The Annals OF Scottish Natural History A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED EDITED BY J. A. HARVIE-BROWN, F.R.S.E., F.Z.S. MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION JAMES W. H. TRAIL, M.A., M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S. PROFESSOR OF BOTANY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN WILLIAM EAGLE CLARKE, F.L.S., F.R.S.E. KEEPER OF THE NATURAL HISTORY DEPARTMENT, THE ROYAL SCOTTISH MUSEUM, EDINBURGH EDINBURGH % DAVID DOUGLAS, CASTLE STREET LONDON: R. H. PORTER, 7 PRINCES ST., CAVENDISH SQUARE ANN. SCOT NAT. HIST. 1908. PLATE I. The Annals of Scottish Natural History NO. 65] 1908 [JANUARY IN MEMORIAM: HOWARD SAUNDERS. WITH PORTRAIT. WE greatly regret to record the passing from amongst us of Howard Saunders, on the 2oth of October last, at the age of seventy-two. No name is more familiar to British than his and for no one in recent ornithologists ; rightly so, years has given such an impetus to the study of their favourite science. His successful completion of the fourth edition of "Yarrell" under circumstances that were peculiarly trying, established his reputation as a writer on British birds. But the work by which he will be best remembered " " in this country is the well-known Manual which bears his all essentials name : a remarkable work, wherein the con- cerning-o the numerous and varied members of our avifauna are treated of, with wonderful skill and discrimination, in a single volume. The merits of this book were at once recognised, and it became the standard authority on the subject. Saunders' reputation as a naturalist by no means rests upon these important contributions to British ornithological literature. He devoted many years of his life to the study of the Terns, Gulls, and Skuas, and his monograph of these " groups published in vol. xxv. of the Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum," is in all respects one of the best in that 65 B 32515 2 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY great series, and earned for him a world-wide reputation. a wide of Palsearctic birds He possessed, too, knowledge ; " " wrote the bird section of the Antarctic Manual ; was " " Editor of two series of The Ibis and was joint ; Secretary of the British Ornithologists' Union. Much more might be written about Howard Saunders, but enough has been alluded to to indicate how great is his loss to the science of ornithology. As a man and a friend it is impossible to speak of him in terms too high. His great strength of character, his amiable disposition, his honourable nature, his helpfulness to all his won for him a host of friends who sought aid, ; and we doubt if he ever made a single enemy. The death of such a man is very greatly to be deplored on many grounds. " " It may interest the readers of the Annals to know that before he died, Mr. Saunders expressed the desire that Mr. Eagle Clarke should edit such future editions of his " " British Birds as might be called for, and that all his notes have been placed in Mr. Eagle Clarke's hands for that purpose. NOTES ON BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE SCOTTISH ISLANDS DURING THE SPRING AND AUTUMN OF 1907. By THE DUCHESS OF BEDFORD. ON the 2nd June, I left Invergordon in my yacht for Orkney. On the 4th, I anchored in Rousay Sound and visited some of the adjacent islands. Soon after leaving the yacht, I had a close view of two Great Northern Divers in full summer plumage. Landing on one of the small islands, I found nests of the following species, many of which, owing to the lateness of the nesting season, contained but one egg. Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Lapwing, Oyster-Catcher, Black Guillemot, Arctic Tern, and Eider Ducks. There were two large colonies of Arctic NOTES ON BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE SCOTTISH ISLANDS 3 Terns, and I looked very carefully to see if I could detect any Common Terns amongst them, but was unable to do so. Eider Ducks were very abundant There were also many Shags, a few Cormorants, Puffins, and Redshanks. The two following days were spent on the islands of Egilshay, Gairsay, Sweyne Holm, and Green Holm. Corn- crakes were calling in every clover and rye grass field. Twites were abundant, also Redshanks, Skylarks, Eider Ducks, Black Guillemots, Common Gulls, Starlings, Common Guillemots, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Oyster -Catchers, Rock Pipits, Shags, Arctic Terns, Herring Gulls, and Meadow-Pipits. There were large colonies of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls breeding on the Green Holm, some of the former had chosen the stone slab placed over " " the grave of a young fellow