ; the latter he
unfortunately lost after wounding it.

We saw a fine adult male in Inganess Bay, near Kirkwall,
on May 26th, 1888.

184 BIRDS.

CEdemia perspicillata (L.). Surf Scoter,

Although not as common as Messrs. Baikie and Heddle's work
would lead their readers to suppose, yet this species seems to
have occurred on several occasions.

Mr. Eanken's father saw three on one occasion when crossing
from St. Mary's to St. Margaret's Hope in March 1845 ; they
were too wild to allow him within shot.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us a Surf Scoter was seen in Long-
hope in September 1847, and his father saw four at the same
place on October 16th, 1857. Mr. Moodie-Heddle himself has
seen three specimens at various times among Velvet Scoters,
but never tried to kill them.

Many have been recorded in the Field, and we cannot do
better than quote, in extenso, what has been written about these
later Orcadian occurrences in the 4th volume of the 4th edition
of Yarrell, pp. 482, 483 :—

" In the Orkneys, however, it seems to be of frequent and
perhaps annual occurrence, from autumn to spring, although
never in great numbers. An adult male was shot at Swanbister,
in the parish of Orphir, in March 1866. One — perhaps the
same specimen — was in the collection of the late Joseph H.
Dunn, and another, which was doubtless killed in the Orkneys,
is in the local museum at Stromness. Captain Clark-Kennedy
has recorded, in the Field of March llth, 1876, one obtained
off Hoy Island in 1872, and another at the entrance of Loch
Stenness, Stromness. In the same paper, under date of 18th of
March 1876, Dr. Eae remarks: 'In the latter part of Septem-
ber, or during October, I have seen one or more in Orkney for
the last ten years in the large bay which separates Kirk wall
from Firth and Kendall.' In February 1875, Mr. T. M. Pike,
when staying at Stromness, got close to, and fired unsuccess-
fully at, a Surf Scoter which was swimming with three Velvet
Scoters in the Sound near Eyssa Little, and exactly a year later
he killed at the same place, and in similar company, a fine adult
male (Zool 1879, p. 336). The Rev. S. A. Walker informs the
editor that, on '-the 23d of October 1880, he obtained an adult
male off the above-mentioned Ryssa Little, the trachea of which

BIRDS. 185

was described by Mr. Herbert Langton (Zool. 1881, p. 59). On
the 20th of November 1884 Mr. Walker saw, but did not
obtain, another male of this species swimming in the same
waters in company with Velvet Scoters. This bird was very
tame, but, owing to the wildness of its companions, it could not
be approached, although generally the last to leave the water
and the first to drop."

From these remarks it will be seen that the Surf Scoter can
scarcely be called a very rare bird in the Orkneys, and that it
should be looked for amongst the Velvet Scoters.

Mergus merganser, L. Goosander.

Not a common bird. Mr. Moodie-Heddle writes us he has only
seen one or two ; one was killed at Westness in 1850.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue has never seen it, to his knowledge, in
Orkney, while Mr. Eeid says it is a regular winter visitant,
leaving very early in spring.

Mr. Watt says they have been shot on the loch of Stenness,
and he now and then sees them in winter on the loch of Skaill,
as a rule single birds, though one remained, in 1889, until
rather late in the season.

Mr. James Barnett, Crown Chamberlain, informed Mr.
Spence that a specimen of this bird, subsequently in Mr.
Petrie's collection, was killed by Peter Copland at Carness in
December 1874. Mr. Barnett added: "I fancy this bird is
very rarely seen in Orkney. I have not heard of another
specimen."

Mr. Millais also considers this a rare species in Orkney,
though in the winter of 1884-5 he saw several.

Mergus serrator, L. Red-breasted Merganser,
Qrc.=Harl, Ear eld (Low).

Common and resident, breeding in most of the islands and holms.
Mr. Harvey, however, considers that it leaves Sanday during
the nesting season.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue tells us that a nest was found by Dr.
H. H. Johnston on a ledge of rock on Hobbister cliffs some 30

186 BIRDS.

feet above sea-level ; he also says he has known authentic cases
of nests being found not far from high-water mark. Mergansers
are often seen in flocks of from twenty to thirty.

Mergus albellus, L. Smew.

The late Mr. Robert Heddle had a note that the Smew is at times
common in Hoy Sound. Mr. Moodie-Heddle of Melsetter
writes us that he killed a male in fine plumage in the Oar Burn,
Longhope, in the winter of 1870, when shooting in company
with the late Mr. M 'Donald, of the National Bank, Kirkwall,
who got the specimen for preservation.

Mr. Begg, Stromness, had a Smew sent him from Walls in
1853, and a year or two after he shot another near the Bring,
in Hoy.

Series SCHIZOGNATH.E.

Order 1. COLUMB^E.

Family COLUMBID-E.

Columba palumbus, L. Ring-Dove,

Somewhere in the forties of this century, the Wood- pigeon began
to make its presence known, both on the Mainland, and, accord-
ing to Messrs. Baikie and Heddle, on Sanday, though from this
latter island we have no further instances of its occurrence
since they wrote. Buckley saw two in Rousay in 1883, but
they did not stay to breed, one disappearing before the other.

Of its increase in the Mainland we have full accounts from
our correspondents.

Mr. Ranken says it was very rare there up to 1845, when
his father had only seen two specimens ; another was killed by
him in 1846, and another on April 1st, 1848, since which date
they have become much commoner. It is now a permanent
resident, and Mr. Ranken has often found its nest. About
twenty are usually to be found at Muddiesdale, and Mr.
Ranken has seen fully a hundred birds there in a flock. They

BIRDS. 187

nest in his garden, and he is inclined to think they do so
occasionally in the cliffs, as he has seen them fly out of the
rocks during the nesting season with the Rock Pigeons.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue fancies that they first nested at Mud-
diesdale somewhere about 1867, and since that date he has
seen a bird or two at Swanbister almost every summer. One
Sunday morning, about October 1883, he counted one hundred
and fifty from his windows. The flock must have numbered
about two hundred sitting on the bushes and walls. About
11.30 A.M., on opening the front door, the gravel walk was
covered with them ; he did not disturb them, but on his
return from church they were gone, and he saw no more of
them. Dr. Logie told Mr. Irvine-Fortescue he thought a pair
nested in 1887 on a steep bank of a burn in Redland.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us the Wood Pigeon sometimes
breeds at Melsetter; they are common in the autumn. We
observed only one Wood Pigeon in Orkney in 1888, and that
was on the 29th May at Melsetter. In 1882, however, we saw
three together in June in the Muddiesdale plantation, but could
not find a nest.

Columba livia, Bonnat. Rock-Dove,

Common everywhere, breeding in all the cliffs and rocks of the
sea-coast. Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us that their routes of
flight by the cliffs, where there is an exposed beach, varies
higher or lower with the tide. In windy weather they have
to tack to windward, and a person knowing the proper spots
may have very fair flight-shooting.

Varieties of the Rock-Dove are common, and although by some
authors these are supposed to be stragglers from dove-cotes, we
are inclined to think they are really wild birds ; nor is it in any
way surprising that this should be so, when all the wonderful
tame varieties are known to have arisen from the present species.

Columba oenas, L. Stock-Dove,

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says he finds a note in his copy of

188 BIRDS.

MacGillivray that this species occurred at Bisa, Orphir, and
Melsetter in the years 1849 and 1859.

Mr. Reid informs us that he saw a Stock-Dove that had
been shot at Deerness on Nov. 12th, 1861, which was being
stuffed by Mr. Forbister, watchmaker, Kirkwall.

It would be impossible to trace these specimens even if they
are in existence, and we must therefore trust to our correspon-
dent's accuracy. Seeing that the Stock-Dove has only been
known in Sutherland, at least as a breeding species, since 1889,
it is strange to find it occurring in Orkney so far back as 1849.

Turtur communis, Selby. Turtle-Dove,

We have several notices of the Turtle-Dove in Orkney. Mr.
Harvey shot one in Sanday in October 1885.

Mr. Ranken has twice seen the bird, once a few years ago
flying in the direction of Binscarth plantation, again in 1884
in his garden at Kirkwall.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us he has seen this bird several
times. One was killed at Holm (pronounced Ham) in 1849,
and another at Melsetter in 1865.

Family PTEROOLID-ffi.

Syrrhaptes paradox us (Pall). Pa lias's Sand Grouse.

Mr. W. Reid informs us that this Sand Grouse was observed in
Orkney on the 8th of June 1863 by Marcus Calder, factor, and
others.

On May 17th, 1888, a flock of twelve Sand Grouse visited
the Pentland Skerries, and four were shot by Mr. Gilmour
the lightkeeper, who sent two of them to Harvie-Brown for
identification. They came with a fresh east wind in the fore-
noon, the weather being hazy at the time. On the 19th, a much
larger flock was seen flying about the island. Mr. Gilmour
also states that -he heard of a large flock being seen about this
time in S. Ronaldsay, and several small ones in the island of

BIRDS. 189

Swona. Two birds were picked up on June 14th, on the Pent-
land Skerries, besides those above mentioned, but too far gone
for preservation.

Four were seen by Mr. M'Cree of the Commercial Bank,
Kirkwall, in the beginning of June, when fishing with Mr.
Irvine-Fortescue at the loch of Kirbister ; they passed about
fifty yards from him.

On June 9th eight Sand Grouse were seen by Mr. Irvine-
Fortescue and Buckley at Swanbister, flying overhead in a
south-easterly direction, they were within a long shot ; every
now and then one would utter the call note.

On June 17th Mr. Ranken saw about twenty birds at
Muddiesdale ; they were feeding in a flock like pigeons. The
people at the farm-house informed him that they had seen
something like two hundred Sand Grouse together ! Mr.
E-anken questioned them particularly to see if they could have
made any mistake, but no cross-examination could make them
alter their original statement. The people were old tenants of
Mr. Ranken's, and he had no reason to doubt their word.

On June 19th two Sand Grouse were taken alive by Peter
Turfis on the estate of Tankerness. They had taken refuge in
a peat stack, and one had been injured by the telegraph wire :
the man took the birds to Mr. Cowan, who told him to take them
back to the place where he caught them and turn them loose,
which was done. Two or three days after that a flock of about
fifteen flew over Turfis's head. Mr. Cameron of Burgar, who
gave us the above information, was informed by Mr. Baikie of
Tankerness that the Sand Grouse had bred there.

On June 21st Buckley saw four birds on Sanday, near the
Start lighthouse, flying south-east out to sea ; and the light-
keeper told him that a flock of about sixty had been there for
some time, but that he had not seen any since the previous
Monday, the 18th. They were pretty tame, and he often saw
them about the lighthouse ; he did not molest them himself,
but some were shot, and the hens were full of eggs.

In a subsequent visit to that island we saw six stuffed Sand
Grouse in the possession of Mr. Lennie of Kettletoft, which
had been sent to him for preservation.

190 BIRDS.

On June 22d Buckley saw a flock of some eight or ten
individuals on N. Eonaldsay, flying about north-east, and a
man whom he met on the island told him that a flock of about
twenty-four had been seen there some five or six weeks back,
but that they had left since then.

In answer to our inquiries whether these birds have been
seen in Orkney since we left in July 1888, Mr. Eanken says the
only instance that he could call authentic occurred on August 8th,
when Mr. F. Smith Peace, driving through Rendall with an
Oxford Professor, saw a flock of from fifteen to twenty flying
towards them ; these, when quite close to them, wheeled sud-
denly round and went back in the direction they came from.
These gentlemen had no difficulty in recognising the strangers.
Other people told Mr. Eanken of Sand Grouse having been
seen in Sanday and N. Ronaldsay, about fourteen to fifteen in
each place, but no dates or particulars could be given : under
these circumstances it is quite likely that some of these notices
refer to those birds already mentioned.

Mr. Ranken was also told that these birds had bred in
Orkney, and one nest of three eggs obtained, but he could not
accept such a statement without proof.1

On Sept. 17th Mr. Irvine-Fortescue wrote us that he saw
the skin of a Sand Grouse the day before in the shop of Mr.
Williamson, watchmaker, Kirkwall, that had been picked up
dead in Shapinsay " some time ago."

In another letter from Mr. Ranken, dated Sept. 21st, that
gentleman says he had heard the night before from Mr. E. E.
Peter that he shot two Sand Grouse out of a flock of some
eight or ten near Eapness, Westray, that rose out of some long
heather. Mr. Eanken saw the wing of one of these birds. He
further adds : "I have met Mr. Allan, Scapa, to-day, who tells
me the bird he caught (in May) is still living in a cage and is
quite tame, and became so a few days after its capture, eating
hemp seed, boiled potatoes, and meal, and such like. This
Sand Grouse has been fully four months in solitary confinement.
It gives a kind of ' clucking ' cry at times."

In the Orkney Herald of Oct. 17th, 1888, it is reported that
1 We have received no confirmation of this.

BIRDS. 191

Mr. William Laughton of Millhouse, parish of Holm, shot three
Sand Grouse the previous week near the Established Church,
being the first of the kind ever got in that parish. About a
dozen of these strange birds were seen for several days near
the same place.

In a letter from Mr. J. R. Cook to Harvie-Brown, dated
October 21st, 1888, i he says: "On both N. Ronaldsay and
Sanday we came on Sand Grouse. On 1ST. Ronaldsay I think
there were about sixty or sixty-five we knew of. On Sanday I
saw only nineteen, but Briggs saw two flights, small ones, which
could not have had anything to do with the lot I saw. We
took specimens on N. Ronaldsay and Sanday. I fear there
are no young birds. Traill's grieve, a very intelligent man,
told me he saw them first in May (in N. Ronaldsay), from
sixty to a hundred he thought ; says they never broke up during
the summer, as he used to see the one flight feeding on ploughed
and worked land off and on all the summer. We could hear
nothing reliable as to their pairing on Sanday. I fancy there
has been no breeding on either of the islands we were on. Most
of our specimens were moulting however."

From the foregoing records it would seem that if the Sand
Grouse ever did nest in Orkney it must have been in very rare
instances, and that there is something in the climate or country
utterly inimical to their taking up their residence permanently
here.

Order 2. GALLING.
Family PHASIANID^E.
Phasianus colchicus, L. Pheasant,

Mr. T. Ranken in his MS. notes informs us that his father obtained
pheasant's eggs from Dumfriesshire in June 1859, and succeeded
in rearing from them one hen and seven or eight cocks. The
hen nested several times, once having fourteen eggs, but some
boys found her out and ruthlessly harried the nest. The cocks
mated with barn-door hens, and hybrids were produced that
attained maturity. All these birds were gradually killed off by

192 BIRDS.

poachers, and the attempt to get up a stock of pheasants near
Kirkwall was abandoned. Attempts by other proprietors to
introduce pheasants into Orkney, as at Binscarth and Muddies-
dale, were not more successful.

A pheasant was killed at Eday, having most probably come
over from Shapinsay, where Colonel Balfour kept some.

Caccabis rufa (£.). Red-legged Partridge.

Red-legged Partridges were introduced into Orkney, near Kirk-
wall, by the Earl of Orkney in the year 1840, but they soon
disappeared. — (Note by J. G. Heddle, Esq.)

Perdix cinerea, Lath. Partridge.

Low in his Tour mentions that Partridges were introduced into
Hoy and Walls by a Mr. Moodie of Melsetter, but they did not
thrive, owing probably to there being so many birds of prey,
and want of shelter.

Since then, many attempts have been made to introduce this
bird into the Orkneys by various proprietors, but all seem to
have failed. Some few still exist in Eousay and Shapinsay,
but in 188.3 there were only some four or five left in the former
island. In Rousay they were introduced by Mr. Traill of
Woodwick, who got birds from Caithness ; these bred for a few
years and then disappeared. They seem to have been again
tried by the present proprietor, General Burroughs, with the
same result.

They have been tried also on the Mainland, once by Mr.
Irvine-Fortescue's father at Swanbister, but the young birds died.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle attributes the failure of the Melsetter
attempt to their not being sufficiently numerous to begin with.
On the other hand, he thinks that they are dying out in Rousay
and Shapinsay by reason that the coveys are not sufficiently
driven about and broken up, thus allowing birds of the same
covey continually to breed in-and-in, and with this opinion
we quite agree.

BIRDS. 193

Coturnix communis, Bonnat. Quail,

A bird that has been noticed much more frequently of late years.
As far back as October 4th, 1851, J. H. Dunn obtained a
nest containing eleven eggs, and it has since then been found
breeding in other parts of the Mainland.

The late Eobert Heddle said that the Quail was seen and
heard in Orphir in 1853, shot near Kirkwall 12th January 1854r
and again at Melsetter in 1855.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle of Melsetter says that he has killed
Quails several times, the last being in 1883. His father had a
note that he had killed them in October and December. They
have been seen at Hobbister at the end of May, and were sup-
posed to have bred there.

In May 1881, Mr. Irvine-Fortescue heard daily for about a
fortnight, at Swanbister, what he took to be a Quail.

From several correspondents we hear that a nest or two
have been taken in Orkney; and we saw an egg in the
possession of Mr. Cursiter, Kirkwall, which belonged to a nest
of ten taken in the parish of Holm, on the Mainland, in October
1881.

Dr. Traill of Woodwick obtained a Quail in N. Eonaldsay
in July 1885.

Family TETRAONID.33.
Lagopus mutus, Leach. Ptarmigan.

Little information is to be obtained about the existence of th&
Ptarmigan in Orkney. It inhabited Hoy only, and Dunn
mentions, in his Guide, that a few pairs of this bird were shot
in one season there, but none had been seen since.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us that the last birds were killed
in Hoy about 1831, by a Lieutenant Monro, then living in
Stromness, but, from Messrs. Baikie and Heddle's account, their
numbers had been much reduced before then, by the officers of
the Trigonometrical Survey.

Mr. Eanken says that Ptarmigan were found in Orkney
some fifty years or so ago, but he heard that the commander of
a gun-boat calling at Stromness and landing at Hoy, the only

N

194 BIRDS.

island where they were to be found, completely extirpated them;
his bag having been stated as high as 14 brace in one day.
The late Dr. Duguid of Kirkwall was Mr. Ranken's informant.

Lagopus scoticus (Lath.). Red Grouse,
hen.

In vol. xvi. p. 480 of the old Statistical Account for the year 1795,
the following passage occurs: "About eighty years ago Muir-
fowl frequented some of the hills, and were shot within a mile
of the village of Stromness. . . . Now, 1795, none are seen."

We have no reason to suppose that Black game ever existed,
more than as an accidental visitor (see under species), to
Orkney, and the above-quoted passage may therefore well be
taken to refer to the Red Grouse. We think there is a good
deal of interest attached to this, as showing that in all proba-
bility the birds were suffering from the disease which comes so
much more frequently throughout Scotland now-a-days. Had
they been shot out, some record would most likely have been
left of the fact, as was the case with the Ptarmigan just
mentioned. At the same time we are given to understand that
disease at the present day, rarely, if ever, makes its appearance
in Orkney.

Low in his Tour speaks to the abundance of "Moor-fowl"
in Hoy and Flotta, and the parishes of Holm and St. Andrews
on the Mainland ; and their scarcity in Risa Little.

At the present time Grouse are found on the Mainland,
Hoy, Burray, Flotta, Fara, Risa Little, Cava (where of late
years, Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us, they have bred), Eday and
Rousay. In all these islands they are resident, but they also
occasionally visit Sanday from Eday, as we are informed by Mr.
Harvey ; and Buckley was also told that they have been known
to fly as far as Westray from Rousay. This may seem a long
flight for a Grouse, but, during the severe winter of 1879-80,
Grouse were observed to cross from Scrabster, near Thurso, to
Hoy, which is about eleven miles; they were seen on their
journey, passing the mail steamer.

It is quite probable that owing to these partial migrations,

BIRDS. 195

which would infuse new blood into the different islands, and by
judicious shooting, Grouse are kept up to their present numbers,
though from other causes, such as increase of cultivated areas
(which of course takes away from that available for these birds),
they may not be quite as numerous as in former years.

Mr. Ranken's father in September 1845 killed 25 brace in
seven hours, but his son tells us that they are not nearly so
numerous now, indeed almost scarce in places where he
remembers them to have been plentiful.

In Hoy, Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us that the stock of
birds keep about the same when fairly shot ; if under or over-
shot, they diminish in a few seasons • if under-shot, the birds of
a covey begin to separate into pairs at the end of October or
beginning of November ; if over-shot, the reason is obvious.

Mr. Watt of Skaill says that " in Sandwick and Stromness
parishes Grouse are scarce, as the hills are not suitable, the
heather being too short. Six or eight coveys, bred on Teuston
and the West Hills, would, I think, seem the lot for both
parishes."

Concerning the weights of Grouse Mr. Moodie-Heddle writes
us : "I have not been in the habit of weighing (game), but I
remember about 1866 my father and I weighing two birds out
of a bag, and again other two, and in both instances the brace
was about 1J oz. over the then highest recorded weight. This
was at Melsetter, where birds are somewhat heavier than here
(Hoy Lodge). A man who has shot over a great part of
Scotland for many seasons, told me that the heaviest birds
he ever came across were at Melsetter, and at Borgie in
Sutherlandshire . "

The Rousay birds are said to be the heaviest of any part of
Scotland, and when they are at their best, October and the early
part of November, If Ibs. is not at all an unusual weight. After
that time the Grouse seem to get smaller and lighter, they
certainly do not seem so large when brought to the table.

In Rousay at least, Grouse seem to vary but little in plum-
age, the real rich red bird being the scarcest, as in Sutherland,
and the cocks and hens are, at times, almost identical in colora-
tion.

196 BIEDS.

In Hoy, birds with one or both wings white have been shot
by Mr. Moodie-Heddle, and on one occasion one that had three
legs. A Grouse with both wings white was shot by him in
1866, and another with only one white wing about 1883.

We noticed that in Kousay Grouse are remarkably silent
birds, a crow being rarely heard, even in the breeding season,
but this does not hold good in Hoy, as Mr. Moodie-Heddle
informs us.

As long as the crowberry is to be found, Grouse feed on
them much more than on the heather, and this is apparent not
only by their droppings, which at that season are soft, and
coloured by the juice of the berries, but by their whiter and
tasteless flesh, so different from that of a pure heather-fed bird,
and which makes a Grouse the prince of feathered game.

In Rousay, Grouse were observed to come to the stubbles
during stormy weather in October and November in the early
morning and late evening, retiring to the nearest heather during
the day ; they lie well to dogs, if the weather be fine, to the
end of the season.

Mr. Ranken relates a curious instance of the closeness with
which a hen Grouse sits on her eggs. He says : "I once put
my heel on the head of a hen Grouse, and so accidentally killed
her, when I was walking over the heather ; she was sitting on
seven eggs. Not till I heard a flutter behind me was I aware of
what had happened, and, on turning round, I saw the bird
tumbling about, a yard or two off."

Mr. Gold, Lord Zetland's factor in Orkney, who has had as
great an experience of sport in these islands as any man,
says that Grouse are dying out from over-burning, and burning
at all seasons, as well as from being systematically over-shot.
In Flotta Mr. Gold once killed nineteen brace in one day in
August; later on in the season many birds come over there
from N. Walls ; they are only stray visitors to S. Walls.

We can well indorse Mr. Gold's statement of over-burning.
This year (1888), besides other small fires after the season was
over for moor-burning, we saw one in the parish of Firth, on
the Mainland, which was burning from Friday, June 29th, to
Sunday, July 1st ; this must of necessity have done immense

BIRDS. 197

damage to late nests and young birds, and could only have
been done out of sheer spite or mischief. The weather at that
time was very dry, and the fire would burn the heather, even
the very roots, and so a large area of moor would be irretriev-
ably ruined for Grouse.

Tetrao tetrix, L. Black Grouse.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle sends us a note that a Grey-hen was killed at
Holm in 183 - (?), as jotted down by his father. Mr. T.
W. Eanken informs us that his father tried to introduce Black
Game by means of eggs into Orkney about the year 1859 ; the
chicks hatched out, but came to an untimely end.

Order 3.

Family RALLIDJE.
Rallus aquaticus, L. Water-Rail.

Since Messrs. Baikie and Heddle wrote, the loch of Aikerness and
the Crantit meadows, both on the Mainland, and both given
by these authors and others as breeding-places of this bird,
have been drained, and we have no authentic evidence that a
nest was ever actually taken. Mr. Reid says they are common
all the year round, but difficult to see.

Mr. Watt tells us he shot one some years ago in the burn
of Skaill, but that they are rare in the parish. In Sanday Mr.
Harvey mentions the Water-Kail as breeding amongst reeds in
the ditches and marshes, but here the Water-hen is probably
meant.

Mr. Eanken's father stated that up to the year 1858 he had
seen about twenty birds in as many years, and on one occasion
he shot one sitting in a tree.

Mr. Eanken also gives us a curious account of a Water-Rail
attacking a wounded Snipe. The Snipe fell, wounded, in a
ditch, and the Water-Rail, seeing it fluttering on the ground,

198 BIRDS.

apparently thought it wanted to show fight, and commenced to
give battle to the Snipe, ruffling up the feathers round its neck
like a gamecock, and striking at the Snipe in the manner
gamecocks do to each other.

Porzana maruetta (Leach). Spotted Crake.

We have no further evidence that this bird has occurred in
Orkney since the bare statement by Messrs. Baikie and Heddle,
that it has been observed, though rarely, in Sanday.

Crex pratensis, Bechst. Land-Rail,

An exceedingly abundant summer visitor to all the islands, though
according to Mr. Kanken, not so plentiful as it used to be, on
account of the spread of the Brown Eat, and he gives the island
of Stronsay as an instance of this.

We have received so many accounts of the Land -Kail having
been found in winter that it would be superfluous to mention
them separately. We cannot account for this unless it is that
the equability of the climate induces them to stay longer than
where it is otherwise, and the abundance of old turf-dykes,
which give them excellent shelter.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle sends us the following notes : —

" This bird is often found in winter, both in Orkney and in
Ireland, which makes the people say they are * sleepers.' They
feign death when captured by hand, as I have personally proved.
When the crops are cut early, and they take to the barer
moor ground before migrating, they fly much more strongly,
and to a considerable distance. It is only when cover is near
that they fly with their feet hanging down. My father saw
one on Christmas day, and Mr. Traill of Holland and the
late Mr. Scarth of Binscarth have caught specimens about the
same time of year. These were doubtless birds which had
been injured or.too weak to migrate."

We found the Land-Kail very abundant during our visits to
Orkney in 1883 and 1888; in the former year we found one

BIRDS. 199

sitting on its eggs on August 1st; they seemed to inhabit every
island we visited. Mr. Eeid of S. Eonaldsay once hatched out
some Corncrakes' eggs under a Bantam ; they all did well, and
lived for more than eighteen months, and were then only killed
by accident. During the whole of that time none of them ever
uttered their well-known cry.

Gallinula chloropus (L.) Moor-hen.

By no means an abundant species, but is scattered through most
of the islands where suitable places are to be found. Low
seems never to have seen the bird himself, but mentions it as
breeding in the now drained loch of Aikerness.

Mr. Watt says he has only seen one at Skaill, which he
shot.

Mr. Heddle's father had a note that the "Water-hen bred in
N. Ronaldsay and Stronsay, and Mr. Harvey tells us it breeds-
in Sanday.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue sees one or two most winters about
Swanbister, and has known of one nest there ; he accounts for
their scarcity by the want of cover round so many of the
Orkney lochs.

As far back as 1845 Mr. Ranken's father saw three or four
nests in the Crantit meadows in June ; he also mentions that
they breed at Graemeshall, in the south of the Mainland.
Mr. Spence also informs us that the Water-hen breeds in South
Ronaldsay.

