Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/81

Rh they reach their highest point in the fine cliffs of Galtic. The east coast is practically open to the North Sea, the only island beyond it being Coppinshay, which is several miles away.

To the south are the two small islands of Lambholm and Glimsholm,—the former only of which is inhabited,—separated from the mainland by a sound of about a mile in width, through which the tide ebbs and flows at a rate of six or seven knots. Beyond these two is a rather larger and higher island, which almost shuts the great island of South Ronaldshay from view. On a fine clear day the Pentland Skerries can be seen away to the south-east, and to the south-west some of the fine tops of the Caithness mountains are visible. On the north and north-west the near view is shut in by the rolling moorland of the mainland itself, the tops of the Harray hills and Orphir in the west mainland only being seen; while to the west the fine tops of Hoy are visible in the distance, when they are not wreathed in cloud and mist, which seems to be their usual condition at this time of the year.

(Turdus merula).—Several young birds were seen about the garden at Groemeshall, probably the members of a brood reared there, as none were seen elsewhere.

(Turdus iliacus).—A single bird was seen feeding among the rocks along the shore on Oct. 16th, and several others were noticed later on the same day on the moorland; they seemed to have just arrived, and to have come with the Jack-Snipes. Wind S.E.; north-west gales the two previous days.

(Turdus pilaris).—One single bird was seen flying over on Oct. 14th, but the main flocks had not arrived by the 18th. They are said to come with the Woodcocks.

(Motacilla lugubris).—A pair of these birds had taken up their abode about the farm-buildings at Grœmeshall, and were always to be seen there or along the loch-side; no others were observed.

(Anthus pratensis).—Fairly common in the oat-stubbles, and small flocks of eight or ten were seen several times on the moors.

(Anthus obscurus).—These birds appeared to be more numerous than the preceding; they were always to be seen along the shore, coming right up to the houses, but not penetrating far inland.