drowned there in the sixties as a nesting-place. There was a small colony of Arctic Terns nesting on Sweyne Holm. Near the cottages were a few House Sparrows, and in the marshy ground I put " up several Snipe, some of which were still drumming." I also noted a good many Lapwings, Hooded Crows, and Ringed Plovers, a few Rock-Doves, one Turnstone, and a Golden Plover. A Sand-Martin, one of the only two I saw in Orkney, flew along the shore. Primroses were growing in abundance on the grassy slopes facing the sea. On my return to the yacht I again saw two Great Northern Divers, one in full summer plumage and one immature. As they remained near the yacht till I left for the Shetlands, I had a splendid opportunity of watching them. On the 7th, I was delayed by fog for many hours, outside the Out Skerries, seeing many Fulmars, Richardson's Skuas, Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Puffins, Shags, Lesser Black- backed and Herring Gulls. The Black Guillemot is far less abundant than in the Orkneys, and the Great Black- backed Gull much scarcer than the Lesser Black-backed Gull. One Stormy Petrel, one immature Gannet, and about six Manx Shearwaters flew past the yacht. In the afternoon I landed at Collafirth, and pointed out four House- Martins to a resident, who said they were the first he had ever seen there. Wheatears were common, several pairs of Golden Plovers were evidently nesting on the moor, but 4 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY it was too late in the day to look for nests. I also saw three Red-throated Divers on one of the lochs, many Meadow- and Rock-Pipits, and a Corn Bunting. The following day I walked over to the western shore, where I again saw several pairs of Fulmars, three Mergansers on an inland loch, and the usual Gulls, Guillemots, etc., the Black-headed Gull only being absent, and the Great Black- backed Gull very scarce. Returning to the yacht, I had a close view of a pair of White Wagtails at the foot of Roer Water Burn. In the afternoon we left for Cullivoe, Yell. Off Outsta Ness, I saw five Eider Ducks, which are scarce here Richardson's comparatively ; many Fulmars, Skuas, and the usual sea birds. June 9 : I landed on Unst. Great numbers of Kitti- wakes were flying down the Sound in one continuous stream. Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Black Guillemots, Herring Gulls, Common Gulls, Richardson's Skuas, Puffins, Common Guillemots, Razorbills, Starlings, Meadow-Pipits, Rock- Pipits, Skylarks, and Shags, were all abundant. There were a few Eider Ducks, Mergansers, and Oyster- Catchers in all the little bays. Three pairs of Curlews and a few Lapwings seemed to be nesting on the moor. Twites are always to be seen near the houses. In addition to the above, one Ringed Plover, a few Arctic Terns, and two pairs of Hooded Crows, were all that I saw. In the afternoon we left for Balta Sound, seeing nothing of note on the way except Gannets. I walked over to Burra Firth on arrival, but the weather being very stormy, I only saw a few Sparrows about the houses at Haroldswick, and one or two Wrens. June 10 being again very stormy, I could do little bird-watching. I bicycled over to the Loch of Cliff, seeing the following birds, six Swallows, two Corn-Buntings, one Dunlin, several Richardson's Skuas, and many Wheatears, Twites, Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls, Oyster-Catchers, Starlings, and Meadow-Pipits. June ii: I bicycled again to Loch Cliff and walked up Hermaness to see the colony of Great Skuas. On the way up, I passed a large colony of Richardson's Skuas with one pair of Great Skuas amongst them. The watcher told me that he knew of forty-two nests of the Great NOTES ON BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE SCOTTISH ISLANDS 5 Skua. Though exceedingly tame they were not at all pugnacious, even though I had a small dog with me. I attribute this to the fact, that none of the eggs were as yet hatched. The watcher's hut is peculiarly favourably situated for defending his proteges, as within a few yards he can practically survey the whole nesting area. On my return a hen Wigeon flew round me, as if nesting on the marshy ground between Loch Cliff and Burra Firth. Un- fortunately, I was pressed for time and could not stay to watch her. Thousands of Kittiwakes had collected at the end of Loch Cliff. They were flying in one continuous stream up Burra Firth, and I counted one hundred pass me in less than a minute. In the afternoon I left for Kirkwall, again seeing many Fulmars when out at sea. June 12: I visited the island of Damsay, where I found a large colony of Arctic Terns breeding, but again no Common Terns, though I looked carefully for them.