We ourselves have rarely seen the Water-hen in Orkney ;
once in Rousay in 1883, and another time in Egilsay in June
1888 ; but we have seen eggs taken both in Rousay and in the
Mainland, and were told of several localities in the latter island
where they breed.

Mr. Reid of S. Ronaldsay tried to rear some young birds
from eggs placed under the same bantam that reared the Corn-
crakes before-mentioned. The eggs hatched out quite right,
but, when just hatched, the young birds uttered such a peculiar
note, very like a young kitten before it opens its eyes, that the
hen got frightened and deserted them.

200 BIRDS.

Fulica atra (L.). Common Coot.

Ore. = Snaith.

A common species, and seen by us on all the islands we visited,
where there were suitable localities. We have seen their nests
in Kousay, in an island in Loch Saviskail, placed on the ground
under docken leaves, which is perhaps an unusual site ; other
nests in the same loch were built and placed in the more
ordinary manner.

Mr. Watt writes us that they migrate from the loch of
Skaill, it being a rare thing to see one there in winter.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue has seen small flocks of from six to a
dozen on the loch of Harray in winter, and, on one occasion,
shot two out of a flock of between one hundred and fifty and
two hundred Widgeons.

In June 1889 we sat watching two Coots feeding in the
loch of Skaill close to us. They seemed mostly to be picking
small insects or shells from the plants, but at times they dived
and brought up small portions of weed, which they either ate
whole or picked over.

Family GEUID^B.
Grus communis (Bechst.). Common Crane.

Notices of this bird in Orkney appear to be very vague. Sir
Kobert Sibbald mentions their occurrence in these islands, and
Dr. Fleming states that a small flock were seen at Tingwall in
the autumn of 1807 (Baikie and Heddle, Fauna Orcadensis).

At page 7 of the Statistical Account of Orkney it is stated that
the Crane is found in Orphir, but this most likely refers to the
Heron, which is so often called a Crane.

In the 4th edition of Yarrell, the Crane is stated to have
often occurred, but none of our correspondents have ever men-
tioned it to us.

Grus virgo (L.). Demoiselle Crane.

A very fine specimen of this bird was shot on the 14th May 1863
on the Mainland at Deerness, the most eastern parish in Orkney.

BIRDS. 201

Two of them had been seen in Deerness for some days
before, and were pursued and shot at several times. When the
one was killed, the other flew over to the neighbouring island
of Copinsay, and was not seen afterwards at Deerness.

In the stomach of the one that was procured there was
nothing but a few grains of oats, but it did not appear to be
starved, and weighed about five pounds. The gulls and lap-
wings continually attacked the two strangers whenever they
walked or winged their way over the grass or oat fields, and
they were heard frequently to utter a hoarse scream when thus
persecuted by their tormentors.

The bird was bought by Mr. Reid, bookseller of Kirkwall,
from the owner, who was hawking it about the streets, and who
said that "if he did not get his price for it (a very few shillings)
he would, on getting home, pluck it and make soup of it."

Mr. Reid had the bird stuffed, and it afterwards passed into
the collection of Mr. Christy Horsfall, Leeds.

Extracted from the different local papers.

Order 4. LIMICOL-ffi.

Family OTID.E.
Otis tarda (L.). Great Bustard.

A beautiful specimen of this bird was shot at Holland, Stronsay, by
Mr. Steavenson in March [April 1] 1886. The bird proved to be
a female, the eggs being in a forward condition. Its weight was
9f Ibs., and it is now in the possession of Mrs. Balfour of Balfour
and Trenaby. The stomach was filled with green matter, either
grass or turnip tops. Before it was shot the bird was very
tame, and made only short flights. An attempt was made to
catch it, but was unsuccessful.

Family CHARADRIID-E.
Charadrius pluvialis (L.). Golden Plover.

Resident and common, receiving large additions to its numbers in
autumn.

202 BIRDS.

From all our correspondents we have received the same
report, viz., that the Golden Plover is not nearly so numerous
at any time of the year as it used to be. Of course drainage and
reclaiming waste lands has had a great deal to do with the
decrease ; but another very potent cause is the increased num-
ber of guns. This seems to prove that a vast number of those
killed in the late autumn are home-bred birds. The flocks
then consisting of young birds are much less suspicious and
more easily approached, and give a better chance to the gunner
than hunting a few stray birds on the hill-side in August and
the early part of September. Our own experience has been
that the Golden Plover is by no means so very abundant, either
as a breeding or migrating species, though in the former
capacity they are very widely spread. In Rousay they appeared
almost entirely to desert the island in the autumn ; a few, and
these wild and very local, appearing again in the winter.

Others, with whom we have conversed on the subject, are
inclined to the same opinion as ourselves, viz., that the Golden
Plover is a rapidly decreasing species, not only in the Orkneys,
but in other places as well.

Charadrius fulvus, Gmel. Eastern Golden Plover.

On November 26th, 1887, Mr. J. G. Millais received, in the flesh,
a specimen of this bird, which had been killed near loch Stenness,
by a boatman, who occasionally sends him anything he thinks
rare. It seems to us that it showed more than ordinary dis-
crimination on the part of the boatman to be able to pick out
that bird as being anything unusual, from among a lot of the
common Golden Plover. The bird was recorded in the Field of
December 10th, 1887.

Squatarola helvetica (L.). Grey Plover.

Besides those mentioned by Messrs. Baikie and Heddle, we have
received notices- .of several others that have been procured in
different parts of the county. Mr. Reid obtained one from
Strang, Sanday, in 1848. In 1849 Mr. Ranken killed two

BIRDS. 203

at a shot from a small flock of five, near Stromness. In 1864
or thereabouts, Mr. Watt shot three "Silver Plovers"1 near
the loch of Skaill, which were possibly Grey Plovers. Mr.
Cameron, late of Burgar, had one in his possession which he had
shot in September 1888, at Deer Sound. Other instances we
might quote, but they only go to show that the Grey Plover is
a scarce autumn migrant to these islands, rarely, so far as we
know, remaining the winter there, and only appearing in very
small numbers when it does occur.

Since writing the foregoing, Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie writes us
that he shot a Grey Plover at Papa Westray on November 30th,
1889; it was with some Curlews, from which it separated on
being flushed, and settled on a newly ploughed field. This is
the only one that gentleman ever saw in Orkney; the date of
its capture is very late.

Another Grey Plover was sent to Mr. L. Dunbar, Thurso,
from Orkney, in December 1889, for preservation.

^gialitis hiaticula (L.). Ringed Plover.
Ore. = Sand-Lark.

Everywhere abundant and resident, assembling at times in the
winter in considerable flocks. It breeds almost any-
where in the islands, except in heather or long grass, fields
with the young corn just appearing being a not unfavourite
spot.

Eudromias morinellus (L.). Dotterel.

In the Zoologist, C. E. Bree states that a nest of this species was
found in Hoy in 1850 ; Messrs. Baikie and Heddle considered it
a winter visitant there. Mr. Spence informs us that Sinclair,
the late bird-stuffer in Kirkwall, shot eight Dotterels out of a
flock in Burray on May 25th, 1857. No other correspondent
has observed it in the islands, nor have we ever seen a specimen
there alive or stuffed.

1 These may, however, have been Knots.

204 BIRDS.

Vanellus vulgaris, Bechst. Lapwing.
Ore. = Tee-whoop (Low). Tee-ick.

Still abundant though not nearly so much so as formerly ; a few
now remain throughout the winter.

Mr. T. W. Ranken writes us as follows : —

"The Green Plover is still abundant in Orkney, but not
nearly so much so as they used to be some forty or fifty years
ago. They were seldom observed to winter here until about
twenty years ago, when they began to do so in large numbers,
and now a considerable quantity remain throughout the year,
which is augmented towards the end of February by other
migratory birds. I have observed that a considerable number
do not pair, but remain in small flocks until these are increased
by the addition of the breeding birds and their young. Query —
Are these barren birds not the young of the previous year,
which do not breed until the second year ?"

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue sends us a record of the dates on
which the Lapwing has appeared at Swanbister. On only one
occasion has he seen them as early as January ; this was at
Deer Sound, and he adds that " a few may occasionally winter
on Deer Sound or Scapa Bay." The Lapwings seemed mostly
to arrive about the middle of February; on one occasion, 1879,
not until the middle of March. Mr. Irvine-Fortescue adds that
from the 8th to the 12th of April is the time to find nests full
of fresh eggs in his locality.

Mr. Watt, writing from Skaill, says that the Lapwing arrives
in his locality during the months of February and March, and
that a few sometimes remain throughout the winter.

We ourselves have seen Lapwings in Rousay quite at the end
of November or the beginning of December. On one occasion
we found a nest of five eggs, all just commencing to hatch out.

Strepsilas interpres (L.) Turnstone.
Ore. = Stone putter (J. G. M.-H.).

A common autumn and winter visitant, but Mr. Moodie-Heddle
remarks that they, like other small shore birds, are getting

BIRDS. 205

scarcer. Mr. Watt remarks that at Skaill they are rare, and
that he has not seen one for a good many years.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue saw a pair on the " Barrel of Butter "
—formerly called "Carline Skerry"— on 26th May 1884.
There were no eggs of any sort on the Skerry, but, as a
boat had visited it a day or two previously, the reason was
obvious.

The Turnstone remain at times well into, if not through
the nesting season, and we have seen them ourselves on the
"Grand," the eastern point of Egilsay, in June and July in
full summer plumage. Mr. Millais has also seen them near the
Black Craig at the end of June.

Some time ago we had been informed that a Turnstone's
nest had been found by Mr. Begg, Stromness, and Mr. Moodie-
Heddle has kindly sent us the following notes which he got
from Mr. Begg himself : —

" Begg says he was on hard ground on the hill above
Dwarfie Hammer's (Hoy), and between that and the Tronic
Glen, — and, the bird rising near him, he shot it, and afterwards 1
found the nest. He thought the skin went to Tristram also
with one egg, but would not be certain from memory; he
(Begg) is not a young man, having been in my father's employ-
ment in 1846. Begg, by the way, said that Dunn would not
believe about the eggs being Turnstone's until he compared
them with Norwegian examples that he had, and was then
compelled to admit that they were genuine." — J. G. M.-H. in
lit., May 8th, 1890."

Mr. Begg himself informed us that he shot the bird and got
the nest of three eggs in 1860. Canon Tristram got the bird
and one egg, and Mr. Moodie-Heddle and Hubbard one egg
each.

Knowing the very great interest that would naturally attach
to a British Turnstone's egg, we made special inquiries with
the result that none of these eggs are now forthcoming, nor,
from the position of the nest, is it likely that it belonged to a
Turnstone. As will be seen by a reference to the description,
the bird was first shot and the nest afterwards found.
1 These Italics are ours.

206 BIRDS.

Professor Newton kindly looked over the printed catalogue
of Canon Tristram's collection, and found at p. 18 — "Strepsilas
interpres. $ Orkney, 10/6/51. J. Begg."

However, the fact of a Turnstone being shot in the middle
of June proves nothing, as we have seen them ourselves in
Orkney all through the summer.

If Canon Tristram had a Turnstone's egg from the same
source, Professor Newton must have heard of it, and as the
latter gentleman used to get Hubbard's list from time to
time, such an egg would most assuredly not have been passed
over by him. Hubbard has been dead some thirty-five years
or more. Neither does Mr. Moodie-Heddle's specimen seem
forthcoming.

We give all these facts to our readers, leaving them to judge
their value for themselves, and at the same time, we wish to do
justice to all our correspondents' information.

Haematopus ostralegus, L. Oyster-catcher,

Orc.=Sceolder.

Very abundant in most places in the breeding season, but much
scarcer in the winter, almost becoming a rare bird then. At
Skaill they are not so numerous, and, when seen, are either in
small flocks of eight or ten, or in pairs. Mr. Eeid mentions
one killed at Shapinsay, on the 9th of January 1864, as if it
was a rarity at that season.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue remarks that the Oyster-catchers feed
principally by boring with their beaks down into the sand for
cockles, and by forcing limpets off the rocks, and then picking
out the mollusc. At Swanbister they do not, as a rule, number
more than eight or ten in a flock.

Family SCOLOPACHXE.
Recurvi rostra avocetta, L. Avocet,

Beyond the bare statement in the 4th edition of Yarrell, vol. iii.
p. 301, that the Avocet has occurred in the Orkneys, we have
no other notice of its having been found there.

BIRDS. 207

Himantopus candidus, Bonnat. Black-winged Stilt.

With the exception of the two mentioned by Messrs. Baikie and
Heddle as having been killed at Lopness, Sanday, in 1814, we
have no record of this species in Orkney.

Phalaropus hyperboreus, L. Red-necked Phalarope,
Orc.=Half-web (B. and H.).

First recorded as a British species by Pennant in 1769, from a
specimen sent from Stronsay.

In a paper by T. W. Simmonds, read before the Linnean
Society in June 1804, that gentleman first records the breeding
of this species in Great Britain, having found it in Sanday and
North Ronaldsay, though he was unfortunately unable
actually to find the nests themselves. As this paper has not
often been quoted, we extract the following paragraphs : —

"It might have been doubted that the female was more
beautiful, and even somewhat larger, than the male, had not
the size, etc., of the sexual organs been sufficiently evident to
prevent the possibility of a mistake."

"Six females and two males were dissected. From the
small size of the ovaria, the thickness and length of the oviduct
of the female, and large flaccid testes of the male, it was con-
cluded that the eggs had not been long laid, and that the
males were not young ones, as their less bright plumage at
first gave reason to suspect."

" From the deficiency of feathers on the belly of the male,
from the duller plumage, from the very few that appeared, and
from the difficulty which these required to be driven from those
tufts where the nests perhaps were, would it be absurd to sup-
pose that the males alone perform the business of incubation 1"

" As none of the inhabitants had observed them before, they
had no provincial name, nor was it possible to ascertain whether
they frequented any of the other islands."

"If upon more accurate inquiry this should prove to be a
new species, perhaps there would be no objection to the name
Williamsii, as it is to the liberality of Mr. J. Williams, of
Dartford, that I am indebted for the discovery."

208 BIRDS.

Simmonds, it appears, accompanied Eobert Stevenson, the
celebrated engineer, on one of his annual inspections of the
northern lighthouses.

Bullock, writing to Montagu, says that he found this
Phalarope common in the marshes of Sanday and Westray in
the breeding season. It is mentioned in the New Statistical
Account of Orkney as being found in Walls and Flotta, and also
as breeding in North Ronaldsay.

We extract the following from Mr. Salmon's diary, 1831 :
"June 12th. On the island of Sanda — in going towards
Burness, in a small loch we found the Red-necked Phalarope
(Phalaropus fuscus). We saw several pairs of these beautiful
little birds ; they were perfectly tame. Although we shot two
pairs, those that were swimming about did not take the least
notice of the report of the gun, and they seemed to be much
attached to each other, for immediately one of them flew to a
short distance the other directly followed, and a female that I
held in my hand that was wounded, its mate came and fluttered
before my face. We were much gratified in observing the
motions of these elegant little creatures as they kept swimming
about, and were for ever dipping their bills into the water, and
appeared not to take the least notice of us, although within a
a few yards of them. After some little difficulty we were very
fortunate in finding their nests, which were placed in small
tufts of grass that were growing close to the edge of the loch,
and composed of dry grass, about the size of a Tit-lark (Alauda
pratensis), but much deeper. The eggs are considerably smaller
than those of the Dunlin (Tringa alpina), and beautifully
spotted all over with brown. They had only just commenced
laying, as we found only from one to two eggs in each nest,
but we were informed that their usual number is four. They
are called 'Half Web.'"

R. Dunn found the bird in Sanday, Westray, and again
on the Mainland at a loch in Sandwick, but seems to have
exterminated them, or at least did his best to do so, at the
latter place, as he says : " about a week afterwards we got five
birds, being all that we could find."

We quote the two following extracts from Wolley's Egg

BIRDS. 209

Books, as showing the gradual decrease of this bird in those
days : —

" Two specimens, blown with one hole, and a bit of paper
pasted over the hole. . . . These two eggs brought to me at Cam-
bridge Terrace this morning, December 8th, 1851, by Mr. Charles
Hubbard of Ditchburgh, Norfolk, the inventor of the portable
gutta-percha boat. He visited Sanday where he saw Mr. Strang
of Lopness. There were then very few Phalaropes, and he paid
strict attention to the wishes of the proprietors. These were the
only two eggs he received this year of the bird, they were both
in the same nest in the island of Sanday — and his correspondent
could find no more." (Wolley, Egg-Book, iv. p. 580.)

Again, Wolley writes in his Egg-Book —

"Ked-necked Phalarope. Sanday, Orkney, 1853.— Three
others (eggs) sent by post to T. Edge from William Kirk, of
Start Point Lighthouse, with a letter, which I have somewhere "
(747). Mr. W. Kirk writes—

"Start Point Lt. H., 7th Oct. 1854. SIR,— I am sorry I have
only found two eggs this summer, as that bird has become very
scarce, but next year they may be more numerous, etc., etc."

These eggs seem to have been broken in transmission.

The following is an extract from some of our notes : —

"The Eed-necked Phalarope seems to have been pretty
common in Sanday about twenty-five years ago. At that time
a party landed from a ship and destroyed the greater part
of them. None were seen at the locality for ten years after-
wards, until last summer (1880), when six frequented one of
the lochs for some time. Our informant seemed certain they
had bred there."— From Mr. Vaughan, 16/11/80.

In a letter from Dr. W. Traill of N. Ronaldsay to Mr.
Spence, dated May 1882, he says —

" I am not aware of the Eed-necked Phalarope having been
here since about 1833 or 4, when I remember shooting a pair
of them, which, I believe, are now in the College Museum in
Edinburgh. I, however, saw one or two, not long ago, in
Sanday, which were shot by Captain Harwood on his property

there. I am sorry I cannot get the eggs here ; possibly D

L may know something about them."

0

210 BIRDS.

Mr. Spence was informed by Mr. Duncan Eobertson, that
when he was in Sanday in July 1879 he shot a specimen of this

bird in a pool near . The same day he saw three

others, old birds, and, in another place, a pair of old birds with
five or six (sic) newly-hatched young ones. Mr. Robertson adds :
" I have only once seen one on the Mainland, and that was shot
at the loch of Carness about thirteen years ago."

Our own experience of this bird in Orkney in 1888 is as

follows. Landing on , we met our valued correspondent,

Mr. Harvey, who had come over on business. He showed us first
of all a small pool near the sea-beach covered with a white
flowering plant and some bushes and long grass growing in it,
where, the previous year, two old birds had been shot by a
gentleman before the young could fly; there were no birds
there at the time of our visit. We then went across to another
small loch, where Mr. Harvey had already seen some of these
birds, and where, to our great delight, we found some seven or
eight. We hunted for their nests, but could not find any;
probably we were too early, and, in any case, our time was too
limited to make a very thorough search. As always described,
the birds were very tame, swimming about after insects, some-
times going along the water with outstretched neck as if stalk-
ing one, at another time leaping up as if to take one off a reed.

We were informed by a correspondent that the Phalaropes
are at last beginning to get up their numbers now in some
places since their almost total extermination, and it is earnestly
to be hoped that such slaughter may not occur again.

Phalaropus fulicarius, L. Grey Phalarope,

A rare visitant, and we have only one or two notes of specimens
obtained.

One we saw in the collection of Mr. Denison of Brough, in
July 1888, which had been obtained in the island of Sanday.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue shot one at Swanbister on October
26th, 1881 ; it was exceedingly tame, and fluttered on the slight
ripple breaking on the beach, just where the waves were actually
curling over, apparently seeking food. Another was shot in

BIRDS. 211

Stromness Harbour by Mr. Robertson of that town in October
1884, as Mr. Millais informs us.

Scolopax rusticola, L. Woodcock,

The first mention of this bird as an inhabitant of Orkney seems to
have been made by Low in his Tour, where, at p. 51, he says,
speaking of Holm : " And I have heard of straying Woodcocks
found here, but this I cannot affirm with certainty, as I myself
have never* observed any of this species in Orkney."

Dunn says that the Woodcock is occasionally seen in
Orkney, but only remains for a day or two. Baikie and
Heddle, however, mention it as remaining all the winter.

Mr. Watt of Skaill says he has only shot one Woodcock in
his parish, and that the only one he ever saw — it was in
November 1875. Mr. Watt adds that a few arrive every year
in the Stromness hills in October and November.

Mr. Eanken's father, writing in 1860, has the note that he
shot many Woodcocks in Orkney during the last twenty years,
and adds that the late Mr. Heddle of Eday obtained five brace
there in one day.

On March 4th, 1 887, Mr. Eanken flushed seven birds close
together at Canwick, Eday.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says, under date of December 1887 :
"These (Woodcocks) are now more numerous, and a few
remain to breed in Hoy. One year, about 1873 or 4, twenty-
six couple were killed on the Hobbister shootings in a fort-
night."

Mr. Barnett, Crown Chamberlain, informed Mr. Spence
that his ferrets put a Woodcock out of some whins at Quanter-
ness on 1st January 1877. He saw three at the same place in
January 1878, and one in Sanday in October of the same year.
On the 16th June 1879 a Woodcock with a broken wing was
caught by his children at Quoybank. The wound was nearly
healed, but the bone was quite healed. He let it go at Mud-
diesdale. The bird must have been wounded during the winter,
and so been unable to leave the country.

212 BIRDS.

Mr. Harvey informs us that a few Woodcocks are seen
yearly in October on Sanday, but only for a few days.

In the winter of 1886-7 Mr. E. S. Cameron shot seven
Woodcocks on his shootings of Burgar, on the Mainland.

When Buckley was in Eousay in 1883, up to December
10th no Woodcocks had been seen, but, some time after his
departure, the keeper sent him one or two. He was told that
they appear more numerously in moderately hard weather, but
should it get too severe they all leave.

In 1888 we were told by the Kousay keeper that Wood-
cocks bred there, and that there were at least two nests near
Trumbland, the eggs having been seen by him. Mr. Moodie-
Heddle has since informed us that, at times, Woodcocks are
very abundant in Hoy, and he has known of between thirty
and forty birds being flushed there in a single day, though six-
and-a-half brace was his best bag.

Gallinago major (Gmel). Double Snipe,

By all accounts a very rare bird in Orkney, and we have few
authentic instances to record since Baikie and Heddle's time.

Mr. Cowan says he has only seen one in forty years. Mr.
W. Keid informs us that Mr. Calder shot a Double Snipe in
Shapinsay, in September 1863.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle writes us he has killed this species
twice or thrice in Hoy; and Mr. Watt shot one near Skaill,
at the pools of Mire, in either 1864 or 1865, the only one he
ever saw.

Gallinago ccelestis (Frenzel). Common Snipe,
Ore. = Horse-gowk (B. and H.)

Though still fairly abundant, and breeding in all the islands and
holms, yet the Snipe is getting a scarce bird in Orkney in
comparison to what used to be the case. All the evidence of
our correspondents tends to this, and in most cases these gentle-
men ascribe it in great measure to the one cause, viz., the
very severe winters of 1878-9 and 1880-81. This goes a long

BIRDS. 213

way to prove what Mr. Gold, Lord Zetland's factor, considers
to be the case with the Orkney Snipe, i.e. that they are resident
to a very large extent. Of course, other causes have contri-
buted to their scarcity, such as drainage of their breeding and
feeding grounds, egging, and the increasing number of
" gunners."

The largest bag Mr. Gold can ever remember being made
by one man, was 47^ couple, killed by a Mr. Farrar.1 Mr.
Gold and two friends once killed fifty brace in a day, and Lord
Zetland has shot 22 J couple in about three hours in South
Eonaldsay. Great numbers of Snipe frequent a loch at
Burwick in the last-named island, and Mr. Gold has seen at
least 100 of these birds flying from the loch to the sea-shore
close at hand. At first he took them for Golden Plover, there
were so many together.

In 1883 Buckley found Snipe abundant in Rousay, more
so, perhaps, in August and September than at any other time,
their visits in any quantity after that date being very uncertain.
Both in that year and in 1888, we found them breeding on
almost every island we visited, though perhaps less commonly
in the latter year.

Mr. Watt of Skaill writes us that Snipe were numerous in
his parish before the pools of Mire, Scarwell, and Bain were
drained, the first-named place having been a favourite nesting
ground of theirs.

As is well known, Snipe breed until very late in the season.
Mr. Moodie-Heddle once found a nest with the eggs just hatch-
ing, on 23d September 1858.

The last-named gentleman sends us the following account
of a Snipe he kept in his garden : "I once found a Snipe with
one wing half off, but quite healed. It was healthy and in
good condition It tried to rise at my feet, and tumbled over,
making a great screaming. I carried it home and put it in a
walled garden of one acre in extent, where it lived for about
a year, getting over the winter. We left a few rows of peas
standing, as it liked to go among them. It then disappeared,

1 Mr. Heddle's father had a note of forty-five couple being killed by one gun
in a day.

214 BIRDS.

taken, I suppose, by a cat. It became fairly tame, but never
familiar. It would not trouble itself to run much out of the
way, and, if lifted, would sit quietly in the hand, but it never
came to a person."

Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie sends us an account of the occurrence
in Papa Westray of that variety of the common species known
as Sabine's Snipe, which he unfortunately was unable to pro-
cure ; this was in December 1889.

Gallinago gallinula (L). Jack Snipe.

A common winter visitor, at times arriving as early as the middle
of September, though October is the more usual period.

Tringa maculata, Fieill. Pectoral Sandpiper,

On August 26th, 1889, a Pectoral Sandpiper was shot at the loch
of Burness, Westray, by Mr. F. Monteith-Ogilvie, who has
kindly sent us a notice of it. Mr. Monteith Ogilvie skinned the
bird, and sent it to Mr. Gunn, Norwich, to be set up : here the
bird was identified by Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., who also came
to the conclusion that it was an adult female. The body has
been preserved in spirits.

As the Pectoral Sandpiper is a very rare bird in Scotland,
we give the whole account as it appeared in the Zoologist.

" The Pectoral Sandpiper in Orkney. — On the 28th August
I received a freshly-skinned example of the Pectoral Sandpiper,
Tringa maculata, Vieillot, together with the body, for dissection,
from Mr. F. Monteith-Ogilvie, and as this species is of rare
occurrence in the British Islands the following particulars of its
capture, kindly furnished by Mr. Ogilvie, will be of interest : —
* This bird was secured when Snipe-shooting round the edge of
a loch in Westray, Orkney, Aug. 26th, 1889, strong W.N.W.
breeze a week before. It rose in company with two or three full
Snipe, without calling, and I imagined it was a Jack Snipe
which had arrived earlier than usual. I shot at two of the full
Snipe, missing the second one, and I then became aware that
the bird flushed with the Snipe was calling a note which I did

BIRDS. 215

not recognise ; it seemed to be a short double note, or perhaps
a single one repeated twice in quick succession. I watched the
bird, and after a long flight it pitched straight down, as snipe
will generally do, into the rushes at the east end of the loch.
I walked round, but finding the ground extremely boggy, took
off my boots and stockings, and struggled along as well as I
could, often sinking over my knees in the soft mud, towards the
spot where I had marked it down. The " going " grew worse at
every step, and just as I was about to turn back, fairly beaten,
the bird rose behind me, and but for its curious call would have
escaped. As it was, I could only turn round with the greatest
difficulty, owing to both my legs being firmly imbedded in the
mud, but a rather lucky shot brought it down, and without
much further trouble it was brought to bag. The bird was thin
and in poor condition ; unfortunately I was unable to weigh it,
as the only obtainable scales had no weight under J Ib. I took
the following measurements : — length from tip of bill to end of
tail, 9 — 91 in., and from carpal joint to end of longest primary,
5J in.; irides very dark brown; legs and toes yellowish green,
rather more yellow than green. I send you a sketch, showing
colour a few hours after death, and the body of bird for
dissection.' In plumage the bird appeared to be adult, having
the arrow-pointed markings on the breast-feathers, the principal
distinction between the adult and immature of this species (see
Yarrell, 4th ed., vol. iii. p. 372). The tail consists of twelve
feathers, the two centre ones extending about a quarter of an
inch beyond the others. The legs, as stated by Mr. Ogilvie,
were decidedly yellowish green, which differs from Mr. Saunders's
description, who states these parts to be yellowish brown. The
bird, on dissection, proved to be a female, the ovary containing
a large number of minute eggs. The stomach contained
remains of small coleoptera and grit. — T. E. GUNN (St. Giles-
Street, Norwich.)"

