Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/83

Rh cliffs of Galtic at the east end of the island, feeding in the adjacent fields during the day, and returning to roost on the cliffs at sundown.

(Corvus frugilegus).—A few single birds were seen feeding in the meadows, and a few with the Jackdaws at Galtic. I was told that they breed here in the sea-cliffs, which seems probable, as there are practically no trees of any size in the island.

(Corvus cornix).—A few pairs were seen about the shore and loch from time to time, but they were by no means numerous, and at the most I never saw more than three pairs in a day.

(Falco peregrinus).—One bird was seen to leave the cliffs at Galtic on Oct. 6th; it was raining and misty at the time, and we lost sight of it out at sea. I could not find out definitely whether these birds bred in those particular cliffs or not, but was shown a very beautiful and deeply marked clutch taken on Hoy in 1897.

(Falco æsalon).—A Merlin was seen pursuing a flock of Starlings over the Grœmeshall loch on Oct. 4th, but, so long as we were able to watch it, was not successful in striking one; when it stooped they immediately bunched together, and twisted to one side. On Oct. 14th, when after Golden Plover, a Merlin appeared, and successfully struck down one of them, not thirty yards from where we were standing. On putting it up, it carried its prey off to a neighbouring stubble, and began to devour it there, the Plover weighing it down so much on its way that it was unable to rise more than a yard from the ground. One or two other birds were seen.

(Falco tinnunculus).—Only four birds were seen altogether, two of which were adult males.

(Phalacrocorax carbo).—Quite a rare bird; one was put up from the shore on Oct. 14th, and one flew over the boat on Oct. 12th while we were fishing in the bay at St. Mary's Holm.

(Phalacrocorax graculus).—Very numerous, adult and immature birds being in almost equal numbers. Every morning, about 7.30, large numbers were fishing in the sound, forming in the distance a thick black line on the water. By 8.30 the