Tringa alpina, L. Dunlin,

Ore. = Plover Page (B. and H.)

Found on every island and holm we visited, breeding everywhere
throughout the Orkneys, and nowhere more abundantly than

216 BIRDS.

in Sanday, and at the south-west point of the island of Viera,
where we obtained many nests. The Dunlin seems much
commoner in summer than winter, comparatively few remaining
through the latter season.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle sends us the following note : —
" This is a most interesting and intelligent bird. Hoy
Lodge is about 220 feet above the sea and beside a small stream
on the edge of a moor, and a pair or two of Dunlins breed
close by. They get remarkably tame, and will sit on a piece of
iron bar fence, close to a person working in the garden — within
a few feet — uttering their curious piping cry. They show
evident inquisitiveness as to the work being done. After
the breeding season, should there be a gale, they will some-
times come to the windows at night and tap until let in.
They are not, however, so tame as the Redshanks, which will, if
put out again by hand at the kitchen door, return and force
their way to the fire, until they are sure the gale is over.
Of course I never kill or annoy these birds, and pass daily
within a few feet of their nests."

Tringa minuta (Leisl). Little Stint.

We have but few notes of this bird to give ; though, probably
from its insignificant appearance, it escapes the notice of any
person but a naturalist, and may be commoner than is supposed.

The late Mr. Heddle left a MS. note that one was seen at
Lopness in 1848.

Mr. Ranken informs us that he obtained four specimens out
of a flock of about thirty small waders at Sanday in September,
ten or twelve years ago (writing in 1888). They were feeding
among the seaweed along the beach. He has never seen the
bird since.

Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie sends us the following notes : —

"Aug. 24th, 1889.— Round the shore (of Papa Westray) to-
day. Shot a Little Stint. ... I don't think these Stints are very
rare in Orkney ; I am sure I have seen others since I have been
here. I believe they escape notice with many others (Waders)
amongst the large flocks of Ringed Plover, etc. Everything

BIRDS. 217

below the size of a Whaup is massed together under the phrase
'one of those sma' birdies/ and is taken no notice of by the
natives."

"The said 'sma' birdies,' that I saw, consisted of large flocks
of Ringed Plover, with, rather to my astonishment, only quite a
few Dunlins, perhaps one in a hundred. . . . Two Stints (I believe),
together with a number of Ringed Plover feeding in a kind of
muddy swamp just above high water ; another feeding on the
edge of the receding tide. These three birds were, I think,
only wild through being in company with those wretched
Ringed Plover. The one I did shoot I managed to separate,
and then it was quite tame."

Tringa striata (L.). Purple Sandpiper.

From the letters of some of our correspondents this species would
seem to be considered by them only an occasional visitant to
Orkney. On January 30th, 1845, the late Mr. Ranken killed
eight at one shot from a mixed flock of Dunlins, Turnstones,
and Ring Dotterel. Mr. Moodie-Heddle killed them at Mel-
setter in 1867,, and has not seen any since.

When in Rousay in 1883 we considered the Purple Sand-
piper as the most abundant of all the small waders, and it may
be from its habit of always sitting on stones or rocks, and
never, or at least very rarely, on sand or mud, that it is less
noticed and killed by the shore gunner. Dunn notes it as com-
mon in the Orkneys, which agrees with our own observations.

Amongst a few birds that we saw in the house of Mr.
Lennie, birdstuffer, Kettletoft, Sanday, was a Purple Sand-
piper, and we also picked up a wing of one of these birds on
the same island.

Mr. Millais has observed this species about the Black Craig,
Stromness, as late as the end of June.

Under date of November 25th, 1889, Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie
writes us : —

"Flights of Purple Sandpipers keep coming in from the
east, as that seems to be where they are coming from. There
were comparatively only a few that I saw about the shores till

218 BIRDS.

this date, and now they are excessively common, often thirty
or forty huddled together on some rock that the tide is just
covering."

Tringa canutus (£.). Knot.

Only a casual visitant to these islands. We have notes of their
having been killed near Skaill in one or two instances, and also
Mr. Irvine-Fortescue has seen them occasionally in the neigh-
bourhood of Swanbister, but not for some years (1887). Mr.
F. Boyes of Beverley also informs us that he killed a Knot at
Stroinness in the autumn of 1866.

Mr. Cameron, late of Burgar, has an immature specimen in
his collection of Orkney birds. Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie saw three
Knots at Papa Westray on August 17th, 1889, and shot one.
He also saw a flock of about twenty in Sanday in December of
the same year, and shot some half-dozen for eating.

Machetes pugnax (Z.). Ruff.

From all accounts a rare bird in Orkney. The late Mr. Kanken
mentioned that he had shot both sexes in the islands. The
latest killed, of which we have received a notice, was shot
by Mr. Watt near Skaill at the end of September or beginning
of October 1887.

In 1887 a pair of these birds was said to have bred at
Tankerness. Mr. Cameron of Burgar kindly investigated the
matter for us, and found out that this was a mistake, and that
the pair of birds which had bred there, whatever they might
have been, were certainly not of this species.

Mr. Millais informs us that as he was returning home to
Stromness one evening at the beginning of August 1888, having
expended his last cartridge on a Snipe, he came across a Ruff
and two Keeves in some cultivated ground near Stenness. They
were perfectly tame, and allowed him to come within a few
yards of them.

BIRDS. 219

Calidris arenaria (L.). Sanderling.

A note by the late Eobert Heddle, one of the authors of the
Fauna Orcadensis, states that " the Sanderling has been observed
in Sanday and Stronsay," and Mr. Harvey says that it is an
occasional visitant to the former island.

Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie, when at Sanday in December 1889,
found a good many Sanderlings with Dunlins and Ringed
Plovers, and shot one for identification.

Totanus hypoleucus (L.). Common Sandpiper.

Neither Low nor Dunn makes any mention of this species.
Though not mentioned by Baikie and Heddle in their work as
being more than an occasional visitant to Orkney, yet a MS. note
left by the latter author shows that he became aware that the
Common Sandpiper bred in the islands. Less abundant than it is
in many parts of the Highlands, yet we met with this species on
several occasions in Hoy, Eousay, and the Mainland. In this
latter island Mr. Irvine-Fortescue pointed out to us the bird
sitting on its nest, close to Swanbister. The nest was in a hole in
a rather steep bank, its position thus differing in some degree
from that in which we have usually found it in Sutherland.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue informs us that he once flushed a
Sandpiper off her nest after a heavy night's rain. The nest was
filled with water, while the two eggs were up on the edge of
the nest. The bird, finding the water rising in the nest, must
have pushed the eggs up out of the nest, and then continued
sitting on them.

Totanus calidris (L.). Redshank.

Very common, and resident the whole year round, breeding
abundantly through all the islands and holms. They are fond
of haunting the grass-fields and damp meadows, the young ones,
in such situations, lying as close as snipe. When flushed they
show much more white, and that of a clearer colour, than the
old birds. In winter they are fond of feeding in the same damp
places near the sea as the snipe do, and, from never being shot
at, are very tame.

We extract the following from a letter written us by Mr.

220 BIRDS.

Moodie-Heddle in answer to a question we put to him in
reference to the extraordinary tameness of this bird, mentioned
in a former letter : —

" I think the Redshanks were attracted to the light of the
kitchen window in the storm, and once inside, finding they
were not injured, declined to face the gale again. The
last occasion one came in was about three months since,
when I was from home; the cook took it to the back-door,
and it would not go out, but ran back past her to the
kitchen. There it kept running about, but quite quiet, till, when
she went to bed, fearing its doing damage, she placed a per-
forated wire garden-seat over it, which was just like a cage.
The morning was fine, and when she let it out it flew away. I
saw the same thing here nearly a year ago, and once before at
Hobbister, with Eedshanks. In both places they bred near the
house, and kept about a stream within twenty-five or thirty
yards of the door. The Redshank is knowing, and can look out
for itself when shot at ; but it is an intelligent bird, as any one
will find out who attempts to stalk seals or plover, etc., near
one. It not only sounds an alarm, but will, like the gulls, go
and purposely alarm the object of pursuit."

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says he has frequently seen small
flocks of from three to seven or eight Redshanks alight on the
water and swim, especially amongst floating seaweed.

Once, in February 1888, the same gentleman saw several
alight on the water, thirty or forty yards from the beach, and
about the same distance from the nearest seaweed, the water at
that place being three or four feet deep. They swam about for
a minute or so, and then rose easily from the water and flew off.
There was a considerable ripple on the water at the time.

Tetanus fuscus (L.). Spotted Redshank.

The only note we have of this species is, that one was sent by
Strang to Dr. Duguid from Sanday in September 1849.

Totanus canescens (Gmel). Greenshank,

From what our correspondents write us, the Greenshank is a fairly
common autumn migrant, but very rare in the spring.

BIRDS. 221

Mr. Watt has shot several at Skaill, always at the end of
August or beginning of September; the last he got were in
1884.

Mr. Keid killed some in Sanday at the end of September
1863; and the late Mr. Strang of Lopness told Mr. Spence
that he thought about twenty brace of these birds were annually
shot in that island.

In the spring of 1883 we heard a Greenshank in Rousay, the
only occasion on which we met with the species in Orkney.

Limosa lapponica (L.). Bar-tailed Godwit.
Orc. = Tang Wliaup (B. and H.).

We have received very few notices of the occurrence of this species.

Low in his Tour, page 51, mentions having shot several
God wits about the shores of Holm, " being not at all shy, and
easily come at ; this species is but scarce in Orkney, flying in
flocks of a dozen, only seen in winter." This would most likely
refer to the present species.

Mr. Watt has met with this species on the sands of Skaill,
but marks it as rare.

Mr. Harvey says it is an occasional autumn visitant to
Sanday, and we saw a stuffed specimen in the collection of Mr.
Denison of Brough in that island. Another was caught there
on October 28th, 1878, by Mr. James Barnett, with its wing
cut off by the telegraph wire.

There is also a Bar-tailed Godwit stuffed, and in the
possession of Mr. Scarth of Binscarth.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue shot one out of a flock of half-a-dozen,
at Tankerness, on February 27th, 1885, the only occasion on
which he saw the bird. The skin is now in his possession.

Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie shot a bird of this species in Sanday
on December 4th, 1889, the only one he saw, but he was told
they were common (probably during the migration).

Limosa aegocephala (L.). Black-tailed Godwit.

[Obs. This bird is mentioned by Messrs. Baikie and Heddle as
occurring in the Orkneys, but they give no dates or particulars.

222 BIRDS.

As the species is so extremely rare in the north, we having only
seen one sent in for preservation to Mr. Macleay in Inverness
during many years, we prefer to include it in brackets, until we
receive more satisfactory evidence.]

Numenius phaeopus (L). Whimbrel.
Ore. = Little Whaup (Low).

Low does not mention the Whimbrel in his Tour, though in his
Fauna he appears to confound this species with the next.

Dunn in his Guide says both this and the Curlew are alike
in manner and habits, they do not associate together, although
he found their nests within shot of each other, and that they
are equally numerous. As Dunn wrote his Guide for both
Orkney and Shetland, it is probable he has here confounded
both the birds and the places, at any rate later observation
does not bear out his statement of the abundance of this species
in Orkney.

In 1831, Salmon visited the Orkneys, and, in a paper
he wrote for Loudon's Magazine, he says that Whimbrels bred
sparingly in marshy places between hills in Hoy, but that on
June 3d1 they were too late for eggs, as they had hatched out ;
he supposed the young were concealed amongst the grass, as,
though he could not find them, the old birds were very noisy
overhead. The Curlew was not seen on any of the islands.

Messrs. Baikie and Heddle say it is a summer visitant, and
nearly as common as the Curlew, but in a later note by one of
the authors, he says : " much rarer, I have shot it in September
often " this modifies the statement in the book to a very great
extent.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle writes us from Melsetter : —

" Whatever may have been the case when Baikie and Heddle
wrote, I should say now that you do not see one of these birds
to twenty of the Common Curlew. It is very tame in the
breeding season, and betrays the neighbourhood of its nest more
than the Curlew, nor is it so bold in driving off other birds."

1 From all accounts and our own experience, this is about the date when these
birds are sitting.

BIRDS. 223

In another letter the same correspondent says : —

" Finding a nest is somewhat uncertain, as so few breed
here (Hoy). I have seen more on Eoithisholm Head, Stronsay,
at the breeding season, than elsewhere, i.e. I have seen three
or four pairs one day, some years ago."

Mr. Eanken says : — " A spring visitor, remaining to breed,
leaving as soon as the young are able to take their departure."

Mr. Watt writes us that he sees a few Whimbrels every
year about spring-time on the links of Skaill, but he never saw
either nest or young birds in Orkney.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue sees a flock of half-a-dozen or so every
spring of what he is sure are Whimbrels, but he never saw but
one bird in autumn, and that was killed the end of August or
beginning of September 1886. About 1868 he saw one or two
pairs in Walls (Hoy), which evidently had young.

From what we have just written we think it is clear that the
Whimbrel was never a really numerous bird in Orkney, and
that it is slowly decreasing in numbers as a breeding species ;
this our own observations made last summer (1888) bear
out. We ourselves only saw the Whimbrel on one occasion,
and that was on Papa Westray on June 23d. Here we saw
three birds, but none of them showed the slightest signs of breed-
ing, and we hunted all the uncultivated ground, as well as we
were able, to try and discover a nest. Four others haunted a
field near Burgar on the Mainland, during the first half of June ;
one of these was shot and proved to be a female, with very
small eggs in the ovary, nor did it show the slightest sign of
having bred.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle told us he saw a pair of Whimbrels not
far from Melsetter in 1887, which evidently had young, but none
came to the place the next season, as we went to investigate for
ourselves. Eisa Little, an island lying close to Hoy on the
north side, has also been mentioned as a breeding-place of the
Whimbrel, and Mr. Millais informed us that he saw two there
in 1888, but they did not remain to breed. Within the last
few years a very large colony of the Common Gull has taken
possession of this island, so that possibly they may have driven
the Whimbrel away.

224 BIRDS.

On July 4th, 1888, we landed at Roithisholm, Stronsay,
and carefully went over the greater part of the uncultivated
area, which consists to a large extent of stunted heather, in the
hopes of finding Whimbrels, but never saw the sign of one.
At another time we went, accompanied by Mr. E. S. Cameron
of Burgar, to a place near Tankerness, where Mr. Cowan said
these birds used to breed commonly, but again the result was
only disappointment. We were, however, shown an undoubted
Whimbrel's egg, which Mr. Cowan informed us had been taken
on the Mainland.

Mr. Harvey informs us that Whimbrels are autumn visitants
to Sanday.

In June 1889, hearing from Mr. Heddle that the Whimbrels
had returned to their old spot in Hoy, we went over to look for
the nest. We soon found the birds, and, after watching them
for some time, came to the conclusion that they had hatched off,
and we found what we took to be the tracks of the young birds
in some soft ground. The old birds were very tame, much more
so than the Curlew, and ran almost within a few yards of us,
uttering the regular Whimbrel note; when doing this, the bird
lowered its head almost on a level with its body.

Numenius arquata (L.). Curlew.
Ore. = Stock Wliaup. WTiaup.

The Curlew is a decidedly scarce bird in the breeding season
throughout Orkney. Low in his Tour mentions seeing many
Curlews when going through Hoy in May 1774, but in no other
place. Dunn's statements, as before mentioned under Whim-
brel, are too vague to be taken much into account, ' rather
plentifully distributed,' as regards Orkney, being hardly appli-
cable to this species at the present time.

Mr. Eanken says Curlews are numerous, remaining through-
out the year ; and they nest in the Birsay and Harray hills,
according to Mr. Watt of Skaill.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue, however, sends us more positive and
definite information ; referring to the parish of Orphir he says: —

" I have heard of three, possibly four, nests in this parish.
One on May 7th, 1887, on Swanbister, found by Mr. Halcro ;

BIRDS. 225

one 1886, Kirbister, and also probably another on Swanbister,
by W. Halcro; one 1885, on Hobbister. Before that I never
heard of it breeding in this parish."

To this we can add another instance of a nest taken in, or
close to, the same parish in 1888. Miss Flower, then residing
at Smoogroo, near Swanbister, told us that a herd-boy had
taken a Curlew's nest with either three or four eggs, which, of
course, he had eaten, in May of that year. So interested was
Miss Flower in this, that she took the trouble of going to see
the empty nest, which she described to us, and which was no
doubt a Curlew's. From these remarks it will be seen that
the Curlew is not a common breeding species all through
Orkney.

In Hoy the Curlew is much commoner, and whereas, in the
Mainland, we ourselves never met with it during the breeding
season, in the former island we saw several pairs that evidently
had eggs or young. This, however, was the only place where
we found it breeding, though we saw stray birds here and
there through the islands in June, and by the beginning of
July, on at least two occasions, we saw a considerable flock.
In autumn and winter this species is common enough along all
the coasts.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us he has often seen the Curlew
drive off Eichardson's Skua, and, rushing up behind it, give it
a " prod " with its long bill. In spite of its long, awkward-
looking bill, the Curlew eats quantities of the "Hill-berry"
(Empetrum nigrum), and is also, very fond of Swedish turnips,
when it can get at them through the skin being broken in any
way.

In 1883 Buckley saw a cream-coloured Curlew on the island
of Gairsay.

Mr. Eeid, innkeeper, S. Eonaldsay, informed us that, some
six or seven years ago, when hunting for an owl's nest in
Orphir, he saw six pairs of Curlews in the air at once, which he
thought were all breeding ; he, however, was not successful in
finding a nest.

In the collection of Mr. E. S. Cameron of Burgar is the
P

226 BIRDS.

largest Curlew we have ever seen. The dimensions of three
are here given to show the variation of size in this species :

Length, Wing, from Carpal to

exclusive of Bill. end of Longest Feather. Bill.

$ 14^ ins. ll| ins. 4£ ins.

£ 16| „ 12| „ 5| „

£ I7i „ 13 „ 6f „

Mr, Laird, a shoemaker in Kirkwall, and who in his spare
time collects eggs, told us that, until the year 1889 he had
never seen a Curlew on the Orphir hills, but that during this
season, while hunting for a nest of the Short-eared Owl, besides
a small flock of non-breeding birds, he saw several pairs which,
from their actions, he was sure were breeding.

Order 5. GAVIM.

Family LAEID-ffi.
Sub-family 8TERNIN&.

In writing about the terns of Orkney the same difficulty exists
here as elsewhere, viz., the almost impossibility of distinguishing
the Common and Arctic Terns on the wing, or at even a short
distance, unless by any one who has made these birds quite a
speciality. Not caring to carry a gun over the islands without
the sanction of the proprietors, we never procured any speci-
mens, and with a glass, even at short range, it is not easy
properly to identify them. All those, however, about which
we are quite certain had the whole bill coral-red, but the
number of colonies, many of which we were unable to visit, is
so large, that there might well be plenty of the so-called Common
Tern, especially when we remember that both species breed
on the Pentland Skerries.

Speaking of Orkney terns generally, Mr. Morgan, writing
in the Field of October 22d, 1881, mentions that the tern is

BIRDS. 227

"never seen to arrive, always coming when the weather is
thick. This year, instead of leaving in August, a large flock
was seen to pass over Kirkwall, going to the south-west, on
October 5th. This bird being so long in leaving, it is predicted
by old men as a sure sign of fine weather for some time."

Sterna macrura, Naum. Arctic Tern.
Ore. = Pickatarre.

A very abundant summer visitant, breeding more abundantly on
the smaller uninhabited holms than on the larger islands.

From a number of notes sent us by Mr. Irvine-Fortescue,
the terns appear to arrive with remarkable punctuality between
the 15th and 17th May, there being only one record as early
as May 6th. They rarely commence to lay before the first
week of June, and our experience of these birds in Orkney is
that they oftener lay two than three eggs. But out of seventeen
nests found by Mr. Irvine-Fortescue on the "Barrel of Butter "
nine contained the full complement of three. Their nests in
many places are so constantly harried that the young birds can
scarcely get off before the first week in August. The largest
colony we saw in 1888 was in Glimpsholm, and, on July 5th,
few nests contained more than one or two eggs.

As is now well known, terns are very " shifty " as regards
their breeding-places. Not far from the house at Melsetter is
a flat, on which, twenty years previous to 1888, no Terns had
bred. About that time a colony took possession of it, and bred
for fifteen successive years, when they deserted the place.
While on a visit there in 1881, Mr. Heddle told us this about
these terns, but on visiting the place together on May 30th, to
his astonishment, we found a few pairs had returned to their old
quarters, and, on a subsequent visit, their numbers had largely
increased. This is probably the only colony in the whole of Hoy.

In Sanday, terns breed commonly all over the wet and
uncultivated parts of the N.E. of the island, less'so in colonies,
than in most other places.

228 BIRDS.

Sterna fluviatilis, Naum. Common Tern,

Orc.=Pickatarre.

From what we can gather, either from our correspondents or
from books, the first undoubted record of the true Common Tern
from Orkney is that by Crichton, in 1860, who, in his Rambles
in the Orcades, page 81, expressly mentions killing both species
of tern at the Loch of Stenness.1

Mr. E. S. Cameron informs us that the Common Tern
breeds both on Eynhallow and the island of Damsay ; there are
also smaller colonies on the holms in the loch of Ground water,
in the parish of Orphir, at which place Mr. Cameron has pro-
cured both the birds and eggs. Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie found this
species breeding in 1890, at Holland Head in the east of the
Mainland.

Sterna minuta, L. Little Tern,

[Obs. — The statement by Messrs. Baikie and Heddle that this
species is not uncommon in Orkney, and is often observed in
Sanday in the breeding season, has not been confirmed by any
of our correspondents except Mr. Spence, who states that he
took eggs of the Little Tern on an island in Damsay Sound.
We ourselves have never seen this Tern there.]

Sterna cantiaca, Gm. Sandwich Tern,

On June 14th, 1888, Buckley paid a visit to the island of Damsay,
near Finstown, and, amongst many Arctic Terns and Black-
headed Gulls, he distinctly recognised a pair of Sandwich Terns,
being attracted by their note ; he was, however, unable to find
their nest, which, it is quite possible, may have been robbed by
some men who had landed on the island, without the proprietor's
leave, and gathered some eggs a day or two previously. The
birds were not seen by us the following year.

1 In a note under " Common Tern " the late Robert Heddle remarks, " Mr.
Dunn is right ; the Arctic is the commonest Tern in Orkney. " No doubt Heddle
was misled by the word "common," which he applied to the commonest species of
tern he met with, i.e. the Arctic. The adjective "common" has, we think, in
several cases been wofully misapplied in other cases than this. Witness the "Com-
mon Skua," certainly not the commonest species of its genus in the British Isles.

BIRDS. 229

Sub-family LARIN^E.

Gulls may almost be termed the staple commodity in birds
in Orkney, and notwithstanding their constant persecution at
the nesting season, still fairly hold their own, if, indeed, some
species may not be increasing, as the Common and Black-headed
Gulls.

Gulls have certain places on which they sit, and these may
be known by their green appearance, even amongst heather.
The reason of this seems to be that the gulls cast up the husks
of corn, on which they have been feeding, on these spots, and
this acts as a sort of manure to the ground. Mr. Moodie-Heddle
informed us that in Hoy there are nearly 120 acres thus used,
and that the castings represent many quarters of corn.

Gulls swallow large quantities of mussels, which their
gizzards break up easily, the remains of the shells being found
in their castings ; they also swallow " buckies," 1 but these shells
are cast up whole.

Enormous flocks of gulls are to be seen here and there
throughout the islands, even during the breeding season. Such
a flock we saw on Papa Westray, the birds composing it at first
sight seeming to be nearly all adults ; a closer inspection, how-
ever, showed them to be all, or nearly all, immature ; many of
them being in most interesting stages of plumage.

Pagophila eburnea (Phipps). Ivory Gull,

In addition to the specimens mentioned by Messrs. Baikie and
Heddle, our friend Mr. Eeid informs us that one was shot by
Mr. Eanken, Kirkwall, in 1849.

Eegarding the one killed by Strang in the Bay of Firth,
the late Eobert Heddle has this note: "Eun off with by
James Sinclair," probably the birdstuffer living at Kirkwall at
that time.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us that an Ivory Gull was kept
alive at Melsetter, but gives no date. This may be the one
mentioned by Gray in his Birds of the West of Scotland, p. 481.
1 Buckies : Anglicb, Periwinkle.

230 BIRDS.

Mr. T. S. Peace, Architect, Kirkwall, informed Mr. Ranken
that he has seen two specimens of this gull which he tried to
shoot, but in each case was unsuccessful. One bird was in the
Bay of Firth, the other in the Peerie Loch, close to Kirkwall.

Mr. Millais informs us that an immature Ivory Gull was
shot at Longhope by Mr. Robertson, in December 1886, and
stuifed by Mr. Begg of Stromness.

Some fishermen informed Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie that they
saw a white gull on the beach at Papa Westray, while he was
there in December 1889. They described it to him as half-way
in size between a Kitti (Kittiwake) and a " White Maa "
(Common Gull), and all white, with no black on the wings : the
Common Gulls kept mobbing it and driving it away. This
would most likely have been an Ivory Gull.

A later communication from Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie informs us
that an Ivory Gull, most likely the same bird just described,
was shot in Pierowall Bay, Westray, by Henry Drever, on
December 9th, 1889. It appears to be an immature bird, as there
are a few black spots on the back, only two or three on the breast,
the tips of the primaries are black, a few black feathers on the
head, and the little feathers round the gape are slate-coloured.

Larus ridibundus, L. Black-headed Gull,

Qrc.=RittocJc. Hoodie-craw (Low; and this name has been
perhaps imported from Caithness).

Observed by Low as breeding in S. Ronaldsay, and is a numerous
and resident species at this present time. In 1888 we visited
many breeding-places of this gull, the largest colony being in
K Eonaldsay. On the islands of Damsay and Eynhallow the
Black-headed Gull breeds in the driest places, some of the nests
on the latter island being quite as exposed as, and far less
carefully constructed than, those of the Common Gull. On a
small artificial island in the Loch of Skaill, these birds breed
so abundantly that it is almost impossible to put one's foot
down without treading on their eggs.

On February 29th, 1888, Mr. Irvine-Fortescue noticed these
gulls in all stages of assuming their black heads ; he also

BIRDS. 231

observes that, next to the Herring Gull, this is the commonest
gull all the year round in the Orkneys.

Mr. Cursiter informs us that there is a large colony of these
birds breeding at the Loch of Sandwick, on the Mainland. We
visited Damsay Island again in 1889, and, to our astonishment,
did not see a single one of this species breeding, or indeed, on
the island, where the year before we had found such a fine
colony.

In London's Magazine, Salmon mentions the Black-headed
Gull as breeding in Hoy, though not very numerous, and that it
invariably lays four eggs. At the present time we know of no
breeding-place of this bird in that island.

Larus minutus, Pall. Little Gull,

[Obs. — In reference to the Little Gull whose capture was reported
in Land and Water^ of March 6th, 1886, near Kirkwall, we have
a note from Mr. T. Eanken saying that he examined the bird
at Dr. Stewart's house, in whose possession it is, and he " finds
it to be a Black-headed Gull of the second year, and probably a
female."]

Larus canus, L. Common Gull,
Ore. = White, Maa. Sea Maa.

Very abundant and resident. During the breeding season this
species does not restrict itself so much to the smaller holms
and other out-of-the-way, or less accessible spots, as do some of
the other gulls ; nor does it, to our knowledge, breed in any of
the cliffs of the islands. This is one of the species that appears
to be on the increase. There was, in 1888, a very large colony
on the island of Bisa Little, which, we were informed, was a
new one ; we saw quantities of these birds flying or resting on
that island on our way from Melsetter to Hoy.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us that he had a tame Common
Gull which flew for years among the wild ones ; to prevent its
being shot by mistake, it had a piece of black ribbon tied round
one leg. It and a Herring Gull used to fly down from the

232 BIRDS.

garden with the under gardener, who used to feed them when
young, and roost all night on his house, flying up again in the
morning. This bird was also quite aware it would not be shot at,
and was not at all alarmed at the report of a gun : it would
hover within twenty yards after a shot, as if to see the result.
Salmon reports the Common Gull as only breeding in Hoy,
it was not numerous there, and only laid two eggs. (London's
Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. v. pp. 415-425.)

Larus argentatus, Gmel. Herring Gull,

Resident, and perhaps even more abundant than the last-named,
and in this all our correspondents are agreed. They breed
indifferently in rocks or on the ground, round the edges of
lochs, on the islands therein, or on the bare hill-side.

The Herring Gull is very noisy in March and April, and
its note is always connected in our minds with the commence-
ment of spring in the Highlands.

This species turns over clods of earth both for grubs and
grain, and at the same time scratches with its feet for the
latter. Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us he has had to re-sow
some three or four acres on that account.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue sends us the following curious incident.
"Mr. Halcro once saw a Herring Gull fall from a considerable
height, near Swanbister House. It lay a short time, then got
to its feet, and struggled backwards with its head low down.
It at last got rid of two eels which measured 21 and 15 inches
respectively. Each had been swallowed with a double about
the middle, and the head of the larger was considerably
digested. On getting rid of the eels, the gull rose and flew off."

Larus fuscus, L. Lesser Black-backed Gull.

A summer visitant, and, excepting in one or two localities, by no
means a numerous species, indeed, in our experience, the rarest
of all the more ordinary Laridse with the exception of its larger
cousin.

Although a few pairs are scattered here and there throughout

BIRDS. 233

the islands, we have found them numerous in two places only,
Walls in Hoy, and in Eousay. In the latter island it is be-
coming much scarcer on account of the war waged against it by
the keeper.

In Walls it is abundant, breeding about some of the hill
lochs, and on many of the lesser ridges, where we have often
seen their nests.

Writing us, under date of June 1889, Mr. Moodie-Heddle
says : " Here (referring to Hoy) any one can create a breeding-
place of the Lesser Black-backed Gull by burning a large tract
late in the season : the Gulls then come on the bare ground
through the following summer and autumn to catch moths and
winged insects which have no heather left to go down into.
They then usually begin to breed on the tufts of white moss
left unburnt, the following season. The breeding-places by the
Water of Hoy, and down to Pegal Burn, were thus formed
by accidental fires. No gulls bred there for many years
before, and we could kill 60 or 70 brace more grouse."

The statement by Messrs. Baikie and Heddle that this
species is commonest in winter is not borne out by our valued
correspondent Mr. Irvine-Fortescue, who expressly states that
he never saw one at that season. He notes that none had
appeared about Swanbister by the end of February 1888.

Larus marinus, L. Great Black-backed Gull.
Ore. = Black-lacked Maw. Swartback (Low).

Eesident and widely distributed, there being few islands that have
not a pair or two of these fine birds breeding on them.

On an island iu the Loch of Swannay Mr. E. S. Cameron of
Burgar informs us that there is a large colony of this species
breeding, and that they are so numerous there that twelve dozen
eggs have been taken at one time. The nests are situated in
the midst of bunches of yellow king-cup, nettles, wild sorrel
and rushes, and are made of dried grass and stalks. This is the
only colony known to us, but Mr. Millais informs us that there
is another on Skerry.

234 BIRDS.

Larus glaucus, Fdber. Glaucous Gull.

Since Messrs. Baikie and Heddle wrote their book one or two
more specimens of this gull have been got in Orkney. The
late Mr. Eanken shot one on June 22d, 1849, and presented it
to the Kirkwall Museum. At page 90 of his Rambles in the
Orcades Crichton mentions one shot by Dunn from the carcass
of a whale, in or about 1860. Another, in the collection of Mr.
Buchanan of the National Bank, Kirkwall, was shot at Sanday
by Mr. Barnett, Crown Chamberlain.

Mr. E. S. Cameron sends us a note of one killed near Kirk-
wall in the autumn of 1886 : and Mr. Millais has a specimen in
full summer plumage killed at Skaill in April 1880.

Buckley's keeper shot a fine adult in Rousay on Oct. 10th,
1883, and one or two were seen after that, but not many.

From this it would appear that neither this nor the Iceland
Gull, next in order, are such common winter visitants as might
have been expected.

Larus leucopterus, Fdber. Iceland Gull.

An infrequent winter visitant. We have notices of several that
have been shot or observed in Orkney, and we have seen one or
two stuffed specimens, both adult and immature, in different
private collections. A good many of these have been obtained
in the island of Sanday, and, writing in 1888, Mr. Harvey tells
us " only a few are to be seen in winter." On July llth, 1883,
Buckley saw one adult Iceland Gull on a skerry not far from
Kirkwall. Its remaining on the rock after the other gulls had
flown away drew his attention to it.

Rissa tridactyla (L.). Kittiwake.

Orc.=KitticJc or KittocL

To enumerate all the breeding stations of the Kittiwake in Orkney
would be a waste of time and of no practical utility. They
may be said to -.breed in all the islands that have suitable
localities for them ; perhaps one of the largest colonies, as well
as the best known, being that in the island of Copinsay, where,

BIRDS. 235

as we sailed past in Harvie-Brown's yacht, we saw these birds with
our glass come out of the cliffs like a great snow-drift.

We think, however, that the following facts, as told us by com-
petent observers, may prove of great interest and even of novelty
to most people. We quote verbatim the notes sent us by Mr. Watt
of Skaill on this species, the loch, which is fresh water, and the
locality referred to, being close to his house and on his own pro-
perty : " The line of flight of this gull in the nesting season is close
to the house. When building their nests it is a constant flight from
early morn until late at night, taking a track one way coming from
the headlands, and another returning. They pick up a fresh-water
weed, that is thrown up on our loch, for the purpose of making
their nests soft and comfortable. When their young are out the
same flight continues to and fro. I concluded that it was with food
for their young, so shot one to see what it was. The crop was full,
and on opening it, was astonished to find a mass of Daddy-long-legs,
like, at first sight, a ball of worsted. I have never again shot one,
and request others not to touch them."

The following is from Mr. Irvine-Fortescue, and, however
strange the fact may appear, we ourselves have no doubt that
that gentleman was perfectly right in his identification of the
species : " I once saw a pair (of Kitti wakes) in July which had
a nest with two young birds on the island in the loch of Skaill,
a most unusual site, I should think, for the nest of a Kittiwake.
The parent birds had dark legs and feet, so I could not have mistaken
them for the Common Gull."

We extract the following from Buckley's Diary: "June 12th,
1888 (Loch of Skaill). The most curious sight to me was to see num-
bers of Kittiwakes resting on the loch, which is about 300 yards from
the sea, the two nearest breeding-places being one and three miles
off. Mr. Watt, however, tells me he has occasionally seen a pair
breeding on the island with the Black-headed Gulls. I questioned
him particularly about this, and he was quite positive."

The following notes were made by ourselves in Eousay during
the season of 1883, and were partly published in the Proceedings of
the Glasgow Natural History Society : " Before beginning to make
their nests the Kittiwakes do not frequent the rocks much, but sit
in flocks on the water just below. When forming their nests one
bird seems to remain at home to guard the materials collected,

236 BIRDS.

generally sea-weed of some sort, while the other forages for it.
As soon as the bird arrives with the weed it drops it on the
ledge, and the other takes it up in its bill, places it where it wants
it, and then stamps it down. After a short rest and a few little
interchanges of an amicable nature, the first bird drops lightly off
the ledge and flies off for more material. Every now and then
a bird will commence its cry of 'Kitti-ake, Kitti-ake,' which is
taken up by the others near it until the noise is quite deafening.
A stranger lighting near the nest of another bird is instantly
driven off, and this occasions another outcry of 'Kitti-ake.' A
bird in immature plumage, but not of the year, was not allowed
to land on the ledges, but was driven off immediately it tried
to settle. This was the only immature bird seen until the young
began to leave the nest."

"The young Kittiwake is fed in a manner something similar
to a pigeon. The old one arrives and sits on the edge of the
nest, its neck largely distended with food, remaining there for
some time as if ruminating. Presently she pubs her head down
and shakes herself, probably as soon as she feels the food is

BIRDS. 237

sufficiently macerated; she then opens her mouth, and the
young one puts its bill into hers, and takes out the food,
and this is done until it is satisfied. The old bird never
feeds the young until she has sat some time on the ledge, how-
ever importunate it may be, no doubt because she feels the
food is not in a fit state for it to digest easily."

In 1889 we again visited the Loch of Skaill, and saw, as
before, hundreds of Kittiwakes, some on the shore, some on
the water, others again sitting on the stones of which the small
artificial island is composed. They kept rather apart from the
colony of Black-headed Gulls which were breeding on the
island, sitting on the stones outside their breeding zone.

Sub-family STERCORAEIINJE.
Stercorarius catarrhactes (£.). Common Skua.

A very uncommon visitant to Orkney. Messrs. Baikie and Heddle
only mention two instances of its occurrence, and since then
it seems to have been very rarely observed. Strang of Lop-
ness had a tame one, caught at sea, and having the webs of
its feet cut when taken. Writing from Sanday in 1888, Mr.
Harvey says they are very seldom seen there ; but that three
years before two Skuas killed some tame ducks on the loch at
Northwall.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle saw a Common Skua off Stromness in
November 1887, and another a few days after at the same place.

Stercorarius pomatorhinus (Tern.). Pomatorhine Skua.

Apparently a very scarce bird here. One shot in Rousay on
November 7th, 1881, was sent to Mr. Small, Edinburgh, for
preservation. Another was shot on the same island by General
Burroughs' keeper in 1886.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle killed a Pomatorhine Skua at Longhope
in the winter of 1880-1, which was shown at the Fisheries
Exhibition in Edinburgh ; it was given to Bailie Peace, Kirk-
wall.

238 BIRDS.

On this Skua Mr. Millais writes us : — " An occasional
autumn visitor in October. One was chasing a Kittiwake in
the harbour of Stromness, and in its excitement dashed up
against one of the lamps on the pier, and stunned itself. It
was picked up by a boy and given to Mr. James Sutherland,
who gave it to a tourist. The Pomatorhine Skua bred, or was
supposed to have bred, in Hoy, along with Richardson's Skua, up
to about 1860, but after that it does not appear to have been
there. Mr. Begg tells me he recollected the species well." l

We have italicised the above words ourselves, and for our
reasons we refer our readers to page 151 of A Fauna of the Outer
Hebrides, where it is stated that the Pomatorhine Skua in fully
adult plumage occurs not uncommonly on the west coast there,
but does not breed.

Stercorarius crepidatus (Banks). Richardson's Skua.
Ore. = Scoutie-allan.

Low remarks that this is a common bird during the summer, but
he never saw the nest, from which we may conclude that it did
not breed on the Mainland, or at least not commonly, in his
day.

Dunn, in his Guide, gives the holm of Eddy (Eday) as the
principal breeding-ground of this species in Orkney, but, from
what we could learn, none breed there now. Curiously enough,
Dunn makes no mention of their breeding in Hoy.2 In 1831
Salmon took a nest of Richardson's Skua in Hoy, as stated in
his Diary.

In a letter dated October 7th, 1840, Sheppard wrote Heys-
ham that this species was then very common in the neighbour-
hood of Stromness, and that he had shot many there.

Dr. J. F. M'Conaghy informed Mr. Spence that a specimen
of this bird was shot in Sanday in 1881. The Doctor adds : —
"Regarding this bird David Lennie, birdstuffer, Sanday, who
has a wide and. accurate knowledge of Orkney birds, tells me

1 See under Buffon's Skua. Mr. Begg seems to have confused his birds.

2 Unless indirectly, vide p. 63 of his Guide.

BIRDS. 239

that it formerly bred in the south end of Sanday, on the farm
of Store, but that, with the present exception, he has not seen
one, even on the wing, for years."

When in Orkney in 1888 we made special inquiries about
this bird, and from what we could gather from others, and
from our own observations, Richardson's Skua now only
breeds in the island of Hoy, and even there is limited to the
parish of N. Walls. Here they are abundant, several pairs
being generally found in pretty close proximity, and very often
establishing themselves amongst a colony of gulls, with whom
they live peaceably enough at their breeding stations. Odd
pairs may be found living by themselves, but, from our own
observations, in Hoy they seem to prefer company. The vexed
subject of the different plumages of this skua has been gone
into often enough, and we need here only remark that our own
observations fully bear out what has already been said, viz.,
that a black or white bird may be indifferently male or female.

While the eggs are fresh, the birds are by no means anxious
about them, unless one is accompanied by a dog, when they are
bold enough, but on only one occasion were we swooped down
upon when taking the eggs by ourselves.

All our nests were taken by either watching the old bird
go on to her eggs, or seeing her head amongst the grass and
heather whilst sitting on the nest ; and on few occasions, except
by stalking, did we get nearer than two hundred and fifty yards
or thereabouts, before she left her nest. On one occasion, after
robbing a nest, we lay down within sixty yards of it to watch
for another, and while lying there the old bird came and sat on
the empty nest. When disturbed off their nests the old birds
have a habit of sitting on the ground, and flapping their wings
like a Starling when whistling. So common are these skuas in
this locality that Mr. Heddle informed us he killed sixty in one
season, and that next year he could see no decrease in their
numbers. These birds were killed for the sake of the grouse,
as skuas harry and drive them off, they being great destroyers
of eggs and young. Indeed, only this last August (1888), Mr.
Moodie-Heddle wrote us that, having flushed a covey of grouse,
a skua made a pounce on one which it luckily missed by the

240 BIRDS.

grouse taking the heather at once. We may as well state here
that, as long as the skuas keep to their own ground, Mr.
Moodie-Heddle does not allow them to be interfered with, as he
is a strict preserver of all wild birds and beasts, as long as they
do not unduly increase, and thereby do damage to others.

In Sanday, Mr. Harvey writes us, Kichardson's Skua is seen
in spring and autumn.

In a paper on Orkney birds written by Salmon (1831),
for London's Magazine already referred to, under " Arctic Gull "
that gentleman says : " This we observed on every island, but
their principal breeding places were Hoy and Eday." Per-
sonally, we could obtain no certain information of their having
bred anywhere else than in Hoy.

Stercorarius parasiticus (£.). Buffon's Skua.

Apparently a very rare visitant to Orkney. One was obtained in
June 1849, by Hubbard in Sanday, eating worms. This in-
stance is recorded in a MS. note left by the late Robert Heddle.

On June 16th, 1881, a fine pair of these birds was shot in
Orkney, and sent to Sergeant Sandison, Wick, for preservation ;
they are now in the possession of Mr. W. H. Doeg, Manchester.
They were wrongly described by Mr. W. Reid, in Land and
Water, as Gull-billed Terns.

[Obs. — Mr. John Begg, Stromness, informed us that the
Buffon's Skua once bred in Hoy, and Mr. Moodie-Heddle kindly
interviewed Mr. Begg for us, and has sent us the following
statement : —

" Begg, however, described the bird very closely, the ex-
treme length of tail — and the wing looking narrower when
flying — and the bird somewhat smaller. He said this flight was
so different from the Richardson's Skua, that any one who was
accustomed to birds, and had once seen them, could pick them
out easily by that alone."

" He compared its flight to that of a Peregrine Falcon. He
said he thought it would be about thirty-five years ago since
they made their appearance — about a dozen of them, I understood
him to say — and they bred for four or five years on the wettest

BIRDS. 241

flat to the north of the Summer burn. (This is the farthest north
station in the island (Hoy) now, of Richardson's Skua.)"

" The Buffon's Skua then suddenly left."

"He (Begg) had secured about four Skuas during that time,
the most of which Hubbard had, he thought." — J. G. M.-H.,
in lit. May 8th, 1890.

We give Mr. Begg's information in full, as, as before-said,
we wish to do full justice to all the information we receive.
According to Saunders, the farthest south breeding limit of this
species is 62 J° K Lat., but the great bulk breed well in the
Arctic Circle. We have tried, with Prof. Newton's help, to trace
some of the specimens shot by Mr. Begg and sent to Hubbard,
but quite ineffectually.]

Order 6. TUBINARES.
Family PROCELLARIIDJE.

Procellaria pelagica, L. Stormy Petrel.

OYC.=Alamonti. (Low).

Low records the Stormy Petrel as breeding in Orkney. Amongst
other localities which he gives is Hunda, but this of late years
it seems almost to have deserted, as Mr. C. H. Warne informs
us that, in 1890, he could only obtain two or three eggs there
with the greatest difficulty, and after a two days' search. Mr.
Irvine-Fortescue has seen a few of these birds occasionally in
Scapa Flow, sometimes four or five together.

The Stormy Petrel breeds not uncommonly in various
other places, either under the loose, rather large stones on the
shore of the smaller holms, or in the crevices and holes
in the peaty soil which forms the top of these islands, the
entrance being usually, in the latter case, overhung with grass.
One's nose is a sufficient guide to find the places the petrels are
inhabiting, and it is little or no use searching for their eggs
when the strong odour of these birds cannot be perceived.
Strangely enough the grass seemed little disturbed by the birds
going in and out of these places. The note, which we often

Q

242 BIRDS.

heard when searching for eggs, is peculiar, and may be pretty
accurately rendered by the syllables " ti-tee-tik," repeated
several times in succession.

Procellaria leucorrhoa, Vleill. Leach's Petrel,

[Obs. — We have no actual record of specimens of this bird being
obtained in Orkney, but both Mr. Moodie-Heddle and his father
suspected that the bird occurred, having, as they thought, seen
it following other petrels with a N.W. gale.

Seeing that this petrel breeds not uncommonly in some of
the islands of the Outer Hebrides, its presence in Orkney might
be reasonably suspected.]

Puffinus anglorum (Temm.). Manx Shearwater.
Ore. = Lyrie.

We find Wallace mentioning the "Lyre" as "very fat and
delicious — so fat as you would take it to be all fat." He also
adds, " They roast it with the guts on a spit, that it may cut the
pleasanter (for it hath something of a fishie taste), and they
sprinkle it with ginger and vinegar."

Low in his Tour mentions seeing Shearwaters in Hoy and
S. Ronaldsay.

Salmon met with the Shearwater in Hoy, in 1831, and thus
writes in his Diary, June 1st: —

" The Shearwaters (Procellaria puffinus) select similar situa-
tions to the last (Puffin) for the purpose of depositing their
single egg. They are more difficult of access, as they make their
hole nearer the water-edge. We could not obtain more than one
single egg — and the old bird. (The man who took this)
informed us that the rats destroy a great many, and that they
are becoming very (rare) there."

Mr. Moodie-Heddle sends us the following notes on this
bird, and, as they breed commonly on his property, he has
ample opportunities of watching them, and so we give them in
extenso :—

" This bird goes out so early and returns to land so late, that
it is more numerous than is supposed. I have found it breeding

BIRDS. 243

at Koithisholm Head, Stronsay, and at several places in Hoy.
I am almost certain it will be found breeding in Eousay,1 if
properly looked for. The young are esteemed a great delicacy.
The Earls of Derby had them preserved for eating at the Calf
of Man. We have them reserved in the old Melsetter charters."

" The fishermen say they skim the ' soil ' off the water, and
carry it home to their young, collecting it off their breasts.
This possibly has something to do with the English name, and
the Orkney (Norse) name ' Lyre ' = soil, or mud washed down
(fat mud-banks). Lyrwa— Lyrvoe, i.e. The Bay of Silt or Mud.
Lerwick=Lyr-wick=Mud Bay."

Mr. T. W. Eanken informs us that he has seen both dead
and living specimens of this bird in Orkney, the latter in the
neighbourhood of Flotta.

Probably Shearwaters are not so numerous now in Hoy as
they were, as it is said that wherever rats can obtain access
they drive them out. When in Hoy in 1888 we went over to
Rackwick with a cragsman, for the purpose of getting some
Shearwaters' eggs : we only obtained three and the three old birds,
which latter the man brought up with their necks broken, against
our expressed wish that they should be spared. Some holes
had been cleaned out but left on account of the wet getting in,
"Lyres," as the man said, being very impatient of wet at their
nests. We met with Shearwaters nowhere else during our
visit to the Orkneys in 1888.

[Obs. — Harvie-Brown, when in Orkney in July 1889, saw a few
Shearwaters ; and one of large size and dull colour passed within
200 yards of the yacht, but his view of it was much restricted
owing to the deep troughs of the sea. He did not think it
was a Manx Shearwater.]

Fulmarus glacialis (Linn). Fulmar Petrel.

Since Messrs. Baikie and Heddle published their book in 1845
several more specimens of the Fulmar have been obtained.
The late Mr. Heddle of Melsetter shot one at Scapa on June

1 We certainly did not observe it at any time of the year during our residence
there in 1883.

244 BIRDS.

22d, 1850. Mr. B. Ranken shot one at Gr&meshall, Holm, in
February 1860, which he presented to the Kirkwall Museum.
Mr. Moodie-Heddle got one in the Pentland Firth in the
summer of 1872, and has since seen several at sea to the N.W.
of Hoy Sound.

Mr. Harvey tells us that Fulmars or "Mallimacks " are seen
near the coast of Sanday in July.

Mr. James Barnett, Crown Chamberlain, found a specimen
lying dead in Pickagarry on October 18th, 1877, killed by
striking the telegraph wire in a storm the previous night.
Another was caught in Sanday in February 1883 (Spence).

Harvie-Brown saw a solitary Fulmar in July 1889, which
circled once round his yacht when on a visit to Stack. It had
the grey mantle with slightly darker markings on the back.

Order 7. A L C -2E.
Family ALCIDJE.

Alca torda, L. Razorbill,

Orc.=Auk. Bankie (Low).

A common summer visitant, breeding in most of the islands suit-
able to them. A few remain the winter, or at least as late as
the beginning of December, as on the 8th of that month in
1883, Buckley shot two which were either immature or in winter
plumage. The bill was much smaller than in summer, and had
no white line ; the throat was white, and the line from the eye
to the bill very indistinct.

When on the water Razorbills show more of their bodies
than the Guillemot, and they erect their sharp-pointed tails.
When carrying a single fish, both this species and the Guillemot
hold it horizontally, head inwards, the tail hanging out over
one side, and one can see the fish distinctly glistening in the
sun between the partially closed mandibles.

At one time " Auks " were a marketable commodity in the
Orkneys, especially in Papa Westray, where, by means of nets
large enough to cover the mouth of the geo, Mr. Traill of

BIRDS. 245

Holland caught upwards of seventy score in one geo in a day.
In this same geo were caught by one boat in two days such a
number of auks that their feathers were bought by a Mr. Logic,
a merchant in the island of Westray, for £9, 18s. sterling.

Alca impennis, L. Great Auk.

So much has been written on the Garefowl by Professor Newton
and others, not to mention Symington Grieve's exhaustive
monograph of that bird, that at one time we contemplated
passing it over with very short notice, thinking the subject had
already been sufficiently worked out. However, we have lately
collected a good deal of information, some of which is new, and
some, again, but little known or quoted, and this we now
present to our fellow-naturalists, trusting they will find some-
thing of interest therein.

From all we can gather, it may safely be asserted that the
Great Auk was always a rare bird in Orkney, and that it only
inhabited one island — indeed, as far as is known, only one spot
on that island. The place is close to the "Fowl's Craig," on
the N.E. side of Papa Westray, and is exactly indicated in the
plate by the arrow-head pointing underneath • but of this we
shall have more to say further on.

The only mention of this bird by Low is at page 107, where
he says, " Have often inquired about the Great Auk especially,
but cannot find it is ever seen here." Low died in 1795, and
therefore we may safely conclude that the Great Auk was
very rare then and some time before, for such a large and
remarkable-looking bird could scarcely be common without his
hearing and getting some information about it when he inquired
especially about it.

Bullock was the first person who made known the existence
of the Great Auk in Orkney to the outside world. He com-
municated his information to Colonel Montague, who published
it in an appendix to the Supplement of his Ornithological
Dictionary; this we need not repeat again, as it is already
so well known. We extract the following, however, from

246 BIRDS.

page 75 of the sixteenth edition of Bullock's Companion 1 to his
London museum, as it has not been so often quoted : —

" The Great Auk or northern penguin (Aha impennis). Of
this rare and noble bird we have no account of any having been
killed on the shores of Britain, except this specimen, for upwards
of an hundred years ; it was taken at Papa Westray, in
Orkney, to the rocks of which it had resorted for several years,
in the summer of 1813, and was finely preserved and sent to me
by Miss Traill of that island, a lady to whom I am under con-
siderable obligations for procuring me many valuable and rare
subjects from the northern isles, and much interesting informa-
tion respecting their habits."

"I had the pleasure of examining this curious bird on its
native element ; it is wholly incapable of flight, but so expert a
diver that every effort to shoot it was ineffectual."

The following is extracted from a priced sale-catalogue of
Bullock's museum :—

"Lot 43. Great Auk. A lea impennis. — A very fine specimen
of this exceedingly rare bird, killed at Papa Westray, in the
Orkneys, the only one taken on the British coast for many
years, and an egg, in glass case. Dr. Leach, ,£16, 5s. 6d."

We are indebted to Professor Newton for these extracts,
which he himself was the first to point out to us from copies of
both the works quoted in his possession.

We are also very greatly indebted to Mr. William Evans, Edin-
burgh, for the following most interesting notice taken from the
Scots Magazine for March 1814 (p. 167). It was written by
Patrick Neill, who visited the Orkneys in 1804, and published
an account of his travels there in 1806, and who was an excel-
lent naturalist for his day. He seems to have visited Papa
Westray and its Holm, but was too late (August 8th) to see a
Garefowl, which by that time would have hatched its young
and left the land. This account we do not remember to have
seen noticed or quoted before, and its great value consists in its
being almost co-temporary with that of Bullock, besides being

1 Companion to the London Museum, etc. , now open for the public inspection in
the Egyptian Temple, Piccadilly, London.

BIRDS. 247

the only occasion on which an egg is mentioned, showing that
the bird actually bred there : —

" In the summer of 1812 Mr. Bullock, of the Loudon Museum,
being in Orkney, was informed at Papa Westray that the King
and Queen of the Hawks (Auks) had of late years frequented
the bays of the island in the summer season. He soon after
learnt that the female had been killed with a stone while sitting
on her egg, and that the male was still in the neighbouring
bay. He had the satisfaction of getting sight of him, and he
chased him for several hours unsuccessfully with a six-oared
boat. He dived most dexterously, and made great progress
under water, so as effectually to elude his pursuers. These
facts are stated by Mr. Montague in the appendix to his
Supplement to the Ornithological Dictionary lately published.
We have now to add that last summer (1813) the King of the
Auks again returned to his former haunts ; but he was solitary,
having been unsuccessful in procuring another mate. The zeal
of the islanders being roused, he was at length killed, and,
through the attention of the family at Papa Westray, the
specimen was transmitted to Mr. Bullock. This is the only
British specimen known to exist. N."

"EDINBURGH, 28th March 1814."

[The article was written by Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Patrick
Neill, and initialled N.]

During the year 1858, when Messrs. Wolley and Newton
were investigating the question of the Great Auk in Iceland,
they met a Mr. Hughes on board the steamer, and, finding out
in the course of conversation that he was an intimate friend of
Mr. Traill of Holland House, Papa Westray, they asked him if
he would kindly interest himself to get all possible information
from that gentleman regarding the occurrence of the Great Auk
in Orkney. Mr. Wolley at the same time made out a series of
questions, which would embrace every part of the subject; as
these, however, were never answered in detail we need not now
give them in full. Mr. Hughes at once complied with their
request, and wrote two letters to Mr. Traill, the answer to
which we, thanks to the kindness of Professor Newton, are
enabled to give as follows : —

248 BIRDS.

"HOLLAND HOUSE, 1st Nov. 1858.
"F. N. Hughes, Esq.

" MY DEAR SIR, — I was duly favoured with yours of
10th August and 20th September, and should have answered
them long ere this, but I was very busy with the harvest, and
had not time to make inquiries about the Great Auk.

"I have now to inform you that there are several people alive
who remember them quite well. The one was shot by a man
belonging to this island in 1812, in the Auk Craig, as it is called
here, and an aunt of mine had it skinned, and gave it to Mr.
Bullock, and I believe it is now in the British Museum. Some
boys or lads afterwards killed the other in the craig with stones ;
but it was not got at the time, but I believe drove on shore
some time afterwards, but so much decomposed that it was quite
useless. Your friends must be in a mistake about their not
flying, as they could not get to the cliff in the craig without
doing so.1 I believe these were the last of them, and that they
are now extinct, as that pair was the only ones seen for many
years before. . . . This is all I can give you upon the subject, but
if your friends choose to visit Orkney I shall be very happy to
see them here, when they may be able to pick up some more
information. Hoping you will excuse me for not answering you
sooner, — I remain, my dear Sir, yours very truly,

"THOMAS TRAILL."

It may be observed that there is a discrepancy between the
date of the killing of the birds given by Mr. Traill in his letter
and that of Bullock himself in his Catalogue, and in the Appendix
to the Supplement of Montague's Ornithological Dictionary. No
doubt Mr. Traill is correct in his details, but after the lapse of
nearly half a century, we should prefer to consider the dates, as
given by Mr. Bullock at the time, more correct than those given,
after such a long interval, by Mr. Traill.

In 1812, there was only one bird known, as told us by

1 As will subsequently be seen, the place in the craig was not easily accessible
at low water, but from other accounts as well as this, it would appear that the
Great Auk can manage to scramble up places that would appear quite inaccessible
to a non-flying bird.

BIRDS. 249

Bullock, the other having been killed before, and quite likely in
the manner mentioned by Mr. Traill. The bird chased by
Bullock, and afterwards killed and sent him, was almost certainly
killed in the summer of 1813, and after Bullock had printed his
Catalogue for that year, as there is no mention of it until his
Catalogue of 1814.

Bullock made two voyages to Orkney and Shetland in the
spring and autumn of 1812, as he expressly mentions at page 46
of his Companion to the London Museum, printed in 1816.

Trading, perhaps rather too much, on a preconceived notion,
that the Great Auk could only land on a very sloping rock,
which must at all events be accessible to the bird at all stages
of the tide, Buckley, in 1888, walked round Papa Westray, to
find out where such suitable localities existed. He saw several
such sites, and, in 1889, Harvie-Brown went there to photograph
the most likely one in company with Mr. Norrie. It was while
engaged in this work that they derived some most interesting
information from one of the natives — James Hourstoun — and
we here insert the whole account, verbatim, from Harvie-
Brown's Journal : —

"June 30th, arrived in Pierowall roads.

" July 1st. — Having engaged an Orkney boat and two men,
Mr. Norrie and I sailed across to Papa Westray in pursuance of
instructions in Buckley's letter couched in the following terms : —

" 'Look on the west side of Papa Westray and tell me what
you think about its likelihood for being the nesting place (query,
m^7i</-place ? — H.-B.), of the Great Auk. One place in parti-
cular struck me as being very likely indeed for it ; and if Norrie
is still with you, have it photographed, as it would make a plate.
The place I mean is a long shelving rock some fifty yards or
more, as far as I remember, and it would be accessible to the
birds at all states of the tide, besides being pretty well out of
the surf as regards all ordinary summer gales.' 1

"With the above to guide us, we landed nearly opposite
Pierowall, and walked about three miles by the road direct to
the Mull, or north-east end of Papa.

1 The points particularly to be noted as direct finger-posts in these directions
are italicised.

250 BIRDS.

" The very first place we came to at the point was evidently
the shelving rock intended by Buckley ; and certainly the only
place the least likely, if indeed possible, as a resting-pl&ce of the
birds. But it would have been better described as west of the
extreme Mull of Papa,1 i.e. by compass and chart. It
appears certainly as accessible at all states of the tide; but I
can scarcely agree with the statement as regards its being out of
the way of the surf of all ordinary summer gales. To-day the surf,
without much wind at all, came in from the north-west, and
rushed impetuously up the slopes, breaking half-way up the
shelving rock, at least ; and it was perfectly self-evident that in
a gale from the same direction, it would dash violently upon
the very faces of the superintending cliff above. I could not
bring myself to consider it as at all a likely spot for a nesting
site, though likely enough for a resting-pl&oo."

"We took two photos of it, however, one from near the sea
level, from a low rocky point to the west, and another, looking
down the slope from the east. I designate these as — ' Possible
landing-place and resting-place of the Great Auk in Papa
Westray (1) from the west, (2) from the east.'

" Further to the east, close to the furthest headland of the
Mull — marked by a cairn — another photo was taken, but of a
much less likely place. It was even less satisfying in all con-
ditions either as a resting or a nesting place."

"After inspecting the rest of the west cliffs, we retraced our
steps, wishing to lose no time over ground already worked, and
besides, being desirous of getting under weigh as soon as possible
for Seal Skerry, N. Eonaldsay."

" But now, on our way going to the Mull, along the central
road and ridge of the island, we interviewed an old man of
civil speech. He vaguely remembered the tale of ' The King of
the Auks,' and pointed in a north-easterly direction, and towards
the range of cliffs called ' The Fowl's Craig.' where, he said, the
bird was shot. But, as Buckley's directions said nothing of
this, and pointed to the west side only as a possible nesting (or

1 " The Mull " is a name, however, applied to the whole rounded promontory
of the north end of the island, and must be so considered when reading the
various accounts of the capture of the bird.

BIRDS. 251

resting) place, and this old man's memory seemed vague and
uncertain, we passed on thinking little more of it."

" But again, coming back, at a point a little further north, or
nearer the Mull Head, we said 'good day' to a big, burly,
bluff, curly-haired farmer, well clad in moleskin trews, and
more like a well-to-do south countryman — about fifty-four or
fifty-five years of age, possibly a little more. His speech, how-
ever, and his general features, proved his Scandinavian origin,
as also did his name — James Hourston — (he was particular
about the r in his name). He afterwards told us that his
brother and himself were the only men in Papa who 'fished
none.' He owned or rented a farm of seventeen and a half
acres. After a time I led up to the subject, saying we had
been to photograph the cliffs; and casually mentioned 'the
big bird shot many years ago.' At once his face brightened
np, and he said promptly, and with an interested and broad
grin, ' Oh, ay ; the King o' the Aaks ; yes, indeed, and I
kent the man mysel' who shot it,' and then, pointing to a small
house close to the shore, he added : ' and he died down in that
wee housie close on the bay.' He then pointed towards the
Fowl's Craig in a N.E. direction, and proceeded to describe
minutely the ' last resting-place of the Great Auk in life,' and
the very spot which had for some time harboured it, before it
was shot by William Fowlis. He very accurately described
the place, so well indeed that I may say that I identified it
distinctly and unaided later in the day. After a little further
talk he volunteered to take us round in a boat — ' and if ye '11
tak' an oar, I '11 dae 't tae.' Delighted, I said, ' Come along,'
and off we started."

"We reached the shore, ran the boat down the inclined
natural rocky slip, launched her, put in the camera, and rowed
round the intervening low point, and along the Fowl's Craigs
which are, apart from the special interest, very particularly
well worth a visit and survey from the seaward side. ..."

"James Hourston now desired that I should myself identify
the place he had described, as we slowly rowed along within
three boat-lengths of the cliff-foot — the last resting-place of
' the King o' the Aaks.' Close to the north end of the range

252 BIRDS.

I succeeded in doing this, much to the delight of the frank,
honest-eyed Orcadian, as well as my own. (There was only one
other spot which might partly have answered the description.)'7
" The locality is a hole or recess in the exposed face of one of
the buttresses, facing therefore the S.E. or possibly the S.E.

JT/ie actt/fi7 crriJinie betivern the cfuvvt oti
fapa ire^ttviy in whtcTi, Mie Za#f tit-eat 4uJi lived.

by S. In size it was not more than 3 feet high by about 2J
feet wide. But there is a double recess, or a recess within a
recess, and the one of which I have now given the approximate
dimensions is the inner and furthest back. The outer and

BIRDS. 253

shallower recess may make the total dimensions possibly a foot
more all round. The depth of the inner recess may be, and
appears to be, about 1J to 2 feet. Just below the opening of
the inner recess the outer is formed by a step of the sandstone
about 1 foot to 1 J feet high, nearly bare of tangle and sea-ware.
James Hourston assured us that the bird, except at high tides
or at high water (?), jumped up this ledge in order to reach the
inner recess ; and that William Fowlis had landed and examined
it, and had often expressed his belief that it did so, or could
not do otherwise."

' ' This unique and extremely likely-looking place is just above
the reach of ordinary tides, but a spring tide would, and does,
nearly submerge it. As we saw it, it was about 6 feet above
the sea-level, but either a man or the bird could land, and
easily gain access to it or to the shelf below it. As we saw it
to-day it was quite out of reach of the comparatively calm sea,
but with an easterly wind or gale, or any wind south of east,
the waves would plunge into it with full body and force. I
believe a north wind, or even a north-east wind would not raise
any great sea here, as the projecting buttresses would in very
great measure protect it. It is my opinion that it would form,
in by far the larger number of conditions of wind and weather
— certainly in summer — a very secure resting — and even pos-
sibly a nesting-place for such birds as ( the King and Queen of
the Auks."

"Mr. James Hourston then excitedly and eloquently pointed
out how one man, whose name I could not catch, had always
gone in pursuit of the rare bird whilst it was known to haunt
the cliff, but had always approached from a southerly direction,
and, for the reasons already explained,1 and the configuration
of the cliff, had always failed to get near enough. But —
triumphantly — how Willy Fowlis had at last ' shotten it ' when
returning from the fishing to the north, rowing gently down
past the near projecting buttress ; { and whan the King louped
doon aff the shelve into the sea, there 's whare he shotten him,'
pointing exultantly to the water, about four boat-lengths off

1 Vide p. 20, Description of Papa Westray.

254: BIRDS.

the cliff and the entrance of the nearest cave. Over this cave,
and forming a vast lintel across its upper arch, is an enormous
slab of sandstone ; and Razorbills and Guillemots frequent its
further back recesses."

" The sea was so calm that I said, ' Well, Mr. Norrie, can
you manage it?' 'We'll try, anyway;' and it was done, Mr.
Norrie taking three careful and rapid full-plates, and we felt
not a little happy and elated therewith, as if indeed we had
really earned some little recognition of our services. So there-
fore we — at least James Hourston and myself — drank success to
all existing Kings and Queens, and to the requiescat in pace of
cunning William Fowlis.

" J. A. HARVIE-BROWN."

James Hourston subsequently called on Mr. Cursiter, Kirk-
wall, who wrote us under date 15/8/89, as follows : —

"Hourston called upon me yesterday with Mr. Harvie-
Brown's letter in hand, and wished me to communicate the fol-
lowing. The party who pursued the King of the Auks was John
Bull (you will easily recognise Mr. Bullock in this). Foulis'
wife was Mary Drever, and they have a daughter, Tomina, still
alive. It is thirty-nine years since Foulis died, at the age of
seventy-four."

" William Foulis died in the north house of May back, Papa
Westray, and was buried in the churchyard of St. Bonafine,
Papa Westray."

"It was in the summer season of 1813 that the bird was
shot. This is his information \ he further states that the book,
with illustrations, was presented to a young fellow some time
ago, who went to America."

The book above referred to was mentioned by Mr. Hourston
to Harvie-Brown as containing a picture of the boat, and Wil-
liam Foulis standing up in it, when he shot the Great Auk. It
was a small book about 12mo size, but Hourston could not say
if it were a MS. or printed. He, however, distinctly remem-
bered the picture, and said it was very like Foulis, and that he
wore a tall hat.

Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie was good enough to make further

BIRDS. 255

inquiries while he was shooting in Orkney this year, 1889, and
we extract the following from his letter : —

"It so happened that there has been a rent collection here
(Papa Westray) during the last week, and, the factor being over
for that purpose, he has kindly interviewed all the older inha-
bitants on this subject, and sent the result on to me. The
islanders are unanimous that J. Hourston is the only man
likely to give any reliable information ; what the rest of them
know they know from him."

"Hourston himself is a bright, intelligent man, with an
excellent memory, as I know from other facts, and greatly
prides himself on his knowledge of Papa — historical, territorial,
and legendary. He is about sixty-five years old."

1. There were never more than two big Auks heard of in

Papa Westray.

(Hourston called them ' Acks,' and added that they
were not like Acks (Guillemots), but more like * what
we ca' Coulties' (Razorbills), at least they had the
' same kind o' neb.')

2. They never bred on Papa, the Holm, or Westray itself,

or in any part of Orkney, as far as Hourston
knows.

3. Both birds had been pursued several times by William

Buller (phonetic ! Bullock) before the King was shot,
in a six-oared boat, without avail, as the birds could
swim quicker than the boat could pull.

4. The bird was shot by William Foulis on a rock by the

Fowl's Craig.

5. Time, May; day of month unknown; year 1813.

6. After the King was shot the Queen- 'fled straight away

for Norway (!)' and was never seen again.

7. The King and Queen had frequented Papa for some sea-

sons before the male was killed.

8. Hourston didn't seem to know whether the birds were

away half the year or not ; he didn't think they stayed
all the year round.

9. Foulis has a daughter still living on the island, Ina Foulis,

256 BIRDS.

between seventy and eighty years of age. She has
nothing more than a vague recollection of the legend.
10. Foulis was seventy-six years old when he died, and killed
the Auk thirty-eight years before his decease.

" Hourston interested me further by telling me there was a
book, with a picture in it of William Foulis sitting in the boat
as he killed the Auk. He very quaintly added that he didn't
know how any one could have drawn the picture, seeing there
was no one there. This book he ultimately found on the island
and brought to me, but unfortunately the picture was torn out,
and there was no information about the Auk in the text. It is
A Guide to the Orkney Isles, by the Reverend Charles Clouston,
1862, A. and C. Black, Edinburgh, out of print, and, I believe,
very scarce."

"From his (Hourston's) description the picture must be lovely,
and from a humorous point of view well worth reproducing."

11 1 have since seen a whole copy of this book in Mr. Cursiter's
possession (Kirkwall). There is no such picture in it. Mr.
Cursiter thinks that Hourston must have seen a sketch Mr.
Traill used to have, and which possibly he kept in the front
page of the book."

In all these accounts of the Great Auk, and the capture of
the one pursued by Bullock, there are several discrepancies,
which cannot now be quite remedied after such a lapse of time,
but it is always safer to take the older records in preference to
the later ones, when the memory of the circumstances was
fresh.

Thus the female was killed before Bullock's arrival, or at
least before he saw the birds. No exact time is mentioned, but
from internal evidence it would seem to have been at least the
summer before.

Bullock does not say that the male that he received was
shot-, Latham says, "knocked down by an oar." That it was
shot, however, we think Hourston's account fully bears out.

In Dunn's Guide it is said : "Mr. Traill supposed they had
a nest on the island, but on account of its exposed situation the
surf must have washed the eggs (sic) from the rocks, and thus

BIRDS. 257

prevented any further increase." Now the place pointed out
by Hourston is perhaps one of the least exposed spots on the
whole of the island ; this makes it appear as if the place where
the " King " was shot was merely a resting-place for these birds ;
for if, as before related, the female could be (apparently) easily
approached and killed with stones, it is scarcely reasonable to
think that the male could not at least be as easily killed with a
gun ; whereas both Bullock and Hourston speak to its wildness.

With regard to a statement made previously, p. 247, that
that was the only reference to the egg of Alca impennis from
Orkney, we find it stated at p. 107 of Symington Grieve's work
on the Great Auk that " Mr. Scales got an egg from him (Mons.
Dufresne) reported to have come from the Orkney Islands,
which, however, Professor Newton thinks extremely unlikely."

By summarising all the foregoing accounts, and by giving
precedence to the older, and therefore most likely the more
reliable ones, the history of. the Great Auk in Orkney seems to
be as follows : —

Only one pair was known to inhabit the Orkneys. That the
female was killed before the male, quite probably while sitting
on her egg.

That after her death the male did not pair again. That the
male lived in the hole in the Fowl's Craig indicated in the plate.

He was at last shot, at or about this place, by William
Foulis in the summer of 1813.

William Foulis was about thirty-five years of age when he
killed the Auk.

Lomvia troile (L.). Common Guillemot.
Orc.=jS5fe0ttf (J. G. M.-H.).

An abundant summer visitant, breeding in most of the suitable
places all through the islands. Guillemots are fond of sitting
with their backs to the sea. When brooding its young one the
old bird crouches forward, drooping its wings and puffing itself
out until its body looks quite round, and it seems very careful
to keep its young one as far back from the edge of the ledge as

R

258 BIRDS.

possible. The young one we could never see fed, but the old
bird on arriving on the ledge with a fish, would hold it in its
bill despite the efforts on the part of its neighbours apparently
to rob it of the same. After waiting as long as ten minutes
or a quarter of an hour, the bird would turn round, shove or
fight its way to the back where its young one was, and there
feed and nestle it.

In a note by the late Robert Heddle it is stated that the
Einged variety is nearly as common about Hoy as the other,
and this is corroborated by Mr. C. H. Warne ; in other places
our own observations did not bear this out.

Uria grylle (£.). Black Guillemot.

Common and resident, breeding in most of the islands. In Hoy
we have observed the Black Guillemot nesting as high as fifty
or sixty feet from the water, whereas, on Eynhallow, they place
their eggs underneath a moderately-sized stone on the beach.
On this latter island they seem more abundant than elsewhere,
and numbers may be seen in the water close to the cairns in
which their mates are sitting.

Regarding the plumage of the Black Guillemot, we ourselves
have only noticed the bronze wing-spot on one occasion, viz.,
either in June or July 1883.

Although all these birds that came under our notice during
- the late autumn and winter had the speckled plumage, it is, we
know, the opinion of several people that once the adult plumage
is attained it is never lost. Dr. Rae, in his Expedition to the
Arctic Seas, footnote, p. 185, mentions this. More recently
Harvie-Brown received a letter from the lighthouse-keeper in
Noss, Shetland, stating that this was his opinion too.

We also quote Low as showing that, even so far back as his
time, attention was being paid to this subject : —

"These birds are found in the winter-time almost wholly
grey, and others spotted about the head, neck, and back with
that colour ; but whether they change colour in winter and put
on this as a dress of the season, or if it is the last year's brood

BIRDS. 259

not yet arrived at their proper colours, I am uncertain ; one
thing I am certain of, that I have seen them of both colours late
in the winter and early in the spring, so that, in my opinion, the
change is not universal, or perhaps it is not in the hardest
winters when this happens in general."

Mergulus alle (L.). Little Auk,
Orc.=Eotchie (J. G. M.-H.).

A common winter visitant, but irregular; its visits depending
much on the state of the weather. After a heavy storm Mr.
Eanken informs us he has seen them in the Peerie Sea, but
they take their departure thence when the weather moderates.

Mr. Cursiter told us that Mr. T. S. Peace on one occasion,
on the 15th of January 1885, found quite a number of Little
Auks walking about inside a dyke at the Brought of Lingrow,
and that he picked up a dozen of them.

Fratercula arctica (L.). Puffin,

Ore. = Tammie-norrie. Tommy-noddy (Low).

An abundant summer visitant, breeding in many of the islands,
but we are not aware of any very large colonies, such as exist
in the Outer Hebrides. Up to the time of leaving the rocks in
August, there appears to be no change in the formation of the
bill, which takes place later on, and which is so admirably
shown by Mons. Bureau in his paper.1 This seems to be the
rarest in winter of those Alddce which breed with us.

Mr. Gilmour of the Pentland Skerries Lighthouse gives
April 8th and August 19th as the dates of the arrival and
departure of the Puffins in the year 1888.

Order 8. PYGOPODES.

Family COLYMBID-E.
Colymbus glacialis, L. Great Northern Diver.

Orc.=Immer Goose.

A very common winter visitant. We have observed them as early
1 De la Mue du bee et des ornements palpebreaux du Macareux Arctique.

260 BIRDS.

as October 15th, and as late as June 2d, in both instances in
full adult plumage.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue informs us that he saw a pair of divers,
which he took to be of this species, on May 25th, 1886, which
still wanted the dark band round their throats.

Mr. Watt says that he has never seen this bird at Skaill ; he
thinks they prefer the quiet bays of the more inland waters to
the exposed ones of the west coast.

Mr. Spence was informed that a Great Northern Diver had
been captured on a rock, Ness of Brough, Sanday, on November
6th, 1880, in full summer plumage.

In 1889 a pair of these divers stayed in St. Margaret's
Hope up to the middle of June certainly, and possibly later.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle sends us the following notes : —

"Nearly as common as ever. In 1867 I saw a flock of over
twenty in Scapa Flow in the month of July. They were five
or six miles from land, and calling like a pack of hounds. It
was calm, and they were swimming all together. There was a
pair all summer of 1877 and 1878 at Waulkmill Bay, Orphir,
and I felt certain they were breeding, though I could not find
their nest. In August 1878 I saw one young one swimming
with them in the sea ; this bird was too young to have come
from any distance.

" The Northern Diver screams before gales of wind in winter,
just as the Eed-throated Diver cackles in summer before rain ;
the long screaming whistle or yell of the Northern Diver is a
much more effective and ' eerie ' sound, however. It is usually
made just before diving."

Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie writes us that he saw a dozen of these
birds together, near Kirkwall, in -November 1889.

Colymbus arcticus, L. Black-throated Diver,

Appears always to have been a rare species in Orkney, and we
have no authentic instance of its breeding anywhere in the
islands. Mr. Moodie-Heddle says it is getting scarce in Hoy,
but he never seems to have found it breeding there, so that
this must refer to its passing visits.

BIRDS. 261

Mr. Eanken says he saw a pair of these birds, once only, in
Inganess Bay in December 1876.

When Buckley was living at Westness in 1883, he saw a pair
that constantly frequented the "Muckle" and "Peerie" lochs
in May and early in June, but could not make out that they
bred there, though he often looked for some sign of a nest. Later
on, in July, pairs of these birds were again observed by him
frequenting these same lochs. From this, it would appear as
if these lochs were in their line of migration. Constantly in
the evenings, at the end of July and beginning of August, we
used to hear and see Divers, either Black- or Red- throated,
flying over the island of Eousay, almost always in pairs, and
taking a S.W. course.

Mr. Millais writes us : " The Black -throated Diver is scarce.
I have noticed it four times in spring, and have two eggs taken
on a small loch in Hoy, which undoubtedly belong to this
species, though I have not heard of its breeding elsewhere. A
Black-throat was shot, August 1886, by the Eev. S. A. Walker,
near the point of Ness, Mainland."

Eeferring to its breeding in this note, we think it would
have been more satisfactory as establishing the fact had Mr.
Millais himself taken the eggs and seen the birds — divers' eggs
being rather deceptive in appearance, and still more so in size.

Colymbus septentrionalis, L. Red-throated Diver,
Ore. = Loom. Loon.

Though resident in greater or less numbers, we have no
authentic information that this bird ever bred in any other
island than that of Hoy ; but, from the time of Low downwards,
it has always been noted as nesting there.

At one time, Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us, the bird was
nearly exterminated as a breeding species from Hoy, owing to
people being bribed to steal the eggs. Now, however, owing to
that gentleman's care and preservation, there are usually some
four nests in the island.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue tells us that two or three of these birds
are usually to be seen in Swanbister Bay.

262 BIRDS.

In 1888, during our visit to Hoy, we often saw and heard
this species there, and found a nest containing two eggs on
the edge of one of the " brulochans," or, as they term them
in Orkney, " Loomagens."

Concerning this Mr. Moodie-Heddle writes us : —

" Ked-throated Diver, also 'Loom.' There are lochs or hill
tarns all over Orkney, now sometimes drained out, which are
called 'Loomagens'; hardly an island, but has one set of lochs
so called. These were formerly, when water was at high level,
the breeding-places of the * Looms.' Now they are mostly con-
fined to Hoy and Walls."

There are, we know, one or two such lochs in Rousay termed
" Loomagens," but, for all this, as stated above, there seems to
be no authentic account of these birds having bred out of the
island of Hoy.1

That the Eed-throated Diver, however, does frequent lochs
in other parts of Orkney at times we are aware, and it is possible
that, if protection could be given it, the species might yet be
found nesting on the Mainland. In 1888 Mr. Irvine-Fortescue
saw a pair on Hobbister loch; and in the same year Mr.
Cameron of Burgar saw two pairs, late in May or early in June,
on two small lochs not far from that place. We went out there
ourselves on June llth to look for them, but could then only
see one bird on the nearer loch.

Family PODICIPITID-ffi.
Podiceps cristatus (£.). Great-Crested Grebe,

Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us that his father saw a dead specimen
in 1829 near Melsetter— "a large bird." Mr. Millais writes
us : — " I have seen this species occasionally in winter in the
Sound between Hoy and Grsemsay. Specimens have been
killed in autumn in Loch Harray and in Sanday, by Mr. Begg
of Stromness."

1 Mr. Begg, in a letter dated April 24th, 1890, distinctly affirms that the
Red-throated Diver used to breed on the edge of a small loch on the hill above
the Established Manse, Stromness.

BIRDS. 263

Podiceps griseigena (Bodd.). Red-necked Grebe,

Messrs. Baikie and Heddle say that this species is not uncommon
in winter.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue mentions that he has seen another
grebe, of what species he could not be certain, frequently
during winter in the Loch of Harray. He notes both the
Little and the Sclavonian Grebes.

Podiceps auritus (L.). Sclavonian Grebe,

Dunn considered this a rare bird in Orkney. Messrs. Baikie and
Heddle say it was formerly common about the Loch of Aiker-
ness ; before it was drained, no doubt.

Mr. J. G. Millais tells us that at a certain time in the spring
the Sclavonian Grebe may be considered almost a common bird ;
he has shot many, several of them in most perfect plumage, but
he adds that they are very shy.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue constantly observes this species in
autumn and winter in Swanbister Bay, and Mr. Monteith-
Ogilvie saw and shot some in Kirkwall Bay in December 1889.

Writing to us at a later date, Mr. Millais says : —

"I had heard that many years ago the Sclavonian Grebe
used to stay commonly till May in the bays and lochs of
Orkney, but now it is not more than one year in ten that they
do so. Two or three were seen in April 1886 in the Bay of
Ireland, off the Skerries of Clestron, and, as I also heard that
the Long-tailed Ducks were likely to stay that year also, I set off
to try and obtain the former species in its full summer plumage.
The adverse winds from the north had evidently stopped their
northward migration, and I succeeded in getting some specimens
in full breeding dress before they left. They were extremely
shy, and I seldom got nearer than eighty yards, so had to shoot
them with my 8-bore. I have also shot a Sclavonian Grebe in
winter in Hoy Sound. The year when they stayed so late
(1886) a pair were noticed till the end of June on Loch Stenness,
and then disappeared. I noticed a peculiar habit of this bird,
which shows how easily frightened it is. Whilst a boat is

264 BIRDS.

approaching it, should any bird, as a Shag or Black Guillemot,
happen to rise anywhere in its vicinity, the grebe always rises
at once ; we had therefore to be extremely careful to get such
birds as there were within sight well out of the course of the
boat."

Eegarding this bird breeding in Orkney, Mr. Spence writes
as follows : — " I only know of one instance in which the nest and
eggs of this bird have been found in Orkney. In this instance
referred to it was found breeding in one of the marshy pools on
the Quanterness moors. One of the eggs then obtained is now
in Mr. George Walker's collection." This would require much
further confirmation before such a fact could be taken for
granted.

Podiceps nigricollis (C. L. Brehm). Eared Grebe,

Mr. Small, Edinburgh, informs us he had an Eared Grebe sent
him from Orkney on June 1st, 1873.

Mr. Millais informs us that he believes, in Dunn's time, he
used to get this grebe in Loch Stenness, but that of late years
he has never heard of a specimen having been killed anywhere
in Orkney.

Podiceps fluviatilis (Tunstall). Little Grebe.

Not uncommon, and resident. Low found it breeding in South
Ronaldsay. Mr. Watt says it nests in the reeds on the Loch
of Skaill, and remains the whole year round ; we saw its eggs
in Mr. Irvine-Fortescue's collection from this place. Mr. Millais
says they are resident on the Loch of Stenness. In Sanday
they breed on Loch Bea, and we have seen eggs taken there in
the collection of Mr. Denison of Brough. We have noticed the
Little Grebe on Loch Wasbister during the summer of 1883,
but did not look for its nest, though the loch is well suited for
it ; we also saw this species in a small loch in the island of
Egilsay in June 1888.

Class 3. REPTILIA.

Chelone imbricata (Schweigg.). Hawks-bill Turtle.

The only reptile of which we have any record is mentioned in the
following note by Fleming, who, in his History of Animals,

"Sibbald, afterwards in his Auctarium Musei Bcdfouriani,
p. 193, adds ' Testudo maxima squamosa, the Scalie Sea Tortoise,
the shell of it.' The animal came into Orkney, and this was
sent to me from thence."

Class 4. AMPHIBIA.

Of the AMPHIBIA there is only one representative —

Bufo vulgaris, Laur. Common Toad,

This species is common in most of the islands.

Class 5. PISCES.

Sub-class 1. PAL^ICHTHYES.
Order l. CHONDROPTERYGII.

Sub-order PLAG10STOMATA.

Division SELACHOIDEL

Family CARCHARID-ffi.

Carcharias glaucus (L.). Blue Shark,

Several times taken in Orkney: in Hoy 1847 and 1884. — J. G.
M.-H.

Galeus canis, Bonap. Common Tope,
Kecorded from the Orkneys by W. Baikie.

[Obs. — Carcharias lamia. White Shark. — A specimen taken
at Kirkwall about 1867, and others have been seen, which were
no doubt this fish. — J. G. M.-H. This fish is not admitted to
the British list by Day, and there may have been some mistake
in the identification.]

FISHES. 267

Mustelus vulgaris, Mull and Henle. Smooth Hound,

Not uncommon in Orkney. They are occasionally caught in the
nets set for Dogfish off Orphir.

Family LAMNIDJE.

Lamnia cornubica (Chn.). Porbeagle,

Common in Orkney, but not very often captured. — J. G. M.-H.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue remembers seeing one when a boy,
about twenty-five years ago, which had been caught in a net set
for Dogfish in Scapa Flow ; it was about six feet long.

Alopecias vulpes (Gm.). Thrasher.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us that one of these Sharks was seen
attacking a Whale, in company with Sword-fish, in the Pentland
Skerries, by some fishermen from Brimms, in either 1865 or
1866; and in the Orkney Herald for September 1868 there is
a description of a like encounter seen by a Westray boat's crew
off Noup Head.

Mr. W. Eeid also describes a fish which came ashore in
Papa Westray in 1884, which he refers to this species. Mr.
Irvine-Fortescue saw one being exhibited in Glasgow in or
about 1884, which was said to have been caught off Westray.

Selache maxima (Gunner.). Basking Shark,

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says this is an extremely common species, and
quite harmless, sometimes exceeding 27 feet in length.

Under this heading Mr. Moodie-Heddle writes us as
follows : —

"There is undoubtedly another fish confounded with the
Basking Shark, just as there are two confused under the name
of White Shark.

268 FISHES.

"The following are measurements of one killed at Wick,
September 1868, in herring nets: Length, 27 feet; pectorals,
7 feet; only one dorsal fin 3 feet high; tail more equally
lobed than in the Basking Shark ; teeth small, smooth, slightly
curved, and disposed in even rows obliquely across the semi-
cylindrical cartilage of the jaws, like a series of spirals. Its
liver filled nine barrels.

" A large fish, apparently with only one dorsal fin, was seen
for some time, and fired into, in a gale in the Pentland some
years before this. It appeared about 25 feet long.

" I have seen a fish of the same proportions, but only about
9 feet long, without dorsal fin except one, caught since on long
lines."

Family SCYLLID-EI.

Scyllium canicula (L.). Small-spotted Dogfish,

Occurs, but not very common. — J. G. M.-H.

" Called by Orcadians ' Da,' the a being pronounced in as far.
They sometimes come close into shore, i.e. into 8 feet or less of
water. I only see one occasionally." — W. Irvine-Fortescue.

Scyllium stellare (L.). Large-spotted Dogfish,

Somewhat commoner than the last, but the two species seem
to be frequently confounded.

Family SPINACID.ffi.

Acanthias vulgaris, Eisso. Picked Dogfish.
Ore. = Hoe. Sea Dog.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue writes us as follows : —

" Used frequently to fill Scapa Flow and drive all other fish

FISHES. 269

away in summer. They appeared always to travel west, and
usually came in at spring-tides. In Orphir several men used
to set nets for them. Each boat set two nets, each net about
50 or 60 yards long (60 fathoms before the net was * backed '
was the usual length), and at a good haul got seven or eight score
of Dog-fish in each net. Of late years, i.e. during the last five
or six years, they have not infested Scapa Flow as formerly,
and though shoals have passed through, they have been there
one day, but gone the next. They were split and dried and
sold for food, and oil was made from their livers."

Low also mentions their abundance at times, and also that
their presence drives off other fish from the coast.

Laemargus boreal is (Seoresly). Greenland Shark.

Occurs in Orkney, but more commonly in Shetland. — J. G. M.-H.

Family RHINIDJE.

Rhina squatina (L.). Angel Fish,

W. Baikie says this fish is rare in the Orkneys.

Division BATOIDEI.
Family RAIID-ffi.

Raia clavata, L. Thorn back Ray,
Common.

Raia radiata, Donovan. Starry Ray.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle has seen several of these fish amongst the
Thornbacks brought in for sale from ground outside Copinsay.

270 FISHES.

Raia batis, L. Skate,

Very abundant and of large size. On two occasions we have seen
a huge Skate following our small sailing boat, between Rousay
and the Mainland, which would have filled the bottom of the
boat. On one occasion we were rowing, and the fish seemed to
be following the blade of the oar, coming close to the surface of
the water.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue's father, about the year 1865, caught a
Skate in a flounder net in Swanbister Bay, in about 8 fathoms
of water, which weighed 198 Ibs.

Raia alba, Lactp. Bordered Ray,

Not uncommon, and grows up to 250 to 280 Ibs. in weight. —
J. G. M.-H.

Note. — It is more than probable that other species of Rays are met
with in Orkney, such as E. fullonica, and R. vomer, but as we
have no actual record of their occurrence, they cannot at present
be included.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle sends us a note of one, which he thought
from the deWiption given was an Eagle Ray, which pursued a
boat under Berry Head in Hoy about 1866. The men were
much frightened, and threw out ballast, which the fish descended
after, but always again followed the boat, until the men ran it
into a geo. Could this have been the rare C. giornce, which is
said to attain an enormous size ?

Raia lintea, Fries. Sharp-nosed Ray.
Recorded by W. Baikie.

Sub-order HOLOCEPHALA.

Family CHIM^BRIDJE.

Chimaera monstrosa, L. Northern Chimera,
Recorded from the Orkneys by W. Baikie.

FISHES. 271

Order 2. GANOIDEL

Sub-order CEONDEOSTEL

Family ACIPENSERID-ffi.

Acipenser sturio, L. Sturgeon,

Eecorded from Orkney as far back as the time of Wallace, and
again by Low.

In later times one was found just dead at Melsetter by
Mr. Moodie-Heddle's father in 1828, which was 3 feet long.
Another came ashore about 4 feet long in 1867, which Mr.
Moodie-Heddle saw, and from which he removed some of the
plates.

Sub-class 2. TELEOBTEL
Order 1. ACANTHOPTERYGIL

Division ACANTHOPTEKYGII PEKCIFOKMES.
Family SPARIDJE.
Group PAGRINA.
Pagrus auratus (L.). Gilthead.

Not common. First recorded from Orkney in 1844. — J. G. M.-H.
There was one in the Kirkwall Museum. — W. Baikie.

Pagellus centrodontus, De la Roche. Common Sea Bream,

First described as an Orkney fish from two specimens caught at
Scapa in 1853 or 1855. Not uncommon in the Pentland Firth.
— J. G. M.-H.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says these fish are frequently caught in
hand-lines in Scapa Flow. They appear to swim in small shoals,

272 FISHES.

for if one is caught, one or two more are usually caught at the
same time, in a few minutes, and, after that, no more, the shoal
probably having passed on. Considered a coarse fish by the
Orcadians.

Division ACANTHOPTERYGII SCLENIFORMES.
Family SCLffiNID^.

Sciaena aquila (Larfp.). Maigre,

Has been taken in Orkney, and Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us
one was taken at Kirkwall in 1856, 30 Ibs. in weight.

Division ACANTHOPTERYGII XIPHIIFORMES.
Family XIPHIID^E.

Xiphias gladius, L. Swordfish,

Couch gives an instance of a Sword Fish being seen off Westray,
in 1861, attacking a small whale.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle states that it is an occasional visitant.
One was seen in company with a Thrasher attacking a whale in
the Pentland Firth.

See also for another occurrence, under Thrasher, p. 267.

Division ACANTHOPTERYGII COTTOSCOMBRIFORMES.
Family CARANGIDJE.

Garanx trachurus (L.). Horse Mackerel,

In 1857 Mr. Reid caught one of these fish with a rod and worm.
Mr. Moodie-Heddle says he believes the Scad to be a
common fish in Orkney among herrings.

FISHES. 273

Family CORYPH^JNID^E.

Lampris luna (Gm.). Opah,

More than two centuries ago, Wallace described this fish from a
specimen taken in Sanday, and gave a plate of it. Since then
several more have been taken about these islands, and one of
our correspondents considers it not rare.

Baikie in the Zoologist for 1853 says one was taken in
Sanday, nearly 6 feet long.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue saw one in a cart near Scapa, which
had been taken in the islands, somewhere about 1865.

Family SCOMBRID-ffi.

Scomber scomber, L. Mackerel.

Low mentions these fish as occurring in vast shoals in the end
of July and beginning of August, one of these immense shoals
extending from a good way to the eastward of Copinsay to
within Holm Sound. He adds that notwithstanding all this,
the people take but little trouble about them.

Of late years the Mackerel seems to have almost abandoned
these islands, as they have so many other parts of the north of
Scotland, though a few still occur.

Family TRACHINIDJE.

Trachinus vipera, Cuv. et Vol. Lesser Weever.

One was dug out of the sand at Scapa Bay by Dr. Duguid, in
1849, and Mr. Irvine-Fortescue has a specimen taken at Swan-
bister by Mr. Halcro — the only one seen by him.

Family PEDICULATI.
Lophius piscatorius, L. The Angler.

Ore. = Mersgam. Fishing Frog.
Apparently a common species in Orkney, and on two occasions

274 FISHES.

Mr. Reid mentions their being captured with a bird in their
mouth; in one case the victim was a gull, in the other a cormorant.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says this fish not unfrequently comes
ashore in a dying condition, and he often sees their remains
along the shores of Scapa Flow.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says the Angler is very common, though
never fished for; they are usually seen ashore after a gale.
One in Longhope swallowed a tame duck, but was choked in
the effort. They are said to be good eating, and Mr. Moodie-
Heddle saw numbers being barrelled up for the London market
at Aberdeen during the winter. They had been caught by the
trawlers in what they call the Pentland Firth, but really on
the sandbank extending from Duncansbay Head to the north-
east of the Pentland Skerries.

Family COTTIDJE.

Cottus scorpius, L. Short spined Sea Bullhead.
Very common.

Cottus bubal is, Euphr. Father Lasher.
Ore. = Comper.

Not so common, according to Baikie, as the former, though Low
says it is a very abundant species.

Trigla cuculus, L. Red Gurnard.

Baikie records two examples taken in the winter of 1850-51.

Trigla gurnardus, L. Grey Gurnard.

The Grey Gurnard occurs, but it is not very abundant.

Low mentions this species as being caught by a line trailed
behind the ships as they approach the islands : he also remarks
on the croaking noise made by them when hauled on board,
from whence their trivial name, " Crooner."

Family OATAPHRACTI.

Agon us cataphractus (L.). Pogge,

Baikie says this fish is not numerous in Orkney.

FISHES. 275

Division ACANTHOPTEKYGII GOBIIFOEMES.
Family DISCOBOLI.

Cyclopterus lumpus, L. Lumpsucker.

Mentioned by Low as common, though of no great size, and Mr.
Moodie-Heddle also says this is a common species.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue occasionally sees one, and also the
spawn at dead low spring tides on Swanbister Point. The
young are common in the summer in Scapa Flow, swimming
about floating sea-weed.

Liparis vulgaris, Flem. Sea Snail.

Low mentions this fish as common, and nowhere more so than at
the ness of Stromness. Baikie also reports it as common.

Liparis montagui (Donov.). Montagu's Sucker.

"In the Orkneys and Shetland Isles an example upwards of
3 inches in length was taken by Mr. Syme in the winter of
1850-51 (W. Baikie)."— Day, Brit. Fish., vol. i. p. 187.

Family GOBIID^.
Gobius niger, L. Black Goby.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says this fish occurs in Orkney. By some
observers, Day says, this species is considered to be pretty
common, but Baikie remarks that it is rare.

Gobius minutus, Gm. Little Goby.
Occurs in Orkney. — J. G. M.-H.

Callionymus lyra, L. Skulpin.

First recorded from the Orkneys by Low, who found a specimen
entangled among the sea-ware, and was the only one he ever
saw. Mr. Moodie-Heddle also sends us notes of its occurrence.

276 FISHES.

Division ACANTHOPTERYGII BLENJSTIIFORMES.
Family BLENNIIDJE.

Anarrhichas lupus, L. Wolf-fish.

Low says this very ugly fish is often caught at sea, and sometimes
thrown ashore after storms ; he adds that it is excellent
eating, though none are very fond of it. Mr. Moodie-Heddle
also says it occurs among the islands.

Blennius ocellaris, L. Butterfly-fish.

A specimen of this rare fish is recorded by the late R. Heddle as
having been taken in the Orkneys in 1849, but there are no
particulars given.

Blennius ascanii, Walb. Crested Blenny.

Recorded as very common at times about Kirkwall by W. Baikie,
and Mr. C. Traill observed it in Rousay as early as 1856.

Centronotus gunellus, L. Butter-fish,
Ore. = SwordicL

Very common, and recorded by Low as such. Mr. Moodie-
Heddle's father has found the variety (Purple Blenny ?) men-
tioned by Low.

It was somewhere about the spring of 1871 that Mr.
Moodie-Heddle first noticed the " Swordick " breeding on the
shores of the north side of Longhope, Hoy. He observed
several small masses of spawn with a pair of these fish lying
curved so as to make nearly a circle round each mass : when
removed, the fish returned to the same spot repeatedly.
The situation chosen was under large stones, among which
were numbers of crabs of different sorts, eels, starfishes,
Viviparous Blennies, etc. It seems most probable that fish

FISHES. 277

must guard their spawn with such surroundings, or it would be
devoured.

This species is by no means solitary, several of different
sizes being found under one stone. It would be much more
plentiful than it is, but is persistently hunted, being used as a
bait to trail behind a boat for Lyths, etc.

The spawn of the Spotted Blenny seen by Mr. Moodie-
Heddle was in a small mass about the size of a chestnut, and
pearly white in colour, the separate grains appearing to him
about the size of lobster-roe.

Zoarces viviparus, L. Viviparous Blenny.

Orc. = Grreenbanes (Prof. Heddle).

Low mentions that he found this species common under stones
at low-water mark, from 6 to 10 inches in length. He
also attributes the name "Eel-pout" to them, and describes
how he kept the young alive in a glass for several days, chang-
ing the water at every tide.

Baikie also describes them as common. Mr. Moodie-Heddle
says : " Occurs in Orkney. One on being put into spirits exuded
a single ovum much larger than that of a Swordick."

Division ACANTHOPTEBYGII MUGILIFOKMES.
Family MUGILID^.

Mugil chelo, Guv. Lesser Grey Mullet

Some confusion exists between the Grey Mullet (Mugil capito)
and the Lesser Grey Mullet. The latter is said to be much the
commoner in the north of Scotland, and it is probable that the
notes we have received refer to it.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle records both species from Melsetter in
summer, and says they are common.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue writes : " Grey Mullet, sp. ? I got one in
a trout-net in Swanbister Bay. I have seen them in the bay of
Firth. Common also, I believe, in the loch of Stenness and
the bay below Melsetter."

278 FISHES.

Division ACANTHOPTEKYGII GASTEROSTEIFORMES.
Family GASTEROSTEIDJE.

Gasterosteus aculeatus, L. Three-spined Stickleback.
Common in both salt and fresh water (Irvine-Fortescue).

Gasterosteus spinachia, L. Fifteen-spined Stickleback.

Common, according to Messrs. Irvine-Fortescue and Moodie-
Heddle.

Division ACANTHOPTERYGII GOBIESOCIFOEMES.
Family GOBIESOCIDJE.

Lepadogaster gouanii, Lactp. Cornish Sucker.

Baikie mentions an example of this fish taken by Mr. J. Syme in
Scapa Flow in the winter of 1850.

Lepadogaster bimaculatus (Penn.). Bimaculated Sucker.

Baikie says this species is not rare. Mr. Moodie-Heddle records
it from Rousay in 1845.

Division ACANTHOPTERYGII T^NIIFORMES.
Family TRACHYPTERHXE.

Trachypterus arcticus (Brunri). Deal-fish.

Not very rare in Orkney. Mr. Moodie-Heddle mentions three
that came ashore in three successive years, 1844-5-6, and Mr.
Reid says that during his residence in Kirkwall he received
several specimens ; most of these had, however, been partially

FISHES. 279

destroyed by gulls, more especially by the Lesser Black-backed
species.

Regalecus banksii (C. and V.). Bank's-oar Fish.

Mr. Keid informs us that a fish of this species came ashore on the
rocks below Musgarth, in the island of Eday, in April 1871.
It measured 9 feet in length, but only 3 inches in its greatest
thickness.

Order 2.
ACANTHOPTERYGII PHARYNGOGNATHI.

Family LABEIDJE.

Labrus maculatus, El. Ballan Wrasse.

Low says the Wrasse is "found close in shores where they are
highest, and deep water j " he adds they are much sought after
as food, though they are coarse, and are roasted fresh. Baikie
says that the species is not common.

The Ballan Wrasse is mentioned by Neill in his Tour.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue saw some Wrasse which were brought
to Swanbister Bay, but he did not know the species.

Labrus mixtus, L. Striped or Cook Wrasse.

Eecorded once from Kirkwall by Iverach. Mr. Moodie-Heddle
also has observed it in Orkney.

Crenilabrus melops (L.). Goldsinny.
Eare in Orkney (Baikie).

Crenilabrus exoletus (L.). Small-Mouthed Wrasse.

In the Zoologist for 1853, Baikie records the capture of two small
examples of this fish in Kirkwall Bay in December 1850.

280 FISHES.

Order 3. ANACANTHINI.
Division 1. ANACANTHINI GADOIDEL

Family OADIDJE.
Gadus morrhua, L. Cod.

One of the most important fish to the Orcadians. Cod-fishing is
here prosecuted until the end of May, the principal fishing-
grounds lying away to the west of the islands. At that time
we have seen great quantities of these, as well as other fish,
lying on the quay at Kirkwall ; but the sight, though inter-
esting, was not altogether a pleasant one, as, owing we suppose
to the depth from which the fish were taken, the intestines were
in most instances protruding from the mouth.

In Low's time the cod-fishing seems to have been altogether
given up in the Orkneys, though, from his account, not from
lack of fish. Before this, however, such was not the case.
There were many stations that employed a number of boats and
men constantly, catching and curing these fish for the southern
markets. "Now," says Low, "all is sunk in indolence and
sloth, with but faint hopes of ever emerging from it."

Low assigns no cause for this stagnation of the fish trade,
but the frequent wars of those times may have had something
to do with it, as the following extract from ShirefFs General
View of the Agriculture of the Orkney Islands, published in 1814,
may show : —

" During our war with France at the commencement of this
century, the fishing smacks, being much harassed by privateers
on the Dogger Bank, came to Orkney to prosecute the cod-fishing
there, and endeavoured to carry their fish alive in wells to the
London markets."

Even large Cod come at times into very shallow water close
to the land, and we saw one caught by a lady near Strom-
ness that weighed over 30 Ibs. Near here, too, we have
seen Cod of from 15 to 16 Ibs. weight, while we were "cuddy"
fishing, following our hooked cuddies so close to the boat that,
had we only had an ordinary salmon gaff, we could easily have

FISHES. 281

gaffed them out. At times the Cod would seize the cuddies on
our line and shake them as a dog does a rat, and more than one
cuddy bore the marks of their teeth when taken in.

Gadus aeglefinus, L. Haddock.

Abundant, and they here run to a larger size than those of the
Moray Firth, though the flavour does not appear to be so fine.
They not unfrequently weigh as much as 6 or 7 Ibs., and we
have caught them just outside Kousay of quite that weight.

Gadus merlangus, L. Whiting.

Low considered the Whiting a rare fish in his time, and thought
that, being a delicate fish, it could not bear the strong winter
seas : he adds the curious remark that when Haddocks are
abundant so are the Whitings.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle remarks that Whitings occur at Scapa,
but are rarer than the Haddocks.

Gadus minutus, L. Power.

Two specimens were obtained at Kirkwall in August 1851 (W.
Baikie).

Gadus pollachius, L. Pollack.

Ore. = Lythe.

Common, especially along the rocky shores of the Pentland Firth,
but our own experience is that it is not so abundant as in the
steep-sided and rocky bays of other parts of Scotland. Lythe
only come near the shore during the warm weather, from June
or July, leaving again about September.

Gadus virens, L. Coal Fish.

Sillock : Piltak : Cuddy : Saithe : Grey-fish.

Abundant everywhere in one or other of these stages. Mr.
Moodie-Heddle says they take the above names according to
age,, and he gives a year to each name.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue sends us the following notes on this
fish : " The young appear along the shores about June. As

282 FISHES.

soon as they are large enough to take a fly, they are caught in
large numbers in the autumn evenings, sometimes as many as
400 in an afternoon.

"As winter advances the sillocks become more and more
torpid, till — especially if the weather be frosty — they gather in
dense masses, remain about the same spot, and will not take a
fly. At this time they rapidly fall off in condition, and immense
quantities are taken with sweep-nets for manure. They do not,
however, gather into the bays in this manner every season, a
heavy gale on shore in autumn sending the shoal out to sea, and
if once broken up (at Swanbister at least) they do not return
in any quantity during the winter. By May, Sillocks appear to
change their name to ' Cutties ' (the u is modified as in German),
and are taken with fly through the summer. Afterwards they
become Saithe. Oil used to be made from their livers."

Coal-fish are caught in great quantities with long lines, and
brought into Kirkwall along with the Cod, Ling, etc.

Merluccius vulgaris, Flem. Hake.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle says the Hake is common, coming with the
shoals of Herring.

Molva vulgaris, Flem. Ling.

One of the commonest of the genus in Orkney, and seems always
to command a good price. It is generally salted, and not used
in a fresh state ; and where it is suitable for drying purposes,
the beach in such localities is white, covered as it is to such a
large extent with the bodies of Ling, Cod, Tusk, etc., drying in
the sun and wind. The beach for such a purpose requires to be
covered with smooth more or less rounded stones, of fairly large
and equal size, to allow the wind to circulate underneath the
fish. Such places are the Peerie Sea, at Kirkwall ; Pierowall
Bay in Westray ; the islands opposite Stromness ; and the
north-west end of Veira. Some of these drying-places have
been used as such for a great length of time.

FISHES. 283

Motella mustella (L.). Five-bearded Rockling.

Low says this species, which he calls the " Whistle-fish," is com-
monly found under stones, seldom exceeding 9 or 10 inches
in length, and is reckoned pretty good eating.

Motella tricirrata (Bl). Three-bearded Rockling.

Baikie records a single example of this fish from Stromness.

Raniceps trifurcus (Walb.}. Tadpole Hake.

The only notice we have of this species is recorded by Day in his
British Fishes (vol. i. p. 321). "June 20th, 1876, one, 8 inches
long, was found at Kirkwall, Orkney, in a dying condition off
the pier-head (J. Bruce.— Zool, p. 5049)."

Brosmius brosme (Mull). Torsk; Tusk.

Common. Generally used salted, and, like the Ling, is considered
a valuable fish.

Family OPHIDIID^.

Ammodytes lanceolatus, Lesauv. Greater Sand Launce.
Kecorded as rare in Orkney by W. Baikie.

Ammodytes tobianus, L. Lesser Sand Launce.

According to Low, very common at particular times of year in the
heaps of sand thrown up by the tide, and in some places was
taken, as is now the case, with a reaping-hook, blunted.
Mr. Irvine-Fortescue writes us as follows : —
"I have specimens of what I take to be this fish, length 2-3
inches — no doubt not fully grown. The remarkable thing was
that, on June 13th, 1884, for the first time during over fifteen
years, I observed them congregated in dense masses, so as to form

284 FISHES.

blackish spots, appearing from the distance of half-a-mile, as
though there were spots of sea-weed in the sandy bottom. The
masses of eels were several feet in diameter, and there were
several of these spots below the store at Swanbister. They
remained in this way for several days. I have only once seen
anything of the sort since, and then not to the same extent.
Both what I take to be this and the Larger Launce are common
in Swanbister Bay, swimming rapidly in long straggly shoals.
One occasionally comes across a Launce in the sand when
digging bait."

Division 2. ANACANTHINI PLEUROKECTOIDEI.

Family PLEURONECTIDJE.
Hippoglossus vulgaris, Flem. Holibut.
Ore. = Turbot.

Common, and commands a much higher price now than formerly.
Mr. Moodie-Heddle says they are very abundant, and often of
great size. One of 6 feet in length, and another of 7 feet,
weighing 4 cwt., were brought into Kirkwall, where we have
seen many, though none so large as these.

Rhombus maximus, L. Turbot.

Though counted rare in Low's time, improved means of fishing
bring a good many more into the markets. Still, judging from
what we have seen brought into Kirkwall, they do not seem to
be an abundant species by any means.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle gives Deer Sound and the Stronsay
Firth as localities for Turbot.

Rhombus laevis (L.). Brill.
Ore. = Quirnfish.
Rare in the Orkneys, according to Baikie.

Rhombus punctatus, M. Muller's Topknot.

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue writes that this fish is very common on the
point at Swanbister, where he has seen several every time a very

FISHES. ^ 285

low spring-tide allowed him to look for lobsters. The largest
he ever saw measured 8J inches in length. Doubtless it is very
common all round Scapa Flow, and in other suitable localities,
such as Kirkwall Bay.

Ar nog I oss us megastoma (Donovan). Sail Fluke.

"I had always believed this species was peculiar to Orkney.
There in sandy bays it sails ashore, cocking up its tail as
a sail, and is not got by fishing for. When Couch was
publishing his British Fishes in shilling numbers, I one day
picked up a Sail Fluke, and handed it over to the late Dr.
Duguid and Mr. John Iverach, chemist, the latter of whom
was taking in Couch at the time. It was admitted as a species
by Couch, and if you have the book, you will see what is said
about the fish. I have never seen the species out of Orkney "
(W. Eeid, in lit. 12/9/85).

A curious fact recorded by Day is, that this fish in Corn-
wall rarely enters sandy bays, and that from its large prominent
eyes, it seems to be an inhabitant of the deep sea.

Mr. Scarth (Day, Brit. Fishes, vol. ii. p. 22) says this species
is rarely seen on the shore in Orkney except between October
and April, and that the times they usually sail ashore is before
a storm or when a thaw sets in.

Pleuronectus platessa, L. Plaice.

Common. According to Low, not very large, nor is it much
sought after.

Pleuronectes microcephalus, Donovan. Smear Dab.

Day records two caught in July and August respectively, in the
year 1848, by Dr. Duguid and Mr. Iverach.

Pleuronectes cynoglossus, L. Craig Fluke; Pole.

In Land and Water Mr. Peace recorded the capture of two fish of
this species in May 1880, in Scapa Bay, within a day or two of

286 FISHES.

each other; one measured 19 J inches long, the other was rather
smaller.

Pleuronectes limanda, L. Common Dab.
Common.

Pleuronectes flesus, L. Flounder.

Low says it is common in all the creeks and bays, and especially
in the shallower parts of the loch of Stenness. Mr. Moodie-
Heddle says it is rarer than the Plaice.

Solea vulgaris, Quinzel. Sole.

Low describes a fish he calls a Sole, and says it is easily distin-
guished from the rest of the genus by being so narrow in
proportion to its length : he gives the loch of Skaill as a
locality, and Mr. Moodie-Heddle gives St. Margaret's Hope.

Baikie says it is rare : we ourselves have never seen one :
nor has Mr. Cowan in fifty years' experience.

Solea aurantiaca, Gunth. Lemon Sole.

Dr. Duguid obtained a specimen of this species in August 1848.

Order 4. PHYSOSTOMI.

Family SCOMBROSCnXffi.
Belone vulgaris, Flem. Garfish.

Not uncommon, according to Baikie. Scapa, 1845. — J. G. M.-H.

Scombresox saurus (Wall.). Saury; Skipper.

Low mentions that in 1773 such a glut of these fish set into the
head of Kerston Bay, that they could be caught in pailfuls.
Numbers were caught, and heaps flung ashore. The seamen
called them Garfish, and said they were common on the
American coast. They had not been known there before. Mr.
Moodie-Heddle writes us that they occurred at Oisemouth,
Kirkwall, in May 1849.

FISHES. 287

Family STERNOPTYCHIDJB.
Maurolicus pennantii (Wall.). Argentine.

Low obtained a single specimen, which was given him by a boy,
who found it amongst the ware at the edge of the water. Since
then it has been found by Mr. Moodie-Heddle and Dr. Duguid,
and, in 1863, Harvie-Brown, in company with J. Dunn,
obtained a specimen by dredging, in slack water in the Sound
of Hoy.

Family SALMONID.E.
Salmo salar, L. Salmon.

Fea, writing in 1775, speaking of Salmon in Loch Stenness, says
that " in all probability there would be a good Salmon Fishery
here, were it not that the mouth of the loch is so much choked
up with sea-weed that the fish cannot get into it. What
confirms this opinion is, that in some charters belonging to
the gentlemen in the neighbourhood, the Salmon-fishing in this
loch is expressly reserved to the King as his exclusive right "
(vide State of Orkney and Shetland, p. 39).

Low says that, if present, the Salmon must be very rare in
Orkney, and he only knew of three or four instances of their
occurrence there, adding, in brackets, "if they were all salmon."

All our correspondents agree as to the rarity of the Salmon
in Orkney, though one of them qualifies the statement by say-
ing that they are said to be rare because they are not fished
for. They certainly do not breed there. A fish of 27 Ibs.
weight was killed at Orphir in 1843, but how is not stated.

Mr. Cowan says that he has only once caught a true Salmon
in Orkney, and that a grilse.

Salmo trutta, Flem. Sea-trout.
Salmo fario, L. Common Trout.

The notes we have received from several of our correspondents
on these two species are so intermingled that in many instances
it would be impossible to separate them without taking away
their meaning. We have therefore given them in extenso, and

288 FISHES.

we trust our readers will have no difficulty in understanding
what is meant.

Mr. Cowan, whom we largely quote, has probably had more
experience of Orkney trout than any other person in these
islands, and therefore his notes (however we ourselves may
disagree with them) must always carry weight.

Our own experience, extremely slight, and entirely confined
to the island of Kousay, we give further on. First of all we
quote Mr. Moodie-Heddle of Melsetter : —

" About Trout, I go even further than Dr. Day about
species, and used to have many arguments with Tudor l and
Francis Francis thereanent. I believe there are in Orkney,
1st, some few stray Salmon which do not breed here ; 2d, a
comparatively rare fish, usually running 6 Ibs. to 12 Ibs., with
square tail when young, and round when old — this I call Bull
Trout : 3d, the common sea-trout, the tail of which, even in a
12 Ib. specimen, is never more than square, and in the young
fish is forked : 4th, the Stenness trout, which have been, like
the Loch Leven, a landlocked sea-trout, though now landlocked
no longer : 5th, the common Salmo fario in a few lochs :
6th, Char in Belial's Water.

" The fish in most streams are simply young sea-trout, some
of which would perhaps never put on silver. I believe myself
that, in the north, the Salmo fario and Common Sea Trout
could be one made into the other in a few generations."

We will here let Mr. Cowan speak for himself ; and though
his observations may seem to some too sweeping in their
character, we ourselves are much more inclined to agree with
him than with those who are so ready to make a new species
out of every slight variety.

" As to Trout, my long experience has culminated in a fixed
idea or ' fad,' and is so heterodox that you would not benefit by
listening to me on the subject. I held ideas in common with
the multitude for years on the subject ; now I am certain there
is only one trout in Orkney waters, and that, the ordinary fish
of the lakes and burns. If the Sea-Trout are debarred from
returning to the sea, they soon take the garb of the lake or fresh-
1 "Old Wick " of the Field Newspaper.

FISHES. 289

water fish, and remain so. I have repeatedly caught yellow
trout (perfect), two or three miles from any fresh water con-
taining trout, in the sea (pure salt water), and I once caught
five ordinary sea-trout in the sea, f Ibs. each, on the tiy, and
transported them to a quarry-hole near my house, from which
we get the water we need; it was 12 feet deep and 20 yards
long by 4 or so wide. These fish lived for a year, all five, then
a scamp caught one ; for two years there were still three, but a
frost seemed to have caught one in shallow water, and froze it
to death ; it was about 1 Ib. in weight, and fat and red-dotted.
I fancy there is still one left. At the end of four years I caught
one of these and returned it ; then in appearance there was little
or no difference from a lake trout, that I or any other judge
could pick out. If our lakes have a hard bottom and much
long weeds, the fish are usually white-fleshed and ill-fed, of
which the whiteness is a symptom. If, on the other hand, the
bottom of the lake is carpeted with chora, the fish are always
fat and the flesh red, and the stomachs full of flat shell snails.
The trout, both sea and lake, spawn about the 13th or 14th of
November, with strange precision of date. Many do not find
suitable water or places, and don't spawn, and the small lakes
are in spring full of voracious kelts, which devour their babies
in a serious way, and I suspect a very small number now ever
get back to the sea, for every burn has a number of little mills,
and none have waterways for any fish to pass, unless in furious
spates, which are very uncommon in spring in Orkney."

Alluding to the fish in the loch of Boardhouse, Mr. Cowan
further adds : —

" Of the loch of Boardhouse I have some remarkable things
to say. One out of six is red-fleshed ; five are white. All are
well fed, all very strong, plucky fellows, but none are good to
eat, and all are nasty. The burn runs through stony beaches
to the sea, and once in a way bores a big adit, then some sea fish
run up, but the next western sea rolls the stones in again."

« The following is a list of the lochs in Orkney which contain

trout, and for which we are mostly indebted to Mr. Cowan : —

Westray, two — Burness and Saintear; Eousay, three —

Saviskail, Muckle and Peerie Waters; Hoy — Trout in Orgill,

T

290 FISHES.

Char in Helldale's water. Trout were introduced into other lochs
in Hoy, but Mr. Moodie-Heddle thinks they have either died
out, or else that, being young sea-trout, they tried to migrate,
and the burns falling sheer down into the sea, some 150 to 200
feet, of course they could not get up again.

S. Eonaldsay, one ; Mainland, parish of Harray and Birsay,
five — Swannay, Boardhouse, Hundland, Isbister, Harray ; Sand-
wick, two — Voy and Eango ; Firth and Stenness, two — Stenness
and Wasdale ; Orphir, one — Kirbister ; Holm, two — St. Mary's
Loch and Grsemeshall.

Concerning the loch of Eango, Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says : —
" The loch of Eango lies between the north-west bay of the loch
of Harray and the loch of Skaill. It is marked as a "Mill
loch " in A. & C. Black's " Eecluced Ordnance Map." I fished
it once with Watt a good many years ago. We got six fish
from 1 J Ibs. up to 4 Ibs. I saw no small fish in the loch. The
trout we got were in first-rate condition. At that time it
appeared impossible for a trout to get up from Harray even
during a spate, owing to a fall which had been made in the waste
water-course by quarrying. But I have no doubt the larger fish
in Eango had come up from Harray before the waste water-
course became impassable. The loch appears to be too small to
contain many large fish, and I do not think a 4-pounder has
been got in it since the time I speak of."

"A mill in Orkney is usually a terrible fish-trap. Every
time the water is shut off, the trout which have come up can be
easily killed — except during a spate. And of those that get
past by the waste water-course, if there chances to be a passable
one, some are killed in going down again over the wheel."

The prettiest trout in Orkney come from St. Mary's Loch,
Holm ; the best to eat from Wasdale, Firth; and the worst from
Boardhouse, as before mentioned.

These lochs all have exits to the sea, but all the burns com-
bined would not make a small salmon river. Wherever a per-
manent burn runs into the sea, there are sea-trout at the mouth in
spring and autumn. In these situations Mr. Cowan observes that
they take a fly before any other lure he has tried, while Mr.
Moodie-Heddle generally uses a spinning bait, or even a worm.

FISHES. 291

Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says, speaking of Salmo trutta, "A
few along the shores of Swanbister Bay ; we once caught
one of 6 Ibs. in a trammel-net in 8 fathoms of water there.
They run up the Orphir burn to spawn, and are there unmerci-
fully slaughtered."

Further on, under S. fario, the same gentleman says : —
" Occasionally caught in a net along the shores of Swanbister
Bay up to two pounds. There is no stream large enough to
hold fish of this size, except during a spate. The only other
fresh water in the neighbourhood is the loch of Kirbister,
where the fish rarely exceed three-quarters of a pound."

" In the loch of Harray the trout appear to congregate in
shoals. In fly-fishing you may fish along the shores for hours,
and hardly ever get a rise, till at last one comes upon a shoal
in some bay, when you may fill your basket. In 1873, with a
friend, we once in this manner caught 12| dozen, weighing
40 Ibs., in about two hours. We landed them in twos and
threes as fast as we could get them out. I put on four flies,
and once landed four trout at a time ; the best dozen averaged
1 Ib. each. In other lochs the trout appear pretty evenly
scattered over the whole."

Trout of very large size are caught in Stenness and Harray.
One of 30 Ibs. was got on a set line in October 1888, which was
set up by Malloch of Perth, and is now in the possession of the
landlord of the Masons' Arms, Stromness, where we saw it — a
very handsome male fish, especially thick towards the tail.

As before said, our personal experience of trout in Orkney
is entirely confined to the island of Rousay. There are three
lochs — the Muckle and Peerie Waters, and Saviskail. The two
former are close together, and connected by a short burn, and
from the Muckle water the Sourin burn leads to the sea. At
the mouth, or rather close to it, is the inevitable mill, and here
the greater part of the larger sea-trout meet their doom. A few
of the smaller ones, however, manage to get up at least as far as
the sluice-gates on the loch, as a friend of ours, while staying
with us at Westness, caught a sea-trout of about 1 Ib. in weight,
though entirely black from the nature of the water and the
peat-hole from which it was taken.

292 FISHES.

The trout of these two lochs are in shape and colour like the
generality of Highland loch trout elsewhere, and are red-fleshed
and excellent eating. Those of the Peerie Water may have
slightly the advantage in average of size, judging from an
afternoon's fishing, when somewhat over two dozen averaged
rather over half a pound.

The loch of Saviskail, however, differs somewhat from the
foregoing ; for whereas they are situated high up on the hill,
Saviskail is only a few feet above sea-level, shallow, and sur-
rounded entirely by cultivated ground. It is also connected
with the sea by a burn some hundred yards long, and here
again the usual mill obtains. The bottom is muddy, and
there are considerable patches of reeds along the sides, a great
resort of wild ducks.

At the time of our visit in 1883 there had been little rain,
and the loch was as clear as glass. Covering the muddy
bottom as with a carpet was a sort of weed, like felt, cracked
and upturned in places, as one sees muddy puddles on the road-
side after a quick drought, and it was probably under these
upturned pieces of weed that the trout lodged. The trout
themselves were beautiful to look at and good to eat, though
perhaps hardly as good in the latter respect as those of the
other lochs. In colour they resembled sea-trout, and the sport
they gave was excellent. One day, after some heavy rain, we
went to fish the loch with a friend, and found that the dis-
coloured water had quite destroyed the fine appearance of our
pet trout. All their beautiful silvery look was gone ; but this
was probably owing to their power of changing their own
colour to adapt themselves to their present surroundings.

There seemed to be no trout of any very large size, 2 J Ibs.
being the largest we got, nor could we hear of many of much
greater weight ever having been taken. This was probably
owing to the comparatively small size of the loch, and its
shallowness, for nowhere did this exceed 6 feet, and that only
in one small spot; its general depth would be about 3 feet.
Another reason, however, for there being no large fish might
be that the burns in which they had to spawn for the most part
were very shallow, and of course any large fish would be seen
and taken out? by the natives.

FISHES. 293

Salmo alpinus, L. Char.

Said by Low to have been caught in the loch of Stenness, but we
have no later or other evidence of their existence there.
Indeed, the only place in Orkney where these fish exist is in
the loch of Helial, or Helldale, in Hoy, and Mr. Moodie-Heddle,
the proprietor, has sent us the following note about them : " Only
in HelliaPs, or Helldale's, Water in Hoy. This loch is very
deep, over 12 fathoms in places. Wallace mentions Stenness
as a locality, but he has undoubtedly in this, as in much else,
made a mistake. It is quite unsuited to Char, from its ex-
treme shallowness. Belial's Water is over one-and-a-half miles
long, by perhaps 500 yards broad on an average, and I have
got as many as twenty-two Char in it on one set line, but
only once caught a couple on the rod."

Mr. Cowan informs us that he sent some Char to General
Burroughs for the Muckle Water in Eousay, but we have never
heard how they fared since.

Osmerus eperlanus (L.). Smelt.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle gives Watersound as a locality for this
species.

Thymallus vulgaris, NUss. Grayling,

[Obs. — Low gives this fish a place in his Fauna, and, from the way
he writes of it, seemed to consider it common. There is
nothing in his description to indicate what species he mistook
for it.]

Family CLUPEIDJE.

Clupea harengus, L. "Herring,

At the time when Wallace wrote there was a herring-fishery in
Orkney, which seems to have been principally prosecuted by

294 FISHES.

boats from Fife, but he adds that so many of the skippers and
seamen were killed at the battle of Kilsyth, that the trade
died out.

Low writes that for many years no herrings had been caught
in Orkney, though, he adds, not from the want of them. He
heard of them as far up in the sounds as Scapa Bay, and says
that at certain seasons these sounds swarm with the fry, and he
himself caught numbers in the fresh (?) water at the mouth of
Loch Stenness.

At the commencement of this century herrings were so
scarce in Orkney that it was not worth the natives' while to
prosecute their fishing, although these fish were abundant off
both the Shetland and Caithness coasts.

During the last two years herrings have been fished just
outside the west of the Pentland Firth, the great bulk of the
fish being landed at Scrabster, though a certain amount come
into Stromness. Those herrings that are caught early in the
season are used principally as bait for the long lines.

Mr. Moodie-Heddle writes us that he has known herrings
caught off Walls (Hoy) with bare tin hooks on July 18th,
1849.

Engraulis encrasicolus (L.). Anchovy.

In a note to a letter from Mr. Moodie-Heddle that gentleman
says : "By the way, I daresay you know there were lots of
Anchovies all over Orkney this winter, in the inner sounds."
This, taken in connection with their recent appearance in East
Coast waters, is not so very surprising.

Family MURENIDJE.

Anguilla vulgaris, Flein. Sharp-nosed Eel.
Numerous everywhere.

FISHES. 295

Conger vulgaris, Guv. Conger.

Common. Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says the Congers were formerly
thrown away when caught, but now they are sent to the
southern market. Last summer (1889), for the first time, he
saw a boat close inshore off Swanbister Bay fishing Congers,
for which, he was told, they got 6s. a cwt. For years a family,
which came from Banffshire, and settled in Orphir, have fished
Congers about Copinsay for the southern market.

Order 5. LOPHOBRANCHIL
Family SYNGNATHIDJE.

Siphonostoma typhle (L.). Deep-nosed Pipe-fish.

Mentioned by Low as not rare, and some of our other correspon-
dents corroborate this.

Syngnathus acus (L.). Great Pipe-fish.

Occurs not uncommonly. Mr. Irvine-Fortescue has found it
about Swanbister.

Nerophis aequoreus (L.). XEquoreal Pipe-fish,

Eeported as not scarce by Baikie.

A very fine specimen of this curious species of fish was taken at
Kirkwall Pier in January 1881 by Mr. T. Peace of that place,
and sent up to the editor of Land and Water for identification.

Nerophis lumbriciformis (L.). Little Pipe-fish.
Said to occur in Orkney commonly (Baikie).

Hippocampus antiquorum, Leach. Sea-horse,

Day mentions one that was picked up dead in the Orkneys, and
recorded by Baikie in the Zoologist for 1853, p. 3847.

296 FISHES.

Order 6. PLECTOGNATHI.
Family SCLERODERMI.

Balistes capriscus. Gm. File-fish.

Recorded by Baikie as having been taken in the Orkneys in 1827
or 1828 (Zool 1853, p. 3847).

Family GYMNODONTES.
Tetrodon lagocephalus, L. Pennant's Globe-fish.

Baikie records two examples from Orkney (Zool. 1853, p. 3847).

Orthagoriscus mola (L.). Short Sun-fish,
Occurs occasionally.

Orthagoriscus truncatus (Eetz). Oblong Sun-fish,

In November 1875 a fish of this species was captured in Kirkwall
Bay, which measured 6 feet 6 inches in length, and 1 foot
8 inches in width, the upper fin being 2 feet 5 inches, and
the lower or vertical one 2 feet 4 inches in length, and it
weighed nine and a quarter cwt. (W. Reid, Land and Water,
Sept. 1878). It has also been recorded previous to this by
Messrs. Baikie and Duguid.

Sub-class 3. CYCLOSTOMA TA.
Family PETROMYZONTIDJE.

Petromyzon marinus, L. Sea Lamprey.

Day (Brit. Fishes, vol. xi. p. 358) says : " One occurred several
years ago off Stromness, and one has since been taken by Dr. Duguid."

APPENDIX.

SHAPINSAY. — Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie found Eock Pigeons, Eock
Pipits, Herring Gulls, Guillemots, Black Guillemots, Eazorbills,
Puffins, and Shags breeding in the rocks of the island. We mention
this here, as, having other places of greater interest to visit, we never
found time to go over to this island. Mr. Eanken also informs us
that there are grouse (? migrants only) on the Gait point of Shapinsay,
though not in any quantity, as there is only a very limited area of
heather, but this is well sprinkled over with their marks.

While on the subject of Grouse, we may mention that Mr. Eanken
made special inquiries about their existence in Burray from the natives,
and in a letter dated June 7th, 1890, he says: — "I have inquired
from Burray people as to Grouse there, and I am informed that they
have been seen in Hunda, the west portion of Burray, (and) which
becomes a separate island at high water, for the past 30 years, a few
coming over probably from Flotta or Hoy, remaining as visitors for a
time, and frequently a pair or so remaining to nest. Hunda is nearly
all short heather."

Cervus tarandus, L. Reindeer.

In the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland,
New Series, vol. iv. p. 447, there is a notice of a piece of a Eein-
deer's horn found near Skaill by Mr. Watt. Through the
kindness of this gentleman we were enabled to submit the
specimen to Professor Boyd Dawkins for examination, and he
informs us that it must be referred to the Eed Deer. The
palmation of the horn alluded to is very striking, but we have
seen instances of this in the present Eed Deer (though, of
course, on a much smaller scale) when looking over the very
large number of heads which are annually sent for preservation

298 APPENDIX.

to Mr. Macleay in Inverness. It may be remarked that Rein-
deer horns are always, so far as we have seen, smooth, never
having any of those furrows and corrugations generally present
in those of the Eed Deer.

Pratincola rubicola (£.)• Stone-chat.

Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie sends us an instance of another pair of these
birds, which he observed evidently nesting. We think these
particulars well worth recording, as the bird has hitherto not
been considered as breeding in the Orkneys : —

"June 4th, 1890. — Drove to Lesbidale, and there started
our tramp. After going about a mile and a half, ascending
slowly all the time, saw a pair of Stone-chats in a patch of
tolerably long heather. Gunn said he had never seen birds
like them before, and asked me what they were. I should
think they had got young birds in the heather, certainly either
young or eggs. They were very anxious while we were there,
and were seldom more than twenty yards away. I only spent
ten minutes looking for the nest, as I thought it probable they
had three-parts-grown young birds in the heather, being such
early breeders, and I was anxious to get on. ..."

Phylloscopus trochilus (L.). Willow Wren.

Mr. Rankeh heard a Willow Wren singing at Birstane on May
22d, 1890.

Troglodytes parvulus, Koch. Wren.

Harvie-Brown and Eagle Clarke were much struck with the great
size and light appearance of the Orcadian Wren when they
visited the islands in June 1890.

Coracias garrulus, L. Roller.

Mr. Mackay of the Masons' Arms, Stromness, informs us that a
Roller now in his possession was shot by Mr. Alexander Young,

APPENDIX. 299

a ship's carpenter, in the parish of Sandwick, on the Mainland,
about the end of October 1889. Mr. Mackay further writes
that he himself saw two Boilers in the hills of Westray, above
Pierowal, on the 10th of November 1890.

Caprimulgus europaeus, L. Nightjar.

Mr. Banken sends us word that a Nightjar flew into a farm-house
at Carrick, island of Eday, on May 24th, 1890, and survived its
capture for a day or two.

Asio accipitrinus (Pall). Short-eared Owl.
Circus cyaneus (L.). Hen Harrier,

Falco assalon, Tunsiall Merlin.

Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie sends us notes from his diary of a day's
birds'-nesting on one of the Orkney hills, and as the three
above-named birds are now getting much rarer, on the mainland
of Scotland particularly, we think it advisable to place the
following facts on record : —

June 4:th, 1890. — "Just then Gunn called from below that

he had found a Harrier's nest, and . I went up to him and

saw a Hen Harrier's nest with two eggs, built on a few loose
rushes, and singularly easy to see. . . .

" Continuing our journey round the hill I flushed a cock
Grouse, and a little farther on found a Merlin's nest with one
egg. Quite close to this I flushed another Merlin from its nest,
with four eggs (fresh), all of which we took.

"Having lunched, we continued our journey — and next
found a second Harrier's nest with three eggs. We had great
trouble with this, and had to watch the birds, both of which we
saw for an hour before we could make certain of the nest.

"Saw three Short-eared Owls round here; their castings
about everywhere, but could not find their nest. T^hey were
certainly breeding, but very difficult to find."

300 APPENDIX.

Phalacrocorax carbo (L). Cormorant

Mr. Ranken informs us that an albino specimen of the Cormorant
was obtained in Sanday at the end of February or beginning
of March 1891.

Chenalopex aegyptiaca (Gmel). Egyptian Goose.

In reference to the Egyptian Goose mentioned in the text as
having been killed in the Orkneys, Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us
that the following note was found in a copy of Yarrell (3d vol.
p. 175), belonging to his father: — "Two at North Berwick,
1842, of which I have one." And this note is signed by his
father.

Syrrhaptes paradoxus (Pall.). Pallas' Sand Grouse.

Three Sand Grouse were seen in Shapinsay in 1888, and dead ones
were picked up both in that island and in Swona. In Stronsay
a male was shot on the farm of Housbay, and is now stuffed
and in the possession of Mr. Learmonth there. Sand Grouse
were also seen in Auskerry by Mr. MacAlister, the keeper of
the lighthouse.

Perdix cinerea, Lath. Partridge,

We have to record another addition to the list of failures in
trying to acclimatise this bird in Orkney. Some few years ago,
Mr. Warne informs us, Col. Horwood turned down some
Partridges on his estate in Sanday, which island seems well
adapted to the requirements of the birds, but they never throve,
if they ever bred there, and now they have all disappeared.

XEgialitis hiaticula (L.). Ringed Plover.

Messrs. Harvie-Brown and Eagle Clarke particularly noticed the
very large size of the Orcadian Kinged Plover during a visit to
the islands in 1890.

APPENDIX. 301

Scolopax rusticola, L. Woodcock.

Although the Orkneys never had a great reputation for Woodcocks,
at times large flights of these birds arrive there, especially in
Hoy. Under date of March 26th, 1890, Mr. Moodie-Heddle
writes us as follows : — " About Woodcock in Orkney, it depends
somewhat on the season, but I never failed in getting a few
brace in Hoy between the middle of October and the middle of
February.

"A few sometimes stay to breed, as I think I told you. I
have seen two nests, and know of the eggs having been taken
on the Hobbister ground.

" I believe a man in Stromness made a big bag near there
some years ago, coming on them just after they had landed, though
I never was fortunate enough to fall on a big lot but once,
when I put up, I think, thirty-one, but only got three or four,
as it was the first of a thaw after deep snow, and they were
exceedingly wild, and the snow deep and wet.

"A keeper of ours once flushed forty in an afternoon, in
Hoy, I believe, without a dog ; and when gathering
sheep for smearing, somewhere about three years ago, my
shepherd and the grieve told me they put up, along one
beat, over forty Woodcock ; unfortunately they did not tell
me till the third day after, which was wet ; next day they had
moved, and I only got three, I think.

" Six and a half brace was the highest I ever killed in a day
in Hoy, and one and a half in Walls, where they are not so
common, being more widely spread over the hills, and not so
easily found.

" A good many died there (Hoy) with a hard frost some
years since. I had one once, damaged by the telegraph wires,
which got pretty tame. They seem more intelligent than Snipe,
I think, but are not so demonstrative."

Tringa minuta, Leisl. Little Stint.

Mr. Warne, during a visit to Sanday in September 1890, recog-
nised three Little Stints there on the shore.

302 APPENDIX.

Tringa subarquata (Guld.). Curlew Sandpiper,

[We made inquiries concerning a specimen of this bird mentioned
in Rod and Gun, for September 13th, 1890, as having been shot
at Eenniebister. Mr. Eanken traced the bird to Mr. Small the
birdstuffer, in Edinburgh, and the latter told Mr. Eanken that
it was a Eeeve.]

Numenius arquata (L.). Curlew.

On June 4th, 1890, Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie found a Curlew's nest
in the parish of Orphir. The bird was sitting on four eggs,
and allowed him to get within five or six yards of it. The eggs
were only slightly incubated.

Sterna macruro, Naum. Arctic Tern.

All the terns found breeding on Damsay by Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie
in 1890 were of this species.

INDEX.

INDEX

Acanthias vulgaris, 268.
Accentor modular is, 104.
Accipiter nisus, 151.
Acipenser sturio, 271.
Acrocephalus phragmitis, 103.
jEgialitis hiaticula, 203, 300.
Agonus cataphractus, 274.
Alauda arbor m, 123.

arvensis, 122.

^4 Zca impennis, 245.
^4/ca tor da, 244.
Alcedo ispida, 132.
Alopecias vulpes, 267.
Ammodytes lanceolatus, 283.

tobianus, 283.

Ampdis garrulus, 110.
Anarrhichas lupus, 276.
.4 was boscas, 171.
Anchovy, 294.
Angel-fish, 269.
Angler, the, 273.
Anguilla vulgaris, 294.
ylwser albifrons, 165.

brachyrhynchus, 165.

cinereus, 164.

Anthus obscurus, 109.
pratensis, 108.

trivialis, 108.

Archibuteo lagopus, 144.
Ardea cinerea, 161.
Ardetta minuta, 162.
Argentine, 287.
Arnoglossus megastoma, 285.
./Irtncofo agrestis, 86.
amphibia, 85.

accipitrinus, 136, 299.
o«ws 136.

Astur palumbarius, 150.
Athene noctua, 140.
Auk, Great, xx, 19, 245.

— Little, 259.
^Ives, 91-264.
Avocet, 206.

Balcena mysticetus, 73.
jBalcenoptera musculus, 73.

- rostrata, 74.

- sibbaldi, 74.
Balistes capriscus, 296.
Bat, Mouse-coloured, 62.
Bays, well-sheltered, 2.
Belone vulgaris, 286.
Bernicla brenta, 166.

- canadensis, 168.

— leucopsis, 167.

Bibliography of Orkney Literature, xx.
Birds, 91-264.
Bittern, xviii, 162.

- Little, 162.
Blackbird, 42, 52, 94.
Blackcap, 53, 100.
Blennius ascanii, 276.

— ocellaris, 276.
Blenny, Crested, 276.

— Viviparous, 277.
Botaurus stellaris, 162.
Brambling, 55, 118.
Bream, Common Sea-, 271.
Brill, 284.

Brosmius brosme, 283.

U

306

INDEX.

Bubo ignavus, 140.

Bufo vulgaris, 265.

Bullfinch, 119.

Bullhead, Short-spined Sea-, 274.

Bunting, Black-headed, 58.

- Common, 43, 55, 58, 120.

- Reed, 55, 121.

- Snow, 55, 122.

- Yellow, 55, 121.
Burray, description of, 41.
Bustard, Great, 201.
Buteo vulgaris, 144.
Butterfish, 276.
Butterfly-fish, 276.
Buzzard, Common, 144.

— Honey, 152.

Rough-legged, 144.

Caccdbis rufa, 192.
Calf of Eday, 15.
Calidris arenaria, 219.
Callionymus lyra, 275.
Caprimulgus europceus, 130, 299.
Garanx trachurus, 272.
Carcharias glaucus, 266.
Carduelis elegans, 115.
Cava, description of, 39.
Centronotus gunellus, 276.
Certhia familiar is, 105.
Cervus tarandus, 297.

elaphus, 82.

Chaffinch, 24, 50, 55, 117.

Char, 293.

Charadrius pluvialis, 201.

— helvetica, 202.
Chaulelasmus streperus, 172.
Chelidon urbica, 112.
Chelone imbricata, 265.
Chenalopex cegyptiaca, 164, 300.
Chiffchaff, 102.
Chimcera monstrosa, 270.

- Northern, 270.
Chrysomitris spimis, 115.
Ciconia alba, 162.
Oinclus aquaticus, 96.
Circus ceruginosus, 140.

Circus cyaneus, 142, 299.
Clangula albeola, 176.

glaucion, 176.

Climate of Orkney, 5, 6.
Clupea harengus, 293.
Coal-fish, 40, 281.
Cod, 26, 281.
Columba cenas, 187.

liv'ia, 187.

palumbus, 186.

Colymbus arcticus, 260.

glacialis, 259.

septentrionalis, 261.

Conger, 295.

— vulgaris, 295.

Coot, 11, 13, 14, 19, 32, 43, 200.
Copinsay, description of, 33.
Coracias garrula, 133, 298.
Cormorant, 10, 14, 17, 22, 24, 25, 34, 42,

156.

Corncrake, 20, 25, 56.
Corvus corax, 126.
comix, 128.

— frugilegus, 127.

monedula, 125.

Cosmonetta histrionica, 177.
Cotile riparia, 114.
Cottus bubalis, 274.
Coitus scorpius, 274.
Cotumix communis, 193.
Craig-fluke, 285.
Crake, Spotted, 198.
Crane, Common, 200.

— Demoiselle, 200.
Creeper, 105.
Crenilabrus melops, 279.

— exotetus, 279.
Crex pratensis, 198.
Crossbill, Common, 55, 120.
Crossopusfodiens, 65.

Crow, Hooded, 14, 22, 41, 42, 56, 126.

Cuckoo, 10, 134.

Cuculus canorus, 134.

Curlew, Common, 14, 19, 22, 40, 41, 57,

224, 302.
Cydopterus lumpus, 275.

INDEX.

307

Cygnus bewicki, 170.
— musicus, 168.

olor, 168.

Cypsdus apus, 129.
Cyxtopliora cristata, 71.

DAB, Common, 286.
— - Lemon, or Smear, or Smooth, 285.
Dafila acuta, 173.
Deal-fish, 278.
Deer, Red, xx, 82, 297.

- Rein, xx, 81, 297.
Delphinapterus leucas, 75.
Ddphinus acutus, 77.

— albirostris, 79.

tursio, 79.

Dipper, 96.

Diver, Black-throated, 12, 260.

— Great Northern, 259.

— Red-throated, 38, 261.
Dog-fish, Small-spotted, 40, 268.
Large-spotted, 268.

- Picked, 268.
Dolphin, Bottle-nosed, 79.

- White-beaked, 79.

- White-sided, 77.
Dotterel, 3, 40, 203.
Dove, Ring, 186.

Rock, 11, 18, 22, 23, 25, 26, 41, 56,

187, 297.

Stock, 187.

Duck, BufFel-headed, 176.

Eider, 14, 17, 20, 25, 27, 33, 40, 46,

59, 178.

— Eider, King, 181.

— Harlequin, 177.
Long- tailed, 177.

- Tufted, 175.

- White-eyed, 176.

Wild, 9, 13, 14, 18, 19, 22, 27, 31,

40, 171.
Dunlin, 4, 9, 13, 21, 25, 26, 43, 57, 215.

EAGLE, Golden, xx, 37.

White-tailed, 41, 147.

Sea, xx.

Eday, description of, 15.
Eel, 11.

— Sharp-nosed, 294.
Egilsay, description of, 28.
Emberiza citrinella, 121.
miliaria, 120.

schcenichis, 121.

Engraulis encrasicholus, 294.
Erinaceus europceus, 64.
Eritliacus rubecula, 99.
Eudromias morinellus, 203.
Eynhallow, description of, 26.

Falco cesalon, 155, 299.

islandicus, 153.

peregrinus, 153.

subbuteo, 155.

tinnunculus, 156.

Falcon, Iceland, 153.

Peregrine, 153.

Fara, description of, 39.

N., description of, 17.

Father-lasher, 274.

Fieldfare, 52, 93.

File-fish, 296.

Flotta and Switha, description of, 40.

Flounder, 286.

Flycatcher, Pied, 54, 58, 111.

— Spotted, 54, 111.
Fratercula arctica, 259.
Fringitta ccelebs, 117.

montifringilla, 118.

Fulica atra, 200.
Fuligula cristata, 175.
ferina, 174.

— marila, 175.
Fulmarus glacialis, 243.

Gadus ceglefinus, 281.

merlangm, 281.

minutus, 281.

morrhua, 280.

— pollachius, 281.

virens, 281.

Gad wall, 172.

Gairsay, description of, 27.

308

INDEX.

Golem cams, 266.
Gallinago ccdestis, 212.

gattinula, 214.

major, 212.

Gallimda ch lor opus, 199.
Gannet, 47, 160.
Garfish, 286.
Gasterosteus aculeatus, 278.

spinachia, 278.

Gecinus viridis, 131.

Gilthead, 271.

Glimpsholm, description of, 41.

Globe-fish, Pennant's, 296.

Globicephalus melas, 76.

Goatsucker, 10.

Gobius minutus, 275.

niger, 275.

Goby, Black, 275.

— Little, 275.
Godwit, Bar- tailed, 221.

— Black- tailed, 221.
Golden Eye, 17, 176.
Goldfinch, 115.
Goldsinny, 279.
Goosander, 185.
Goose, Bernacle, 167.

- Brent, 166.

— Canadian, 168.

- Egyptian, 164, 300.
Greylag, 164.

Pink-footed, 165.

- White-fronted, 31, 165.
Goshawk, 150.

Graemsay, description of, 39.
Grampus, 75.

Grayling, 293.

Grebe, Great- crested, 262.

Eared, 264.

Little, 19, 264.

- Red-necked, 263.

— Sclavonian, 263.
Greenfinch, 55, 115.
Greenshank, 4, 220.
Grouse, Black, 197.

Red, 3, 15, 40, 41, 194, 297.

Sand, Pallas', 12, 188, 300.

Grits communis, 200.

— virgo, 200.

Guillemot, Black, 17, 41, 46, 58, 258.
Common, 1, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 34,

42, 47, 257, 297.
Gull, Black-headed, 10, 18, 230.

Common, 17, 18, 38, 40, 231.

Glaucous, 234.

Great Black-backed, 1, 14, 17, 22,

46, 233.
Herring, 1, 14, 17, 18, 22, 23, 25,

34, 38, 41, 42, 43, 46, 232, 297.
Iceland, 234.

— Ivory, 229.
Lesser Black-backed, 38, 43, 46, 59,

232.

- Little, 231.
Gurnard, Grey, 274.
Red, 274.

HADDOCK, 281.
Hcematopus ostrcdegus, 206.
Hake, 282.

Tadpole, 283.

Halioetus albicilla, 147.
Halibut or Holibut, 284.
Halichcerus gryphus, 70.
Hare, Common, xx, 32, 43, 86.

Mountain or White, xx, 87.

Harelda glacialis, 177.
Harrier, Marsh, 140.

- Hen, 142, 299.
Hawk, Sparrow, 151.
Hedgehog, xx, 64.

Heron, Common, 40, 56, 161.
Herring, 293.

Himantopus candidus, 207.
Hippocampus antiquorum, 295.
Hippoglossus vulgaris, 284.
Hirundo rustica, 112.
Hobby, 155.
Hoopoe, xviii, 133.
Hound, Smooth, 267.
Hoy and Walls, description of, 35.
Hunda, description of, 41.
Hyperoo'don rostratum, 75.

INDEX.

309

IBIS, Glossy, 163.
lynx torquilla, 132.

JACKDAW, 43, 56, 125.

KESTREL, 26, 156.

Kingfisher, Common, 132.

Kite, 152.

Kittiwake, 1, 17, 20, 33, 34, 36, 39, 234.

Knot, 4, 218.

Labrus maculatus, 279.

mixtus, 279.

Lcemargus borealis, 269.

Lagopus mutus, 193.

scoticus, 194.

Lambholm, description of, 41.

Lamna cornubica, 267.

Lamprey, Sea, 296.

Lampris luna, 273.

Lanius collurio, 110.

excubitor, 109.

Lapwing, 3, 4, 13, 18, 57, 204.

Lark, Sky, 55, 122.

Wood, 123.

Larus argentatus, 232.

canus, 231.

glaucus, 234.

leucopterus, 234.

— fuscus, 232.
— marinus, 233.

minutus, 231.

— ridibundus, 230.
Launce, Larger Sand, 283.

Lesser Sand, 283.

Lepadogaster bimaculatus, 278.

gouanii, 278.

Lepus cuniculus, 88.

europceus, 86.

variabilis, 87.

Ligurinus chloris, 115.
Limosa cagocephala, 221.

lapponica, 221.

Ling, 26, 282.

Linga Holm, description of, 14.

Linnet, 42, 55, 118.

Linota cannabina, 118.

flavirostris, 119.

linaria, 118.

— rufescens, 119.
Liparis montagui, 275.

vulgaris, 275.

Lomvia troile, 257.
Lophius piscatorius, 273.
Loxia curvirostra, 120.
Lumpsucker, 275.
Lutra vulgaris, 65.

Machetes pugnax, 218.
Mackerel, 273.

— Horse, 272.
Magpie, 125.

Mainland, The : description of, 29-33.
Maigre, 272.
Mallard, 32.
Mareca penelope, 172.
Martin, 54, 112.

— Sand, 54, 114.
Maurolicus pennantii, 287.
Megaptera longimana, 73.
Merganser, Red-breasted, 21, 41, 186.
Mergulus alle, 259.

Mergus albellus, 186.

merganser, 185.

serrator, 185.

Merlin, 19, 155, 299.
Merluccius vulgaris, 282.
Milvus ictinus, 152.
Molva vulgaris, 282.
Moor-hen, 199.
Motacilla viridis, 108.

— lugubris, 106.

melanope, 107.

rail, 107.

Motella mustela, 283.

tricirrata, 283.

Mouse, House, xx, 84.

— Long-tailed Field, 83.
Mugil chelo, 277.
Mullet, Lesser Grey, 277.
Mus decumanus, 84.

— musculus, 84.

310

INDEX.

Mm rattiis, 84.

— sylvaticus, 83.
Muscicapa atricapilla, 111.

grisola, 111.

Mustelus vulgaris, 267.

Neroplds cequoreus, 295.

lumbriciformis, 295.

Nightjar, Common, 130, 299.
Noctule, 61.

Nucifraga caryocatactes, 125.
Numenius arquata, 224, 302.

phoeopus, 222.

Nutcracker, 13, 125.
Nyctale tengmalmi, 139.
Nyctea scandiaca, 138.
Nyroca ferruginea, 176.

OAR-FISH, Banks, 279.
(Edemia fusca, 182.
nigra, 183.

— perspicillata, 184.
Opah, 273.

Oreo, gladiator, 75.
Orthagoriscus mola, 296.

— truncatus, 296.
Osmerus eperlanus, 293.
Osprey, 156.

O&'s tarda, 201.
Otter, Common, 65.
Ova's cmes, 89.
Owl, Barn, 135.

- Eagle, 140.
Little, 140.

- Long-eared, 56, 136.

- Short-eared, 3, 56, 136, 299.
Snowy, 10, 138.

- Tawny, 137.

— Tengmalm's, 139.
Oyster-catcher, 17, 22, 26, 40, 46, 57,

206.

Pagellus centrodontus, 271.
Pagopkila eburnea, 229.
Pagrus aurdtus, 271.
Pandion halicetus, 156.

Papa Westray, description of, 19.

— Holm of, description of,
21.
Partridge, xx, 192, 300.

- Red-legged, xx, 192.
Parus cceruleus, 105.

major, 104.

Passer domesticus, 116.

montanus, 117.

Pastor rosetis, 124.

Pentland Skerries, description of, 49.
Perdix cinerea, 192, 300.
Peregrine Falcon, 23, 34, 36, 43.
Pernis apivorus, 152.
Petrel, Fork-tailed, Leach's, 242.

- Fulmar, 243.

Stormy, 41, 241.

Petromyzon marimis, 296.
Phalacrocorax carbo, 157.

gracidus, 159.

Phalarope, Grey, 210.

- Red-necked, 4, 207.
Phalaropusfulicarius, 210.

hyperboreus, 207.

Phasianus colchicus, 191.
Pheasant, xx, 191.
Phoca groznlandica, 69.
hispida, 69.

vitulina, 67.

Phoccena communis, 77.
Phylloscopus collybita, 102.

— trochilus, 102, 298.
Physeter macrocephalus, 75.
Pica rustica, 125.

Picus major, 130.

minor, 131.

Pig, 89.

Pigeon, Rock-. See Dove.

- Wood-, 56.
Pintail, 173.
Pipistrelle, 61.
Pipe-fish, ^Equoreal, 295.

— Deep-nosed, 295.

- Great, 295.

- Little, 295.
Pipit, Meadow, 14, 108.

INDEX.

311

Pipit Rock, 20, 33, 40, 46, 54, 109, 297.

Tree, 108.

Plaice, 285.

Platalea leucorodia, 163.
Plectrophanes nivalis, 122.
Plegadis falcinellus, 163.
Pleuronectes cynoglossiis, 285.

Jlesus, 286.

— limanda, 286.

microcephalus, 285.

platessa, 285.

Plover, Golden, 3,4, 14,18, 26, 40, 57, 201.
- Eastern Golden, 202.

Grey, 202.

Ringed, 57, 203, 300.

Pochard, 174.
Podkeps auritus, 263.
cristatus, 262.

— fluviatilis, 264.
griseigena, 263.

— nigricollis, 264.
Pogge, 274.

Pole, 285.

Pollack, 281.

Porbeagle, 267.

Porpoise, 77.

Porzana maruetta, 198.

Power, 281.

Pratincola rubetra, 96, 298.

rubicola, 97.

Procellaria leucorrhoa, 242.

pelagica, 241.

Ptarmigan, Common, xx, 193.
Puffin, 18, 46, 58, 259, 297.
Puffinus anglorum, 242.
Pyrrhula europcKa, 119.

QUAIL, Common, 193.
Querquedula circia, 172.

— crecca, 172.

RABBIT, 15, 27, 28, 38, 41, 43.
Raia alba, 270.

— batis, 270.
davata, ^269.

lintea, 2/0.

Raia radiata, 269.
Rail, Water-, 197.

Land-, 198.

Rallus aquaticus, 197.
Raniceps trifurcus, 283.
Rat, Black, 84.

Brown, xx, 84.

Raven, 18, 56, 128.
Ray, Bordered, 270.

— Sharp-nosed, 270.

Starry, 269.

Thornback, 269.

Razorbill, 1, 20, 25, 34, 43, 47, 58,244,297-
Recurvirostra avocetta, 206.
Redbreast, 42, 53, 58, 99.
Redpole, Lesser, 119.

- Mealy, 118.

Redshank, Common, 4, 21, 27, 41, 43,
57, 219.

- Spotted, 220.
Redstart, 53, 58, 97.

— Black, 53, 98.
Redwing, 52, 93.
Reeve, 4.

Regalecus banksii, 279.
Regulus cristatus, 101.

ignicapillus, 102.

Rhina squatina, 269.
Rhombus Icevis, 284.

maximus, 284.

punctatus, 284.

Ring-ouzel, 52, 58, 95.

Risa, Little, description of, 39.
Rissa tridactyla, 234.
Rockling, Five-bearded, 283.

— Three-bearded, 283.
Roller, Common, xviii, 133, 298.
Ronaldsay, N., description of, 9.

S. , description of, 42.

Rook, 56, 127.

Rorqual, Common, 73.
- Rudolph's, 74.

— Sibbald's, 74.
Rousay, description of, 22.
Ruff, 4, 218.

Ruticilla phcenicurus, 97.

312

INDEX.

Ridicilla titys, 98.

SAIL-FLUKE, 285.
Salmo alpinus, 293.

fario, 287.

salar, 287.

trutta, 287.

Salmon, 287.

Sanday, description of, 10.
Sanderling, 219.
Sandpiper, Common, 219.

— Curlew, 301.

- Pectoral, 214.

- Purple, 13, 57, 217.
Saxicola cenanihe, 96.
Scaup, 175.

Scicena aquila, 272.
Scolopax rusticola, 211, 300.
Scomber scomber, 273.
Scombresox saurus, 286.
Scoter, Common, 183.

- Surf, 184.

- Velvet, 182.
Scyllium canicula, 268.

stellare, 268.

Sea-eagle, 29, 36.
Sea-horse, 295.

Seal, Common, 14, 27, 67.

— Greenland, 69.

- Grey, 10, 26, 45, 70.

Hooded, 71. .

Ringed, 69.

Seals, 33, 40.

Sea-snail, 275.

Selache maxima, 267.

Shag, 14, 22, 24, 25, 26, 34, 36, 40, 46,

159, 297.

Shapinsay, description of, 33.
Shark, Basking, 267.

- Blue, 266.

Greenland, 269.

Shearwater, Manx, 36, 242.
Sheep, 89.

Shielduck, Common, 13, 14, 17, 25, 27,

42, 170.
Shoveller, 172.

Shrew, Common, 64.

Water, xx, 65.

Shrike, Great Grey, 109.

Red-backed, 54, 58, 110.

Siphonostoma typhle, 295.
Siskin, 115.
Skaill, Loch of, 4.
Skate, 270.
Skipper, 286.
Skua, Buffon's, 240.

Common, 237.

Pomatorhine, 237.

- Richardson's, 15, 36, 38, 238.
Skulpin, 275.

Smelt, 293.
Smew, 186.

Snipe, Common, 3, 4, 25, 26, 27, 40, 41,
43, 57, 212.

- Double, 212.

— Jack, 214.
Sole, 286.

Lemon, 286.

Solea aurantiaca, 286.

— vulgaris, 286.
Somateria mollissima, 178.

spectabilis, 181.

Sorex tetragonurus, 64.
Sparrow, Common, 19, 20, 55.

- Hedge, 53, 104, 116.

- Tree, 117.
Spatula clypeata, 172.
Spoonbill, 163.
Squatarola helvetica, 202.

Stack and Skerry, description of, 45.
Starling, Common, 12,17, 19,20,26,56,123.

— Rose-coloured, 124.
Start lighthouse, 12.
Stenness Loch, 4, 30.
Stercorarius catarrhactes, 237.

— crepidatus, 238.
parasiticus, 240.

— pomatorhinus, 237.
Sterna cantiaca, 228.
Jiuviatilis, 228.

— macrura, 227, 302.
minuta, 228.

INDEX,

313

Stickleback, Fifteen-spined, 278.

— Three-spined, 278.
Sticklebacks, 11.
Stilt, Black-winged, 207.
Stint, Little, 215, 301.
Stonechat, 97, 298.
Stork, White, 162.
Strepsilas interpres, 204.
Strix flammea, 135.
Stronsay, description of, 13.
Sturgeon, 271.
Sturnus vulgaris, 123.
Sucker, Bimaculated, 278.

Cornish, 278.

Montagu's, 275.

Sula bassana, 160.
Sun-fish, Oblong, 296.

Short, 296.

Swallow, 54, 112.
Swan, Bewick's, 170.

- Mute, 168.

Hooper, 168.

Swans, Wild, 17.
Sweyn Holm, 27.
Swift, 19, 56, 129.
Swona, description of, 43.
Sword-fish, 272.
Sylvia atricapilla, 100.

rufa, 100.

salicaria, 101.

Syngnathus acus, 295.
Syrnium aluco, 137.
Syrrhaptes paradoxus, 188, 300.

Tadorna cornuta, 170.
Tarandus rangifer, 81.
Teal, 14, 17, 172.

Garganey, 172.

Tern, Arctic, 13, 22, 27, 41, 46, 227, 302.

Common, 228.

Little, 228.

— Sandwich, 228.
Tetrao tetrix, 197.
Tetrodon lagocephalus, 296.
Thymallus vulgaris, 293.
Thrasher, 267.

Thrush, Missel, 52, 91.

— Song, 92.
Titmouse, Blue, 105.

Great, 104.

Toad, Common, 265.
Tope, Common, 266.
Topknot, Miiller's, 284.
Torsk, 26, 283.
Totanus calidris, 219.

canescens, 220.

hypoleucos, 219.

Trachinus vipera, 273.
Trachypterus arcticus, 278.
Trichechus rosmarus, 66.
Trigla cuculus, 274.

gurnardus, 274.

Tringa alpina, 215.

canutus, 218.

maculata, 214.

— minuta, 216, 301.

subarquata, 301.

striaia, 217.

Troglodytes parvulus, 105, 298.
Trout, Common, 287.

- Sea, 287.
Turbot, 284.
Turdus iliacus, 93.

merula, 94.

musicus, 92.

pilaris, 93.

torquatus, 95.

viscivorus, 91.

Turnstone, 4, 46, 57, 204.
Turtle, Hawk's-bill, 265.
Turtur communis, 188.
Twite, 17, 19, 22, 40, 55, 119.

Upupa epops, 133.
Uria grylle, 258.

Vanellus vulgaris, 204.
Vesper ugo noctula, 61.

pipistrelhis, 61.

Vespertilio (? sp.)62.

— murinus, 62.
Viera, description of, 25.

314

INDEX.

Vole, Common Field, 18, 86.
Water, 85.

WAGTAIL, Grey-headed, 108.
Grey, 107.

- Pied, 54, 58, 106.

Yellow, 54, 58, 107.

Walrus, 66.

Warbler, Garden, 101.

Sedge, 53, 103.

Water-hen, 11, 31, 43.
Wax wing, 110.
Weever, Lesser, 273.
Westray, description of, 17.
Whale, Common Beaked, 75.

— Greenland, 73.
Humpbacked, ',73.

- Pilot, 76.

— Sperm, 75.

- White, 75.
Wheatear, 19, 20, 43, 52, 96.

Whimbrel, 13, 57, 222.

Whinchat, 53, 58, 96.

Whitethroat, 53, 100.

Whiting, 281. •

Widgeon, 17, 19, 27, 31, 173.

Wolf -fish, 276.

Woodcock, 211, 300.

Woodpecker, Great Spotted, 56, 130.

Lesser Spotted, 131.

- Green, 131.
Wrasse, Ballan, 279.

- Cook, 279.

— Small-mouthed, 279.
Wren, Common, 54, 105, 298.

— Golden-crested, 10, 53, 101.

- Willow, 53, 102, 298.
Wryneck, 132.

Xiphias gladius, 272.
Zoarces viviparus, 277.

Printed by T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to Her Majesty,
at the Edinburgh University Press.

A vertebrate fauna of

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY