The Annals

OF

Scottish Natural History

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED

Cfje

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
AND

WILLIAM EAGLE CLARKE, F.L.S., F.R.S.E.

KEEPER OF THE NATURAL HISTORY DEPARTMENT, THE ROYAL SCOTTISH MUSEUM, EDINBURGH

IQIO

EDINBURGH

DAVID DOUGLAS, CASTLE STREET
LONDON: R. H. PORTER, 7 PRINCES ST., CAVENDISH SQUARE

The Annals

of

Scottish Natural History

NO. 73] 1910 [JANUARY

WHALING IN SCOTLAND FOR 1909.
By R. C. HALDANE, F.S.A. (Scot.).

THE only return I have got this year is from Herr Carl
Herlofsen of the Bunaveneader station, Harris. I am sorry
to say that he writes that the Sperm cow-whale reported
to have been caught in 1905 was a mistake ; it should have
been marked as a bull instead of a cow. This, to me, is
disappointing, as it just leaves us where we were, that cow
Sperms do not come to northern latitudes. Where do they
stay, and why are the young bulls driven by some impulse
to see the world ? The bulls got off the Scottish coast are
invariably small, seldom exceeding 58 feet in length, the
largest being the Norrona bull of 68 feet got in 1903, and
the Bunaveneader bull of the same size in 1906. Judging
from what Beale says, I fancy the big bulls keep with the
cows, and the young bulls travel for some reason of their
own, and get into colder and more invigorating latitudes.

The results of the whaling from Bunaveneader station
are, as usual, very interesting from the variety of whales
got there :

B. sibbaldii . 17 bulls, averaging 72.9 feet.

Do. . 13 cows, ,, 68.2

B. musculus . 54 bulls, ,, 58.7 ,,

Do. 59 cows, 57.8

73 B

o o /i (\

2 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

B. borealis . . 44 bulls, averaging 43.25 feet.

Do. 12 cows, 43

Megaptera . 4 bulls, ,, 42 ,,

Do. i cow, 41

B. biscayensis . . 9 bulls, ,, 44 ,,

Do. 13 cows, 45.8 ,,

P. macrocephalus . 7 bulls, ,, 47-2 ,,

The B. sibbaldii included some enormous ones bulls
of 85, 85, and 82 feet long, and a cow of 81 feet.

The largest Sperm Whale was 49 feet.

The B. musculus had bulls 76, 74, 74, 72 feet, and
cows 71, 70, 70, 70 feet.

The two largest biscayensis were of 5 i feet each.

In one of the Sperm Whales there was a small quantity
of ambergris, which sold for over ^200.

The Shetland stations are unwilling to give information,
partly on account of the trouble it causes, and partly on
account of the annoyance they have had from those who
have tried to get up agitation against them on behalf of
the herring fishers by distorting facts or inventing libels.

I did not hear of anything of great interest being
brought ashore in Shetland except three Megaptera at Olna
station. The other three stations only got B. mnsculus and
B. borealis.

Whales do not seem to be decreasing in numbers, but
are said to be shyer and not so easily approached. The
cold and stormy season was against whaling and all other
fishing.

ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE EASTERN
PIED CHAT (SAXICOLA PLESCHANKA) IN
SCOTLAND A NEW BRITISH BIRD.

By EVELYN V. BAXTER and LEONORA JEFFREY RINTOUL.

PLATE I.

ON October I9th, 1909, we were engaged in migration work
on the Isle of May, and on that particular day we were
rather inclined to be in a desponding frame of mind, as the
wind which had been light off the East for one day before,

ANN. SCOT. NAT. HIST., 1910.

PLATE I.

w

o

CO

X

OCCURRENCE OF THE EASTERN PIED CHAT IN SCOTLAND 3

had gone back into the West again ; and we had always
found that the West wind brought us few treasures. How-
ever we did our usual rounds without seeing anything
unusual till noon, when, among the rocks on the East side,
we put up a Chat, which we at once decided was not a
Common Wheatear. It was considerably darker than
S. cenantke, looked smaller, and seemed to show less white
patch on the rump when it flew ; it was restless and rather
wild, flitting from one rock to another in a hurried manner.
Then began a most exciting chase, up and down the steep de-
clivities and among broken jagged rocks until, at last, a lucky
shot laid the quarry low. On picking it up, we found that
we had got a bird quite unknown to us ; nor did Saunders's
" Manual " and various other books help us, for we could find
no description which corresponded with it. Full of high hopes
we consigned it to Mr. Eagle Clarke at the Royal Scottish
Museum, to whom it also presented difficulties (added to by
the fact that the bird was a female in autumn plumage),
and being uncertain of its identity owing to want of adequate
material with which to compare it, he sent the bird to
Dr. Hartert at Tring, and to our great satisfaction our
capture was pronounced by him to be a bird new to the
British List, being the Eastern Pied Chat, Saxicola plescJianka
(the .$. uwrio of some authors), but of the white-throated
form usually considered a distinct species, the 5. vittata
of Hemprich and Ehrenberg, now considered by Dr. Hartert
to be merely a variety of vS. plescJianka, The usual habitat
of this species, according to Dresser, is Eastern Europe
(Cyprus, Crimea, Lower Volga), east to Kashmir, S.E. Siberia,
Tibet, Mongolia, and N. China ; wintering in India, Abyssinia,
and Arabia. It has also occurred in Italy and Heligoland.
Our specimen proved to be a female ; it is 5.7 inches in
length, wing 3.6 inches. Head dull greyish-brown with
faint indications of darker streaks ; eye-streak bufifish-white ;
ear-coverts brownish-black, much streaked with greyish-
brown ; mantle black, each feather broadly margined with
greyish-brown, lighter at the tips ; rump and upper tail
coverts white ; central pair of tail feathers black with basal
third white, remaining tail feathers white broadly tipped
with black, the outer ones more so than the inner ; primaries,

4 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

secondaries, and wing-coverts blackish-brown with narrow
pale brown margins ; sides of the neck white tinged with
buff ; throat and centre of abdomen white ; chest warm
buff; flanks and under tail-coverts pale buff; axillaries
black ; under wing-coverts black, with paler edges ; eyes,
bill, feet, and toes black.

BIRD NOTES FROM THE ISLE OF MAY
-AUTUMN 1909.

By LEONORA JEFFREY RINTOUL AND EVELYN V. BAXTER.

THIS autumn (1909) we again returned to the Isle of May,
spending six weeks there from I3th September to 28th
October. During our stay on the island we saw 91 species
of birds, in spite of the fact that for a large part of the
time the weather conditions were very unfavourable for
migration observations. The first fortnight was characterised
by the prevalence of light easterly winds, and many
interesting birds put in an appearance, though there were
no great numbers of any one kind.

We landed on the island about 2 p.m. on I 3th September
and at once set out to see what birds were present. We
found few kinds, but among them was a Barred Warbler
(S. nisoria) , a Blackcap (S. atricapilla} $ , and a Scarlet
Grosbeak (C. erythinus] ?. This was an encouraging
beginning, and by next day a Whinchat (P. rubetra], a
Bluethroat (C. sueciai] a bird of the year, a Pied Flycatcher
(M. atricapilla}, and a White Wagtail (M. alba}, had arrived.
We also saw a Whimbrel (N. pluzopus], which species we
saw every day till 25th September, one to three birds at
a time.

The i 5th was a very poor day, but on the i6th we saw
several Lesser Whitethroats (S. curruca) and a Yellow-
browed W^arbler (P. superciliosus), the latter in the lighthouse
garden. It was an extremely restless little bird, flitting
here and there and uttering its curious note, a loud ringing
"pee," audible a long way off; it was an extraordinarily
strong note for so small a bird. In the afternoon a Great

BIRD NOTES FROM THE ISLE OF MAY AUTUMN 1909 5

Spotted Woodpecker (D. major} appeared ; it hopped and
flapped clumsily from one grassy mound to another, feeding
on the red ants which abound there. Next morning we
put up a very wild Bluethroat in one of the gardens,
saw several Redstarts (R. phcenicurus}, a female Blackcap,
several Garden Warblers (S. salicaria), and a Lesser White-
throat. The first Brambling (F. montifringilla) of the
season was observed and several Pied Flycatchers had
come in.

On the 1 8th September there were more Blackcaps,
all with the chestnut head, a Chiff-chaff (P. collybita), a
Spotted Flycatcher (M. grisola], and a Pied flycatcher.
Quantities of Swallows (//. rustica) and House-martins
(C. urbicd) were circling round above the island, or sitting
in long rows on the telephone wires ; this is the only time
we have seen any great numbers of these birds on the
island. By next morning almost all the Hirundina; had
left, and the only new species that had come in was a
Stonechat (P. rubicola). The 2Oth brought nothing of
special interest, except that we procured a specimen of the
Greater Wheatear (S. cenanthe leucorrhod] with a wing
measurement of 105 millimetres. On the 2ist a Missel-
thrush (T. viscivorus] and a Grey Wagtail (M. melanope],
occurred, and next day we recorded a Lesser Whitethroat,
a nice little flock of eight Siskins (C. spinus) and a Golden
Plover (C. pluvialis}.

After a poor day on the 23rd we had a fine lot of birds
on the 24th, the new arrivals including Redstarts, a lot of
Whitethroats (S. cinered), several Lesser Whitethroats, a
Garden Warbler, a Goldcrest (R. cristatus), another Yellow-
browed Warbler, a good many Siskins, a Pied Flycatcher,
a Brambling and several Tree Pipits (A. trivialis]. We
were much puzzled by the mysterious way in which one
particular bird baffled our attempts to solve its identity.
We saw a Warbler in a small patch of nettles arid proceeded
to try to walk it up, with no result ; we returned in half-
an-hour or so and saw the bird again, but on trying to
make its nearer acquaintance it again vanished ; this
happened several times, and we could not think where
the bird had gone to, for if it had flown out of the patch

6 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

of nettles we should have seen it. However, the mystery
was soon solved ; as we were standing quite silently just
above a rabbit-hole, out of the burrow came a Common
Whitethroat which, on seeing us, retreated far down the
hole again, and we saw it several times afterwards taking
covert in the same way.

25th September was a day with light east wind and fog
in the morning and evening ; it was one of our red-letter
days. On going out we found more Wheatears, Redstarts,
and Garden Warblers, a Yellow-browed Warbler, the first
Chaffinch (F. ccelebs) of the season and many Bramblings
and Siskins. A few Pied Flycatchers were also present,
and down in Mr. Ross's garden a Red-breasted Flycatcher
(M. parvd). This bird's behaviour was very like that of
the Pied Flycatcher, it flitted about in the same way, and,
when it settled, ducked, jerking its wings. It was not very
shy, and when procured was found to be a male. This is
the first record of this bird in the Forth Area. We saw
several White Wagtails and Tree Pipits, a Reed Bunting
(E. scJiceniclus), and a Little Bunting (E. pusilla) which we
were fortunate enough to secure ; this bird is another first
record for " Forth." It was not at all wild, and uttered
a gentle little twittering song as it stood on the ground.
Four Golden Plovers were running about on the high part
of the island.

Sunday 26th was another good day, Redwings (T.
iliacus] and Ring Ouzels (T, torquatus] had arrived, one of
the latter being in beautiful summer plumage. We also
observed the largest male Wheatear we have ever seen,
evidently 5". cenanthe leucorrhoa, Redstarts, a Whitethroat,
two Lesser Whitethroats, a good many Willow Warblers
(P. trochilus\ and two Yellow-browed Warblers. These
last-named are self-assertive little birds ; one of them wanted
to sit on a twig that had already been appropriated by a
Lesser Whitethroat, and the impertinent mite hustled and
bustled poor curruca till it had to quit, leaving snperciliosus
in possession. The Garden Warblers were feeding on
large caterpillars, which looked very like those of M.
brassica. Several times when we flushed one of these birds
out of the cabbages, it rose holding a big larva in its beak,

BIRD NOTES FROM THE ISLE OF MAY AUTUMN 1909 7

flew to the wall and there proceeded to demolish its prey.
When put off the wall it still stuck to its caterpillar, carried
it off and no doubt ate it elsewhere. There were a good
many Siskins about and very tame, a Spotted Flycatcher,
a Tree Pipit, two White Wagtails and a Little Bunting,
which when put up out of some thistles sat on a wall,
erecting the feathers of its head and uttering repeatedly
a peculiar single note, several Swallows, a Carrion Crow
(C. corone}, and a Dunlin (T. a!pina\ the last-named feeding
on the grass among a large flock of Starlings.

On 2 /th September we saw only one Ring Ouzel, and
the Warblers were much the same as yesterday except that
we saw three Yellow-browed Warblers instead of two. A
couple of Hedge Accentors (A. modularis] had arrived,
White Wagtails and Tree Pipits were still on the island,
and a small flock of Common Scoter (CE, nigra) were seen
in the sea off the North Ness.

The second fortnight of our stay opened in a promising
manner, a light east wind blowing for the first two days, but
after this the wind changed and we soon had a succession
of fresh or strong southerly and westerly winds preventing
much migration being seen on the island.

There were a great many Turdinae on 28th September.
Blackbirds (T. inerula) and Thrushes (T. musicus] abounded.
Redwings and Ring Ouzels were present in some numbers,
while the scolding note of the Missel Thrush was heard and
the bird was seen flying from one point of vantage to
another. The Warblers seen included a Lesser Whitethroat,
a good many Blackcaps and Garden Warblers, a Willow
Warbler, a Chiff-chaff, and two Yellow-browed Warblers.
There were still a good many Siskins, which species was
much more plentiful on the Isle of May this autumn than in
1907 or 1908. On the 29th there were still a lot of
Thrushes and Blackbirds, the other three members of this
family having left ; also a good many Robins (E. rubecula],
a few Redstarts, a Lesser Whitethroat, several Garden
Warblers and Siskins, and two Wrens (T. parvulus], the
first of the season. 3Oth September and ist October were
poor days ; we saw the last Lesser Whitethroat of the year
on the former day, and the last Redstart on the latter. On

8 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

2nd October another Yellow-browed Warbler appeared ; we
found it hopping about among the oat stocks in one of the
gardens ; a good many Bramblings had come, and we saw
the last of the Siskins. A Merganser (M. serrator] and a
Jack-snipe (G. gallinuld] were also seen.

On 4th October a flock of 38 Grey Geese passed over
the island flying up the Firth, and next day we saw a
Peregrine (F. peregrinus), and this fine falcon was also seen
on the loth. The /th was the last day on which we saw
the Common Wheatear (S. cenanthe), and on the 8th some
Tree -sparrows (P. inontanus] appeared ; the new-comers
were in very beautiful plumage, decidedly brighter than
those that we had seen throughout our stay. Razorbills
(A. tordd] passed in flocks going south, and some southward
movement was seen almost every day after this till we left.

We saw a Sandwich Tern (S. cantiacd) on the Qth
October, and a Purple Sandpiper (T. striata] came to the
lantern that night ; this species occurred in small numbers
off and on throughout our stay, but this was the only time
it came to the light.

On roth October the wind had fallen considerably,
being now light off the south. Enormous flocks of Red-
wings kept coming in all day, the island was swarming with
them, and the air seemed full of them too. One heard
their note everywhere and put the birds up from behind
every rock and tuft of grass. When we first went out in
the morning we saw only a few Bramblings, but flock after
flock came in, till by mid-day there were large numbers in
every part of the island, and by afternoon the flocks were
huge ; there must have been thousands of these birds present.

Next day Redwings and Bramblings were still numerous,
and a Wigeon (M. penelope] was swimming in one of the
small pools. A Teal (A. crecca) on the I2th finishes the
list of interesting items for the second fortnight.

The third fortnight of our visit began with high southerly
and westerly winds and continued thus, with little inter-
mission, till 23rd October, after which we had light northerly
winds. On the i 3th October a Tree Pipit and two Shore-
larks (O. alpestris) were our chief records. We found the
Shore-larks pretty shy, and very much given to rising and

BIRD NOTES FROM THE ISLE OF MAY AUTUMN 1909 9

flying away when we were still some distance off, but each
time they rose they uttered their peculiar call-note, a high
wild " Hi-yi-yi," quite unlike any other bird-note we know.
Next day there was still one on the island, and we saw the
first Brent Goose (B. brenta] that we have seen at the May ;
while the day after, the first Long-tailed Duck (H. glacialis] $ >
appeared close to the island, and we saw this species several
times subsequently. On 1 6th October we again saw a
Shore-lark and at 8.30 p.m. heard a great thud on the roof:
on going up next morning to see what had struck, we found
a Water-rail (R. aquaticus] lying dead on the leads. About
4 a.m. on the morning of the i/th the first Fieldfares (7\
pilaris} of the season came to the lantern, as did a Blackcap,
a Garden Warbler, and a few Thrushes ; and on going out
next morning it was evident that there had been a big
Thrush immigration, as the island was full of them. Several
Tree Pipits had also arrived and a Merlin (F. (zsalori).

On i 8th October there were a very great many Red-
wings, and we found that a good many had been killed at
the light. We also saw a Ring Ouzel, a male Blackcap, a
Willow-warbler and a Goldcrest. A Greenfinch (L. chloris)
had put in an appearance, and an adult Common Gull (L.
camis) came to the lantern at 7.30 p.m. iQth October
provided the crowning hour of our life here, in the
shape of an Eastern Pied Chat (S. pleschankd) a new bird
for Britain as we have recorded in a separate article, q.v.
A Blackcap $ and several Greenfinches are perhaps worth
mentioning. The next two days we saw nothing noteworthy,
but on the 22nd we got another Greater Wheatear, and next
day a Mallard {A. bosckas) and a Lesser Black-backed Gull
(L. fuscus) were added to the list.

On 24th October another Yellow-browed Warbler had
arrived, and was seen flitting about the rocks. At the south
end of the island, we saw an immature Glaucous Gull
(L. glaucus) and a Grebe in winter plumage, probably
P. auritus. The last species we added to our autumn list
was the Black Guillemot ( U. grylle], of which species we
saw two birds in winter plumage in the sea close to the
island on 2/th October. When we arrived on the island
there were very few Eider (S. mollissima) to be seen, but

jo ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

their numbers increased steadily till a very large flock was
present. There were not so many waders this year as on
our two preceding visits, and we saw fewer Arctic Skuas
(S. crepidatus] harassing the Kittiwakes.

The frequent occurrence of Eastern species was very
marked this year on the Isle of May, while many of our
common species were present in very small numbers ; for
instance, we saw quite as many Yellow-browed Warblers as
we did Willow- Warblers. The Eastern Pied Chat is an East-
European, North-east African, and West and Central Asiatic
species, the Yellow-browed Warbler has not been found
breeding west of the Urals, the Red-breasted Flycatcher
inhabits Central and Southern Europe, while the Scarlet
Grosbeak and Little Bunting are North-east European and
Asiatic species ; and yet all these birds occurred on this
small island so far to the west of their breeding-grounds ;
in the case of the Yellow-browed Warbler we saw at least
ten different birds, and among them were females, all those
hitherto recorded from the Isle of May being males.

With the exception of the Thrush, Redwing, Brambling,
and Swallow, we saw no large number of any one kind of
bird ; Siskins were more plentiful than usual, but not in
great quantities, and many birds, notably the commoner
Warblers, were fewer in number than in other years.
Common Whitethroats and Willow-Warblers were very scarce,
Sedge- Warblers were conspicuous by their absence, and, to
jump to another family, we saw no Snow Buntings at all.

It is once more our pleasant duty to thank the Com-
missioners of Northern Lights very heartily for having again
accorded us the privilege of watching the autumn migration
from this favourable station ; to thank Mr. and Mrs. Mac-
eachern, and Mr. and Miss Maccuish for their kindness and
help while we were on the island, and also Mr. and Mrs.
Ross and all our other kind friends for the help they gave
us in allowing us to hunt their gardens and in many other
ways. We greatly enjoyed our stay on the island, which
was more successful ornithologically than either of our
former visits. Special thanks are due to Mr. Eagle Clarke
for his kindness in assisting us with the identification of our
Chat, and for all the trouble he has taken to help us.

THE COTTON-SPINNER 11

THE COTTON- SPINNER (HOLOTHURIA FOR-
SKALI) AN ECHINODERM NEW TO THE
FAUNA OF SCOTLAND.

By JAMES RITCHIE, M.A., B.Sc.

THERE was recently presented to the Royal Scottish
Museum, by Mr. A. Johnston, Mallaig, a Sea-Cucumber
discovered in a crab-creel off Mallaig, towards the southern
end of the Sound of Sleat. The soft character of the
creature, which was over 6^ inches long, its colour on the
dorsal surface very dark sepia, relieved by yellow in the
interstices between the papilla;, the ground -work of the
lower surface pale yellow, with sandy yellow to brown
markings and the arrangements of papillae and pedicels,
all indicated HolotJmria forskali, Delle Chiaje. Examina-
tion of the exceedingly minute spicules confirmed the
identification.

HolotJmria forskali occurs in the Mediterranean and
northwards. In British waters, which, under the name of
Holothuria nigra, it was long thought exclusively to inhabit,
it has been found on the south coast of England, and on the
west to St. George's Channel, while many records tell of its
presence on the west coast of Ireland, even to Co. Donegal. 1
Its presence in Scottish waters appears, however, to have
escaped observation.

In introducing the Cotton -Spinner to the fauna of
Scotland, I quote from an early description by Peach, 2 to
show in what appropriate manner its English epithet became
attached to it. He says quaintly : " This Holothuria is
called by fishermen a ' Nigger,' and at times a ' Cotton-
Spinner ' ; it is held by them in great detestation, from its
throwing out what they call ' cotton,' of which more by and
by, and from its slimy nature, and also because where the
' Niggers ' are numerous and get into the crab-pots, it is very
rarely that either crabs or lobsters are caught, and therefore
they kill all that come near with their knives, because they

1 Nichols, " Proc. Irish Acad." (3) xxiv. B., p. 245.
2 C. W. Peach, "Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist." xv. 1845, P- I 7 l -

12 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

do not like to touch them. This is not wonderful, for their
appearance is anything but prepossessing. . . .

" It is extremely irritable, and on being touched or dis-
turbed, throws out a bunch of white tapered threads about an
inch in length, and one-eighth in thickness, . . . they stick
to everything they touch, and from these the animals are
called ' Cotton-Spinners ' by the fishermen. This small bunch
is drawn into a large mass of threads, so small that the finest
sewing-cotton is not equal to it, and is no doubt one of the
means of defence provided for its preservation ; for I have
seen a crab so completely entangled in it as not to be able
to move, and a fish only able to get away after a long
struggle."

Prof. F. Jeffrey Bell notes that in the neighbourhood of
Falmouth, Cotton-Spinners are known to the fishermen as
" Sea-Cows." l

THE ROYAL SCOTTISH MUSEUM, EDINBURGH.

THE OCCURRENCE OF A RARE CRAB, PARO-
MOLA CUVIERI, IN SCOTTISH WATERS.

By JAMES RITCHIE, M.A., B.Sc.

FOR many years there has existed in the collection of
Crustaceans in the British Museum a fragmentary specimen,
a " detached carapace, six inches in length, and the two
chelipeds " of Paronwla cuvieri (Risso), regarding which an
accompanying portion of a letter tells that : " The crab shell
was found on the shore of Ensay, a farm on the west coast
of Mull, belonging to Lord Compton." Other than this
scrappy note nothing is known of the specimen, and its
occurrence remained unrecorded until Mr. J. N. Halbert
mentioned it in discussing the first appearance of P. cuvieri
in Irish waters. 1 Referring to the Mull specimen he says :
" Possibly this occurrence has been regarded as somewhat

1 "Proc. Zool. Soc.," London, 1884, p. 563.
2 See J. N. Halbert, "Irish Naturalist," xvii. 1908, pp. 129-132.

OCCURRENCE OF A RARE CRAB IN SCOTTISH WATERS 13

insufficient for definitely including the species in the Scottish
fauna. In view of the recent captures, however, it is highly
probable that the crab will eventually be found in deep
water off the western coast of Scotland."

Recently a specimen has been received by the Royal
Scottish Museum which fulfils Mr. Halbert's prophecy, con-
firms the earlier record, and gives Paromola cuvieri a
definite place among Scottish crustaceans. The specimen
was forwarded to the Museum by Mr. L. G. Esson of
Aberdeen, by whom it had been obtained from a trawl-boat
which had captured it alive between the Flannan Islands
and the Butt of Lewis, on loth October, 1909. It is a
moderately sized male, the detailed measurements of which
agree very closely with those of the specimen recorded by
Halbert.

Length of carapace (including rostral spine) 6| inches.
Breadth of carapace . 5i

Length of abdomen . . . 6^

Length of right cheliped . . . 2 if ,,

Length of legs 2, 3, and 4, about . . 1 7
Length of fifth pair .... 7

Yet even this great size is considerably short of that attained
by mature specimens in the Mediterranean Sea, where
carapaces eight inches long are not uncommon.

The recent Scottish example is complete but for the
absence of the second walking leg on the left side, and of
the dactylopodite of the third walking leg on the right,
the latter having evidently been lost for some time. Like
the Cork example it is encrusted by many epizoites, most
evident of which are small specimens of a delicate bivalve,
Anomia, abundantly scattered over the carapace and legs,
while a few twisted Serpula worm-tubes cling to the per-
pendicular side of the carapace, and rare zoophytes
a polyzoon, Bicellaria ciliata (L.), and two indeterminable
species of Campanularian Hydroids, one of which is probably
Clytia joJmstoni (Alder) straggle in the neighbourhood of
the rostrum or on the limbs.

Since Mr. Esson forwarded the specimen to which
reference has just been made, he writes to say that he is
aware of the existence in Aberdeen of another specimen of

i 4 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Paromola cuvieri, which also was captured off the west
coast of Scotland.

Paromola cuvieri, like its near relatives, lives in
moderately deep water, and for long was supposed to exist
only in the Mediterranean Sea, and in the adjacent parts of
the Atlantic Ocean, from the neighbourhood of the Canary
Islands to the Coast of Portugal. In 1908, however, a

PAROMOLA CUVIERI (Risso), FROM BETWEEN FLANNAN ISLANDS AND
BUTT OF LEWIS. (About \ natural size).

stray specimen was found alive in a shore pool on the south
of Ireland, some distance to the west of Cork, and in re-
cording this Halbert refers also to specimens dredged, during
the investigations carried out by the Fisheries Branch of the
Irish Department of Agriculture, 68 miles south-west of
Ireland, in water from 627 to 728 fathoms deep.

The occurrence of the present specimen off the Butt of
Lewis widens considerably the northern boundary of the
tract within which Paromola cuvieri is known to live.

THE ROYAL SCOTTISH MUSEUM, EDINBURGH.

SCOTTISH PHORID& 15

SCOTTISH PHORID^E, WITH TABLES OF ALL
THE BRITISH SPECIES, AND NOTES OF
LOCALITIES

By J. R. MALLOCH.

DURING the last ten years or so, considerable attention has
been given to the study of this family, and, though a great
deal remains to be done yet, the amount of knowledge we
now possess is sufficient to justify me in placing before
Dipterologists a brief outline of the genera and species, with
notes of localities, so that should anyone have the necessary
time and patience to pursue the study of these minute flies
their labours may be lightened. In the generic divisions
I have included those sub -genera which I created when
I broke up the rather heterogeneous group Phora, Latr.
("Journ. Nat. Hist. Soc.," Glasgow, 1909). I do not intend
to deal exhaustively with those species in the large section
now known as ApJiiochceta, Brues, as our knowledge of these
is not such as to permit of very exact divisions being
created, but it may be advisable to separate certain groups
so that they may be reduced to a more workable size.

The Phorida may be at once known from all other
Diptera, except the Bibionid genus Scatapse perhaps, by
their peculiar neuration. The costal vein extends in very
few cases beyond the middle of the wing, is considerably
thickened, and generally bears on its anterior surface a pro-
jecting fringe of hairs. For the purposes of this paper, and
to facilitate reference to Dr. Wood's detailed descriptions of the
species in the " Entomologists' Monthly Magazine," the other
thick veins which join the costal vein at different points in
its course are referred to as the first, second, and third thick
veins. The second, which looks like a fork of the third,
is the radial vein, and in some genera it is absent. The
thin veins, which are also of considerable importance in
distinguishing species, cross the body of the wing, and are
sometimes very inconspicuous. Various writers have tried
to place the Phorida* in lists in their ' natural ' position, and
the general body of opinion seems to be that their place is

16 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

between the Lonc/iopteridcz and the Platyptezida. The order
in which the genera appears in this paper is not intended to
indicate their rotation in the list.

TABLE OF GENERA.

1. (2.) Thick, flattened species, frons, legs, and costa without

bristles, third vein unforked ( = second vein absent).

Platyphora, Verr.

2. (i.) Body of the usual arched shape.

3. (4.) Footpads and empodium absent, fourth thin vein absent,

four pairs of fronto-orbital bristles, very minute species.

Metopina, Mcq.

4. (3.) Footpads and empodium present.

5. (6.) Frons without bristles, vertical row present, costa fine

haired. Gymnophora, Mcq.

6. (5.) Frons with bristles, costal bristles present.

7. (8.) Post-antennal and lower frontal bristles absent, three pairs

of fronto-orbital bristles, and one pair of upper frontal
bristles present ; second vein absent, mid-tibiae with
row of outer bristles, eyes bare. Trineura, Mg.

8. (7.) Post-antennal bristles present, not more than two pairs of

fronto-orbital bristles, eyes hairy.

9. (10.) Arista apical ; antennae with third joint slightly pointed in

$, long and pear-shaped in 6", only the vertical and
upper frontal horizontal rows in addition to the post-
antennal bristles present, second vein absent.

Conicera, Mg.

10. (9.) Arista dorsal, head bristles in three horizontal rows of four

each, post-antennal bristles present.

11. (24.) Post-antennal bristles reclinate.

12. (22.) Mid tibia with two strong bristles at base.

13. (23.) Second vein present (third vein forked).

14. (15.) Fourth thin vein abbreviated or indistinct, tibial armature

weak. Trupheoneura, Mall.

15. (14.) Fourth thin vein generally distinct and always reaching

the margin of the wing, or else all thin veins abbreviated
(Phora abbreviata).

1 6. (17.) Third thick vein with short bristles. Chtztoneura, Mall.

17. (16.) Third thick vein bare.

1 8. (21.) Scutellum with four bristles.

SCOTTISH PHORID^E 17

19. (20.) Sub-apical spine on mid tibise weak and small, situated on

outer side near the tip, hind tibise with a row of small
bristles on the outer hinder side in addition to any
stronger bristles that may be present ; anal protuberance
long and finger like ; first thin vein almost straight at
base. P/iora, Latr.

20. (19.) Mid tibise with sub-apical spine always well developed, and

situated on the outer side at about one-third from the
apex ; hind marginal small bristles absent ; first thin
vein strongly bent at base. Spiniphora, Mall.

21. (18.) Scutellum with two bristles, one hind tibial bristle, sub-

apical mid tibial bristle weak or absent ; frontal bristles
strong. Stenophora, Mall.

22. (12.) Mid tibise with one basal bristle ; frontal bristles weak.

Parastenophora, nov. nom.

23. (13.) Third thick vein unforked, second vein absent.

Hypocera, Brues.

24. (11.) Post-antennal bristles not reclinate.

25. (26.) Post-antennal bristles erect. Beckerina, nov. gen.

26. (25.) Post-antennal bristles proclinate. Aphiochata, Brues.

PLATYPHORA, Verr.

Lubbocki, Verr. easily distinguished from all other Phoridcz by
its PlatyptezaJflzR shape, and the absence of bristles. The only
specimens I have seen were from New Forest (King).

GYMNOPHORA, Mcq.

amtata, Mg. The only species of the genus is easily recognised
by the bare frons and legs. The wings have the thick veins much
thickened, and the whole insect including the wings is extremely
dark. Very common among ferns and undergrowth. I have seen
it from various parts of Scotland, and take it here commonly.

CONICERA, Mg.

1. (2.) Third antennal joint in $ about 2-i times as long as its

basal breadth. atra, Mg.

2. (i.) Third antennal joint in 6* about i| times as long as its

basal breadth. simi/is, Hal.

Both species are about equally common, but owing to their

somewhat similar appearance, they are not readily distinguished.

I have taken both species at Bonhill and Cardross, and have seen

atra from Cambridge, so that this species, at least, has a wide range.

73 C

i8 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

TRINEURA, Mg.
r. (4.) Hind tibiae with only one outer bristle on the basal half.

2. (3.) Fore tarsi much dilated ; mid tibiae with five to seven

outer bristles in ^ and three in 9 , larger species.

velutina, Mg.

3. (2.) Fore tarsi hardly dilated ; mid tibiae with about five outer

bristles in $ , and two or three in 9 aterrima, F.

4. (i.) Hind tibiae with two outer bristles. Schineri, Beck.

The species of this genus may always be known by their velvety-
black colour, even in the net.

Velutina, Mg., is common almost everywhere, as is
aterrima, F. I meet with them in almost every con-
signment of Phoridce that reaches me from corre-
spondents.

Schtneri, Beck, is the scarcest of the three, but I have
a good series taken near Bonhill, and I have seen it
in the collection of Mr. Henderson, also from Clyde.

HYPOCERA, Brms.

This genus is distinguished from the other genera with reclinate
post - antennal bristles, and two horizontal rows of four frontal
bristles by the absence of the second vein. There are several
well-defined sections in the genus which, while lending themselves
to easy divisions, seem to point to the fact that they are not con-
generic. It is, however, not desirable to increase the number of
sub-genera beyond the present number merely to separate one or
two species, more particularly when the present genus is not ex-
tremely bulky.

Table of Species.

1. (2.) Third thick vein with several large bristles at the base.

mordellarici) Flu.

2. (i.) Third thick vein without large bristles, or with a single

bristle.

3. (6.) Frons with a distinct ocellar tubercule.

4. (5.) Fore tibiae with from two to four bristles in a row.

incrassata, Mg.

5. (4.) Fore tibiae with only one bristle. carinifrons, Ztt.

6. (3.) Frons without a tubercule.

7. (8.) Hind legs very stout, no bristle at base of third thick vein.

femorata, Mg.

8. (7.) Hind legs long and slender, a large bristle at base of third

thick vein.

SCOTTISH PHORID^E 19

9. (10.) Hind tibia bare (sometimes one weak bristle may be
present about the middle). ritreiformis, Beck.

10. (9.) Hind tibiae with two bristles on the outer side.

vitripennis, Mg.

mordellaria, Flu., seems to be confined to England ; the
only specimens I have seen were from the New Forest.

incrassata, Mg., I have seen this from the north of
Scotland and the south of England, but have not met
with it myself.

carinifrons, Ztt, seems to be generally common. I
have met with it in abundance at Bonhill, and have
seen it from the north of Scotland and also from
England.

femorata, Mg. This seems to be scarce, but generally
distributed. Dr. Wood has taken it at Tarrington,
Hereford, and has seen it from the north of Scotland.
I meet with it occasionally at Bonhill, having a series of
about a dozen specimens.

ritreiformis, Beck., seems to be generally distributed. I
generally obtain about half a dozen in a season at
Bonhill off Umbelliferae, and Dr. Wood records it from
Hereford.

vitripennis, Mg. I met with this species in abundance
on an old moss-grown wall at Bonhill in June 1908.
The insects were just emerging, and many were im-
mature. Mr. J. E. Collin has bred it from bees' nests.

The European species of this genus are, besides the above,
coronata, Beck., Bernuthi, Egg., and agilis, Mg. The species agilis,
Mg., may be more properly referable to Chcetoneura as the second
vein is sometimes present. I have not seen any of these three
species, but they may be turned up yet in Britain.

CHvETONEURA, Mall.

Generic description : Antennae normal ; arista dorsal ; frontal
bristles in two horizontal rows of four each ; postantennal bristles
reclinate ; palpi normal ; costa to beyond middle of wing, fringed ;
third thick vein with short bristles, second vein present ; first thin
vein distinctly bent at base ; four thin veins present ; the mid-
tibial bristles are three in number, two basal and one sub-apical
all sub-equal in size. Type : thoracica, Mg.

Table of Species.

1. (2.) Halteres black. curvinervis, Beck.

2. (i.) Halteres pale (yellow).

20 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

3. (4.) Thorax sometimes pale; hind tibiae with four bristles, a

pair in the upper third, one in the middle of the hind
margin, and one close to the tip on outer side, costa
thickened. thoracica, Mg.

4. (3.) Thorax black, costa normal.

5. (6.) Hind tibiae with five or six bristles. ttrbana, Mg.

6. (5.) Hind tibiae with only two bristles. fennica, Beck.

curvinervis, Beck, a very common species under carrion,
in the spring and early summer. Probably to be met
with everywhere.

thoracica, Mg., generally distributed, and sometimes
common. I have bred it from moles' nests. The
darkening at the tip of wings is, I find in all my speci-
mens, confined to the $ 9 > the male showing a hardly
perceptible yellower tinge.

urbana, Mg. I bred this along with the last from moles'
nests. It is not a rare species. I meet with it every
season in fair numbers while sweeping.

fennica, Beck. The rarest of the genus. I have only
met with 4 $ <$ and i $ at Bonhill.

SPINIPHORA, Mall.

Generic description: Antennae normal, arista dorsal, frontal
bristles as in C/nctoneura, mid tibiae with three equally strong bristles
situated, two on the basal third, and one on about the base of the
apical third on the outer side, costa moderately long, second vein
present, third thick vein bare, first thin vein bent at base, four thin
veins present. Type : inacnlata, Mg.

Table of Species.

1. (6.) Scutellar bristles, four in number, of equal size.

2. (3.) Wings with a spot at origin of the first thin vein ; mid tibiae

with two inside spurs. maculata, Mg.

3. (2.) Wings unspotted ; mid tibiae with only one spur.

4. (5.) Costa to about the middle of wing ; hind tibiae with four

bristles. Sergenstammi, Mik. ( = domes tica, W.).

5. (4.) Costa to beyond the middle ; hind tibiae c? with three

bristles. (The $ has several extra bristles on the
upper side.) dorsalis, Beck.

6. (i.) The anterior scutellar bristles reduced to mere hairs; hind

tibiae with two bristles. erythronata, Strobl.

The species of this genus seem to be confined to England. I
do not remember to have seen any Scotch specimens of any species.

SCOTTISH PHORIDsE 21

I regret that I have to sink Dr. Wood's species, domestica, as
only a synonym of Bergenstammi, Mik. I do so because, in a lot
of PhoridcR) sent me by Dr. Jenkinson of Cambridge, there is a pair
taken in cop., which represents both species. Dr. Wood had some
doubt about their being distinct species, but the evidence was so
strong that such was the case that he decided to describe domestica
as new. The $ has only one pair of dorso-central bristles, while
the $ has two pairs. In maatlata, which I have only seen from
Cambridge, I find that there are always two pairs of dorso-central
bristles.

(To be continued.}

DALYELL'S SCOTTISH HYDRACHNIDS.

By WM. WILLIAMSON.

THE Hydrachnids have not contributed much in past years
to the Natural History literature of Scotland. It was
therefore with a hope that something worth might be in
store that I turned to Dalyell's " Powers of the Creator,"
which Mr. Wm. Evans kindly brought under my notice.
In this I have been greatly disappointed, and, but for the
record of localities and some species which can be recognised,
it seems to me that Dalyell's contribution is of little value.
Notwithstanding that, at the date of publication (1851),
Hydrachnids had been divided into genera, Dalyell, never-
theless, preferred to revert to Miiller's arrangement because
he considered it more suited to the popular nature of his
work. Had he followed out, instead of deprecating as he
did, the minutiae which the writers later than Miiller gave
attention to, we might possibly have had a contribution of
some value. The only dates he gives for his observations
are 1802 and 1809, an< ^ if> after the long interval between
that and the date of publication, he depended on memory
for his facts, then some of his statements may be accounted
for. It would be interesting to know what caused the
" fits " which he observed some hydrachnids to have taken,
or how they managed to nibble the stems of equisetum
(? limosum), or how many females contributed their quota
of eggs to the mass which weighed down the leaves of a
privet dipping in the water, and of which one twig with

22 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

eggs accounted for close on ten thousand larvae. Even the
predatory habits of hydrachnids are magnified in an extra-
ordinary degree.

Only thirteen species are accounted for in the two plates
accompanying the text, in which some of the species are
not even mentioned. In addition to these Hydrachna
papillator is mentioned, but not figured, in connection with
some low temperature experiments.

Hydrachna cnienta. This was established by Miiller, but exactly
what species he had before him has never been satisfactorily
determined. In 1884 Krendrowsky redescribed the species.
Dalyell records H. cruenta burrowing in the mud of a small
pond at Canty Bay. His figure of the imago is insufficient to
assist in determining the species, but he figures the larva hatched
out from eggs laid by his H. cruenta. This does not show
the peculiarly characteristic form of Hydrachna but rather that
of the Hygrobatidae. On the strength of this we may conclude
that Dalyell's species does not belong to the genus Hydrachna
but to some other genus. A figure of one of the limbs is also
given, but it is faulty as it does not show the segments, and its
equipment of hairs is certainly drawn from imagination.

Hydrachna extendens. This also was established by Miiller, and
later it was taken by Latreille as the type of his genus Eylais.
Dalyell's figure is more informative than the previous one. The
epimera bear some resemblance to those of Eylais extendens,
but, what is more important to us, he shows distinctly the oral
disc peculiar to Eylais. From one or two of his observations
I believe this to be Eylais extendens (Mull.).

Hydrachna crassipes. The figure of this species, with its posterior
papillae, shows it, without doubt, to be Unionicola crassipes
(Mull.).

Hydrachna varia. This must be added to the list of species which
cannot be now identified. The name apparently is appropriate
as the figure shows it to be at variance with all other hydrachnids,
being figured with five pairs of legs.

Hydrachna ferox, H. sparsa, H. spinifer. These are only figured
but not described. The figures afford no information beyond
the colouring of the mites.

H. punctata, which is in a position similar to the three foregoing
species, is recorded from the Braid Hills Pond. The separate
figure of the palpus does not show the segments.

Hydrachna placida is described by Dalyell as, "body, tending to
globular, about half a line in diameter ; eyes, two on the

DALYELL'S SCOTTISH HYDRACHNIDS 23

anterior surface, black, considerably apart ; limbs with scanty
hairs ; colour greyish-brown, lighter on the middle of the back.
Taken in a small pond on Braid Hills." The paucity of hairs
on the limbs is suggestive of a species of Hygrobates.

Hydrachna caudata and H. albator are undoubtedly Arrhemiri.
The figures show distinctly the generic subdivisions to which
each species belongs, but the absence of one or two details
does not allow of a closer verification of the specific names.

Hydrachna geographica and H. maculata may correspond, the first
to Hydrachna geographica (Mull.), and the second to Limnesia
maculata (Herm.), though in the latter the colour is yellow
instead of red.

Summarising the foregoing, the result appears to be as
follows :

DALYELL'S SPECIES. EQUIVALENT IN PRESENT DAY NOMENCLATURE.

H. cruenta . NON Hydrachna cruenta (Mull.), Krend.

H. extendens . . Eylais extendens (Miill.).

H. Crassipes . . Unionicola crassipes (Miill.).

H. caudata . . ? Arrhenurus caudatus (Geer. ).

H. papillator . . 1 ArrJienurus papillator (Miill.).

H, albator . . t Arrhenurus albator (Miill.).

H. geographica . ? Hydractma geographica (Miill.).

H. maculata . . ? Limnesia maculata (Herm.).
H. varia.

H. ferox.
H. sparsa.
H. spinifer.
H. punctata.
H. placida.

Species named by Dalyell, the identification of
which is not possible.

4 MEADOWBANK TERRACE, EDINBURGH.

THE FALSE-SCORPIONS OF SCOTLAND.

By ROBERT GODFREY, M.A.
(Concluded from p. 163, No. IT., July 1909.)

Obisium museorum, Leach, 1817.

O. museorum was first recorded for Scotland in 1 8 1 7 by Leach,
who adds to his original description of the species the remark, " In
montibus Caledoniae vulgatissime, in Anglia rarius." Leach was in

24 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Edinburgh for a time, taking his M. D. degree in 1812, so that the
mountains he refers to are probably the Pentland Hills. His
type specimen, still preserved in the British Museum, is marked
" Scotland."

At the present day this is without doubt the most abundant and
generally distributed of all our False-scorpions, occurring from the
edge of the tide to the inland moorlands and mountains. At the
mouth of the Avon, between Stirling and West Lothian, it lives
among the refuse at high-water mark ; and in Mid and East
Lothians tenanted nests of the species situated in similar positions
have come under my notice in the autumn months. In woods O.
muscorum lives among the masses of dead leaves lying in damp
situations, and on open ground it is obtained in abundance under
stones. I have taken it among damp earth on the Castle Rock in
Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, and on the slopes of the
Pentlands at Dreghorn. Inland, its area of distribution ranges over
the woodlands and even the open moors, but, so far as my observa-
tions go, it stops short at the border of the true mosses. In the
wild forest of Rothiemurchus it is quite common ; and in some
parts of Scotland it ascends to a considerable height, being numerous
for example on the range that lies between Glen Ogle and Edenchip
Glen in Perthshire to a height of 1500 feet at least, and on the
slopes of Ben Cailleach in Skye. It occurs also under the bark of
trees, both living and dead, and is the only species I have so far
found in such situations in Scotland.

Throughout the middle and the southern portions of Scotland
its distribution will probably prove to be universal. Mr. James
Waterston informs me that he has found the empty nest on the
island of Arran, and I have examined tenanted nests on Island
More, a small island in Loch Fyne, near Lochgilphead, and on the
Maiden Island, Oban ; I have also seen this species on the Rough
Island, in the Solway Firth. Mr. Wm. Evans, in his notes, calls
the species " ubiquitous." Unless, however, the nest is known, the
real abundance of the species will never be suspected ; as an
illustration of this I may mention that during a fortnight in Argyll
in July 1901, although seventy-one nests most of which were
already empty came under my notice, only one solitary individual
was observed moving free.

Obisium muscorum is abroad nearly the whole year round ; the
only month in which I have not found it active is October, but
this gap is most likely due to insufficient observation alone. Its
habits, during a free state, do not present any features conspicuously
different from those of its allies. It is more active than the blind
species, but less so than Chthonitts rayi. Its degree of activity
depends greatly on the place of its abode, those under stones being
much less active than those living among dead leaves and brackens.

THE FALSE-SCORPIONS OF SCOTLAND 25

In the former situation, after the stones have been turned up, it
gives an observer abundant opportunity of watching it ; when
disturbed it draws back its pedipalps to the sides of its fore-body
and runs backwards, and it may repeat this backward run several
times before it loses fear of danger and begins its forward advance
with outstretched pedipalps and open pincers. In the latter
situation, however, it moves so rapidly that the observer is more
eager to catch it than to watch its actions.

The only prey which I have seen O. muscorum carrying has
been two species of springtail.

Its nest-building habits are by far the most interesting, and,
being somewhat easily investigated, they prompt us to correct lines
of observation in other species. The nest of O. muscorum in its
finished state resembles a blob of earth or sand corresponding
closely with the surface on which it rests. The favourite site is on
the under side of a stone, but other localities such as a piece of
bark, the face of a rock covered with sheltering herbage, or a
compact bed of moss growing on a tree stump may be chosen.
At Crieff I once found on the white inner surface of a piece of
rotten fir-wood lying on the ground a nest formed of tiny granules
of rotten wood harmonising most beautifully with its surroundings.
But, wherever placed, the nest harmonises so well with the adjacent
material that to the uninitiated it resembles merely a piece of dirt
accidentally lying where it is. This wonderful harmony arises
naturally from the method employed in the construction of the nest.
When the female chooses the site of her future home, under a stone
let us say, she forms on the surface of the stone a little domed arch
about four millimetres in diameter out of the particles of earth
and sand on which the stone is resting. She gathers the particles
in a moist condition and attaches them together so carefully that
even at this stage the nest is quite firm, and practically impervious ;
the inner surface is also beautifully smooth. After some days she
spins on the inner side of the dome and over the enclosed surface
of the stone, a close firm lining of the finest silk, which renders the
whole structure compact and durable, and probably keeps it dry.
When on a stone the dome-shaped roof of the nest is complete and
free from attachment to any other object ; but in cases where the
nest is placed between close-fitting flakes of bark on a tree it may
be attached above as well as below, that is to say to the two flakes
between which it is placed ; in such cases the built part of the nest
consists merely of a very narrow ring of earth and rotten wood,
within which, as well as on the two surfaces of bark to which it is
attached, is the white silk lining.

Nest-building for the purposes of reproduction begins in February,
but is not in full swing till March, and new nests rarely contain any
traces of silk either on the inner surface of the dome or on the

26 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

surface of the stone before the latter half of March. The earliest
date on which I have found a female in her nest is February 14 in
Dumbartonshire, but from March 10 onwards I have found them
commonly.

Inside this nest the female remains till her young are fully
developed and ready to forage for themselves. The eggs, twenty to
thirty in number, are produced normally about the middle of March,
and appear at first as a small white mass attached to the genital
aperture on the under side of the hind-body ; this white spot
gradually expands, till, after the middle of May, it envelops the
whole hind-body with the exception of the upper surface, and the
creature is then embedded in the swollen embryonic mass, which
projects below, behind, and round the sides of the hind-body, and
forms a margin equal in breadth to the cross diameter of the hind-
body itself. At the beginning of June the tiny white youngsters
attached to the female can be distinctly made out, and by the
middle of June they are ready to give up that attachment to their
parent which has been maintained throughout the entire develop-
ment from the egg to the perfect False-scorpion, and to go forth
from the nest on a free life. The earliest date on which I have
seen the young moving free is May 25, at Castlecary.

A note on the adult and young from my West Lothian note-
book, June 25, 1901, may be of interest here. "Nests of O. mus-
corum were fairly common on a rocky patch by the wayside near
Preston House, but they were for the most part empty and generally
wasted, as if to indicate that they were no longer required. Even-
tually one with an opening in it proved to contain young. The
little creatures, a dozen or so in number, were venturing forth from
their retreat, and as they wandered among the tiny cracks and
crevices of the stone, they went through the antics of the adult
perfectly. In moving about they held their pincers well forward,
and kept opening and shutting them ; and even when there was
nothing to cause any suspicion, they would suddenly dart backwards
in the manner so characteristic of this group of creatures, as if an
enemy lurked in a part of the stone they had touched. They ran
backwards rapidly, and far too, considering their size. They were
very light in colour, with a greenish hue most pronounced on the
carapace and with a pinkish tinge on the pincers. The adult was
not to be seen, being probably out on a hunt for food. I found other
nests closed, which contained the adult and her young. The young
of one of these nests, on its being opened, soon shewed that they
were ready for active life, as one after another came forth to enjoy
its new freedom, and seemed to be intent on wandering away
without any intention of returning. One brood consisted of twenty-
four individuals."

At the beginning of July Obisium muscorum is again laying, but

THE FALSE-SCORPIONS OF SCOTLAND 27

this late-laying group is probably quite a different set of creatures
from the spring- laying group. So far as I have observed very
few individuals take part in the autumn laying. August 1 2 is the
date at which I have found this autumn brood able to begin a
free life.

In the yearly cycle of O. muscorum's history, autumn is marked
off as the time for moulting. The presence of False-scorpions'
remains in nests in autumn and winter had been puzzling me a
considerable time, and the explanation of moulting did not occur to
me till I discovered the creatures in the act. While endeavour-
ing to discover Chelifer latreillii under the bark of trees at Aberlady
on September 26, 1903, I came on the nests of O. muscorum under
the bark and between different layers of the bark. Several were
opened without result, but ere long occupied nests were discovered
containing specimens of O. muscorum in process of casting their
skins. One creature was caught in the act, and in another case the
living muscorum was resting in the nest beside its cast skin. In t the
case of the half-moulted individual the liberated head was facing in
the opposite direction from the discarded head skin, but the crea-
ture was motionless and may have died in the process of moulting.
In the cast-off moult found in the other nest there was no trace of
the hind-body, but the fore-body remained nearly intact, with the
basal joints of the legs and the position of the eyes prominently
marked ; the pedipalps attached were perfect to the very tips of the
pincers, and the skin of the chelicene was observable inside the
skin of the fore-body, having been drawn into that position during
the animal's retreat. As usually happens with all creatures after
their moult, O. muscorum shows very little colour, with only a faint
greenish tinge on the carapace, pedipalps, and legs, and a dirty
brown abdomen ; it is also very tender and listless and not at all
anxious to move. As soon as its skin hardens sufficiently, the
creature leaves its nest and resumes its active life.

The period of moulting is not constant. The normal period is
August and September, but even as early as June 21 I have seen
half-grown light-coloured individuals inside nests which, in my
opinion, they were using for moulting purposes.

One other question remained for solution, "Does O. muscorum
hibernate ? " My opportunities of looking for these creatures in
winter had been so meagre that I could not infer from the absence
of any personal records in my note-books that they do not hibernate.
I rather inclined to believe that they did, and during the winter of
1903-4 in Ayrshire, when laid aside from active work, I set myself
to solve this problem. I opened many nests of the species, only to
find them either empty or containing the cast skins of last autumn's
moult, but at length on March 18, 1904, I obtained what I sought.
On that day I found a very immature specimen inside its nest alive

28 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

and active when disturbed, and as this was the only individual in
such an immature condition that I had ever seen in winter, I had
no difficulty in concluding that it was hibernating in the nest from
which I took it. I did not find the adult in its nest in winter,
unless when it had already retired to lay its eggs. On March 31,
1904, however, I did find in a nest a specimen smaller than the
average and quite unswollen, but I knew from the absence of silk
in this particular nest that the creature was busy constructing it.
In the following year I found an immature individual in a nest in
West Lothian on March 10.

In Kirkcudbrightshire, however, in 1907 we obtained several
immature individuals hibernating in their cocoons on January 5,
and Alistair Urquhart found an adult hibernating in its cocoon on
January 2. All my information goes to prove that only in rare
instances does the adult O. muscorum hibernate ; even in midwinter
the species can be obtained quite numerously by shaking the dead
leaves that accumulate in the woodlands.

The nests of O. muscorum resist wear and tear admirably, and
remain attached to their original position long after they have been
deserted ; in some cases they are tenanted by mites or other crea-
tures, and repeatedly I have found a cake of minute black eggs in
these nests, showing that some other animal has discovered how
suitably the discarded False-scorpion's nest serves its own purpose
as well.

Chthonius tetraehelatus (Preyss.), 1790.

As a Scottish species Chthonius tetraehelatus was first made
known by Mr. Wm. Evans, who took two specimens under a piece
of wood in an old orchard at Culross on April 26, 1901, and six
more on August 1 7 of the same year under stones at the foot of
one of the pit-bings near Kinneil, Bo'ness. No further records
were made till 1904, in which year I obtained the species in the
counties of Ayr, Perth, Argyll, and Midlothian. Since then it has
been detected in the counties of East Lothian, Fife, Ross, Renfrew,
and Kirkcudbright ; and our present knowledge indicates that
Ch. tetraehelatus is, next to O. muscorum, the most abundant and
widely-distributed of our Scottish species.

Its haunts are mainly in natural ground, both on open hillsides
and in woodlands. At Kilminning, in Fife, it swarms under stones
lying on a fine pebbly sub-soil a few yards above high-water mark,
as many as ten individuals occurring under one stone. At
Portincross in Ayr, on the Maiden Island and at Shirvan in Argyll,
and at Cambo in Fife, it was found in the neighbourhood of the
sea, but not within the influence of the tide ; in these localities it
occurs under stones imbedded in the soil.

Besides occupying haunts in the open, however, Ch. tetraehelatus

THE FALSE-SCORPIONS OF SCOTLAND 29

is a close attendant on man, and lives and flourishes commonly in
hothouses, as well as more rarely about farm steadings. I first
ascertained this fact in the orchid-house of Stronvar, Balquhidder,
July 21, 1904; there the potted plants are set individually on the
top of inverted flowerpots to be beyond the ravages of slugs, and
the False-scorpions live inside the empty inverted pots. In the
hothouses of the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens it occupies similar
retreats and is found also under bricks and other objects lying on the
ground and on the shelves; individuals of the pale yellow colour
conform very remarkably to the similarly-coloured bricks and flower-
pots on which they are resting and can with difficulty be detected
unless they move. This species, as well as Ch. rayi, came under
my notice on a log in the stackyard of Newhouse Farm, Dunbar,
in May 1906.

In moving slowly, Ch. tetrachelatus keeps its pedipalps forward,
with the pincers expanded, and moves them very neatly as
necessity requires to enable it to pass through narrow places. If it
is interfered with, it retracts its pedipalps towards the sides of the
fore-body and runs backwards in a series of short jerks. It shows
the same tendency as Ch. rayi to turn round quickly and face an
obstacle behind it, though specimens liberated from their nests are
less active in doing so than those moving free.

I have seen this species with prey on a single occasion only,
near the town of Interlaken, Switzerland, in Sept. 1902; the
creature was carrying the food in its cheliceras.

Chthonius tetrachelatus forms a nest for the various purposes of
moulting, hibernating, and bringing forth its young. Externally
the nest cannot certainly be distinguished from those of other
Chthonii and of O. mitscorum, and even internally it often shows
similar features. I have found the nest (Sept. 15) formed wholly
of earth without any lining, and infer that this species, like
O. musconiin, begins by making the earthen cell on the stone.
Thereafter a beautiful white silk lining is added to the inner surface
of the earthy dome and to the surface of the stone. In many nests
this is the whole structure ; but in the perfect nest formed for the
purposes of moulting and reproduction, a silk cocoon of exquisite
texture, and quite separate from the first lining, is made inside the
silk-lined nest, and the Ch. tetrachelatus lies snugly hid within this
inner cocoon. I have seen as many as twelve occupied nests
under a single stone. On one occasion, Sept. 7, 1905, I found a
Ch. tetrachelatus contenting itself with a narrow deep opening in a
stone for its nest, the entrance of which it had covered over with a
layer of silk alone.

In September this species is commonly found moulting inside
the double-lined nests ; the creature casts off the skin of fore-body,
legs, and pedipalps in one piece, and after moulting is much

30 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

lighter in colour ; it leaves the cast skin in the nest and emerges
again to resume its free life.

Adults as well as young hibernate solitarily inside their nests.
As early as mid-September and as late as mid- April solitary young
may be found inside these hibernating nests ; the adults do not
seem to retire so early, but in midwinter and in spring they too are
lying up in their nests. In hothouses this species may not find it
necessary to hibernate, or at least to remain as long inside the nest;
in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden hothouses I have found the
creature free on February 28. But in the open it is certainly the
rule for the species to hibernate, as no specimens living free have
come under my notice in midwinter. In January 1907, at
Kippford, Kirkcudbrightshire, Aird and Robert Whyte and I
opened many nests containing the hibernating False-scorpions. In
January and March 1904, I found three nests occupied in Ayrshire.
In April 1906, at Oban, I took three immature individuals out of
nests one on April n, and two on April 18 and an adult out of
a nest on April 10. And also in the spring of 1905, on the island
of Grand Be, in Brittany, I found this species in nests on March

31 and April 19.

I admit, however, that I may have passed over free individuals
in midwinter, as the nest is much more conspicuous than the
creature itself, and often the creature when seen to emerge from
the nest is barely distinguishable on the stone. On being released
from its hibernating nest, the animal is active enough ; sometimes
it emerges slowly but at other times it darts off swiftly backwards.
One under observation happened to be touched behind by a large
mite, and it promptly turned round to face the cause of disturb-
ance ; the same individual, while I watched it, cleaned its nippers
in its chelicerae.

So far I have discovered an autumn brood only in Ch. tetra-
chelatus. At Shirvan, Lochgilphead, on Sept. 15, 1904, I detected
two very immature specimens moving along a crack in a stone, and
I kept a sharp lookout thereafter for the brood nest. At length on
the 2oth, I opened a double-lined nest which contained a female
and eight young within the inner cocoon, and on the following day
I got another similar nest containing also a female and eight young.
In 1905, at Kilminning in Fife, the young were abroad by Sept. 7.
The young are white or colourless, with a faint pink tinge on the
nippers.

Chthonius orthodaetylus (Leach), 1817.

This rare species, about which nothing seems to be known in
Britain beyond the records of its occurrence, has been taken in two
localities in the " Forth " area at Morningside, Edinburgh, and at
Aberlady, East Lothian by Mr. Wm. Evans.

THE FALSE-SCORPIONS OF SCOTLAND 31

Chthonius rayi, L. Koch, 1873.

The first Scottish record of Ch. rayi is from Oban, where Mr.
\Vm. Evans found a specimen in April 1894. Seven years later,
April 27, 1901, he took the next Scottish specimens, six in number,
at Kincardine-on-Forth under pieces of wood on the banks of a
muddy ditch. One of these he gave me, in the hope that I might
procure the species on the south side of the Forth at Bo'ness, where
I was then stationed; and on June 24 I found a very immature
specimen that had apparently just entered on a free life among
some wet loose earth in a wood near Dykenook, Kinneil. I took
my first adult specimens on May 16, 1902, under stones near
Dalgety heronry in Fife, and since that date I have taken the
creature quite commonly on the Fife shore.

Our present knowledge indicates that on the east coast this
species is widely distributed along both shores of the Forth, and
is found also north of Fife Ness in the " Tay " area, and that on
the west it has a great stronghold at Balmacara in Ross-shire where
about two hundred specimens were taken in the autumn of 1906
and haunts in Argyll and Kirkcudbright.

Chthonius rayi, in my experience in Scotland, has mainly a
maritime distribution, occurring under stones and on the sandy
soil at high-water mark, as well as in the shore woodlands. The
most likely spots in which to find it are on the under surfaces
of stones which lie along the margin between the shore and the
adjoining fields or plantations ; in such localities it is often found
associated with Chernes dubius, and occasionally with O. muscontin,
and exceptionally with /. cambridgii.

The only inland record I have in Scotland is that of one
obtained near Dalbeattie by Aird Whyte. In this connection,
however, Mr. Wallis Kew, who considers Ch. rayi the commonest
False-scorpion in England, says that he has found it in suitable places
wherever he has searched for it that is, in England and he believes
it to be as common inland as near the coast. That Ch. rayi will
yet be proved to be a common species inland in Scotland also is
hinted at by its present occurrence in haunts that have no immediate
connection with the sea. For, like its congener, Ch. tetrachelatus,
it is an attendant on cultivation, and lives in conservatories and in
farm steadings as well as in the open woodland or hillside. George
Barbour and I have taken it in a tomato-frame and in a conservatory
attached to Kirkmay House, Crail ; Aird and Robert Whyte have
procured it in the hothouses of the Edinburgh Botanic Garden,
and I have obtained it in the stackyard of Newhouse Farm,
Dunbar.

In Scotland Ch. rayi has not been detected on trees, but in
Brittany, where the species abounds everywhere, I found one under

32 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

the thick bark of an ivy-clad willow, about five feet from the ground,
on April 10, 1905.

When moving, its normal line of progression is forward ; so long
as it is undisturbed, it goes slowly, keeping its nippers expanded as
it proceeds ; but, on being disturbed, it runs rapidly in either a
forward or a backward line. I have seen one, disturbed by a
centipede, run rapidly forward, and when again overtaken, as it was
in the course of the next second or so, repeat the rapid motion.
On the other hand, when touched by a pin from behind, it may
dart rapidly backwards over the obstruction. But its normal
procedure, when interfered with from behind, is to give a sudden
jerk round so as to face the object of annoyance, and at the same
time make a hasty retreat of a quarter-inch or half an inch from the
cause of the disturbance, and if still suspicious which is not usually
the case to continue its backward run. By tormenting it with a
pin from behind, I have caused the creature to display these sudden
"right-about turns" repeatedly. In its backward run, it has the
pedi palps retracted to the sides of the fore -body, but keeps its
nippers directed outwards a little on either side from its head.

Twice I have observed Ch. rayi with its prey, the victim on
each occasion being a mite. On April 17, 1905, in Brittany, I
watched one carrying a mite in its chelicerae, and turning the
mite about in both chelicerag. Again on Sept. 29, 1905, I saw
an immature CJi. rayi with a mite, near Kinkell, Fife ; and as
shortly before, during my examination of the same stone, I had
noticed a mite come in contact with a young Ch. rayi and escape
again, I believe I just missed seeing the capture made.

I had long suspected that the breeding habits of this species
would be similar to those of O. muscomm, but it was not till Sep-
tember 1903 that I discovered, in their stronghold at Fife, this most
interesting part of their economy. I happened to turn up a stone on
which there were three individuals ; one of these was extremely
active, and, in its efforts to escape from me, it entered a cranny where
another Ch. rayi was lying hid. Across this cranny there had origin-
ally stretched a silk covering, but this had been ruptured and only
its remains were now clinging to the edge of the cranny ; the creature
within the cranny was a female with her embryonic mass attached to
her under surface. She was living in the simple recess, but she prob-
ably found that such a convenient cranny fitted her purposes as well
as a nest formed on the flat surface of a stone would have done. 1
searched on, and after finding a young Ch. rayi newly emerged
appearing merely as a white speck moving on a stone, and another
Ch. rayi a little farther advanced, I turned up a stone containing
three Ch. rayi and three Ch. dubius. On this stone there was a
conspicuous nest of the same style as that of O. muscorum but double
the size. On examination this proved to be two nests adjoining each

THE FALSE-SCORPIONS OF SCOTLAND 33

other ; in one of them was the empty cocoon of an Ichneumon with
the remains of a Ch. rayi beside it, and in the other was a Ch. rayi
with her embryonic mass attached. A third nest contained a female
Ch. rayi, with eight young ones just beginning an active life and
living free beside her. This nest measured four millimetres across
by three millimetres high.

On September 15, 1905, at Kilrenny, Fife, I again found
Ch. rayi inside a nest with her embryonic mass attached, and in
August 1906 I opened a nest at Balmacara, Ross-shire, which con-
tained the adult and fourteen free young. In the latter district, on
August 27, I saw on a stone a young Ch. rayi just beginning its
free life.

Externally the nests are formed of sand and earth particles and
chance ornaments, and they are lined with white silk internally.
They appear to me to be more conspicuous than those of O.
muscorum, but otherwise they are quite similar to the nests of that
species.

My previous discovery of the newly-emerged youngster in June
leads to the supposition of a spring brood also ; the presence in
Brittany of swollen individuals apparently on the point of laying, on
April 17, 1905, seems to lead to the same conclusion, although I
found no nest of this species in Brittany in spring. In 1907, Aird
and Robert Whyte obtained occupied nests in Fife on March 23,
and in Midlothian on April 2, but on the individuals in these nests
the egg-mass was not apparent, and these nests may have been
hibernating nests.

Chthoniits rayi makes a nest for the purposes of moulting and
hibernation also. On September 28, 1903, at St. David's, Fife, I
took from a nest a half-grown individual which showed by its light
colouring that it had recently moulted ; and at Balmacara, on
August 21, 1906, we opened a nest containing a newly-moulted Ch.
rayi together with the discarded moult.

Our observations on the hibernating habits are few, but satis-
factory. On November 26, 1904, during a spell of frost which
had lasted several days, I spent some time in their Fifeshire haunts,
and found two nests with inmates. These creatures were almost
inert, owing probably to the extreme cold, but, on being disturbed
by me, they moved their great nippers a little. I was thus satisfied
that Ch. rayi hibernates inside its nest, and, moreover, I failed to find
any specimens moving freely that day. Aird Whyte confirmed
this matter of hibernation, by finding an adult in its nest near Dal-
beattie on January 3, 1907.

The young Ch. rayi, on leaving the nest, is almost colourless, of
a light yellow hue, with a pink tinge on the two first pairs of
appendages, most pronounced on the chelicerae and on the fingers of
the pedipalps.

73 D

34 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

THE HIGH ALPINE FLORA OF BRITAIN.

BEING A LIST OF THE FLOWERING PLANTS AND
FERNS FOUND AT A THOUSAND METRES AND
UPWARDS ON THE MOUNTAINS OF THE BRITISH
ISLES, WITH AUTHENTIC REFERENCES AND CRITI-
CAL NOTES.

By FREDERIC N. WILLIAMS, F.L.S.
(Continued from p. 234, No. 72, Oct. 1909.)

Fam. 31. GRAMINACE^; continued.

138. Poa Balfouri, Parnell (1842). On rocky ledges at high
levels on the mountains of the Breadalbane district (" Fl. Perthsh."
352).

139. Poa nemoralis, L. From sea-level to considerable eleva-
tions on the mountains of the Breadalbane district (" Fl. Perthsh."
352).

140. Deschampsia ccespitosa, Beauv. Ascends to 1130 m. in
damp places on the mountains of the Breadalbane district (" Fl.
Perthsh." 344). Summit of Ben Avon (W. Gardiner, 1844, in
Herb. Brit.).

Var. pseitdoalpina, Syme, " Engl. Botany," xi. (1872). On the
ridge of Ben Dearg, in Ross-shire, at 1000 m. and higher (G. C.
Druce in "Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist." 1903, 233).

141. Deschampsia alpina, Roem. & Schult. At 1000 m. and
more on wet rocks on the mountains of the Breadalbane district,
and up to 1130 m. on Ben Alder (White), Ben Alder (Watson).
Ascends to 1020 m. on Ben Nevis, between the upper end of the
ravine and the spring (J. Sadler in " Trans. Proc. Bot. Soc. Edinb."
xiii. 54). Ascends to 1010 m. on Ben Dearg, in Ross-shire (G. C.
Druce in "Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist." 1903, 233). Ascends to 1130 m.
on the table-top of Ben-na-Bourd (Watson, 1832). Up to the
summit of Cairn Gorm (R. T. Mackay, ex Dickie, 202). On Carn
Tual it ascends to 1028 m. ("Cyb. Hib." ed. 2, 418). Descends
to 640 m. in Mayo.

142. Deschampsia flexuosa, Trin. Ascends to 1130 m. on Ben
Alder (White), and to 1150 m. on Loch-na-gar (White, in "Scot.
Nat." i. 123 [1871]), and to 1130 m. on Ben-na-Bourd (Watson,
1832). Up to the summit of Carn Tual ("Cyb. Hib." ed. 2, 419).
Descends to sea-level in Londonderry.

143. Agrostis tennis, Sibth. (1794). Up to the summit of Ben

THE HIGH ALPINE FLORA OF BRITAIN 35

Lawers (" Fl. Perthsh." 342). Up to the summit of Carn Tual
("Cyb. Hib." ed. 2, 416). Descends to sea-level in Cork.
Syn. A. vitlgaris, With. (1796).

144. Agrostis canina, L. Up to the summit of Carn Tual
("Cyb. Hib." ed. 2, 415). Descends to sea-level in Kerry.

145. Alopeairus alpinus, Smith (1803). Discovered by Don
on the mountains about Loch-na-gar ("Engl. Botany," t. 1126).
On the other hand, however, Smith states in " Engl. Flora," i. 80
(1824), that Brown discovered it on the mountains about Loch-na-
gar, "who informs me that he communicated it to Mr. G. Don."
This latter statement is also favoured by the label on Brown's
specimens in Herb. Brit., which states that the plant was discovered
by him in 1794, and that it was communicated by him to Don.
Don, however, appears to have suggested the name ; as on the original
drawing in Herb. Mus. Brit., Smith remarks, " alpim/s, Don thinks
a good specific name." Smith also says (" Engl. Flora," i. 80),
" no foreign author appears to have noticed this species." Ascends
to 1190 m. on Braeriach (G. C. Druce in " Journ. Bot." 1889,
203), and to 1 1 oo m. in Aberdeenshire (Watson), by alpine springs
and rills.

146. Phleum alpimtm, L. Ascends to 1190 m. on Braeriach
(G. C. Druce, I.e.}, and to 1130 m. on Ben Lawers (" Fl. Perthsh."
342), by alpine springs and rills. Ben Lawers (Don, fasc. i., 1804,

n- 5)-

147. Anthoxanthum odoratum, L. Ascends to 1030 m. on
the Grampians of Inverness-shire and Aberdeenshire (Watson).
Descends to sea-level in Cork.

PTERIDOPHYTES.

Fam. 32. SELAGINELLACE^E.

148. Selaginella selaginoides, Link (1841). Ascends to 1067 m.
in damp and marshy places on the mountains of the Breadalbane
district (" Fl. Perthsh." 377). Descends to sea-level in Dublin.

Fam. 33. LYCOPODIACE/E.

149. Lycopodium alpinum, L. Up to 1090 m. on Braeriach
(Dr. J. W. H. Trail, 1902). " It grows near the summits of almost
all the high mountains of the Highlands and Hebrides abundantly "
(Lightfoot, "Fl. Scotica," 690 [1777]). In dry places ascends to
the summit of Schiehallion, and to 1122 m. on Ben Lawers and
the mountains of the Breadalbane district (" Fl Perthsh " 376), and
descends to 122 m. in the Carse of Gowrie. Descends to 427 ITK
in Donegal.

36 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Var. deripiens, Syme. In the great corrie of Ben Avon, at 1000
m. (Marshall and Shoolbred, in "Journ. Bot." 1906, 161). Found
also high up on Ben Lawers (G. C. Druce ; J. Carroll, 1864, in
Herb. Brit).

150. Lycopodium annotinum, L. On the summit of Cairn Gorm
(Hook. " Fl. Scotica," 159). In the great corrie of Ben Avon, at
1000 m. (Marshall and Shoolbred, I.e.}.

151. Lycopodium selago, L. In dry places, on heathy moors, and
frequently on rock ledges, it ascends to the summit of Schiehallion,
and to 1 1 22 m. on Ben Lawers and the mountains of the Breadalbane
district (" Fl. Perthsh." 376). It also ascends to the summits of
Loch-na-gar and Ben Macdhui (Dickie, 235). Summit of Ben
Alacdhui (Win. Gardiner, 1845, in Herb. Brit.). Summit of Ben
Ime (J. R. Lee). Up to 1220 m. on Ben Nevis ("Cyb. Brit." iii.
296). Ascends to 1027 m. on Carn Tual (More).

Fam. 34. OPHIOGLOSSACEyE.

152. Botrychium lunaria, Swartz (1800). Ascends to 1021 m.
on mountain-ledges in the Breadalbane district ("Fl. Perthsh." 372).
Descends to sea-level in Cork.

Fam. 35. POLYPODIACEjE,

153. Cystopteris montana, Desv. Wet rocks near the top of
Ben Dothaidh (Marshall and Shoolbred in "Journ. Bot." 1894,
1 68), on mossy alpine rock ledges. Ascends to noo m. on the
Grampians of Aberdeenshire ("Cyb. Brit. Comp." 409).

154. Cystopteris fragilis, Bernh. Ascends to 1075 m - on Ben
Lawers (White). " Omnium Filicum maxime boream versus pro-
greditur" (Bernhardi). On damp rocks. Descends to sea-level in
Kerry.

Var. dentata, Hook " Sp. Filicum," i. 198 (1846). Stob Ben
Ein at 1005 m. (E. S. Marshall, 1889, in Herb. Brit.).

155. Phegopteris polypodiotdes, Fee. Ascends to 1090 m.
among loose stones on the mountains of the Breadalbane district
(" Fl. Perthsh." 370). Ascends to 1005 m. on the mountains in
the west portion of Inverness ("Cyb. Brit." iii. 254). Descends to
150 m. in Kerry.

156. Polystichum lonchitis, Roth. Among large stones and in
clefts of rocks it ascends to 1065 m. on the mountains of the
Breadalbane district ("Fl. Perthsh." 367). On the mountains of
the Breadalbane district (Herb. Brit, ex herb. Mrs. Robinson, 1847).
On a rock close under one of the high summits between Ben Lawers
and Craig Chailleach, at 1005 m. ("Cyb. Brit." iii. 260). Descends
to 350 m. in Sligo.

THE HIGH ALPINE FLORA OF BRITAIN 37

157. Lastrea dilatata, Presl. Ascends to 1052 m. on rocks on
the mountains of the Rannoch district ("Fl. Perthsh." 369).

Var. alpina, T. Moore, " Ind. Filicum " (1857). Ascends to
1130 m. on the Grampians of Inverness-shire (Watson in herb.;
Hooker / " Stud. Fl. Brit. Isl.") ; and to the summit of Ben Ime
(J. R. Lee).

158. Lastrea montana, T. Moore. A dwarf specimen on the
extreme summit of Ben Ime, near the cairn (J. R. Lee in "Ann.
Andersonian Nat. Soc." iii. 124 [1908]).

159. Athyrium alpesfre, Rylands (1857). Ascends to 1065 m.
in damp shaded places on the mountains of Breadalbane district
("Fl. Perthsh." 371); Ben Lawers (G. Don, 1794, in Herb. Brit.,
but no height given); Corrie Sneachda, on Cairn Gorm, at 1005
m. (E. S. Marshall, 1898, n. 2190, in Herb. Brit); Corrie-an-
Lochan, on the north side of Braeriach, up to 1065 m. (E. S. Mar-
shall, 1898, n. 2191, in Herb. Brit.). "In July 1841 I gathered
two fronds of this fern in the great corrie of Ben Alder" ("Cyb.
Brit." iii. 253); Ben Macdhui (A. Croall, PI. of Braemar, 1854, n.
68 in Herb. Brit, and Herb. Kew.). Among stones and on rocks
in alpine districts, frequently on Highland mountains up 1220 m. in
Inverness-shire (Watson). Ascends to 1065 m. on the mountains
round Braemar (Crombie, "Braemar," p. 61). Most or probably
all these records refer to the var. obtusatum, Syme, " Engl. Botany,"
ed. 3, xii. 114 (1886). This fern does not seem to develop sori so
freely in Perthshire as it does in Aberdeenshire (Prof. Trail).

1 60. Athyrium flexile, Syme (1886). Ascends to noo m. in
damp shaded places on the mountains of the Breadalbane district
("Cyb. Brit. Comp." 412).

161. Asplenum septentrionale, G. F. Hoffm. (1795). The earliest
record of this fern as a British plant is by Lloyd in Gibson's edition
of Camden's "Britannia" (1695). He found it on the summit of
Carnedd Llewelyn : and it certainly grows now near Llanrwst (J. E.
Griffith, 1895). I n support of this, we find in Hudson, "Fl.
Anglica," ed. i (1762), p. 383, and ed. 2, p. 450 "ad cacumen
montis Carndedh Lhewelyn prope Lhan-Lhechyd in agro Arvoni-
ensi invenit D. Lhwyd." Smith, " English Flora," iv. 295, merely
repeats Lloyd's record "on the mountains of Carnarvonshire."
Watson, "Cyb. Brit. Comp." 414, says that the fern ascends there
to 3000 feet. In Scotland it is not an alpine plant. The amended
spelling of the generic name is adopted here as given by Ascherson
and Graebner, who point out that " Asplenium " is wrong and
meaningless and for this reason preferred by nomenclaturists.

162. Blechnum spicant, Smith in " Mem. Acad. Roy. Sc. Turin."
v. 411 (1793). This reference is three years earlier than the one
attributed to Withering (1796) in all recent British plant-lists.

38 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Watson (" Cyb. Brit." iii. 284) says that this fern gets up to 1 190 m.
in East Highlands. As it does not seem to occur much above
1000 m. in Aberdeenshire and Perthshire, there only remains
Inverness-shire, and confirmatory evidence is desirable before accept-
ing this altitude as correct. The fern, however, ascends to 1006 m.
(near the summit) of Ben Ime (J. R. Lee in "Ann. Andersonian
Nat. Soc." iii. 122 [1908]). Descends to sea-level in Cork.

163. Cryptogramme crispa, Brown, ex. Hook., "Gen. Filicum,"
60, t. 115 B. (1842). Ascends to the summit of Ben More, in
Ross-shire (G . C. Druce, iSSi, in Herb. Brit.). Mr. Druce has
written on the label "summit of Scuir Ouran, at about 3700 ft."
The mountain referred to is evidently Scuir Fluouran, whose
summit, however, rises only to 3505 ft., and is the Gaelic name for
Ben More. Of the three recent Lists issued, the London Catalogue
ed. x. is the only one which gives this plant correctly. Cryptogramma
means "hidden words," and would at least require a neuter specific
name. Cryptogramme means " hidden lines," and is Hooker's
amended spelling of the generic name, and is the Greek compound
which Brown of course intended to write, as there were no " hidden
words " concealed in the frond of the fern. Mr. G. C. Druce gives
as the authority for the generic name "Br. in Flinders' Voy. 767."
The work referred to is Franklin's Voyage to the Polar Sea, not
Flinders' Voyage to Australia two points of the compass which are
literally poles apart. Brown's type-species of the genus which he
distinguished and denned was Cryptogramma acrostichoides, which is
the Arctic American form of C. crispa of this country ( - Osmunda
crispa, L.). In his own annotated copy of the second edition of
" Sp. Plant." in the Linnean Library, Linnaeus has altered this name
by a scratch of the pen to Pteris crispa. It is the Adianhtm album
crispum alpinum of Ray's "Synopsis." On the mountains of the
Breadalbane district it ascends to 1122 m. in exposed stony places,
and on alpine rubbles on Ben Lawers, Ben More, Ben Ein, and
Ben Heasgarmich (White), but does not get up to 1000 m. in any
of the other districts of Perthshire. The Parsley Fern is very
common all ulong the Snowdon range among loose stones ; where,
like Asplenum septentrionak, it was first recorded as a British fern
by Lloyd in Gibson's edition of Camden's "Britannia" (1695).
According to the zonal distribution indicated by Watson (" Cyb.
Brit. Comp." 408, n. 1378), it ascends to 1016 m. on Snowdon,
Carnedd Llewelyn, and Carnedd Dafydd. In Ireland, where this
fern is very rare, it descends to 90 m. above sea-level in Antrim
(Rev. C. F. D'Arcy) ; but this low level is discounted by the fact that
it occurred among fallen rocks below Fair Head (1897).

Fam. 36. HYMENOPHYLLACEX.

164. Hynunophylhim pdtatum, Desvaux (1827). Forms carpets

THE HIGH ALPINE FLORA OF BRITAIN 39

among the loose boulders on the summit of Beenkeragh (Hart, 1881,
in "Proc. Roy. Irish Acad." 1882, p. 578). Descends to 92 m. in
Antrim (Rev. C. F. D'Arcy).

Syn. Trichomanes peltatum, Poiret (1808); Hymenophyllum uni-
laterale, Bory (1810); H. Wilsoni, Hook., "Brit. Fl." (1830).
First recognised as a British fern specifically distinct from H. Tun-
bridgense by Wm. Wilson, who compared the two plants growing
together near Killarney in 1829. Hooker says, in the work cited,
" No one, I believe, was aware of their real differences, till Mr. W.
Wilson found them both growing at the Lakes of Killarney, and
distinguished them specifically." Wilson himself contributes a note
on the two plants in "Journ. Bot." 1834, p. 317. Whether the
plants known under the other three names exactly agree with the
Irish fern I must leave fern-specialists to decide, but I give by con-
trast the differences in the original descriptions. Desvaux says that
the plant described by him is identical with those described by
Poiret and Bory, but that does not dispose of the claims of the
Irish fern. Trichomanes peltatum was first found in Mauritius, and
H. unilaterale shortly afterwards in the island of Reunion. Further,
Messrs. Groves query the identity of Bory's fern with the Irish plant
distinguished by Wilson (see Bab. "Man." ed. 9, 532). However,
pending further inquiry, I have given the name which occurs in the
three recent British Lists ; though I think that Messrs. Groves have
some grounds for inferring that the Mascarene fern may not be
identical with that from Killarney.

T. peltatum. Rhizome fibrous ; fronds lanceolate ; pinnae pin-
natifid ; pinnules dentate.

H. unilaterale. Rhizome filiform ; fronds linear-lanceolate ;
pinnae digitato-pinnatifid ; pinnules serrate.

H. Wilsoni. Rhizome capillary ; fronds narrowly oblong ;
-pinna; pinnatipartite ; pinnules spinously serrulate.

As far as ferns vary, the last seems somewhat different.

Note. The " Herb. Brit." frequently mentioned is the separate
British Herbarium in the Botanical Department of the Natural
History Museum, London, S.W.

PLANTS OF SOME SOUTHERN SCOTTISH

COUNTIES.

By G. CLARIDGE DRUCE, M.A., F.L.S.

IN August last I visited for a short time the interesting
headland known as the Mull of Galloway in Wigtownshire,

40 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

investigating the interesting coast, as well as exploring
the extensive sandhills from Dunragit to Sandhead. The
weather was magnificent, the air bracing, the scenery
attractive, and I found good accommodation at Drummore.

Among the interesting plants observed was a form of
Vicia sylvatica, which occurred abundantly on the shingle
north of Drummore for a mile or so, and is identical with
the plant which I saw twenty-five years ago on the opposite
coast near Port William, which I described in the "Naturalist"
as var. condensata. It grows in compact tufts, one or two
feet across ; the leaves are smaller than the type, are firm,
almost coriaceous in texture ; the flowers are larger than
the type, and are arranged in sub-capitate racemes, and
the standard is darker coloured, often indeed suffused with
brownish purple. I will try and raise plants from seeds
to test the permanency of these characters in cultivation.
Another interesting shingle plant was Scutellaria galericulata>
L., also with larger flowers, of a purer blue, the corolla clothed
with longer and more patent hairs, the under-surface of the
leaves covered with a short canescent growth. On examining
my herbarium I found the only specimens matching this
came from the shingle of Jeantown, W. Ross-shire. I was
about to describe it as var. liltoralis, but the description by
Bentham of var. pubescens in De Candolle's " Prodromus" will
probably cover it. Bentham gives it for North America,
" scarcely from Europe."

The locality at Stranraer which yielded many casuals
twenty years ago still affords a considerable number, but
Vicia varia and V. lutea seem to have disappeared.

A small rubbish heap at Drummore also yielded many
adventitious species, noticeably Asperugo procumbens, Asperula
arvensis, and Melilotus indica. The abundance of Eryngium
maritimum at Drummore, the plentiful occurrence of Innla
critluiwides at the Mull, of Pneumaria maritima at Port
Logan, of Anchusa sempervirens, which was quite naturalised
in several places at Drummore, of the curious form of
Teesdalea, which has the rosettes of leaves almost ball-
shaped, growing in the hollows of Torrs sand dunes were
also pleasing features.

We made a short expedition into Dumfriesshire to see

PLANTS OF SOME SOUTHERN SCOTTISH COUNTIES 41

the solitary tuft of Woodsia ilvensis which still survives. May
it long continue.

We then went to Peebles to walk eastwards along
the Tweed, and were rewarded by finding a grass (Festuca
keteropkylla) new to Scotland, but unfortunately in a position
which imperils its claim to indigenity, since planted shrubs
are near. Several new county records were made, but
probably these were mostly known to local botanists who
have omitted to record them.

Galashiels was next visited in order to examine the
curious Australian and other casuals which Miss Ida
Hayward has investigated with such commendable industry.
These aliens necessarily vary from year to year, and the
low temperature of this somewhat sunless summer has not
been favourable to their growth. Thanks, however, to that
lady's kind hospitality, we were enabled to see the Australian
Rumex Brownii and Senecio lautus, with numerous European
species of Medicago and Erodium. In this neighbourhood I
saw a plant hitherto unfound by me in Scotland, namely,
Cratczgus oxyacanthoides, Thuill., which grew on the border
of the Duke of Buccleuch's policy of Bowhill. Here, of
course, its indigenity is open to question, since it occurred
with C. Oxyacantha in a planted hedge of considerable age
and size.

Dryburgh Abbey and its vicinity were also seen ; but a
walk along the river near that place was summarily stopped
by the owner, to whom we had paid three shillings to see
the Abbey and its tomb of Scott.

Ettrick Bridge End, with its interesting river bank and
marsh, was explored, and a visit made to the Rhymer's
Glen, Cauldshield's Loch, where a curious form of Hypcricum
humifusum grows, and to Faldonside. The veteran (Mr. W. B.
Boyd) botanist's beautiful garden was a source of great joy.
Never have I seen such splendid specimens of Sedges,
Carex Grahaini, C. atrofusca, C. fusca, C. punctata, C. alpina,
etc., all most luxuriant in growth, even in ordinary garden
soil. Here, too, we saw Erica Craufordii, which seems to
be only a very double-flowered form of E. Tetralix, and
X E. Stuarti, Linton, which can scarcely be a hybrid of
E. Mackayi and E. mediterraa, as its namer suggests, since

42 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

the flowering -times of the two supposed parents scarcely
overlap. Dryopteris remota, discovered by Mr. Boyd on
Lomondside, was flourishing well, and the curious Sagina
Boydii was also in good condition. One may put on record
the fact that this plant was found in Mr. Boyd's vasculum at
Braemar after an expedition to Ben A'an ; but the exact
locality where Mr. Boyd gathered it has never been
ascertained. That it was from the neighbourhood is not
to be questioned.

In the following list of localities an asterisk * signifies an

addition to " Topographical Botany," "j" an introduction and

x a hybrid. The numbers refer to the counties in " Top.

Bot."- -72 Dumfries, 74 Wigtown, 77 Lanark, 78 Peebles,

79 Selkirk, and 80 Roxburgh.

fClematis Vitalba, L. Plentiful on Dryburgh Abbey, a seedling

plant growing high up on the walls, '' ; So.

Ranunculus Lenormandi, F. Schultz. Ditches near Stonykirk 74.
R. Steveni, Andrz. Near Galashiels *7Q.
Caltha radicans, Forst. Near Horsburgh Castle ^78.

Berberis vulgaris, L. Very common about Galashiels 79, 80 ; near

Peebles 78.
Papaver Rhceas, L. A form with deep dark blotch at base of

petals on shingle at Drummore, alien doubtless, 74.

Fumaria Boraei, Jord. Moffat 72; Symington 77; Sandhead 74;

Peebles *?8; Galashiels ^79; Dryburgh 80.
Cheiranthus Cheiri, L. Dryburgh 80.
Radicula sylvestris, Druce. Common by the Tweed, Dryburgh, 80 ;

also at Galashiels (Miss Hayward) '''79.

R. palustris, Moench. Tweedside '"'79.
fCochlearia Armoracia, L. Tweedside, 78, 79, 80.
Brassica nigra, Koch. Galashiels ^79.
Lepidium campestre, Br. Tweedside, Peebles, '"78.
jVogelia paniculata, Med. Stranraer 74.

Raphanus maritimus, Sm. Along the coast towards the Mull of

Galloway 74.
Viola sylvestris, Reichb. Tweedside, opposite Abbotsford, *7g.

V. canina, L. Torr Sands 74.

Polygala oxyptera, Reichb, Correifron * 7 2 ; near Torrs 7 4 ; Ettrick-
side *-

PLANTS OF SOME SOUTHERN SCOTTISH COUNTIES 43

P. serpyllacea, Wei he. Ettrick Bridge *79 ; near Fairydean 80.

P. vulgaris, L. North of Galashiels So ; near Ettrick 79.

fSaponaria Vaccaria, L. Stranraer 74.

Silene Cucubalus, Wib. Peebles 78.

S. maritima, With. Plentiful on Correifron, 72, up to 1800 feet.

Lychnis dioica, with pure white flowers, near Peebles 78; Dunragit 74.

Cerastium tetrandrum, Curt. Torrs Warren, Mull of Galloway, 74.

Stellaria media, With., var. Boraana (Jord.). Peebles ^78;
Galashiels *79; Dryburgh *8o.

(To be continued.}

ALIEN PLANTS.
By JAMES ERASER.

THE following fifty Alien Plants were seen by Mr. M'Andrew
and myself during the year 1909. This list brings the
number of such plants seen by us since 1903, and recorded
in the " Annals of Scottish Natural History " yearly since
1904, up to about nine hundred and twenty.

A star in front of a name indicates a new British
record.

RANUNCULACE^:.

Nigella arvensis, L. Leith, several.

CRUCIFEILE.

Goldbachia kevigata, DC. Leith, several.

Iberis intermedia, Guersant. Portobello, one.

I. umbellata, L. Portobello, two or three.

*Isatis aleppica, Scop., var. pamphylica, Boiss. Leith, several ;

Portobello, one.
Moricandia arvensis, DC. Portobello, one.

RESEDACE^:.

Reseda lutea, Z., var. laxa, Lange. Pettycur, one clump, with
pendulous fruits and flat leaves, which seems to be this variety.

CARYOPHYLLACE^:.
*Arenaria stellarioides, Willd. Leith, two.

44 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

HYPERICACE^:.

Hypericum Androssemum, L. In a roadside hedge between
Innellan and Dunoon, one plant.

MALVACEAE.

Lavatera arborea, L. Ailsa (Craig), plentiful. At Elie, Fifeshire,
it is now known to occur only behind some cottages in Earls-
ferry, where it was pointed out to us by Mr. Rupert Smith,
Edinburgh.

GERANIACE^:.

Geranium columbinum, L. Two plants at Morningside, Edinburgh,
by Mr. M'Andrew. Several at Ballantrae, Ayrshire.

LEGUMINOS^:.

Lathyrus odoratus, L. At Pettycur, Fifeshire, and at Portobello,

several.

Lotus decumbens, Pair. Leith, several.
*Trigonella ccelisyriaca, Boiss. Leith, two.

ROSACES.
Potentilla supina, Z. Leith, one.

SAXIFRAGACE^.
Ribes alpinum, L. West of South Queensferry, in policies, plentiful.

CRASSULACE^:.

Sempervivum tectorum, L. On roofs and on wall tops near Kirk-
caldy, Fifeshire, several.

Tillaea Vaillantii, Willd. Galafoot, one plant, found by Miss Hay-
ward, Galashiels.

ONAGRARI^:.

Clarkia pulchella, Pursh. Leith, two or three.

CUCURBITACE^E.
Cucumis sativus, L. Portobello, several, in flower and fruit.

CORNACE/E.

Cornus stolonifera, Michx. Near Kirkliston, two or three ; west of
South Queensferry, plentiful.

ALIEN PLANTS 45

CAPRIFOLIACE.E.

Sambucus racemosa, Willd. Arniston, Midlothian ; and near

Kirkliston, East Lothian, several.
Symphoricarpus racemosus, Michx. Near Kirkliston, several.

RUBIACE.E.
Asperula taurina, L. Abercorn, West Lothian, a large colony.

VALERIANACE^E.

Valerianella dentata, Pollich. Portobello, several.

COMPOSITE.

Ambrosia maritima, L. Leith, two or three.

*Erigeron linifolius, Willd. Galafoot, several.

Madia glomerata, Hook. Leith and Pettycur, two or three.

Picris hieracioides, L. A small colony at the Docks, Burntisland,

by Mr. M'Andrew.
*Volutarella Lippii, Cass. Leith, a single plant.

CAMPANULACE/E.

Specularia hybrida, A. DC. Leith, several.

HYDROPHYLLACE^:.

Phacelia campanularia, A. Gray. Leith, several.

POLEMONIACE^:.

Collomia linearis, Nutt. Leith and Pettycur, one plant in each.

CONVOLVULACE^:.

Cuscuta racemosa, Mart. A dodder which seems to be this species
was found in considerable quantity at Portobello, on Medicago
lupulina, and on a Polygonum (? Polygonum aviculare).

BORAGINACE^E.

Eritrichium australasicum, A. Br. Galafoot, one plant, by Miss

Hayward.
Pulmonaria officinalis, L., Tar. alba. Near Kirkliston, several.

SOLANACE^E.

Solanum miniatum, Mert. and Koch. Leith, several.
S. triflorum, Nutt. Leith, one plant.

46 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

SCROPHULARIACE.E.
'Orthocarpus purpurascens, Benth. Leith, several.

VERBENACE^:.

Verbena officinalis, L. One fine plant at Burntisland Docks, by
Mr. M 'Andrew.

LABIATE.

*Dracocephalum thymiflorum, L. Leith, one plant.
Melissa officinalis, L. Leith, one.
Salvia sylvestris, L. Leith, several.
Satureia hortensis, L. Leith, one.

CHENOPODIACE/E.

Chenopodium Botrys, L. Galafoot, one.

Kochia scoparia, Schrader. Pettycur and Leith, one plant in each.

Ruscus aculeatus, L. Hermitage, Edinburgh, several.

Agrostis lachnantha, Nees. Galafoot, several. First found by Miss

Hayward.

Setaria verticillata, Beauv. Portobello, two.
Sorghum vulgare, Pers, Plentiful in the neighbourhood of Leith

Docks, but did not flower.

LEITH, December 1909.

CRITICAL REMARKS UPON THE CYPERACE^E-
CARICOIDE^E AS TREATED IN " DAS PFLAN-
ZENREICH" BY GEORGE KUKENTHAL. 1

By G. CLARIDGE DRUCE, M.A., F.L.S.

THIS very elaborate, accurate, and excellently printed
monograph of the Genus Carex and its allies marks a
substantial advance in our knowledge of this somewhat
difficult group. The full and clear diagnoses are in Latin,

1 May 1 8, 1909. 981 Species and 128 figures. Leipzig. Price 41.20 marks.

CRITICAL REMARKS ON THE CYPERACE&-CARICOIDEAL 47

a fairly complete synonymy is given, and brief details of
distribution. A clavis is given for each section. The
figures and details are good, and at last we have under the
covers of a single work a description of the Sedges of the
world ; a monument to the painstaking work and clear
judgment of the author. The nomenclature of the species
follows the Vienna Actes, and as a rule is in accord with
that of the "British Plant List." There are a few exceptions
which we may note in passing, and the novelties to our
published Floras may also be mentioned.

The allied genus Kobresia is spelt Cobresia. The founder
Willdenow spelt it with a K, and this is universally followed
by British writers. Persoon (" Syn." ii. (1807) 534) altered
it to Cobresia because it was named in honour of Pauli de
Cobres. This spelling is used by Ascherson and Graebner,
and is allowed, but wrongly allowed, I hold, by the Vienna
Rules, which give great latitude for such changes, e.g. Bartsia
may be altered to Bartscliia because it was named after
Bartsch. In the first instance the change is very trouble-
some, because all the literature is practically indexed under
K, not C ; and we are glad to find that Dalla Torre, in the
" Genera Siphonogamorum," adheres to the original spelling ;
a practice which has so much to be said in its favour. Our
British species is called Cobresia caricina, Willd., since
Kiikenthal queries the identification of Carex bipartita,
Allioni, with it. But Ascherson and Graebner, Dalla Torre,
and Britton and Browne all agree in so identifying it, and
write Kobresia (or Cobresia} bipartita, Dalla Torre, as in my
List.

Carex vesicaria, L. : under this is put var. alpigena,
Fries, from Ben More and Glen Lyon (Marshall). C.
Grahami is also put as a variety from Clova (Boyd) and
Ben More, Meall Ghaordie, Ben Cruichben (Marshall).
Under C. vesicaria he also puts, as a sub-species, C. saxatilis,
L. It is satisfactory to find the Linnean name is retained
for this plant, instead of the later C. pulla, Good. Var.
dichroa, Anders., is treated as a form of C. saxatilis.

The name C. rostrata, Stokes, is used by Kiikenthal, but
surely wrongly, since there is no doubt that C. inflata, Huds.,
has priority. Hudson may have quoted wrong synonyms,

48 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

but this will not invalidate the name, as there can be no
doubt that his plant, of the second edition of " Flora
Anglica," is this species. Under this Kiikenthal puts var.
brunnescens (Anders.) from Scotland (Marshall and Druce) ;
forma sparganiformis (Murr.), Scotland (Druce), and var.
utriculata (Boott.), which is the plant wrongly called
C. rhynclwphysa in " Lond. Cat.," ed. 9, from Ireland.
C. rostrata x vesicaria, Perth.!, Glen Callater (Marshall).
Kiikenthal makes no allusion to Bennett's variety gracilis of
C. l&vigata (C. helodes, Link.). C. binervis, Sm. : Kiikenthal
gives a var. alpina, Drejer, "Rev. Crit." (1841), 56; and
under this both my Scottish nigrescens, and Linton's Sadleri,
originally described as C. frigida, from Glen Callater, by
Sadler, but which was not that continental species. My
nigrescens is a less extreme alpine form than Sadler's plant.
Kiikenthal cites for var. alpina my plants from Loch
Ceannmor, 1214, Glen Callater, 23,006, Perth, 500, 571 ;
also Callater, 2990 (Marshall). C, distans, L. ; with this
C. neglecta, Degl., the maritime form, is considered to be
synonymous. C. B. Clarke believed the Linnean C.
distans to be C. binervis, Sm., and has suggested the name
C. Vikingensis for our plant, but this view is wisely rejected
by Kiikenthal. C. Hornschuchiana, Hoppe, is the name
retained for the plant for which our recent British lists use
C. fulva, Host, a combination not given in " Pflanzenreich,"
but possibly overlooked. It has priority over Hoppe's
name.

C. ftava, L., is kept distinct. Under it there is a var.
pygmcea, Anders. Lange named a Scottish specimen of
mine pumila, Anders., a lapsus calami unfortunately followed
in my List. Kiikenthal also has a forma rectirostris, Peterm. ;
this latter name was given by Fernald to my specimen of
Townsend's var. argillacea.

C. lepidocarpa is given full specific rank, since it keeps
true in cultivation, and natural hybrids occur, of which I
have sent Kiikenthal several of C. flava x lepidocarpa from
Perth, Glen Callater, Forfar, etc., and Marshall has sent
others of lepidocarpa x HornschucJiiana from Caithness,
Sutherland, and Orkney.

C. Oederi, Retz is also kept distinct ; but, while I have

CRITICAL REMARKS ON THE CVPERACEM-CARICOIDEsE 49

used the name in a restricted sense for the small-fruited
plant, Kukenthal includes C. Oederi, var. oedocarpa, Anders.
( =flava, var. minor, Towns.) and var. argillacea, Towns.,
an arrangement more closely approximating to the last
edition of the " Lond. Cat." To my eyes C. flava, var.
minor, Towns., seems to be more closely related to either
of the other two species than to the small-fruited plant,
which I name C. Oederi, Retz, and that was Townsend's idea ;
but of course Kukenthal speaks with far greater authority
and knowledge than I possess. He gives as a " forma " C.
subglobosa, Mielich., Lough Neagh (Druce), 509.

C. extensa, Good. : a new variety of this to our British
Lists is described, viz. Ecklonii, Kiik., from Port Patrick,
Wigtown (C. Bailey). But the older name for it appears
to be C. extensa, Good., var. latifolia, Boeck., in " Linnaea,"
Ixi. (1877), 2 89- C. pilulifera, L., the var. Leesii, Ridley,
is reduced to forma longibracteata, Lange.

C. glauca, Scop., is used instead of C. flacca, Schreb.,
but I think under the idea that C. glauca was established
in Murray's " Stirp. Getting." (1770), p. 76. There it is,
I believe, only an unnamed description ; the earliest name is
Schreber's. Bennett's var. acuminata receives no notice ;
and our other varieties are reduced to forms.

C. vaginata, Tausch, in " Flora," iv. (1821) 557. For
this, the oldest name, Kukenthal, in defiance of the Vienna
inconsistent Rules (which demand the use of the oldest
specific, but not the oldest varietal name), writes C. sparsi-
flora, " Steud. Nom.," 2nd ed. (1841), 296, because it was
C. panicea, var. sparsiflora, Wahl., " Fl. Lapp." (1812),
236. The var. borealis (Anders.) is treated as synonymous
with the type, as is the var. intermedia of C. panicea ; while
tumidula and conferta are reduced to forms. The var.
planifolia, Kohts, is put as synonymous with C. magellanica,
not as a var. of C. limosa, as in my List. The Ben
Heasgarnich locality is not given under C. atrofusca,
Schkuhr. The name C. alpina, Sw., is retained (following
Ascherson and Graebner) ; the identity of C. Halleri, Gunn.,
with it is queried : our three British Lists use C. Halleri.
C. Buxbaumii, Wahl. (also following A. and G.), is used
despite the older C. polygatna, Schkuhr, which is cited

73 E

5 o ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

without doubt as synonymous : the Arisaig locality is
not given ; nor is the fact that it represents C. camscens
in the Herb. Linn. C. Hudsonii, Benn., is used instead
of the earlier C. data, All., on account of the uncertainty
of Allioni's plant; but is there justification for this?
Under C. gracilis an additional variety to my List is given,
viz., var. sphczrocarpa (Uechtr.), from Sussex (Marshall), 2610.
The hybrid C. gracilis x Hudsonii (super- Hudsonit) is given
from Ranworth, Norfolk (C. E. Salmon).

C. aquatilis, Wahl., a nova forma, angustata, Kuk., from
Forfar (Somerville), and Easterness (Marshall), is described.
Var. sphagnophila, Fr., from Clova (Boott.), S. Aberdeen
(Druce) 1218, etc., is also given. The var. epigeios (recorded
by Bennett) is made synonymous with stans (Drej.) Boott.,
but is not cited for Scotland. Does it really occur there ?

Hybrids of C. aquatilis x rigida and C. aquatilis x
Goodenoivii are from Scotland ; C. aquatilis x Hudsonii,
Ireland (R. W. Scully) ; C. aquatilis x salina, Wick
(Marshall). C. ccespitosa, L., is given, on A. Bennett's in-
formation, from Shetland (Beeby), and Yorkshire (Perceval) ;
but we still lack precise information of its occurrence as
British. C. Goodenoughii, as the spelling is altered to
here, has a var. recta (Fleisch), A. and G., which is a
common British form ; var. juncea (Fries) also frequent,
var. strictiforniis (L. H. Bailey), Altnaharra (Marshall) ;
var. subccespitosa, Kiik., Rosslare, Ireland (Marshall), and
stenocarpa, Kiik., based on my specimens from Glen Fiagh.
The last is also found in many other Scottish localities.
C. Goodenowii hybridises with rigida, Forfar, Argyll
(Marshall) ; and with gracilis ; but no British localities
are given, not even for x C. elytroides, Fr., which A. Bennett
recorded from Anglesey ; nor is the occurrence in Britain
of C. trinervis, Degl., also recorded by Mr. Bennett, alluded
to ; but doubts have been expressed as to the identity of
this, and therefore it is bracketed in my List till confirmed.
Neither is there any reference to C. hebridensis, A. Benn.,
which is put under C. spiculosa in " Lond. Cat." as a var.
Kiikenthal considers C. spiculosa itself only a hybrid of
Goodenowii and salina super-salina, Kiik., but he does not
refer to a Scottish locality. Under C. rigida the var. infer-

CRITICAL REMARKS ON THE CYPERACE&-CARICOIDEAL 51

alpina has been changed to concolor (Br.), Kiik. ; but here
again in opposition to the Vienna Rules, which do not
insist on the permanence of the earliest varietal name that
is, the combination C. rigida, var. infer-alpina, Laest., dates
from 1839, C. rigida, var. concolor, only from 1909. The
name C. leporina, L., is wisely retained, but our varieties are
reduced to forms.

C. lagopina, Wahl., is used instead of C. Lachenalit
Schkuhr. Of this he considers C. iielvola to be a hybrid
with canescens. He has seen it from Loch-na-gar (Syme)
1 2 12, (Druce) 22966, (Marshall) 2979, 2980, Clova
(Balfour), Ben Lawers (Druce) !, the three counties as
given in my List. C. stellulata, Good., is used, although
Britten contends that C. ecJiinata, Murr., is the proper name.
The var. grypos is retained, but no British station given.

C. canescens, L., is correctly used by Kiikenthal for
C. curta, Good. ; the var. fallax, F. Kurtz, from the Scottish
Highlands (Druce), the var. tennis, Lang (first recorded by me
in this Journal, 1897, p. 128, from Glen More), and the var.
robustior, Blytt, Scotland (Marshall and Druce), are included,
as are the hybrid with stellata from Canlochan (Ewing), and
Ben Lawers (Druce), and super-canescens (my C- helvola, var.)
from Ben Lawers (Druce). C. contigua, Hoppe, is used instead
of C. niuricata, L., as in the " Lond. Cat. " ; but I followed
the British Museum Seed List in retaining the Linnaean
name, notwithstanding the specimen named C. niuricata in
the Linnaean herbarium, which is C. Pair&i: the description
and references appear to support the use of the Linnaean
name. I have put Leersii as a var. under muricata ; but
Kiikenthal calls C. Paired by the name C. ecJiinata, Murr. ;
under this he puts C. Leersii as a var. The variety has
been collected in England by Marshall, 3765, and the type
by myself in Cornwall. Surely if there is a case where
confusion would be created by the exchange of names this
is one. If cchinata, Murray, is so ambiguous it would be
well to drop it ; but this shall be treated more fully else-
where.

C. divulsa, Good., the correct authority is Stokes in With.
"Nat. Arr.," of 1787. It will be observed that Kiikenthal
has not supported the erroneous suggestion that C. divulsa

52 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

is the C. canescens of the Linn. Herb. The synonym
C. canescens, Huds., is, however, not cited by Klikenthal.

C. diandra, Schrank, var. major, Koch, = Ehrhartiana
Hoppe ; to this is also referred C. pseudo-par ado xa, Gibs.
C. intermedia, Good., is used instead of C. disticha, Huds.,
the undoubtedly earlier name, for the reason advanced by
C. B. Clarke, " Journ. Linn. Soc.," xxxv. (1903), 291 ; but,
despite one wrong figure cited, the reference to Ray shows
that the above, not arenaria, is meant.

C. ligerica, Gay (recorded by Mr. Bennett), is not given
as British ; and as the species awaits confirmation it is
bracketed in my List.

C. divisa, Huds., var. chcetophylla, Daveau, recently dis-
covered in South England, is not included as British.

The hybrids C. paniculata x vulpina = pseudo-vulpina,
Richter, from Surrey and Kent (Marshall), (I have also found
C. muricata x remota in Bucks), C. remota x vulpina (
C. axillaris, Good.), and C. paniculata x remota (C. Boenning-
hauseniand] from Scotland, are also described.

It may be remarked that the contention which I made
in this Journal in reviewing the 9th edition of " Lond. Cat."
that C. diluta, Bieb., was not = C. punctata, Gaud., and for
which I was rather severely taken to task, is found to be
correct. Kukenthal keeps them distinct, putting two species
between them. C. diluta is confined to East Europe,
C. punctata reaches the West of Ireland.

C. fulva, Good., which has caused so much discussion, is
referred to C. Hornschuchiana x Oederi. Three forms of this
are given, viz. (a) nearer Hornschuchiana, being Good-
enough's plant, and (c) fulvaformis, Zahn., Altnaharra and
Orkney (Marshall), C. flava x Oederi, Glen Callater, Perth,
(Druce), 549 ; and a form C. subelatior from Copyhold,
Sussex (Mrs. Davy), are also described.

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES.

The Noetule Bat in Morayshire. During the past few years I
had been told that large Bats were seen from time to time round
Elgin and Lhanbryde, but only now, ist October, have I been able

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 53

to secure one. A fine large dark-coloured male Noctule ( Vesperugo
noctula) was sent to me from Duffus near Elgin. It measured 3^
inches head and body, and 2\ inches forearm. This is just the
size of my English spirit specimen. It was fat, and weighed i^
ounce. This species may not be rare north of the Grampians, but
this is the first example I have seen here. Other three species are
fairly abundant in Morayshire, the Pipistrelle, Daubenton's Bat, and
the Long-eared Bat. WM. TAYLOR, Lhanbryde.

[There are only a few known instances of this Bat being found in
Scotland, and this is the most northerly record of its occurrence in
the British Islands. EDS.]

Black and Brown Water-Voles in the same Family. On i yth

August last Mr. R. Ramsay, Fearnan, Loch Tay, sent me a family
of four young (half-grown) Water-Voles (Arvicola ampMbius) which
had been dug out of a hole in his hayfield. Three of them were
of the black variety, while the fourth was of the typical brown form.
They were sent as young " Black Rats," with the remark that
" strange to say one seems a broivn raf, but they were all in the
same nest." It would have been interesting to know what the
parents were like, but they were not captured, and no information
regarding them is forthcoming. WILLIAM EVANS, Edinburgh.

The Length and Weight of Otters. Apropos of my article on
' The Length and Weight of Otters,' which appeared in the " Annals "
(July, 1909), I am informed by the master of the Crowhurst Otter
Hounds that he killed a bitch Otter in September 1908 on the Rother
near Midhurst, which weighed 22 Ibs. with a total length of 45 J
inches, and which is the heaviest bitch Otter I have ever heard of.
His hounds also killed, on 2oth April this year at Hartfield, on the
Medway, a dog Otter of 28^ Ibs., which measured 5 i inches in length.
The Essex pack which killed the enormous 34 Ibs. dog Otter on the
tidal waters of the Deben in East Suffolk last year ( 1 908), as mentioned
in my article, have beaten this record by killing on the same river
near Kettleburgh, on 2oth September this year, an extremely fat old
dog Otter of 35 Ibs. whose total length, as measured with a 2-feet rule,
was 5 2 inches, whilst his carcase, minus pelt, mask, rudder, and pads,
actually weighed 24 Ibs., the normal weight of an adult dog Otter !
On 8th September this year the Argyleshire and East of Scotland
Pack killed an exceptionally fine dog Otter in East Lothian, close to
where the Humbie Burn joins the Keith, which easily pulled down
the Salter's Spring Balance to its limit of 29 Ibs., and was undoubtedly
heavier than this. H. W. ROBINSON, of Lancaster.

Some Rare Birds in Unst, Shetland. During several autumn
visits to the island of Unst, I have, among other birds, obtained the
following which, I trust, are worthy of record in the " Annals."

GREENLAND REDPOLL (Acanthis hornemanni). One shot

54 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

between Qth and igth October 1905, about the same time as Mr.
Eagle Clarke obtained specimens in Fair Isle. It was a single bird,
and I observed no others.

GREATER REDPOLL (Acanthis rostratd). Several specimens
obtained from a flock during October and November 1907. Some
of these birds were shot below high-water line on the shore.

NORTHERN BULLFINCH (Pyrrhida pyrrhula). I saw a male in
splendid plumage in November 1905.

TENGMALIN'S OWL (Nyctala tengmalmi). On 8th January 1908,
a female, apparently injured, was captured on a stone wall and for-
warded to me. Its stomach contained the remains of a sparrow.

Some of the other birds which came under my notice in 1907
were, a Great Grey Shrike on 7th October ; Wood Pigeon on 20th
October and 4th November ; Turtle Doves (two) on 2ist October ;
and Great Snipe on 6th October. ERICK HAMILTON, Liverpool.

Some further Remarks on the Visitation of Crossbills.

During a visit to Fair Isle last autumn, I gathered the following
additional information relating to the summer visits of Crossbills
(Loxia curvirostra) to the island. This I chiefly obtained from my
bird-watcher there, Stewart Stout. The birds were seen in the
greatest abundance on loth July when they were in large flocks.
These flocks, however, appear to have at once broken up, for after
this date, though plentiful, the visitors were in scattered parties, and
were abundant down to 26th August. Later they became gradually
scarcer ; in September only two or three were seen, and the last
representative of the hundreds once present on the island was an
immature male, which was seen on 2nd October, feeding on the head
of a thistle. During their sojourn they frequented all parts of the
island : the faces of the great cliffs, the cultivated land, the grassy
slopes, and the high bleak, heathery ground. On the latter they fed
on the unripe fruit of the crowberry ; elsewhere on seeds of grasses
and other plants, and on the heads of thistles. Very many of these
visitors, however, perished, for numerous dead or dying birds were
found in the plots of potatoes.

At the Flannan Islands the last of the invaders was observed
on September 22nd.

Some surprise has been expressed that comparatively few
birds were recorded for the mainland of Scotland. It may be
pointed out, however, that there are obvious reasons why this
should be the case. Thus, almost immediately on their arrival from
the north, most of the visitors would find themselves in a land
entirely congenial to their requirements, namely, one abounding
in extensive pine woods. Here they would fail to attract notice, for
these same Highland forests are the home of great numbers of
native Crossbills.

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES

55

Mr. Francis G. Gunnis has informed me that they were very
plentiful at Gordonbush, in East Sutherland ; and adds the interest-
ing remark that a lot of them were caught in the nets protecting
strawberries. WM. EAGLE CLARKE.

Occurrence of Yellow-browed Warblers in East Ross-shire.

On 23rd September I observed, and afterwards obtained a Yellow-
browed Warbler (Phylloscopus superdliosus). The bird in question
was searching for insects among the currant bushes in a garden on
the coast of East Ross-shire. It was fairly tame, and did not seem to
mind my presence. The bird proved to be a male. The weather
at the time was fine, rather hazy, the wind being south, light. On
27th September I saw another Yellow-browed Warbler in the same
garden, but it was very wild and would not admit of approach, but
flew over the garden wall and disappeared. In the afternoon 1
located it again in a field of turnips near by, and after a long
chase the bird was procured. It turned out to be a female.
ANNIE C. JACKSON, Swordale.

[These are the first records for the autumn of the occurrence of
this interesting migrant on the mainland of Scotland. EDS.]

Migration of Redwings, etc. On the early morning of
1 8th October, between the hours of 12 P.M. and 4 A.M., there was a
great rush of birds at Tarbatness Lighthouse, many killing them-
selves against the lantern, and later in the morning 411 were picked
up. The wind was east, light, and the night, or rather morning, was
very wet, also hazy.

The great majority of the birds were Redwings. The birds
collected consisted of 367 Redwings; i Fieldfare; 6 Blackbirds;
3 Ring Ouzels ; 3 Goldcrests ; 9 Bramblings ; 20 Starlings; i Jack-
snipe. ANNIE C. JACKSON, Swordale.

Grasshopper Warbler and Greater Wheatear at Mull of
Galloway Light. A male Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella ncevid]
was obtained at Mull of Galloway Lighthouse on 24th April, and
on the 1 2th August a male of the Greater Wheatear (Saxicola
leucorrhoa). Both birds were sent to me by Mr. Henderson,
lightkeeper. ANNIE C. JACKSON, Swordale.

The Greater Wheatear (Saxicola cenanthe lencorrhoa, Gmel.) in
Forth. Mr. Eagle Clarke's observations on this northern race of
Wheatear at Fair Isle ("Annals," 1908, p. 81) have caused me to
re-examine a large cenanthe which I shot on the coast at Luffness
Links, East Lothian, on 25th September 1885. It is a beautiful
adult male having a wing measurement of 106 mm., and clearly
belongs to the above race. I have noticed similar large Wheatears
on this coast on several occasions in autumn. WILLIAM EVANS,
Edinburgh.

56 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Golden Oriole in Dumfriesshire. On 3oth April 1909, Mr.
Charles Vere caught an adult male of this species at Penton Lynns
(Canonbie). After being caged it only lived one day, so it was
sent to Mr. Raine, taxidermist, Carlisle, for preservation. I have
personally seen the specimen, which is now in Mr. Vere's possession.
HUGH S. GLADSTONE.

Nesting- of the Great Spotted Woodpecker in West Fife. A

pair of this species safely hatched off their young this spring on the
estate of Brucefield, belonging to Lord Balfour of Burleigh, in the
West of Fife. Two specimens of the Great Spotted Woodpecker
have previously been obtained on the estate of Westgrange which
adjoins Brucefield in the same district of Fife. One of these occur-
rences, as recorded in the Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society,
took place on 3rd April 1877, and the other, hitherto unrecorded, on
25th January 1902. J. J. DALGLEISH, Brankston Grange, Alloa.

Quails in East Lothian. Quails (Coturnix communis) were
reported to have been heard in June in two spots not very far from
Haddington, but though I visited the places I could not hear or see
them. But several pairs did nest not far from Tranent in the corn-
fields, where their sharp, penetrating cry was heard continually. On
the evening of 3rd August I made a round of the places where they
were, with Dr. Ritchie of Tranent. We located the cry in three if
not in four different fields. They were heard almost daily from
xoth July till 23rd August. How much later they were there I
cannot say, for I was unable to pay another visit myself to the
locality. H. N. BONAR, Saltoun, Pencaitland.

" Ringed " Arctic Tern at Barns Ness Lighthouse (Forth),
In September last I was asked to identify a Tern with a ring on its
leg, which had been found unable to fly owing to an injured wing, at
Barns Ness Lighthouse, near Dunbar, on the night of 23rd August.
It was an immature Arctic Tern (Sterna macrura}, and had on its
left tarsus a metal ring inscribed "Country Life, London, No. 516."
I communicated with "Country Life," and ascertained that the bird
was ringed at the Fame Islands by Mr. Riley Fortune on iyth July
(cf. "Country Life" of i6th October 1909). Flocks of Terns, the
light-keeper tells me, were observed flying round the dome of the
lighthouse during the evening of 23rd August, the wind at the time
blowing from the south-east.

I may mention that there has been sent to me a Storm Petrel
(Procellaria pelagica) which was found in a dying state at Barns
Ness Lighthouse on the morning of iSth October. WILLIAM
EVANS, Edinburgh.

Beautiful Variety of the Black-headed Gull. A gull was
obtained here on the gth of December which was remarkable for
the beautiful rosy pink colour pervading all the white portions of

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 57

its plumage except the tail. This tint, which was deepest on
the abdomen and flanks, included the entire shafts and webs of
the two outer primaries, the basal portions of the shafts of the rest
and of the secondaries, and the bases of the grey feathers of the
mantle. I sent the bird to Mr. Eagle Clarke for his inspection and
opinion on it. He tells me that the specimen, a female, was quite re-
markable for the extent and depth of the rose-colour permeating its
plumage. Mr. Howard Saunders, in describing a similar specimen
obtained at Wells, Norfolk, in November, remarks (Cat. Birds, Brit.
Mus., xxv. 212) that such instances must be considered unusual. I
have since seen two others. ALICE FOWLER, Inverbroom, Ross-shire.
[I have also seen rosy-coloured Black-headed Gulls at Oban, as
I have elsewhere made note of. J. A. H.-B.]

Porbeagle Shark in the Moray Firth. A male Porbeagle
shark (Lain/ia cornubica), 84 feet long, was caught at Nairn on
3oth October last. I went to examine it, and took the following
measurements: From point of snout to pectoral fin, 27 inches;
length of pectoral fin, 16 inches; greatest breadth of tail, 28 inches.
It had the large, high anterior and very small posterior dorsal fin
of the species. It was bluish grey above and dirty white below.
It belongs to the variety with small teeth. I have also found the
variety with large teeth in the Moray Firth. The difference in the
teeth is certainly not a sexual character. Dr. Traquair was kind
enough to demonstrate that for me in the Royal Scottish Museum
some years ago. WM. TAYLOR, Lhanbryde.

Barnacles on a Whale. Mr. Carl F. Herlofsen, of Buna-
veneader, Harris, recently presented to the Royal Scottish Museum
a specimen of a parasitic Copepod, Penella species, extracted from
the side of a whale caught off St. Kilda. Growing upon the
Penella were two specimens of Stalked Barnacle, Conchoderma virgata
(Spengler), a species which, though of world-wide distribution, has
seldom been recorded from Scottish waters. The association of
Conchoderma virgata with Penella has been noted on several
occasions, even where the hosts of the Copepod have been so
different as whale and sword-fish. JAMES RITCHIE, Royal Scottish
Museum.

Hydraehnids in Forth and Tay. In the previous number of
the "Annals" (1909, p. 249) I recorded Arrhenurus cylindratus,
Piersig, from the Forth district, the record being based on half a
dozen females from West Lothian, which were believed to belong to
this species. The capture of two males and a female on iyth
September last in a pool near Lasswade, Midlothian, removes any
slight doubt there may have been as to the species being an
inhabitant of the district. Along with these Lasswade examples of
A. cylindrahis I captured five males of another Arrheimrus which

58 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Mr. Soar says are referable to A. tubulator (Mull.), also, it would
appear, an addition to the Scottish list.

I take this opportunity of drawing attention to an early record
the earliest I have yet met with of Water-Mites from Scotland.
It occurs in Don's List of Forfarshire Plants and Animals, published
in 1813 in an Appendix to the "Agriculture of Angus," and is
as follows: " Hydrachna globator, grosszpes, and some others."
Presumably these are what we now call Arrhenurus globator, and
Unionicola crassipes, or its near ally U. figuralis. WILLIAM EVANS,
Edinburgh.

A Swan Parasite from Perthshire. On an immature female
Whooper Swan ( C. musicus) secured at Port-Allen-on-Tay, in January
last, numerous parasites were detected by Mr. A. M. Rodger, Perth
Museum.

Four specimens, all adult males and females, were fortunately
put into spirit, and on examination these proved to be Ornithobins
cygni, L. ( = bucephalus, Giebel). Save that the males have segments
2-6 with the black lateral spots, these specimens are typical
examples.

Piaget ( " Les Pediculines," vol. i. p. 378) gives 3-6 as the
normal, while Denny ("Mon. Anop. Brit.," p. 183) says "the first
six segments of the abdomen with a black spot." Evidently
the character is independable and varies. JAMES WATERSTON,
Edinburgh.

BOTANICAL NOTES AND NEWS.

Fungi from the Isle of May. During two short visits to the
Isle of May last September (gth and i6th), I gathered the following
Fungi, which are not mentioned among those brought from the
island by Misses Baxter and Rintoul in 1907, as recorded by Mr.
Steele in the "Annals" for January 1908. Dr. Paul, who kindly
looked over my specimens, made the remark that they were small,
as one would expect in so exposed a locality.

Agaricus campestris, L. (the true mushroom). One specimen.

A. arvensis, Schaeff. Common.

Nolanea pascua, Pers. Two or three.

Hygrophorus conicus, Fr. Several.

Marasmius oreades, Fr. A few.

Lycoperdon geminatum, Batsch. A good many.

Several of the already recorded species Naucoria semiorbicularis,
HygropJiorus pratensis, H. virgineus, etc. were also met with.
WILLIAM EVANS, Edinburgh.

BOTANICAL NOTES AND NEWS 59

Scottish Pansies. Of the twenty-three "species" in Mr.
Brabble's paper on " British Pansies " in the Journal of Botany
Supplement, the following are named in the paper as seen by him
from Scotland : Group I. Arvenses, V. segetalis, Jordan, Selkirk
(79), Kincardine (91), E. Sutherland (107), V. obtusifolia, Jordan,
Elgin (95); V. rurali, Jordan, Dumfries (72), Berwick (81), Kin-
cardine (91); V. derelicta, Jordan, Mid-Perth (88), Forfar (90),
S. Aberdeen (92), Banff (94), Orkney (m); V. Lloydii, Jordan,
Forfar (90), Kincardine (91), S. Aberdeen (92), W. Ross (105),
Caithness (109); V. alpestris, Jordan, Selkirk (79); V. lepida,
Jordan, Roxburgh (80), Berwick (81), Kincardine (91), S. Aberdeen
(92), Elgin (95), Easterness (96), Westerness (97), Argyle (98),
East Ross (106); V. lutea, Huds. (including var. amoena), Dumfries
(72), Selkirk (79), Stirling (86), M. Perth (88), E. Perth (89),
Forfar (90), S. Aberdeen (92), Westerness (97), Argyle (98),
V. Curtisii, Forster (including Pesneaui and subulosa), S. Aberdeen
(92), Clyde Isles (100), Mid Ebudes (103), W. Sutherland (108),
Caithness (109).

CURRENT LITERATURE.

The Titles and Purport of Papers and Notes relating to Scottish Natural
History which have appeared during the Quarter October-December 1909.

[The Editors desire assistance to enable them to make this Section as complete as
possible. Contributions on the lines indicated will be most acceptable, and
will bear the initials of the Contributor. The Editors will have access to the
sources of information undermentioned.]

ZOOLOGY.

NOTES ON THE SUMMER BIRDS OF SHISKIN, ARRAN, 1909.
T. Thornton Mackeith. The Glasgow Naturalist, vol. ii. No. i
(Nov. 1909), pp. 20-24. Eighty-eight species are recorded.

THE STOCK-DOVE (COLUMBA CENAS, LINN.) IN THE CLYDE
AREA. Robert S. and Hugh W. Wilson. The Glasgoiv Naturalist,
vol. i. pt. iv. (Sept. 1909), pp. 101-110. Gives a summary of the
distribution of this species in the various counties.

HOOPOE (UPUPA EPOPS) IN LANARKSHIRE. Geo. W. Campbell.
The Glasgow Naturalist, vol. i. pt. iv. (Sept. 1909), p. 145- Speci-
men picked up near Leadhills on June i, 1909.

FULMAR (FULMARUS GLACIALIS) IN AYRSHIRE AND FIFE. John
Paterson. The Glasgow Naturalist, vol. i. pt. iv. (Sept. 1909), p. 145.
Specimen picked up dead on July 4, 1909, on the shore between
King's Barns and Cambo.

60 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

QUAIL (CoruRNix COMMUNIS) IN AYRSHIRE AND FIFE. John
Paterson. The Glasgow Naturalist, vol. i. pt. iv. (Sept. 1909), p.
145. A note on the occurrence of this species near Ayr and at Crail.

RUFF, SPOTTED REDSHANK, AND BLACK-TAILED GODWIT IN
EAST RENFREW. John Robertson. The Glasgow Naturalist, vol. i.
pt. iv. (Sept. 1909), p. 146. Notes on the occurrence of these
species in August and September 1909.

THE BAR-TAILED GODWIT (LIMOSA LAPPONICA) IN EAST REN-
FREW. John Robertson. The Glasgow Naturalist, vol. ii. No. i
(Nov. 1909). Specimen seen in September 1909 at Waulkmill
Glen Dam.

SHORT SUN-FISH (ORTHAGORISCUS MOLA) IN AYRSHIRE WATERS.
John Paterson. The Glasgow Naturalist, vol. ii. No. i (Nov. 1909),
p. 30. A specimen, measuring 4 feet long by 5 feet 3 inches,
captured in South Ayrshire waters in October 1909.

NOTES FROM INVERNESS-SHIRE, 1909. R. Meldola. Entomologist,
November 1909, pp. 283-284. Notes on twenty species of Lepi-
doptera taken at Onich in August.

A SPECIES OF THE NOCTUID^E NEW TO SCIENCE. Richard
South. Entomologist, October 1909, p. 258. This species, supposed
to be new, but as yet undescribed, was taken by Mr. Esson at sugar,
on a fir-tree near Aberdeen.

EVETRIA (RETINIA) RESINELLA, L., CAPTURED IN THE IMAGINAL
STATE. Eustace R. Bankes. Ent. Mo. Mag., November 1909,
p. 259. Records several specimens taken in Rothiemurchus Forest,
Inverness-shire, June 1907 and 1908.

THREE NEW BRITISH COLEOPTERA. Norman H. Joy, M.R.C.S.,
F.E.S. Ent. Mo. Mag., December 1909, pp. 268 and 269. The
species are Epipeda nigricans, Thorns., and Pityogenes trepanatus,
Noerdl., taken at Blair Atholl, and Lathrobium dilutum, Erichs, from
the side of Loch Ericht and the river Truim, at Dalwhinnie.

SOME CRITICAL REMARKS ON THE GENUS RABOCERUS, MUL-
SANT : WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SPECIES. By David Sharp,
M.A., F.R.S. Ent. Mo. Mag., November 1909, pp. 245-247. R.
bishopi described as a new species, from Grantown, Elginshire.

A FIFTH PROTEINUS IN BRITAIN. David Sharp, M.A., F.R.S.
Ent. Mo. Mag., December 1909, pp. 267-268. P. crenulatus,
Pandelle, taken at Nethy Bridge in 1906 and 1907.

MYRMECOPHILOUS NOTES FOR 1909. H. St. J. K. Donis-
thorpe, F.Z.S., F.E.S. Ent. Record, Nov. 1909, p. 257. Nests of
Formica rufa race pratensis, Forel, described from Nethy Bridge, with
a list of their coleopterous inmates.

CURRENT LITERATURE 61

THREE SPECIES OF DIPTERA NEW TO THE BRITISH LIST.
J. R. Malloch. Ent. Mo. Mag., October 1909, p. 234. Records
Cnemacantha muscaria, Fin., and Pegomyia seitenstettensis, Strobl,
from Bonhill, Dumbartonshire, and Eccoptomera ornata, Ler., from
Oxford.

ON THE BRITISH SPECIES OF PHORA. John H. Wood, M.B.
Ent. Mo. Mag., October and November 1909, pp. 240-244. P.
brunneipennis, Costa, recorded from Logie, near Forres, and P.
pulicaria, Fin., from the north of Scotland.

A FEW INSECTS FROM BRAEMAR. W. J. Lucas. Entomologist,

November 1909, p. 282. Records seven species of Neuroptera

and Trichoptera taken by Dr. David Sharp in June of the present
year.

RAPHIDIA MACULICOLLIS (NEUROPTERA). W. J. Lucas. Ento-
mologist, October 1909, p. 259. Records a female pupa taken by
Dr. David Sharp at Braemar.

ON THE GENUS PnoxocEPHALUS. Alexander Patience. The
Glasgow Naturalist, vol. i. pt. iv. (Sept. 1909), pp. 116-134, pis. iii.
and iv. and 6 figs. In this paper notes are given of Scottish
localities.

PRELIMINARY DESCRIPTION OF A NEW BRITISH AMPHIPOD,
IS/EA ELMHIRSTI, sp. N. Alexander Patience. The Glasgoiv
Naturalist, vol. i. pt. iv. (Sept. 1909), pp. 134-135. Described
from a specimen taken in the Firth of Clyde.

ON A NEW BRITISH MARINE AMPHIPOD. Alexander Patience.
77/6' Glasgow Naturalist, vol. ii. No. i (Nov. 1909), pp. 16-19, P^ s -
i. and ii. A more detailed description of Isaea elmhirsti, of which a
preliminary notice was given in the same journal (see preceding
reference). It is also recorded here from off the coast of St.
Andrews.

A SPECIMEN OF LlGULA SIMPLICISSIMA, RUDOLPHI ; WITH NOTES

ON THE LIFE-HISTORY OF THE LIGULIN^E. J. F. Gemmill, M.A.,

M.D. The Glasgow Naturalist, vol. ii. No. i (Nov. 1909),

pp. 6-12. The minnow, within which the Ligula was taken, was
captured near Greenock on May 22, 1909.

THE FRESH-WATER POLYZOON CRISTATELLA MUCEDO FROM
KILMALCOLM. W. Cameron Davidson. The Glasgow Naturalist,
vol. ii. No. i (Nov. 1909), pp. 15-16.

CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS A MONOGRAPH OF THE BRITISH AND
IRISH OLIGOCH^ETA. Rowland Southern. Proc. Roy. Irish Acad.,
vol. xxvii. Sect. B., No. 8 (April 1909). Records are given of a
number of Scottish species, including two new to science, collec
by Mr. W. Evans in the Forth Area.

62 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

SOME BRITISH EARTH-MITES. C. F. George. The Naturalist,
1909. Several new species of Trombidiidce are described in these
articles from specimens collected by Mr. W. Evans in the Forth
Area.

BOTANY.

FIRST RECORDS OF BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS. By W. A.
Clarke, F.L.S.,/0w. Bot., 1909, pp. 413-416. A supplement to
Author's previous comprehensive work. The only Scottish species
referred to are Cerastium alpinnm, L. and CaUitriche autumnalis, L.

THE BRITISH PANSIES. By E. Drabble, D.Sc., F.L.S. Supple-
ment \.Q Journ. Bot., Oct. and Dec. 1909, 32 pages, and plates 500-
501. A full discussion of the forms in the group Melanium, with
descriptions of 23 British " species" and " varieties " and 3 " hybrids,"
and illustrations of these on 2 plates. The distribution in Britain
of these forms is given as far as the author has seen specimens.

THYMUS SPATHULATUS, OPIZ., IN BRITAIN. By G. Claridge
Druce. Journ. Bot., pp. 384-385. Mentions distribution of the forms
glaber, Mill., avafus, Mill., andpreecox, Opiz., in Scotland as shown by
specimens.

TORTULA ACIPHYLLA IN BRITAIN. By W. E. Nicholson. Journ.
Bot., 1909, pp. 374-375, on boulders above Loch-na-chat, Ben
Lawers.

BOOK NOTICES.

A TREATISE ON ZOOLOGY. Edited by Sir Ray Lankester, K.C.B.,
M.A., LL.D., F.R.S. Pt. ix. Vertebrata Craniata (Cydostomes and
Fishes}. By E. S. Goodrich, M.A., F.R.S. (London : A. & C.
Black, 1909.)

The present contribution to this important series treats of the
two most primitive Classes of the Vertebrata, the Lampreys and
their allies, and the true Fishes. As the first volume treating of
Vertebrates, it opens with a definition and description of the lead-
ing characters of these most important members of the animal
kingdom. The remainder of the Part deals with, in their systematic
sequence, the various Orders and their numerous component Families,
recent and fossil, concerning which a great amount of information
is afforded of a technical nature, on the essential characters and
anatomical peculiarities of each of these major and minor groups. In
addition to taxonomic definitions, information is furnished relating
to their distribution in space and time, and some reference is made
to life-histories. Like the predecessors of the series noticed in this
Magazine, it is a learned and able exposition on its subject, and is

BOOK NOTICES 63

a most valuable addition to the library of the advanced student in
natural science. The volume is profusely illustrated by excellent
diagrams and figures, which cannot fail to be of considerable service
to the reader.

EGYPTIAN BIRDS. Painted and described by Charles Whymper.
(London: Published by A. & C. Black. Price 205.)

Among the painters of bird life, Mr. Whymper's name has
long been much appreciated, but never has he been in more charming
combination as author and artist than in this volume on Egyptian
birds. In the modest preface, it is intimated that this book is for
the amateur and not the scientist, but every ornithologist will
congratulate the author on a production which meets perfectly the
wants of numbers of British visitors to Egypt who are interested in
bird-life. To such the book will undoubtedly add a new interest
to their tour, for the wealth of bird life in that mysterious land
is both rich and varied. Hitherto there has been only one
standard volume available, "A Handbook to the Birds of Egypt,"
by Captain C. E. Shelley (1872), and as this is now "out of
print" and somewhat costly, Mr. Whymper's work comes
as a boon to the wandering bird-lover. Not only is the
traveller provided for, but also the naturalist who has perforce to
stay at home, for the reader of Mr. Whymper's " Egyptian Birds " will
be able to enter into every ramble the author describes so well, and
may behold in his charming representations many of the birds
depicted in their native haunts. Mr. Whymper proves himself to
be a most careful and accurate observer, and his work abounds in
details of the varied habits of each bird treated of. The numerous
coloured illustrations are all singularly beautiful, and seeing that
they all attain to a high degree of excellence it would perhaps be
invidious to select any particular one for special praise. A word of
praise is also due to the publishers for producing the book in such
a suitable and pleasing form, a special feature being the lightness of
the volume, which is unusual in a work illustrated with 51 coloured
plates.

In an appendix the author gives a useful annotated list of 356
different Egyptian birds. This will prove most useful to ornithologists
visiting the country. That it is up-to-date and accurate is vouched
for by the fact that Mr. M. J. Nicol is mainly responsible for it,
and there is no better authority. G. G.-M.

A GUIDE TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT.
Edited by Frank Morey, F.L.S. Pp. xx + 56o. The County
Press, Newport, 1909. Price 8s. 6d. net.

In this useful work, which contains a " series of contributions
by specialists relating to the various branches of Natural History
and kindred subjects," Mr. Morey has made a painstaking and

64 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

exceedingly valuable effort to show the present state of our know-
ledge regarding the plant and animal inhabitants of the Isle of
Wight. In addition to the lists of species, of which the book is
necessarily in great part composed (several of which are illustrated
by excellent photographic reproductions of the rarer animals), space
has been found for interesting chapters on the Geology and on
the Meteorology of the island, and on Discoveries of Palaeolithic
Implements. That much good work has been done, this book,
with its records of 6982 plants and animals, clearly shows. It must
be invaluable to students of the natural history of the area with
which it deals, and to workers interested in the distribution of
British animals. For the encouragement of the former the meagre
lists of several groups, particularly amongst the marine inverte-
brates, make clear that much important work still remains to be
accomplished.

THE HOME-LIFE OF A GOLDEN EAGLE. Photographed and
described by H. B. Macpherson. With 32 mounted plates.
(London : Witherby & Co. Price 55.)

All who are interested in our native birds will read with interest
Mr. H. B. Macpherson's account of the domestic life of a Golden
Eagle. The history of the young bird is given until the point when
it leaves the nest and sallies forth on the wing in company with the
elder birds. The author, who has noted every detail and depicted
most of them, first visited the eyrie on 23rd April, on which date he
found two eggs ; these were hatched on 3rd May. From henceforth
a careful and most instructive account is given of the habits and
movements of the eaglet and its parents. The illustrations (32 in
number) which supplement the observations are really a triumph in
bird photography, and for excellence and clearness of detail they
could not be surpassed.

Such a record of the home-life of the most romantic of our
British birds can only be got at the expense of immense personal
labour and fatigue, and naturalists, knowing the wild nature of its
Highland home, will fully appreciate the author's heroic efforts and
untiring patience, and congratulate him on his marvellous success.

A word of credit is also due to the publisher, for though the
price of this little volume is very modest, yet the general " get-up "
leaves nothing to be desired. G. G.-M.

The Annals

of

Scottish Natural History

No. 74] 1910 [APRIL

THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE V. REPORT ON
OBSERVATIONS MADE DURING THE
YEAR 1909.

By WM. EAGLE CLARKE, F.R.S.E., F.L.S.

As a full and particular account of Birds of Fair Isle, based
upon all the data which have been amassed during the
past five years, is about to be published, it is only necessary,
following precedent, to do little more than allude to the
species, few in number, which were added to the avifauna
in the year 1909.

As I have said the novelties are few in number, namely,
six. But this is not surprising, for the ornis of this small
island had reached the remarkable total of 185 species at
the close of 1908, and it was not to be expected that this
number could be materially increased as the result of a single
year's investigations. One of the new birds, however, the
White-spotted Bluethroat, is a most interesting species to
have obtained, apart from its great rarity as a British bird.
A number of uncommon species, previously recorded, re-
newed their visits in 1909, and in all 122 species were
observed as migrants during the year ; of these 9 1 species
were observed during the spring movements, 96 during the
autumn, and 70 were common to both seasons.

These statistics, though quite remarkable and satisfactory,
74 B

66 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

show a slight falling off as compared with those for 1908.
This is, no doubt, due to the fact that George Stout, my
trusty observer, left the island in January. His younger
brother, Stewart, took his place on the ist April, and carried
on the work successfully, and to my entire satisfaction, until his
departure in October ; so that practically six months' observa-
tions (fortunately not at the height of the season) were lost
during the year. I again spent several weeks on the island
at both seasons, devoting all my time to the investigations,
and during the autumn I had the aid of George Stout.

The Duchess of Bedford visited the island in spring
and again in autumn, spending some time and contributing
materially to the records. I have to gratefully acknowledge
Her Grace's kindness in affording me facilities for reaching
the island on the occasion of both my visits.

A pleasant duty remains to be discharged. I have to
express my sincere thanks to Robert Bruce, Esq., for the
privilege which allowed me to visit all parts of the island,
and to collect such specimens as were required for the in-
vestigations ; to the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses
for permission to reside in the Lighthouses ; and to their
secretary, C. Dick Peddie, Esq., for his kind co-operation.
Nor must I forget the acknowledgments due to Mr. and
Mrs. Wallace, and Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, who made me
most comfortable during my residence in the Lighthouses.
While to my many good friends among the Fair Islanders
I have to express my indebtedness for allowing me to search
their crofts the best observing grounds in the isle.

The following are the species added to the fauna during
the year :

1 86. COMMON CROSSBILL, Loxia curvirostra. As reference has
already been made ("Annals," 1909, p. 215; and 1910,
p. 54) to the remarkable visitation of this species to the
island during the past summer, it is not necessary to repeat
the statements here. They were, however, of considerable
interest, and it may be remarked that more birds were seen
on Fair Isle than in any other similar area in the British
Islands.

Since I wrote my previous notes, I have critically examined
the Crossbills obtained at Fair Isle, Suleskerry, Unst, and
Barra (Outer Hebrides) ; eleven specimens in all. Every one

THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE 67

of these is remarkable for the slenderness of its bill, when
compared with Continental examples at my disposal. This
marked peculiarity leads me to believe that these birds, which
are of all ages, belong to a particular race ; and the fact that
at both Fair Isle and the Flannans adult males of the Two-
Barred Crossbill were shot from the ranks of the invading
birds, indicates, I think, that the two species were travelling
companions from a common area. As the Two-Barred species
is confined to the far northern and north-eastern pine forests
of Europe (and of Siberia), it is possible that this slender-
billed race of the Common Crossbill may also be a native
of those regions.

187. WHITE-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT, Cyanecula cyanecula. Fore-

most in interest among the captures of the year is that of
an adult male in full plumage of this beautiful species.
Not only is it new to the birds that have occurred at Fair
Isle, but it is an addition to the Scottish Fauna, and is the
fourth example known to have visited the British Islands.
Fair Isle, too, marks the Ultima Thule of the known wander-
ings of this Central European summer bird.

188. PINK-FOOTED GOOSE, Anser brachyrhynchus. A number of

these birds appeared during the wild weather which pre-
vailed from the 7th to the 1 8th of October. One of these
was shot, and the identity of the wary visitors satisfactorily
established. This bird would appear, strange to say, to be
also an addition to the avifauna of Shetland, though it
must be an annual bird of passage there.

189. BERNACLE GOOSE, Bernicla leucopsis. Several single birds

were seen at intervals during the first three months of the
year, and two were shot ; the head of one of these I received
for identification.

190. BRENT GOOSE, Bernicla bcrnida. An injured bird was

captured in a voe on the east side of the island in October.
This I had the satisfaction of examining.

191. GREY PHALAROPE, Phalaropus fulicarius. Single birds ap-

peared on two occasions, during the earliest days of the
year, and one of these was obtained and sent to me. These
are interesting records, since they indicate that the species was
spending the winter not very far away.

In conclusion it may be remarked that a pair of White
Wagtails reared their brood on the island during the past
summer (the first time in Scotland, so far as I know) ;
and that the Siskin was remarkable for the numbers in which
it appeared in the autumn.

68 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

SCOTTISH HERONRIES, PAST AND PRESENT.

SUPPLEMENTARY TO LIST IN THE " ANNALS OF
SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY," OCTOBER 1908,

pp. 218-23.

By HUGH BOYD WATT, M.B.O.U.

INFORMATION which has been received from correspondents
and from the pages of the " Annals," and other sources,
enables the corrections and additions summarised below to
be made in the list referred to. As was anticipated by the
writer some further names should have been starred as
extinct nesting-places, and these are marked * below. The
large proportion of names now starred under " Tweed,"
and also some of those under " Forth," is due to an
omission in marking certain names, which were obtained
from Mr. Muirhead's " Birds of Berwickshire " (vol. ii.

1895).

The names of my informants are given with each item,
and I again beg to express my thanks and obligations to
them.

CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS TO LIST.

DEE.

'Banchory Lodge, up to 1864, then removed to Blackball

("Zoologist," 1872, p. 3266) [100 to 150 yards farther west.

-J. A. H.-B.]
; ' 4 Binn Hill of Cairnie, near Huntly, tradition, 40 years ago. Mr.

A. M'Donald, Durris.
Pitfour House, 3 or 4 nests, when last seen over 10 years ago.

Rev. Wm. Serle.

TAY.

*Lawers. Mr. W. E. Frost.

Loch Ba, Black Mount, 9 to 12 nests. Mr. Chas. H. Alston.
Loch Freuchie, Amulree, number of nests not known. Mr.

W. E. Frost. 1
*Monzie, never more than one nest. Mr. \V. E. Frost.

1 [In what kind of ground, or wood, do Herons nest at Loch Freuchie ?
J. A. H.-B.]

SCOTTISH HERONRIES, PAST AND PRESENT 69

FORTH.

Information given by the Rev. William Serle and Mr. William
Evans causes the majority of the names in this area to be starred,
viz. :

*Alloa Woods. *Loch Leven.

*Binning Wood (abandoned for *Menteith, Lake of (?).

Tyninghame see below). *Old Polmaise.

*Callander. *Saltheugh.

*Dalkeith Palace. *Siccar Point.

* Dollar. *Yester.

*Dunglass Dean. Tyninghame, about 20 pairs

*Gartmorn Dam. nesting.

*Loch Chon.

On Mr. Evans's ("Annals," 1909, p. 116) authority there are
only four nesting-places now in this large central area, viz.: Blair
Drummond, Donibristle, Tulliallan (Brucefield), and Tyninghame, a
deplorable state of affairs.

TWEED.

*Calroust. *Marchmont, Polwarth.

*Circle Plantation. * March Wood.

*Clarabad Dam. *Nesbit.

*Foulden. *Paxton.

Mr. A. H. Evans corroborates most of the above as extinct.

ARGYLL AND THE INNER HEBRIDES.

Aros House, Mull (small). Mr. D. M'Donald, Tobermory.

Burgh or Gribun (ought not to be marked as extinct). Mr. D.

M'Donald, Tobermory.

*(?) Islay House (near), ("Zoologist," 1872, p. 3268). No present-
day information.

[lona, named in error as a nesting-place in the "Zoologist," 1872,
p. 3268, by a misreading of an observation in Gray's "Birds
of the West of Scotland."]

Killiechronan, Mull (small). Mr. D. M'Donald, Tobermory.
*Rum, one nest, 1869. Gray's "Birds of the West of Scotland."

SOLWAY.
*Mochrum Loch.

In an undated " Description of the Sheriffdom of Wigtoun by
Sir Andrew Agnew of Lachnaw and David Dumbar of Baldoon "
printed in Macfarlane's " Geographical Collections Relating to Scot-
land," Vol. III. p. 129, 1908 (Scottish History Society), it is stated

70 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

that " in the Loch of Mochrorne, there are bred a number of herons
and wild Geese with other Fowls." This is the only reference to
herons nesting in the three volumes of these "Geographical Collec-
tions," the contents of which cover a period of about 200 years
beginning about the middle of the sixteenth century, and in which
there are many curious natural history items. Judging by these
records, in earlier days mermaids were of more frequent occurrence
in Scotland than heronries. But perhaps it is more correct to con-
sider the mermaids as supernatural.

THE AMERICAN BITTERN IN SCOTLAND.
By HUGH S. GLADSTONE, M.A., F.Z.S., F.R.S.E.

MR. J. A. HARVIE-BROWN recently drew my attention to a
record of the American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus] in
Ayrshire in I 848. In looking through a large quarto scrap-
book entitled Miscellanea Zoologica, formerly belonging to
the late Sir William Jardine, and now in his possession,
Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brown came across a cutting from the
Dumfries Herald of 24th February 1848, quoting the
Ayr Observer as to the recent occurrence of this rare bird in
that county.

Reference to the newspaper files at the British Museum
resulted in my finding the following in the issue of Tuesday,
2 ist February (sic] 1848. (The real date should have been
Tuesday, 22nd February, 1848.)

THE AMERICAN BITTERN. " A very beautiful specimen
of that rare bird the American Bittern has been brought to
our office by Thomas Logan, gamekeeper to the Marquis of
Ailsa. The bird, which is stuffed, and in fine preservation,
was lately shot by the gamekeeper at Loch Martnaham.
When killed, the stomach of the Bittern contained no less
than NINE LARGE PERCH! certainly a very good meal.

" This kind of bird is very rare in Scotland ; the only
specimen known is one which was killed, in 1 844 on the
Moor near the residence of Sir William Jardine, in Dumfries-
shire, and is preserved in his collection. This species, we
find, is well known to American naturalists, and is found at

THE AMERICAN BITTERN IN SCOTLAND 7:

different seasons of the year from Hudson's Bay to Carolina.
It has various names in different States ; such as Indian
Pullet, Indian Hen, and Dunkadoo ; a word, says Wilson,
probably imitative of its common note. In the markets of
New Orleans, Audubon tells us, it is bought in autumn by
the poorer classes to make gombo soup.

"In its habits and in its voice, it bears considerable re-
semblance to our common Bittern. It makes its nest in
swamps, laying four cinereous green eggs, according to
Hutchins, among the long grass. The young are said to be
at first black. Audubon says the egg of this bird measures
two inches in length, by one inch and a half, and is of a
broadly oval shape, rather pointed at the end, and of a
uniform dull olivaceous tint. Wilson says also of the
American Bittern, that when fat it is considered by many
to be excellent eating. A gentleman who saw the bird at
our office, and who once shot one of the same species in
Ireland, confirms this statement of the eminent ornithologist.
The stomach is usually filled with fish and frogs. Dr.
Richardson says, ' it is a common bird in the marshes and
willow thickets of the far countries up to the 58th parallel.
Its loud booming exactly resembling that of the Common
Bittern of Europe may be heard every summer evening,
and also during the day. When disturbed, it utters a hollow,
croaking cry.'

" Comparing the specimen shot by the Marquis of Ailsa's
gamekeeper with the description given of the American Bit-
tern, in Yarrell's ' History of British Birds,' there is a perfect
identity of appearance. The whole length of the bird is
about twenty-seven inches ; and from the carpal joint to the
end of the wing, eleven inches and a half. The beak is
brownish yellow ; from the forehead, before, over and behind
the eye, a stretch of light yellow-brown ; wing-coverts, rich
brown ; upper tail-coverts, buff, freckled with two shades of
brown ; tail-feathers, almost uniform reddish brown ; chin
and front of the neck, a mixture of white, buff, and dark
brown in streaks ; ear-coverts and a line descending there-
from, yellow-brown ; between this and the throat in front,
an elongated descending streak of black ; breast and belly
buff each feather with an elongated brown central

ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

patch. The legs and toes are of a greenish brown
colour.

" Altogether, it is a fine-looking bird, and decidedly
nobler in appearance than the native breeds which haunt
our fens and water-meadows. It has been, we understand,
forwarded to Culzean Castle."

The Earl of Cassillis writes me from Culzean Castle
(in litt. 19, xii. 1909) : "There are three Bitterns here, . . .
one shot in 1871 or 1872 ; another later; and the third
shot in Albania by my father. . . . There is nothing here
of the American Bittern you wrote me about, as shot in
1848."

This occurrence is not mentioned by Robert Gray in his
" Birds of Ayrshire and Wigtownshire," 1 869, nor in his "Birds
of the West of Scotland," 1871. Howard Saunders does not
refer to it in his " Manual of British Birds," 1899 5 nor does
Mr. J. E. Harting in his " Handbook of British Birds," 1901.
It is possible, however, that this record may not have
been unknown to these authorities ; but may have been
purposely disregarded by them for some good reason of
which I am not aware.

There can be no doubt that the American Bitterns which
have visited Scotland have been aided in their passage
across the Atlantic by vessels of some sort plying between
America and Great Britain ; and the following list has been
compiled of all recorded occurrences of this species in
Scotland :

I

1844

Mid October

Dinwiddie,

Killed on the Dinwiddie

Dumfriesshire

Moors near Jardine Hall.

The specimen was in Sir

William Jardine's collec-

tion, but I have been

unable to trace its sub-

sequent fate. It was

certainly not included in

the collection of British

Birds sold to the Edin-

burgh Museum in 1876 ;

and I could not trace it

in Messrs. Puttick and

Simpson's sale catalogue

of Sir William's birds

on the 1 7th June, 1886.

THE AMERICAN BITTERN IN SCOTLAND

73

2

1847-8

Winter

Loch Martnaham,

Shot by a gamekeeper.

Ayrshire

Cannot now be traced.

3

1854

November

Balgownie Links,

Shot by Colonel William

Aberdeenshire

Fraser. Now in the

University Museum,

Aberdeen.

4

1862

Autumn

Latheron-wheel,

Shot by Mr. F. S. Bentley

Caithness

Innes. I have not been

able to trace this speci-

men. It certainly never

was ' ' In Mus. Roy.

Phys. Soc., Edinburgh ? "

(Harting, Handbook

Brit. Birds, 1901, p.

448). This Society has

not a museum, and never

has had one.

5

1873

25th March (a

Drumlanrig,

Shot by a Gamekeeper.

remarkable

Dumfriesshire

Stuffed by William Hope ;

date for the

Edinburgh. Now in the

occurrence of

collection of Mr. J. H.

this species in

Gurney of Keswick Hall,

Great Britain)

Norwich ; where I saw it

in 1908.

6

1875

End of October

Islay, Argyllshire

Shot by a visitor to the

Island. Stuffed by Mac-

Culloch of Glasgow, "but

has been quite lost sight

of since " ("Vert. Fauna

of Argyll," etc., 1892, p.

119).

7

1888

About

Lochnabo, Pit-

A male, shot by an under-

December

gavenny, Elgin

keeper. Identified by

Capt. Dunbar - Brander,

who writes : " The

head - keeper at Innes

(Dempster) got the bird

stuffed. When he left

it was sold at his sale,

and bought by the

r

Westerton keeper. The

V

latter went to Ross-shire,

and took the bird with

him, and I tried to get

it afterwards but failed."

(''Vert. Fauna of Moray

Basin," 1895, v l- " PP-

99-100).

74 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

The specimen recorded as having been shot about
1 86 1, in the Pentland Hills, Midlothian, which passed into
the collection of Mr. Charles Cowan of Logan House
("Field," 4th March 1871), is stated by Mr. William Evans
to be a Common Bittern (Botaurus stellaris] (Howard
Saunders, "Man. Brit. Birds," 1889, p. 734).

Mr. Roderick Gillies, landlord of the Imperial Hotel,
Oban, has in his possession a stuffed American Bittern
which he bought from his predecessor, Mr. W. MacKenzie.
This bird is said to have been caught about ten years ago
at sea, aboard one of the North Atlantic liners, and cannot,
therefore, be included in the list of the occurrences of this
species in Scotland.

For the compilation of the above facts, I have to thank
not only Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brovvn, but also Mr. T. N.
Johnston, Mr. A. Landsborough Thomson, the Earl of
Cassillis, and Mr. Roderick Gillies.

THE SUPPOSED EGGS OF THE WOOD-SAND-
PIPER (TOTANUS GLAREOLA] TAKEN IN
ELGINSHIRE IN 1853.

By WILLIAM EVANS, F.R.S.E.

WITH reference to my note in this magazine for 1899
(p. 14), calling attention to Thurnall's record of finding a
nest of the Wood-Sandpiper ( Totanus glareola) in Elginshire,
on 23rd May 1853, I think it right to make known the
following communications which I subsequently received
from the late Professor Alfred Newton on the subject.

On 6th July 1901, Professor Newton wrote me from
Magdalene College, Cambridge, as follows : " I have had
occasion to look over some bundles of old letters, written to
me by my late brother Edward while he was at this college,
and among them I have found the enclosures I herewith
send, which may have some interest for you in regard to
the letters which passed between us some two years ago,
concerning the supposed eggs of the Wood-Sandpiper alleged

THE SUPPOSED EGGS OF THE WOOD-SANDPIPER 75

to have been found in Scotland by the late Mr. Charles
Thurnall.

" I will only add that few, if any, men had a better eye
for a bird's egg than my brother, and that he was at the
time perfectly familiar with eggs of the Wood-Sandpiper,
for some dozens, not to say scores, of specimens obtained
in Holland had passed through our hands, or been under
our inspection, between 1848 and 1853 the year in which
he wrote these letters."

Extracts from the enclosures referred to.

1. From letter dated 7th Nov. 1853 "Thurnall only
told me about finding the nests of the two Dotterels and
the Wood-Sandpiper ; the former were done by watching the
old birds on, and the latter he happened to find when he was
walking with some ladies on a Sunday. He saw the bird get
up, and he was quite certain that it was not the Common
Sandpiper ; he did not like to leave the eggs as there was a
boy near ; it was in a birch wood, by the side of a stream,
and the nest was under a dead bough."

2. From letter dated 23rd Nov. 1853 "I had a most
successful day yesterday, not that I got much out of
Thurnall, but he was very jolly and good natured. He had
given all his Grasshopper Warbler eggs away except one,
which I did not like to ask for ; he gave me four Goldfinch's.
He has three Dotterel's and two Wood-Sandpiper's : the
former are very nice eggs, the latter I do not like at all,
and between you, me, and the post are only hypoleucos,
their only likeness to glareola is in the shape and disposition
of the blotches, but in colour and size they are hypoleucos,
and I have very little doubt that they are only the latter ;
he says himself that he is not certain that the bird had a
white rump, but what struck him was that the bird was
spotted like glareola"

In a further letter to me dated iQth July 1901, Professor
Newton added " It is only a question of opinion against
opinion ; but I have not a doubt that my brother's was right,
and that the bird seen by Thurnall was only T. Jiypoleucus.
If it had been, as he imagined, T. glareola he would hardly

76 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

have failed to notice the white rump which is so very
conspicuous a character, though he was evidently not aware
of it."

These interesting letters certainly shake one's confidence
in the authenticity of the eggs in question, Bond's belief in
them notwithstanding.

I should say that I had Professor Newton's sanction to
publish these extracts from his brother's letters, but delayed
doing so in the hope that he might have been induced to
send them to the " Annals " himself.

THE AQUATIC COLEOPTERA OF THE
MID-EBUDES.

By FRANK BALFOUR-BROWNE, M.A. (Oxon.), F.R.S.E., F.Z.S.

IN the county and vice-county divisions of Great Britain
adopted by the late H. C. Watson in his " Cybele Britannica,"
the western islands of Scotland are arranged into groups of
which Mull, Coll, and Tiree and the Treshnish Islands
constitute the Mid-Ebudes.

So far almost no collecting seems to have been done in
the division, and all the records which I have been able to
obtain which only refer to 14 species are for the island
of Mull. It is this scarcity of records which has led me to
write this paper, which is only a preliminary one, since it is
founded upon four days' collecting in the island of Coll and
two days in Mull in the Tobermory district last August.

I understand that Tiree differs considerably from Coll
as to its soil, and that, whereas Coll is largely shallow peat,
there is little or no peat in Tiree which is largely covered
with sand, and this difference alone will almost certainly
mean a difference in the water-beetle fauna.

Coll is a low treeless island lying about 7 miles west of
Mull. It is about 1 3 miles long and 5 miles wide at its
broadest part. It consists of innumerable hummocks of
gneissic rock largely devoid of vegetation, and the highest
point on the island is only 339 feet above sea-level. The
island lies in a N.E. and S.W. direction, and Tiree, which

THE AQUATIC COLEOPTERA OF THE MID-EBUDES 77

has apparently at some time been joined to it, as the channel
between the two is narrow and shallow, continues the line
to the south-west.

Along the side exposed to the N.W. are several patches
of sand-dunes. The hollows between the hummocks of rock
are apparently filled with boulder clay, and in parts, especially
towards the south-western end where the ground has been
drained, there is excellent grazing land, s but the greater part
of the island is covered with shallow* peat in which are
innumerable small pools where Sphagnum and Eriophorum
are the dominant plants.

On the island, therefore, the " peat-moss " or " oxylophil "
fauna is dominant, but some species of this group are
absent owing to the absence of high ground. Other species
of the group are absent or very rare owing to the majority
of the peat pools being very shallow. For instance, Ilybius
cenescens, Thorns., was only found in a few deep holes near
the road to the south end of Arinagour, holes which had
been dug to provide ballast for the road. Dytiscus punctulatus,
F., only occurred in one or two deep holes, as did also
Agabus chalconotus, Panz. The shallowness of the peat
accounts for the absence of deep holes at the peat-cuttings,
so that even the dominant group of the water-beetle fauna
is not fully represented.

One or two ditches and pools in the sandy regions

produced members of the typical freshwater-marsh fauna,

such as Hydroporus unibrosus, Gyll. ; palustris, L. ; Colymbetes

fuscus, L., etc., while one or two small streams on the same

ground produced Hydroporns discretns, Fairm., 1 and Agabus

1 I have several times been asked as to the characters by which I separate
H. discretus, Fairm., from H. nigrita, F., on the one hand, and H. pubescens, Gyll.,
on the other. From H. nigrita it is at once separated by the sculpture of the
elytra. In H. nigrita these are punctured, but the whole surface is dull owing
to its being covered with fine reticulations. (It is described by Fowler and others
as being finely coriaceous. ) From the punctures arise fine short hairs, but these
are so inconspicuous that the insect appears to be glabrous. In H. discretus, the
elytra are punctured, the punctures being set perhaps a little closer together than
in H. nigrita, but the general surface is smooth and shining. From the punctures,
however, long hairs arise so that the insect is evidently pubescent.

The form of H. discretus, which somewhat resembles that of H. nigrita, is at
least sufficient to make one look closely at a specimen before naming it H. pubesceiis,
but there are better characters for distinguishing it from this latter species. In
the first place in H. pubescens the prothorax is smooth between the punctures
except towards the anterior border where it is marked with very fine reticulations ;

78 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

paludosus, F. These latter species occurred in slowly flowing
ditches thick with myosotis or nasturtium, etc. ; but the
typical running-water fauna, e.g. Hydroporus rivalis, Gyll, and
septentrionalis, Gyll. ; Agabus guttatus, Payk., etc., common
enough in Mull, did not occur at all, perhaps owing to the
smallness of the streams. Deronectes I 2-pustulatus, Ol., was
fairly common in one small stream near the south end of the
island, but D. depressus, F., is apparently absent. This latter
species is perhaps to be regarded as a lake species as well as
a river species, in fact the lake and river faunas are not
readily separable, such species as Hydroporus septentrionalis,
Gyll., and Platambus maculatus, L., being equally common in
rivers and gravelly lochs.

With regard to this latter species, its absence from Coll
is perhaps not altogether attributable to the poverty of the
lake and river faunas. Its distribution as at present known
is somewhat peculiar. It does not occur in Ireland ; on
the west of Scotland it has so far not occurred north of
Dumbarton and Renfrew, while on the east it has been taken
in Forfar, Aberdeen S., and Easterness. It has been recorded
from most of the counties of England and Wales, and is
perhaps to be regarded as an eastern species which is
gradually extending its range. Its absence from Ireland
suggests that it is one of what Dr. Scharff 1 calls the
" Siberian " group, and the absence of records from the Isle
of Man, Arran, Mull, and Coll suggests that it had riot
reached the western shores of England and Scotland at the
time these islands were separated from the mainland. It
must be admitted, however, that the lists of records for the
Isle of Man, Arran, and Mull are at present very incomplete !

With regard to lake species, in spite of the number of
small lochs, these seemed to be very scarce, Haliplusfulvus, F.
and Deronectes assimilis, Payk., being the only representatives
I found. Loch Cliad, where there was plenty of what

in H. discretus this marking extends much farther over the prothorax, sometimes
to the posterior border. In H. fubescens, again, the sternite of the last visible
abdominal segment is smooth and shining between the punctures, while in
H. discretus it is reticulately marked.

I may also add that in H. p/anns, F. , the last abdominal sternite is marked
as in H. discretus, so that is a good character for separating small specimens of
H. planus from H. pubescens \

1 'The History of the European Fauna,' " Contemp. Sci. Series," 1899.

THE AQUATIC COLEOPTERA OF THE MID-EBUDES 79

seemed to be suitable ground, failed to produce either
Coslanibus g-lineatus, Steph., or Deronectes depressus, F.

The halophil fauna is apparently absent from Coll. In
the brackish pools in the sea-turf at Aringour, Hydroporus
lituratus, F., and planus, F. ; Anaccena globulus, Payk. ;
Helopliorus aquaticus, L., and viridicollis^ Steph., were the only
species present, and these are all tolerant of salt but not
dependent upon it. I have felt inclined on several occasions
to treat H. planus as a halophil, since in the Sol way district
and several other places it is very abundant in the brackish
pools in company with such typical halophils as Agabus
eonspersus, Marsh ; HelopJiorus dorsalis, Marsh ( == mulsanti,
Rye) and Octhebius marimts, Payk., but the species occurs
equally commonly in brick-clay holes, e.g. in the Clyde area,
often as the dominant species, from which it appears that
the fine mud of the brackish pools rather than the salt is
what attracts it to these.

The species confined to the east coast of England and
Scotland are, as is to be expected, absent from the Mid-
Ebudes, but both the northern and southern groups are
represented there. With regard to the northern group
Deronectes griseo-striatus, De G., was taken by Dr. Power in
Mull, and Dytiscus lapponicus, Gyll. ; Agabus arcticus, Payk.
and congener, Payk., Hydroporus morio, Dej., etc., all occur on
Mull, but, being mountain species, they are not found in Coll.
Ilybius (znescens, Thorns., and Hydroporus nielanarius, Sturm.,
which are probably northern in origin, both occurred very
sparingly on Coll. The southern group is represented by
two interesting species : Paracymus nigroczneus, Sahib., I
found several times on Coll and Mull, and it also occurred
in Argyll Main near Oban. Its distribution in England is
southern and western, and in Ireland also it only occurs in
the south and west. It is a peat-moss species occurring
among Sphagnum in the peat holes. In Mull it occurred
up to about 300 feet above sea-level, but in the west of
Ireland I found it at rather higher altitudes although it could
not be called a mountain species. So far, I have failed to
find it in the Solway district, which is peculiar, especially as
so many other southern species occur there. 1

1 'Coleoptera of the Solway district,' "Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist." 1909.

So ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

The other southern representative in the Mid-Ebudes is
Octliebius lejolisii, Rey and Muls. I found it on Coll in the
usual situation, small rock pools, but I did not look for it in Mull.
I also found it in Argyll Main, near Oban, but in both
places it was very much scarcer than in the Solway district
or in Ireland, in fact, except for a few larvae, I only found
about five or six specimens altogether. This scarcity
suggests that the Mid-Ebudes district is about the northern
limit of its range. The known range of the species is from
the Isle of Wight, where Donisthorpe has recently taken
it, to Coll. In Ireland I have taken it at various places
between Dublin and Mayo W. round the East, North and
West coasts, and it probably occurs all round the island.
There is at present no record of the species for the east of
England or Scotland, but very few collectors have, I believe,
so far found the species at all, so that it may yet occur
along the North Sea border.

I took 47 species on Coll and 36 on Mull, the total
number of species being 56. Out of the additional 9
species found in the latter island, 8 belong either to the
mountain group or to the running-water group. I have
considered Agabus congener, Payk., as a mountain species,
although it often occurs at low altitudes, e.g. almost at sea-
level in the Solway district, but in such cases it is usually
in a mountainous district. There are, however, two
specimens in the Chitty Collection at Oxford, one labelled
" Sunningdale " (Berks), and the other " Belvedere " (Kent
W.), and until quite recently I have regarded these two
specimens as having been wrongly labelled. Dr. Sharp
has now discovered the species, actually in company with
Agabus brunneus, F., which is a southern species, in the New
Forest (Hants S.), so that the Berks and Kent W. records
are probably correct. Except for these three records the
species has apparently not occurred in England south of
Yorks Mid W., although there are one or two records,
e.g. Norfolk and Suffolk (Stephens), which have been
supposed to be erroneous.

Although I visited the crater tarn above Tobermory
I failed to find either imago or larva of Dytiscus lapponicus,
Gyll., but this may have been due to the fact that a very

THE AQUATIC COLEOPTERA OF THE MID-EBUDES 81

strong wind was blowing which made it impossible to see
the bottom. There seemed to be very little life of any kind
in the loch, and even newts were scarce.

During my two days at Tobermory I confined my
attention entirely to peat moss pools, except for collections
made in the Tobermory river and in one or two small streams.
The mountain fauna was found at from 700-800 ft. except-
ing A. congener which was found also at lower levels and no
doubt this fauna covers all the high ground on the island. I
have already referred to the occurrence of P. nigroceneiis, and
otherwise I think the list of species calls for no comment.

With regard to the previous records for Mull, I failed
to find four of the fourteen species. I have already referred
to D. griseo-striatus, and to D. lapponicus, which, although
first found in Mull before 1867, has been taken com-
paratively recently (Professor T. Hudson Beare, 1903), and
no doubt still occurs in its cold and lonely habitat. Hydrcena
nigrita, Germ., was taken on the island by Professor Hudson
Beare in 1903, and this constitutes, I believe, the most
northern of the west of Scotland records for that species.

Andrew Murray x mentions, on the authority of Messrs.
Hislop and Syme, Hydroporus halensis, F., as having been
taken in Mull. Previous to 1863, this species had not
been separated, at least by British Coleopterists, from
Deronectes griseo-striatus, De G., 2 so that this record perhaps
refers to the latter species, especially as Mull is far beyond
the normal distribution in Britain of H. halensis. There is,
however, the record for Raehills, Dumfries (Rev. W. Little),
also given by Andrew Murray, and the record " Near Carlisle,"
given by Stephens. 3 Unless the latter records are wrong
and refer really to some other species, they are more likely
to refer to H. halensis than to D. griseo-striatus. H. halensis
has been taken in the Manchester district (a " local " specimen
is in the Reston Collection, Manchester Museum), whereas

1 "Cat. of the Coleoptera of Scotland." 1853,13. 18.

- "Ent. Annual," 1863, p. 70.

3 " Man. of Brit. Beetles," 1839, p. 66. Mr. F. H. Day informs me that the
Cumberland record given in the Victoria County History as "Carlisle, T. C.
Heysham," and to which I referred in the " Coleoptera of the Solway District,"
I.e. p. 85, is really Stephens' reference, and not a record of T. C. Heysham,
whose name was inserted by mistake.

74 C

82

ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

I can find no authentic l modern record of D. griseo-striatus
south of Mull and Easterness.

Although it is more probable that the Mull record refers
to the latter species since that species does occur there
I am not inclined to dismiss the possibility of the record
referring to H. halensis. I have recently been inquiring into
the question of " improbable " or " ectopic " records, and am
now inclined to see some significance in them, although they
are usually apt to be regarded as due to wrong identification.

It is obvious that species are always striving to extend
their range, and I have elsewhere endeavoured to show that
the water-beetles do tend to spread during the summer and
are again driven back to their old haunts in the winter. 2 It
is to be expected that ectopic records will occur, and there
are quite a number of such records for the water-beetles.

In such a group as the halophil or maritime species for
instance there are a number of species for which there are
inland records which may be regarded as " ectopic " :

Species.

Number of
Counties
and Vice-
Counties
for which
there are
Records.

Number of
Maritime
Records.

Inland, County, or Vice-County
Records.

Cnemidotus impressus, F.

Ccalambus parallelogram-inns,
Ahr.
Agabus conspersus, Marsh. .

16

21

21

I I

16

21

Surrey, Middlesex, Herts,
Hunts, Leicester.
Surrey, Herts, Bucks,
Leicester, Derby.

Dytiscus circumflexus, F.

Hydrobius oblongus, Herbst.
Philhydrus maritimiis, Thorns.

13

14

2T,

10

12
2 T.

Surrey, Middlesex, Leices-
ter.
Hunts, Leicester.

Helophorus intermedius, Muls.

12

12

,, dor salts. Marsh.
( = miilsanti, Rye)
Octhebius marinus, Payk. .

19

28

15
28

Surrey, Oxford, Stafford,
Derby.

,, punclatus, Steph. .

18

I?

Salop.

1 Stephens ("Illustr. Mand." V. p. 391, and "Manual," p. 66) records
H. griseo-striatus, De G. , from the north of England (" Carlisle," in Manual), but
'Gemminger and Harold treat this as referring to H. halensis, F. They consider
Stephens's H. areolatus to refer to Deronectes assimilis, Payk, although in the
" Illustrations " Stephens gives it as areolatus of Ditftschmidt which is a synonym
for H. halensis, F. , and in the Manual Stephens gives both names for one species !

2 ' A Study of the Aquatic Coleoptera and their surroundings in the Norfolk
Broads District.' "Trans. Norfolk and Norwich Nat. Soc." viii. 1905 (Paper I.),
1906 (Paper II.).

THE AQUATIC COLEOPTERA OF THE MID-EBUDES 83

In the above list, with the possible exception of Cn.
impressus and D. circumflexus, the species are true halophils,
being found chiefly in brackish pools, and although some of
the records may be erroneous, it is, at least, improbable that
all the inland records in the list can be accounted for on
that ground. Within the maritime counties, also, there are
inland records for many of the species, and they are, I think,
all to be accounted for by the natural tendency of species
to extend their range. That there are limits to their powers
of adaptation is evidenced by the fact that most of the inland
records are for single individuals, and that there is seldom
more than one record for a county or vice-county.

There are also a number of other " ectopic " records
such as, Coelanibus versicolor, Schall, in Ireland and Scotland ;

C. parallelogrammus, Ahr., and Hydroporus flavipes, Ol. 1 in Co.
Down ; Hydroporus dorsalis, F., and Copelatus agilis, F., in
Dumfries, and so on, and at least some of these probably
indicate migratory movements of the species which, from
the fact that there are no later records, have failed.

The following list includes all the species so far recorded
for the Mid-Ebudes :-

Haliplus confinis, Steph, Coll, several in a slow-flowing weedy burn

at the south end.

H. fulvus, F. Coll and Mull, on several occasions.
H. ruficollis, De G. Coll, not common.

H. lineatocollis, Marsh. Coll and Mull, rather more frequent than

the last.

Ccelambus incequalis, F. Coll, about as common as H. lineatocollis.
Deronectes assimilis, Payk. Coll, in some of the small lochs.

D. depressus, F. Mull, Tobermory river.

D. 1 2-pustulatus, OL Coll, one stream only ; Mull, Tobermory

river.
D. griseo-striatus, De G. Mull, in the Power Collection, British

Museum.

Hydroporus lepidus, Ol. Coll, not common.
H. rivalis, Gyll. Mull, Tobermory river.
H. septentrionalis, Gyll. Mull, Tobermory river.
(H. halensis, F. Mull (Andrew Murray, Cat. 1853))?

1 The specimen is in the Haliday Collection, Dublin Museum.

84 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

H. tristis, Payk. Coll and Mull, fairly common.

H. umbrosus, Gyll. Coll, one or two ponds only, but common
there.

H. gyllenhalii, SchiiJd. Coll and Mull, common.

H. morio, Dej. Mull (800 feet), common.

H. palustris, L. Coll (scarce) ; Mull, Tobermory river.

H. erythrocephalus, L. Coll and Mull, scarce.

H. melanarius, Sturm. Coll, one only ; Mull, several on peat
mosses.

H. memnonius, Nic. Coll, not on peat.

H. obscurus, Sturm. Coll and Mull, common.

H. nigrita, F. Coll and Mull, not common.

H. discretus, Fairm. Coll, very local, but common where it occurred ;
Mull, several in small trickling stream.

H. pubescens, Gyll. Coll and Mull, the commonest species; it
occurred in 60 per cent of the collections on Coll !

H. planus, F. Coll, a few in one or two brackish pools.
H. lituratus, F. Coll, not common.
Agabus guttatus, Payk. Mull.

A. paludosus, F. Coll and Mull, in weedy slow-flowing streams,
common in such situations.

A. congener, Payk. Mull, common at high and fairly low altitudes
on the peat.

A. arcticus, Payk. Mull (700-800 feet), common.

A. sturmii, Gyll. Coll, scarce ; Mull, two or three with A. arcticus,
congener, etc., at 825 feet.

A. chalconotus, Panz. Coll, scarce ; Mull, only in one collection.
A. bipustulatus, L. Coll and Mull, common.

Ilybius fuliginosus, F. Coll, scarce ; Mull, a few, Tobermory river,
etc. ,

I. oenescens, Thorns. Coll, scarce ; Mull, once only, with A. sturmii,
arcticus, congener, etc., at 825 feet.

Rhantus bistriatus, Berg. Coll and Mull, fairly common.

Colymbetes fuscus, L. Coll, only in one or two ponds.

Dytiscus punctulatus, F. Coll, not common.

D. marginalis, L. Mull, one in a peat hole.

D. lapponicus, Gyll. Mull, taken by various collectors.

Acilius sulcatus, L. Coll, in one deep peaty hole, several specimens.

THE AQUATIC COLEOPTERA OF THE MID-EBUDES 85

Gyrinus minutus, F. Coll, common on some of the small lochs ;
Mull, Tobermory district (Prof. T. H. Beare).

G. natator, Scop. Coll and Mull, fairly common.

G. marinus, Gyll. Mull, Tobermory district (Prof. T. H. Beare).

G. opacus, Sahib. Coll, once or twice only ; Mull, Tobermory
district (Prof. T. H. Beare).

Hydrobius fuscipes, var. picicrus, Thorns. Coll and Mull, I did not
find any specimens of the " fuscipes " form.

Philhydrus melanocephalus, Ol. Coll and Mull, common in the
peat pools.

P. minutus, F. Coll and Mull, in the peat holes, common where it
occurred, but extremely local.

Paracymus nigroaeneus, Sahib. Coll and Mull, sphagnum pools,
several specimens on both islands.

Anacaena globulus, Payk. Coll and Mull, next to H. pubescens,
the commonest species.

Laccobius alutaceus, Thorns. Coll, very few specimens.
L. minutus, L. Coll, very few specimens.
Limnebius truncatellus, Thorns. Coll and Mull, not common.
Helophorus aquaticus, L. Coll, a few.

H. viridicollis, Stcph. ( = oeneipennis, Thorns']. Coll and Mull, fairly

common in the peat holes.
H. brevipalpis, Bedel. Coll, not common.

Octhebius lejolisii, Rey and Muls. Coll, apparently very scarce.
Hydraena nigrita, Germ. Mull, Salen district (Prof. T. H. Beare).

The above list of 59 species is certainly incomplete, and,
apart from a number of common species which should be
found in the district, it is probable that there are other
southern species still to be discovered. For instance, the
present -known distribution of Helochares punctatus, Sharp,
is entirely western in Ireland and south-western in Scotland,
except for two records, one for a single specimen taken in
Midlothian by Mr. W. Evans, the other for a number of
specimens taken on Moncrieff Hill, Perth (Perth Mid) by
Dr. Sharp (Coleoptera of Scotland, 1871-8). It should
surely occur among the western isles, as it is a peat-moss
species, and in Ireland, at least, has much the same
distribution as P. nigroceneus.

In some other groups the range of some of the southern

86 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

species extends up the west of Scotland as far as the Outer
Hebrides, and there is no apparent reason why that of some
of the southern Water-beetles should not also do so. At
any rate there is still a great deal to be learnt as to the
distribution of the Water-beetles in Great Britain and Ireland.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

1. 'A Catalogue of the Coleoptera of Scotland,' A. Murray, Edinburgh, 1853.

2. ' Re-occurrence of D. lapponicus in Mull,' J. E. Somerville in " EMM.," iv.

230, 1867.

3. ' D. lapponicus in the Island of Mull,' J. J. F. X. King in "EMM.," xxxii.

(ser. 2. viii.), 1897.

4. MS. List of Records of Water-beetles for Salen and Tobermory Districts,

Professor T. H. Beare, 1903.

SOME FURTHER NOTES ON NOCTURNAL
HYMENOPTERA.

By P. CAMERON.

IN the October Number of the " Annals of Scottish Natural
History" I gave some instances of nocturnal Hymenoptera,
an essentially sun- and light-loving order of Insects. A few
further examples of this habit may not be without interest,
especially as they appear to follow the rule I gave, namely,
that the night-haunting species were uniformly fulvous or
brownish in colour, and that their compound eyes and ocelli
were larger and more prominent than they are with diurnal
species. In "Nature," 1886, p. 392, the Marquis G. Doria
relates that the Italian traveller and natural history collector,
Mr. Leonardo Fea, found in Burma an uniformly fulvous
coloured Bombus collecting pollen or honey at night, during
bright moonlight. This, however, is a habit found with
Bojnbi in this country, especially during warm, bright summer
nights. It may be that the species observed by Mr. Fea
was not a Bombus, but Xylocopa rufescens, Sm., which is
found in Burma and which is, I have reason to believe,
more or less crepuscular in its mode of life. I have found
recorded two examples of nocturnal habits among the
Vespidce, or social wasps. Vespa doryloides, Sauss., is a
very different form from the normal species of the genus

SOME FURTHER NOTES ON NOCTURNAL HYMENOPTERA 87

Vespa ; and, as its name implies, it has a great resemblance to
the winged forms of the ant genus Dorylus. In the "Journal
of the Linnean Society," 1859, p. 297, Dr. A. R. Wallace
describes it as " a curious species of weak structure and
nocturnal habits, since I only took it when attracted to the
lamp at night." According to Du Buysson this species lives
in old, thickly planted forests, and appears to be greatly incon-
venienced by sunlight, and is only active at night. 1 From
its form and colouration Vespa barthelemyi, Duy., has
probably identical habits. The South American social
wasp, Apoica, flies during the night collecting honey, and
resting in its nest during the day, as observed by Fritz
Miiller and Mr. Adolf Ducke. In its body form it is more
elongated than usual and has very prominent ocelli. A
comparison of Apoica virginea, F., Vespa dorylloides, and the
ant Dorylus shows great resemblance in body form, pilosity,
and colouration, showing, as I believe, that their general
resemblance has been produced by the habit, common to
them all, of being active at night, and not, like their
congeners, during the day. Among the Mutillidte the
genus Photopsis is certainly crepuscular. This genus is
well represented in the south and south-west of the United
States and in Mexico, the males flying about at night. All
the species are very hairy, brownish in colour and have
prominent ocelli.

SCOTTISH PHORID^, WITH TABLES OF ALL
THE BRITISH SPECIES, AND NOTES OF
LOCALITIES

By J. R. MALLOCH.
( Continued from p. 21.)

PHORA, Latr.

Generic description : Antennae sometimes enlarged, arista dorsal ;
frontal bristles as in Spiniphora ; mid tibiae with two bristles at near
the base, and a very small subapical bristle on the outer side ; hind
tibise with an outer hind marginal row of small bristles in addition

i

Ann. cle la Soc. Ent. de France," 1904, p. 617.

88 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

to the larger bristles which may be present ; costa to about the middle
of wing ; second vein present ; first thin vein nearly straight at base ;
anal protuberance long and finger-like. Type : concinna, Mg.

Table of Species.

1. (4.) Hind tibiae with very short bristles.

2. (3.) Antennas normal ; hind tibiae with four small bristles on the

front, or under side. Smaller species. concinna, Mg.

3. (2.) Antennae in 6* enlarged, in ? normal; hind tibiae with

three or four bristles on the outer side besides the four
underneath. Larger and darker species.

crassicornis, Mg.

4. (i.) Hind tibiae with the usual strong bristles.

5. (6.) Thin veins end at margin of wing; halteres black; hind

tibiae with two bristles. abdominalis, Flu.

6. (5.) Thin veins abbreviated ; halteres pale ; hind tibiae with three

bristles. abbreviate v. Ros.

concinna, Mg., and crassicornis, Mg., seem to be universally
common.

abdominalis, Fin., not uncommon about carrion at

Bonhill. Occasionally met with by sweeping. Inch

Connachin, Loch Lomond, 4th September 1909. The

9 has a red abdomen, but the 6* has the whole body

black.

abbreviata, v. Ros. has only been recorded from England
so far.

TRUPHEONEURA, Mall.

Generic description: Antennae sometimes enlarged, arista dorsal ;
frontal bristles in two horizontal rows of four each ; post-antennal
bristles reclinate ; palpi and proboscis sometimes much enlarged ;
costa to about middle of wing ; second vein present ; first thin
vein bent at base ; fourth thin vein sometimes abruptly broken off
short of the margin of the wing, never distinctly reaching it like the
others ; tibial armature weak, sometimes the hind tibiae are without
the bristles ; genital armature generally very prominent, chitinous,
and furnished with lamellae. Type, perennis, Mg.

Table of Species.

1. (2.) (3.) Palpi very large, at least in 6* , curving round in front

of head. palposa, Zett.

2. (3.) (i.) Palpi, narrow, straight and cylindrical, trinervis, Beck.

3. (i.) (2.) Palpi broad and leaf like (normal).

4. (9.) (12.) Scutellum with only two bristles.

SCOTTISH PHORID& 89

5. (8.) Legs long and slender, palpi dusky.

6. (7.) Halteres pale; first thin vein leaves at beyond the fork of

thick vein. perennis, Mg.

7. (6.) Halteres black ; first thin vein leaves at the fork (i.e. at base

of second vein). vitrea, Wood.

8. (5.) Legs of ordinary form, palpi yellow, luteifemorata, Wood.

9. (4.) (12.) Scutellum with 4 bristles of equal size.

10. (n.) Fourth thin vein indistinct, but traceable to almost, if

not quite, the margin of wing ; genitalia of $ slightly
shining and projecting, the lamellag seldom much
exposed; proboscis of $ normal. lugubris, Mg.

11. (10.) Fourth thin vein broken off abruptly at about halfway to

margin of wing ; genitalia of highly polished, much
projecting, and with the lamellae generally widely
extended ; proboscis of $ very large and projecting.

opaca, Mg.

12.^(4.) (9.) Scutellum with two strong bristles, and the two
anterior bristles much reduced in size.

13. (14.) Costa thickened on the outer third; wings darkened,

especially in the $ . intermedia, Mall.

14. (13.) Costa not thickened on outer portion; wings clear in

both sexes. sublugubris, Wood.

palposa, Zett., is apparently very rare, and is only recorded
from England, as are also trinervis, Beck, perennis, Mg.,
and luteifemorata, Wood.

vitrea, Wood, I have taken three specimens of at Bonhill.
lugubris, Mg., is not uncommon at Bonhill in June.
opaca, Mg., I take every season at Bonhill, and I have

seen it from Gorge of Avon (King).

intermedia, Mall., is a very common species at Bonhill.
I have also seen it from Cambridge (Jenkinson), and
Dr. Wood has taken it at Hereford.

sublugubris, Wood, I have about six specimens of from
Bonhill.

STENOPHORA, Mall.

Generic description : Antennae sometimes enlarged, arista dorsal ;
costa to about the middle of wing ; second vein present ; mid
tibia? with two bristles at about base, and the sub-apical bristle very
weak or absent ; hind tibiae with one outer hind marginal bristle ; the
first thin vein is bent at base, and the fourth is always complete.
Type : unispinosa, Zett.

Table of Species.

i. (2.) Mediastinal vein incomplete; second broken at its junction
with the third. pubericornis, Mall.

90 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

2. (i.) Mediastinal vein complete.

3. (4.) Halteres black or blackish ; third joint of antennae and

palpi reddish or yellow. unispinosa, Ztt.

4. (3.) Halteres whitish or yellow.

5. (6.) Small species (1-2 mm.) $ palpi very large and with a

single long terminal bristle, ? smaller and with several
terminal bristles; legs moderately stout; halteres whitish;
costa not thickened on outer third. nudipalpis, Beck.

6. (5.) Large species (3 mm. or more) palpi normal, pointed, and

with a few short marginal bristles ; legs long and slender ;
halteres yellow ; costa thickened on its outer third.

autumnalis, Beck.

pubericornis. Mall. I took a large number of this species
in the autumn of 1907 at Bonhill. They were taken
on the undersides of a species of Agaricus on fallen
timber. Mr. J. E. Collin informed me that he has it
from New Forest.

unispinosa, Ztt., a very common species everywhere.

nudipalpis^ Beck, as common as the foregoing.

autumnahs, Beck, so far only recorded from England. I
have seen it from Cambridge.

PARASTENOPHORA, nov. nom.

I placed the single species of this genus in a genus I named
Woodia in a previous paper, but since writing this I have been
informed by Mr. Grimshaw that the name is preoccupied in Mol-
lusca (Deshayes, 1860). I have thus had to alter the name to one
which I have less liking for.

Generic description : Antennae normal, arista dorsal ; frontal
bristles unusually weak and situated as in Stenophora ; costa to about
middle of wing ; second vein present, first thin vein bent at base,
four thin veins present ; mid tibiae with one bristle at base, hind
tibiae with no bristle on middle.

gracilis, Wood, is the only species of the genus. It is a peculiar-
looking insect, and shows an approach to the next genus in that
sometimes the legs are entirely devoid of bristles. The third thick
vein is incrassated in both sexes. I have met with it at Bonhill,
and Dr. Wood has taken it at Hereford, from which place the
specimens came that the original description was drawn from.

BECKERINA, nov. gen.

Generic description : Antennae moderately large, arista dorsal ;
frontal bristles as in Phora, Latr. ; post-antennal bristles erect ; costa

SCOTTISH PHORIDJE 91

to middle of wing, second vein present ; first thin vein bent at base
and reaching the margins considerably in front of the wing tip ;
hind tibiae bare.

The only species is umbrimargo, Beck. It cannot be placed in
either Phora as defined by Brues, or in his Aphiochata because of
the peculiar direction of the post-antennal bristles. Thus although
it is unfortunate that a single species should have a genus allotted
to it, it is, I believe, necessary in this case. I have taken the
species here not uncommonly, and expect that it may occur almost
all over the country. The other localities I know of it having been
recorded for are Durham and Hereford.

APHIOCH^ETA, Brues.

I hope shortly to be able to deal with this group, but meantime
must restrict myself to giving a list of those species that I know as
occurring in Scotland.

humeralis, Ztt., not uncommon at Bonhill. I know of no

other British locality. Occurs among poplar trees.
sordida, Ztt., Bonhill, common in the autumn.
ciliata, Ztt., common everywhere ; hybernates in decaying

fir trees, under the bark.
Beckeri, Wood, Bonhill.

flavicoxa, Ztt., Bonhill and Nethy Bridge (King).
projecta, Beck, common everywhere.
conformts, Wood, Bonhill.

fifsdnervis, Wood, Bonhill, possibly generally distributed.
ruficornis, Mg., Bonhill, not rare.
humtlis, Wood, Bonhill, common.
pleitralis, Wood, common everywhere.
costalis, v. Ros., Bonhill, common. It is strange that so

far I have not obtained a $ .
picta, Lehm, Bonhill and Logic (Jenkinson).
rafa, Collin, Bonhill, bred from old nests.
albicans, Wood, Bonhill.
parva, Wood, a common species at Bonhill.
ri(fa, Wood, Bonhill.
alticolella, Wood, Bonhill, common.
campestris, Wood, Bonhill, Cardross, common.
Mallochi, Wood, Bonhill, not common. I have seen this

species from New Forest.
glabrifrons, Wood, Bonhill.
(zqualis, Wood, Bonhill, common.
nigripes, Wood, Bonhill, common.
subpleuralis, Wood, Bonhill, common.
Colling Wood, Bonhill, scarce.

92 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

diversa, Wood, Bonhill.
scutellaris, Wood, Bonhill.
fumata, Mall, Bonhill.
variabilts, Wood, Bonhill, not uncommon.
obscuripennis, Wood, Bonhill.
rufipes, Mg., common everywhere.
tumida.) Wood, common at Bonhill.
subtumida. Wood, Bonhill.
fusca, Wood, common at Bonhill.
pulicaria, Fin., Bonhill.
angusta, Wood, Bonhill.
prtmila, Mg., Bonhill.
hitea, Mg., very common everywhere.
flava, Fin., Bonhill.

Besides the foregoing, there are in my collection a large number
of species that are still undetermined, and the probability is that
several of them belong to species still undescribed. It is, however,
necessary to have such small insects in fair series before one can
venture upon introducing them as new, or even identifying them as
belonging to species already described.

METOPINA, Mcq,

The only species of this genus in our lists is galeata, Hal. It
is such a minute species that one rarely meets with it in collections.
I have taken about a dozen specimens at Bonhill.

I have to thank Mr. P. H. Grimshaw for his assistance
in respect to matters pertaining to genera, without which
doubtless some errors would have occurred.

BONHILL, DUMBARTONSHIRE.

ON THE SCOTTISH SPECIES OF OXYURA
(PXOCTOTRYPID^PART IV. 1

By PETER CAMERON.

BELYTIN^

MARSHALL in his Catalogue published by the Entomological
Society of London, 1873, records 26 British species of
Belytince, to which he adds 5 more in his paper in the

1 Part iii. antea, p. 230, 1908.

ON THE SCOTTISH SPECIES OF OXYURA 93

"Entomologist's Annual," 1874, p. 146, all being species
described (but briefly) by C. G. Thomson. Marshall, I.e.,
says that the group is small, but the difficulty of procuring
specimens of any species is considerable. It may be that
the species are more numerous in Scotland than in England,
but my impression is that the number of English species
might easily be doubled, and considerable additions made
to our Scottish List. Nothing seems to be known regarding
the habits of these insects, but as some of the species have
been found in fungi it is very probable that they are parasitic
on the Dipterous and Coleopterous larvae found so frequently
in " Toadstools."

I have to record 5 2 Scottish species of the group. None
of them appear to be common. Of the species listed by
Marshall, I have only 3, but one of these, Belyta abrupta, is
somewhat doubtful, and the other Belyta is a distinct variety
(depressa var. cursitans}. The third known species is Ismarus
campanulatus, a species of wide distribution.

ISMARUS, Hal.
i. campanulatus, Schalf., Rannoch ; Shiel Glen; Kingussie.

DIPHORA, Foer.

1. nigriceps, K., Bishopton.

2. rufiventris, K., Canniesburn ; Cadder Wilderness.

LEPTORHAPTUS, Foer.

1. rufiventris, K., Mugdock Wood, Manuel.
\heterocerus, K., Gloucester.]

2. egregius, K., Bonar Bridge ; Mugdock.

BELYTA, Jur.

1. depressa, Thorns, var. cursitans, K., Bishopton. I have the type

form from the London district, but not from Scotland.

2. crassinervis, K., var. scotica, K., Dumfries.

3. costalis, K., Clober, Mugdock ; Cambuslang ; Rannoch.

4. tenuistilus, K. Kenmuir.

5. modesta, K., Dumfries.

\tnarginalis, K., has been taken by Mr. C. G. Champion at
Caterham.]

94 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

6. (Paraclistd) pedestris, K., Clydesdale. A specimen from Clydes-

dale was named abrupta, [Thorns., for me by the Rev. T. A.
Marshall ; but as it has now lost its abdomen Dr. Kieffer is
not certain as to its identity.

In the "Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. of Glasgow " i. (N.S.), I
have described the undernoted species of Belyta.

7. lativentriS) p. 301, Clydesdale.

8. forticornis, p. 302, Cadder Wilderness.

9. moniltata, p. 303, Mugdock Wood.

10. mullensis, p. 304, Mull.

OXYLABIS, Foer.
i. punctulatus, K., Cadder.

CINETUS, Jur.

1. iridipennis, K., var. prolongatus, K., Craigton Wood in fungus,

another var. from Kingussie.

2. Cameroni, K., Clydesdale ; Bonar Bridge.

3. fusdpes, K., Cadder.

XENOTOMA, Foer.

1. dlipes, K., Dumfries.

2. similis, K., Thornhill.

3. gracilicornis, K., Bonar Bridge.

4. castaneiventris, K., Clober ; Galloway. This species was formerly

named Pantodis Cameroni, var., castaneiventris, K., cf.
Broteria, 1907, p. 39.

5. scotica, K., Bonar Bridge; Kingussie.

6. pleuralis, K., Cadder.

7. nigrescens, K., Bonar Bridge.

8. nigra, K., Cadder Lade.

9. filicornis, K., Mugdock.

PANTOCLIS, Foer.

1. flavipes, K., Dumfries.

2. soluta, K., Mugdock.

3. rufiventris, K., Bishopton ; Claddich, Loch Awe ; Bonar Bridge.

4. Cameroni, K., near Stirling.

5. trisulcata, K., Mugdock ; Kenmuir.

6. prolongatus, K., Thornhill.

7. obliteratus, K., Dumfries.

ANECTATA, Foer.
i. neglecta, K., Kilmacolm.

ON THE SCOTTISH SPECIES OF OXYURA 95

ACLISTA, Foer.

1. macroneura, K., Dumfries; Cadder.

2. flavipes, K., Mugdock.

3. microtoma, K., Galloway.

4. scotica, K., Bishopton.

5. microcera, K., Galloway.

6. Canieroni, K., Bonar Bridge.

ZYGOTA, Foer.

1. exrisipes, K., Mugdock.

2. areolata, K., Manuel.

3. denfafipes, K., Claddich.

Zygota is treated by Dr. Kieffer as a subgenus of Adista.

PSILOMMA, Foer.

1. dubia, K., Clydesdale.

2. flavipes, K., Carruber Glen, Manuel.

3. incerta, K., Clydesdale.

ACANTHOSPILUS, Kief.

r. brevinerviS) K., Kingussie.
2. nigra, K., Galloway.

CARDIOPS, Kief.

i. rufiventris, K., Mugdock ; Manuel.

ACROPIESTA, Foer.
i. flavipes, K., Dumfries.

PLANTS OF SOME SOUTHERN SCOTTISH

COUNTIES.

By G. CLARIDGE DRUCE, M.A., F.L.S.
(Continued from p. 43.)

Arenaria leptoclados, Guss. Moffat 72 ; Drummore 74; Symington
*77; Peebles ^78; Galashiels *79; Dryburgh *8o.

A. peploides, L. Drummore 74.

S. maritima, Don, and as the var. densa (Jord.). Mull of Galloway 74.

S. subulata, Presl. Torrs, in some plenty, 74.

Sagina nodosa, Fenzl. Near the Tweed, Galashiels 79.

Spergula sativa, Boenn. Moffat 72 ; Symington *77 ; Peebles 78 ;
Selkirk "'79; and Dryburgh 80.

96 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Spergularia rupestris, Lebel. Abundant on rocks at the Mull 74 ;
near Torrs *74-

Montia lamprosperma, Cham. = M. fontana, L. Herb. Moffat *"j2 ;
Ettrick *79; Langton, Berwick, *8i ; near Strathpeffer 106
(Win. Davy); Loch Luichart (Lady Margaret Watney) 106.

Hypericum acutum, Moench. Tweedside ^78.

Malva moschata, Z., var. alba. Near Cadonfoot, with Miss

Hay ward, ^79.
Geranium sylvaticum, Z., *var. parviflorum^ Blytt. Tweedside 78 ;

the type, Cadonside (personal authority), 79.

G. Robertianum, Z., *var. modestum, Jord. Shingle above Drum-
more *74.

Euonymus europseus, Z. Near Whitehill *74,. perhaps planted
near Galashiels ^79.

fLinum usitatissimum, Z. Stranraer 74.

fTrigonella Foenum-graecum, Z. At Stranraer, as in 1898, 74.

fMedicago denticulata, Willd. Stranraer 74.

fMelilotus indica, AIL Drummore, Stranraer 74.

Anthyllis Vulneraria, Z. Near Waterburn *78, thus making the
comital census complete.

fTrifoliurn pratense, L., var. villosum. In some quantity near
Stranraer with other casuals *74.

|T. pratense, Z., var. americanum, Harz. Peebles *"j8.
|T. resupinatum, Z. Stranraer, as in 1898, 74.

T. arvense, Z. Abundant on the railway between Peebles and

Galashiels 78, 79.

|T. hybridum, Z. Peebles 78; Galashiels 79; St. Boswells 80.
T. procumbens, Z., var. majus, Koch. Mull '"74.

Vicia sylvatica, L. Tweedside *78; var. condensata, Terally Bay,
etc., *74; * Kirkcudbright coast 73.

|V. villosa, Roth, approaching var. glabrescens, Koch. Stranraer 74.

V. angustifolia, Reich. , var. segetalis, Koch 74. Near Galashiels
*79 ; a plant from the Mull differs from our described forms.

V. Cracca, Z., var. incana (Thuill). Mull ^74.

|V. bithynica, Z. Stranraer *74-

fV. Faba, Z. Stranraer ^74.

fLathyrus Aphaca, Z. Stranraer, as in 1898, 74.

fL. hirsutus, Z. Stranraer ^74.

fL. Cicera, Z. Stranraer '''74.

PLANTS OF SOME SOUTHERN SCOTTISH COUNTIES 97

fPisum arvense, L. Stranraer 74.

Rosa Eglanteria, L. Native, I believe, in Galloway 74 ; seen also
in Peebles 78; Selkirk 79; and Roxburgh 80.

Rosa glauca, Vill. Sandhill, etc., ''74; Tweedside ^78, 79, *8o.

R. sarmentacea, Woods (R. dumalis, Bechst.). Moffat 72 ; Symington
*77; Tweedside ^78, ^79, *8o.

R. villosa, L. (R. mollis, Sm.). Moffat 72; Peebles 78; Ettrick
79 ; Dryburgh 80.

The more critical roses gathered this summer must await further
study.

Potentilla Anserina, Z., var. mida, S. F. Gray. Port Logan ^74.
P. procumbens, Sibth. Not uncommon in Galloway 74.
fP. norvegica, L. Near the railway, Symington 77.

Alchemilla vulgaris, L., \ax.gZabra, DC. ( - A. a/pestris, Schmidt). -
Corriefron 72; Peebles ^78; Ettrick Bridge *79; Rhymer's
Glen, Dryburgh, 80.

var. pratensis, Schmidt. Galashiels '"79.

Crataegus oxyacanthoides, TJudl. In a large hedge bordering
Bowhill *79-

fPyrus Aria, Ehrh. Planted at Ardvvell "74.

Saxifraga stellaris, L. Correifron 72 ; personal authority lacking
in Top. Bot.

fRibes nigrum, L. Quite naturalised by the Tweed below Peebles
*78, *8o; also by the Gala ^79.

|R. rubrum, L. Tweedside ^78.

|R. Uva-crispa, L. Tweedside "'78; var. Grossularia (L.), Tweed-
side *78, 80; Hedges, Galashiels ^79. The gooseberry and
currants look quite wild by the Tweed.

|R. alpinum, L. In a hedge near Dryburgh 80.

Sedum Telephium, L., var. purpureum, L. Tweedside, Peebles 78;
Galashiels *79; and on the opposite side of the river *8o.
I cannot find the characters given in " English Botany " are
constant, that is, I find plants with leaves narrow at the base
have flattened, furrowed fruits, and plants with leaves broad at
the base have fruits neither furrowed nor flattened.

S. album. Quite native-looking on the rocky bank of the Tweed
near Langlee *8o A.

S. acre, L. Not uncommon, and native, about Galashiels ^79.

tSedum in a flowerless state was abundant and quite naturalised on
a wall by the river at Clovenford 79. I am growing it to see
which species it is.

74 D

98 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Myriophyllum alterniflorum, DC. Tweed 78, ^79, 80.
Epilobium alsinefolium, Vill. Correifron 72.
Circsea lutetiana, L. ^78.
C. alpina, L. By the Tweed near Yair 79.

Hydrocotyle vulgaris, L. Peebles *?8; Ettrick Bridge 79; Fairy-
dean *8o; thus completing comital census.

Conium maculatum, Z. Near Peebles *78.

fBupleurum rotundifolium, L. Stranraer, Drummore, ^74.

Anthriscus sylvestris, Hoffm. Dryburgh *8o.

Oenanthe Lachenalii, Gmel. Port Logan 74.

Ligusticum scoticum, L. Mull 74.

Caucalis nodosa, Scop. On ballast at Stranraer and Drummore 74.

fSymphoricarpos racemosus, Michx. Peebles ^78.

Galium austriacum, Jacq. (G. sylvestre). Correifron 72.

|G. tricorne, Stokes. On shingle, Stranraer 74.

fAsperula arvensis, L. Stranraer, Drummore, ^74.

Inula crithmoides, L. Locally plentiful on the Mull of Galloway 74.

jAnthemis tinctoria, L. Stranraer ^74.

Matricaria inodora, Z., var. salina, Bab. Port Logan ^74.

Tanacetum vulgare. Port Logan 74.

Senecio viscosus, Z. Symington, near the railway, 77 ; near Inner-
leithen ^78; Galashiels 79.

Arctium Lappa, Z. (majus). Sandhead *74 ; Peebles *78 ; Selkirk
*79 ; Galashiels, but in *8o.

Carduus acanthoides, Z. (crispus). 74.

| Mariana lactea, Hill. Drummore 74.

Centaurea Cyanus, Z. Near Galashiels, doubtfully wild, "'79.

Picris Echioides, Z. On rubbish, Stranraer "^74.

Crepis paludosa, Moench. Moffat (personal), 72.

The Hieracia await Mr. Ley's opinion.

Hypochceris radicata, Z. Dryburgh *8o, completing comital
distribution.

Taraxacum paludosum, Schlecht. Ettrick Bridge ^79.
Statice maritima, Mill. Port Logan 74.
S. linearifolia, Later. Mull of Galloway, etc. 74.
Lysimachia vulgaris, Z. Drummore 74.

fSteironema ciliatum, Rafin. Quite naturalised by the Tweed near
Horsburgh Castle ^78.

PLANTS OF SOME SOUTHERN SCOTTISH COUNTIES 99

Anagallis arvensis, L. Peebles *;8; Galashiels ^79.
fA. femina, Mill. Stranraer, 74.

Ligustrum vulgare, L. Plentiful about Galashiels, but perhaps

planted ^79.
Centaurium umbellatum, Gilib., var. capitatum, Druce. Mull of

Galloway 74.
fSymphytum peregrinum, Ledeb. I doubtfully refer to this a dark

violet-coloured plant seen in Galloway 74.

S. tuberosum, L. By the Tweed near Peebles ^78.

f Anchusa sempervirens, L. In some plenty at Drummore, Broad-
well, etc., quite naturalised, 74.

fAsperugo procumbens, L. In some plenty at Stranraer and
Drummore ^74.

Pneumaria maritima, Hill. Port Logan, also sparingly at West
Tarbert 74.

Lithospermum arvense, L. Drummore on shingle, and at Stranraer

*74-

Volvulus sepium, Medic. Peebles "'78; Galashiels *-jg. Possibly
of garden origin.

Convolvulus arvensis, L. Peebles ^78, Galashiels *jg.
Solanum Dulcamara, Z. By the Gala at Galashiels ^79.

Verbascum Thapsus, L. Galashiels (Miss Hayward) ^79, possibly

adventitious.
fMimulus guttatus, DC. By the Tweed ^79, *So.

var. concolor(M. tuteusa.uct.). Near Horsburgh Castle ^78 ;

Tweed *So.

Veronica didyma, Ten. Galashiels ^79.
V. Tournefortii, Gmel. Drummore 74; Galashiels *7g.

Euphrasia curta, Wettst., var. glabrescens, Wettst. Mull *74 ;
Symington 77; Ettrick 79.

E. brevipila, B. and G. Ettrick ^79.

Bartsia Odontites, Z., var. verna (Reichb.). Drummore ^74.

Rhinanthus stenophyllus, Schitr. Moffat ^72; Symington *77 ;
Peebles *?8; Ettrick *jg.

R. monticola, Druce. Near Moffat ^72.

Mentha longifolia, Huds. Near Horsburgh Castle ^78.

M. alopecuroides, Hull. Near Sandhead 74.

|M. spicata, L. Galaside *79.

;f M. rubra, Sm. Tweedside, Peebles, in some plenty, *;8 ; by the
Gala *7Q.

ioo ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

*M. piperita, L. Tweedside below Peebles *?8 ; near West Tarbert

74-
*M. verticillata, Huds. Near Abbotsford '"79.

Thymus glaber, Mill. Correifron ^72.

T. praecox, Opiz, Mull. ""74.

*Stachys ambigua, Sm. Near Peebles ^78.

Clinopodium vulgare, L. Tweedside *?8 ; also by the Ettrick, etc.

79-
Nepeta hederacea, Trev. Near Peebles ^78.

*Scutellaria galericulata, L., var. pubescens^ Benth., in DC., " Prod."
xii. 425, " caule, foliorum pagina inferiore, calycibus, corol-
lisque pubescentibus." On shingle at East Tarbert in great
plenty *74, noticeable from its conspicuous pale blue flowers.
Plant about 4 to 6 inches above shingle, flowers longer than
bracts, very pubescent ; leaves on under side canescent with
shaggy hairs. The same form was observed on shingle at
Jeantown, W. Ross, '^105.

Galeopsis Tetrahit, L. In Wigton and Peebles I saw this in three
distinct modifications : one, the plant known as bifida, Boenn. ;
second, a taller plant though not so coarse as our English type,
with somewhat large, pale purplish-pink flowers, the tube not
very elongate ; third, growing with this a plant with pure white
flowers which were smaller (when looked at from the front)
owing to the narrower corolla lobes, but with distinctly longer
tube, so that viewed sideways the flowers of third looked longer
and larger than those of second. Is this another instance of
flower-dimorphism ? if so, it is curious it should be correlated
with albinism. The relative length of the stamens and styles
appeared to be the same in the few specimens I examined.

Teucrium Scorodonia, L. Near Peebles 78.

Ajuga reptans, L. Near Peebles *78, completing the comital
distribution.

fPlantago Lagopus, L. Stranraer 74, as in 1898.
Littorella uniflora, Asch. Cauldshields (personal) 79.
fChenopodium opulifolium, Schrad. Galashiels 79.
|C. murale, L. Stranraer ^74.

Atriplex patula, L. Moffat 72 ; Galashiels, etc. ^79.
A. hastata, L. Peebles *78; Galashiels *Tg.

An Atriplex at Stranraer appears to be a distinct species ; un-
fortunately I was too early for fruit.

Polygonum Lapathifolium, L. Galashiels ^79.

PLANTS OF SOME SOUTHERN SCOTTISH COUNTIES 101

P. tomentosum, Schrank (maculatum) " flore albo."- With Miss
Hay ward, Galashiels '"79. On the shingle at Stranraer ^74.

P. Hydropiper, L. Near Horsburgh Castle ^78.

|P. cuspidatum, Sieb. et Z?/^. Stranraer ^74.

Oxyria digyna, Hill. Correifron 72.

fHumulus Lupulus, L. Galashiels ^79.

Betula alba, L. Ettrick side ^79; Allan Water *8o.

B. tomentosa, R. and A. Tweedside ^79.
Quercus Robur, L. Near Galashiels ^79.
Q. sessiliflora, Salisb. Moffat ^72.

fFagus sylvatica, L. Planted at Peebles 78; Galashiels, etc. 79.
fSalix triandra, L. Near Drummore, probably planted, "74.
fS. fragilis, Z. Near Terally, probably planted, ^74.
S. phylicifolia, L. Tweedside '"78; Ettrick ^79.
S. nigricans, Sm. Ettrick -"79.

*S. rubra, Huds. By the Gala *79, probably planted.
S. purpurea, L. Tweedside 78; Ettrick, looking native, 79.
S. viminalis, L. Near Peebles " : 78.

S. Smithiana, Willd. Tweedside, Peebles *?8 ; Galashiels ^79.
fPopulus deltoides, Marsh. Moffat ^72; near Stranraer ^74;
Peebles *78 ; Galashiels ""79; Dryburgh *8o.

|P. nigra, L. Wigton 74.

fP. alba, L. Drummore 74.

Empetrum nigrum, L. On cliffs at Port Logan 74.

fHumulus Lupulus, L. Galashiels ^79.

fElodea canadensis, Michx. Galashiels *79-

Orchis maculata, L. Near Stonykirk 74.

var. prcecox, Webster (ericetoruni), Moffat 72 ; near Torrs

*74 ; Ettrick *79; Fairy Glen 80.
Allium. I think Scorodoprasum, Z., near Port Logan ^74, in the

vicinity of cottages. I am cultivating in order to identify it.

Butomus umbellatus, L. Faldonside ^79, ? native.
Potamogeton crispus, L. Tweed 79.
P. angustifolius, Presl. Tweed, Cauldshields 79.
Sparganium neglectum, Beeby. Near Dunragit "'74; Peebles "'78.
Carex extensa, Z., var. tatifolia, Boeck. Port William (C. Bailey)
74, also in Co. Down; see Ktikenthal's " Caricologia."

C. inflata, Huds. Marsh by the Tweed ^78.
C. riparia, Curt. By the Tweed *78.

102 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

C. canescens, Z., var. tennis, Lang. Near Ettrick Bridge ^79.
Several sedges are awaiting Pfarrer Kiikenthal's naming.

fPhalaris canariensis, L. Stranraer, Drummore 74 ; Peebles ^78.
fP. paradoxa, L. Stranraer as in 1898, 74.
fAlopecurus myosuroides, Huds. Stranraer ^74.
fPolypogon monspeliense, Desf. Stranraer as in 1898, 74.
Agrostis alba, Z., var. prorepens, Koch. Symington ^77.

A. tenuis, With., var. pitmila (Z.). Mull 74; Ettrick Bridge *79 ;

Cauldshields 80.
Arrhenatherum tuberosum, Gilib. Moffat 72; Galloway 74;

Peebles ^78; Selkirk ^79; Dryburgh *8o.
Avena fatua, Z. Peebles "^78.

Koeleria albescens, DC., var. glabra, DC. Mull of Galloway *74.
Glyceria plicata, Fr. Peebles ^78.

G. aquatica, Wahl. I believe some flowerless plants by the Tweed

near Dryburgh are this species, 80.
Poa compressa, Z. Walls and banks, Dryburgh (personal) 80. By

the Gala *7g.
P. pratensis, Z., var. subccerulea (Sm.). Mull 74.

Festuca rubra, Z. Peebles 78; Ettrick 79.

var. pruinosa, Hack. Mull ^74.

F. heterophylla, Lam. By the Tweed about two miles from Peebles,
growing in some quantity near planted shrubs, ^78.

Bromus sterilis, Z. Peebles 78.

B. commutatus, Schrad. Galashiels 79.
f B. arvensis, Z. Stranraer 74.

fB. tectorum, Z. Stranraer 74.

fLolium temulentum, Z. Stranraer *74.

fLolium italicum, Braun. Galashiels 79.

Hordeum marinum, Huds. At Stranraer as 1898, 74.

fSecale cereale, Z. Stranraer 74.

Taxus baccata, Z. Planted, I suppose, near Galashiels.

Pinus sylvestris, Z. A seedling plant on the rocks by the Ettrick

79-
fLarix decidua, Mill. Seedling plants by the Ettrick 79.

Several plants await critical examination.

I may add that I noted 362 native and about 70 alien
species in Selkirk, in Peebles 350 species, and about the
same number in Roxburgh.

"NEOLITHIC 1 ' MOSS REMAINS FROM FORT WILLIAM 103

SOME "NEOLITHIC" MOSS REMAINS FROM

FORT WILLIAM.

By H. N. DIXON, M.A., F.L.S.

A SMALL quantity of material of moss remains was sent to
me last spring by Mr. Clement Reid for identification,
obtained by Messrs. Maufe and Wright of the Geological
Survey, and labelled as from sandy peat under the 2 5 -foot
raised beach at Fort William. Although the bulk was not
large only the contents of a large pill-box the material
had been carefully washed out, and practically consisted
entirely of fragments of mosses ; and the condition of pre-
servation was such that they were unusually for the age
of the deposit capable of determination. It will be
convenient to give first a list of all the species identified,
before commenting upon the whole association.

Sphagnum fimbriatum, Wils., or S. Girgensohnii, Russ. A single
well preserved branch-leaf of one of these species, which are, I
believe, quite indistinguishable from one another by the branch-
leaves alone.

Andreaa Rothii, W. and M. A single fragment, consisting of a
densely branched stem, with the leaves quite well preserved.

Dichodontium pellucidum, B. and S. Several fragments.

Blindia acuta, var. trichodes, Braithw. A fragment of a stem with
a few leaves. The enlarged angular cells have been practically
all eroded or destroyed, leaving only the alar spaces, which are
perhaps not quite so large as one would expect in this species ;
the form and areolation of the remainder of the leaves is, how-
ever, quite in agreement with the plant to which I have referred
it, a plant so characteristic that there can be little doubt as to
its determination. Mr. W. E. Nicholson, to whom I submitted
it, quite concurs.

Dicranum Bonjeani^ De Not. A considerable number of char-
acteristic fragments.

D. Scottianum, Turn. One or two scraps with the leaves well
preserved. The areolation in this species, taken in connection
with the entire leaves, is distinct, and its identification seems
quite beyond question. The leaf of -D. Scottianum shows in
the upper part a layer of short subquadrate cells covering the

104 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

back of the smooth nerve (the "Aussenzellen " of German
authors in describing the nerve-section) ; these are quite well
shown in the Fort William plant.

Fissidens osmundoides, Hedw. A well preserved fragment or two.

Grimmia, sp. Three or four fragments of a Grimmia with narrow
leaves, of the triclwphylla type, but with the cells nearly all
remaining incrassate and sinuose to the base. Mr. Nicholson
suggests G. Miihlenbeckii, with which I think it might well be
identified. I have, however, seen forms of what is probably
Grimmia robusta, Ferg., with a similar areolation, and it is
perhaps not quite safe to attempt a final determination.

Rhacomitrium heterostichum, var. (= R. affine, Lindb.). One of
the forms with short upper areolation and very short, incon-
spicuous hair-point.

R. canescens, Brid. Frequent small fragments.

Bryum pseudo-triqiietrum, Schwaeg. Two small but well preserved
fragments, one showing clearly an inflorescence which I was
able to dissect and determine as $ .

Mnium hornum, L. A single well preserved stem.
Neckera pumila, Hedw. Numerous small fragments.

N. complanata, Hiibn. In various forms besides the typical one.
The leaves in one were rather long and comparatively acute,
with the margin often denticulate for some distance downwards.
Another had the leaves often very tapering and acute or even
acuminate, but quite entire, the cells rather narrow. Still
another had the leaves very wide above and obtuse.

Antitrichia curtipendula, Brid. The bulk of the material consisted
of this moss, often in large fragments, and perfectly well pre-
served with the exception of being absolutely blackened.

Thuidium tamarisanum, B. and S. Several scraps, and one fairly
complete and wonderfully preserved frond.

T. delicatulum, Mitt. A single stem, with stem-leaves and branch-
leaves in good condition and quite characteristic.

T. Philiberti, Limpr. Several fragmentary stems. The form and
arrangement of the branch-leaves was quite different from that
of the preceding. That alone would not, of course, preclude
the interpretation that they represented two forms of the same
species ; but the form of the stem-leaves admits no doubt on
the matter. The filiform apex of these leaves, as is only
natural, was not to be found remaining ; but their outline was
quite characteristic. In the smaller forms of T. Philiberti the
stem leaves do not differ very markedly in outline from those
of T. delicatulum ; but in the larger, better developed forms,

' NEOLITHIC " MOSS REMAINS FROM FORT WILLIAM 105

and especially in T. pseudo-tamarisci, Limpr. (which I take to
be only a luxuriant, tripinnate form of T. Philiberti), there is a
very distinct difference. The stem leaves in T. delicatidum
are (constantly, I believe) comparatively small, from a wide and
short base (almost as wide as the whole length of the leaf)
abruptly contracted to a proportionally short, not very tapering
acumen. In the more robust forms at least of T. Philiberti
these leaves are very inucli larger, gradually narrowed almost
from the base into a very long, tapering acumen, terminated
in recent specimens by the characteristic filiform point. This
outline is well shown in the Fort William specimens, furnishing
a complete contrast to the form of leaf in T. dclicatulum, and
leaving no doubt at all as to the identification.

Brachythecium rutabulum, B. and S. Scanty.

B. plumosum, B. and S. In considerable quantity and showing
some variation.

Eurhynchium pralongum (L.), Hobk. Several stems.
E. striatum, B. and S. A fragment only.

E. myurum, Dixon. Two forms, one the ordinary, another a larger
one, with wide, obtuse and subobtuse leaves, which I should
hesitate, however, to refer to var. robustum, B. and S.

E. inyosuroides, Schp. Frequent.

E. rusciforme, Milde. Several fragments.

Hyocomium flagellare, B. and S. In very small quantity.

Plagiothecimn undulatitm, B. and S. A scrap merely, but quite un-
mistakable.

Hypnurn fluitans, L. One or two small bits.
H. uncinatitm, Hedw. A few branches.

H. falcatum, Brid. One or two fragments. One stem which was
almost certainly this had nearly all the leaf-tissue eroded away,
doubtless water-worn, and scarcely more than the stout falcate
nerves left.

H. cupressiforme, L. Very little.

? H. palustre, L. A scrap of a Limnobium was detected by Mr.
Nicholson on a slide which I sent to him containing another
plant. It is almost certainly H. palustre.

H. cuspidatum, L.

Hylocomium loreum, B. and S. Next to Antitrichia the preponderat-
ing plant.

H. brevirostre, B. and S. In quantity.
H. squarrosum, B. and S.

io6 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

This collection, consisting of nearly forty distinct species,
is of considerable interest from several points of view. In
the first place it is decisively not a paludal or a peat-moss
association. I have examined bryophytic remains from
perhaps a dozen deposits of varying age, ranging from
quite recent to early glacial or pre-glacial times, and I have
seen reports of numerous others. In all these collections,
with scarcely, if my memory serves me, an exception, not only
has the paludal element been largely, indeed overwhelmingly,
preponderant, but in nearly every case any other element
was entirely absent, or if present it occurred in such minute
proportion as to suggest an accidental introduction or a
quite exceptional occurrence. The usual species comprise a
large percentage of pleurocarpous mosses, such as Campto-
thecium nitens, Hypna of the sections Harpidium, Calliergon,
etc., with a sprinkling of Aulacomnium, Philonotis, Fontinalis,
and similar aquatic and paludal Acrocarpi. This is of
course what one would reasonably expect, since these com-
paratively delicate, non-vascular plants would naturally re-
quire the conserving influence of peat, or of some closely
similar deposit, for their preservation. Mosses in other
forms of deposit would have far less chance of being pre-
served.

The present collection comes as a somewhat welcome
relief from such associations as the above, which not only
repeat themselves with a monotonous frequency, but give
one a conception, exaggerated no doubt, of a dull sameness
in the configuration of these northern lands in the prehistoric
pleistocene periods, of unvaried peat moss, and bleak moor-
land and barren mountain-side. The Fort William mosses
tell a very different tale. There are but few of them (Dicra-
num Bonjeani, Fissidens osmundoides, Bryum pseudotriquetrum,
Hypnum undnatum, H. fluitans, H. falcatuni, and H. cnspi-
datuni) which could be considered in any way paludal
mosses ; only the last three are distinctively, and not one of
them is necessarily such. They are quite as frequently,
and some of the rest are exclusively (Hyocomium flagellare,
BrachytJiecium plumosum, Hypnum palustre, Blindia acuta, var.
trichodes\ the inhabitants of wet rocks in and by mountain
streams ; and it is quite certain that these latter, at least,

; ' NEOLITHIC " MOSS REMAINS FROM FORT WILLIAM 107

must have had such an origin. Many of the others are the
ordinary plants of the drier boulders of mountainous or sub-
alpine country through which such a stream commonly makes
its way (e.g. Hylocomium squarrosum, Antitricliia, Andrecea,
Rhacomitrium heterostichum) ; Andrecea RotJiii is a very
typically rupestral moss, and Hyocomium and the Blindia
are distinctively and exclusively mosses of waterfalls and
swiftly running mountain becks. But in addition to this
we must picture the stream as flowing through woods. For
Plagiothecium undulatum^ Hylocomium brevirostre and H.
loreuin, Eurhynchium striatum, E. myosuroides and E.
myurum, Thuidium tamariscinum and T. delicatulum, in-
fallibly tell of woodland, and rocky, mountain woodland,
while Neckera complanata, and especially N. pumila, must
have been growing actually on the trees themselves. We
may perhaps safely go a little further than this. Thuidium
Philiberti is especially a plant of wet rock ledges or dripping
cliffs ; SpJiagnum Girgensohnii (if our species be that) affects
the same habitats ; Thuidium delicatulum prefers, at least,
the margins of fair-sized streams. Out of about eighteen
gatherings I have made of this species in Great Britain,
fifteen were from the borders of fair-sized mountain streams
and one from a lake shore. 1 believe we may therefore
confidently reconstruct the conditions under which these
mosses grew as indicating a stream of some magnitude
not a mere rivulet tumbling over boulders, and flowing,
at times at any rate, between wet rocky cliffs, down a
wooded mountain side or valley. We should not have to
go very far from the locality where they were deposited to
find, at the present time, just such conditions. I have
gathered in woods on the south shore of Loch Leven,
above Ballachulish, and within a confined area, nearly every
moss contained in this collection, except Tlmidium Philiberti.
There, by a similar stream to the one pictured, Dicranum
Scottianum was fruiting abundantly, Fissidens osmundoides
was loaded with capsules, and Tliuidium delicatulum showed
its delicate fern-like fronds, while the Hylocomia and many
of the other pleurocarpous mosses listed above formed the
bulk of the Bryophytic vegetation of the woods.

While, however, so much is certain, I believe, as to the

io8 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

origin of the mosses, it is not quite clear under what cir-
cumstances they were deposited in the bed in which they
now lie. I am indebted to Messrs. Maufe and Wright, of
the Geological Survey, by whom the specimens were
obtained, for the following notes on the present situation
and conditions of the plant bed.

" The plant-bed is exposed on the right bank of the
river Lochy a mile and a half north of Fort William and
1000 yards west of the Lochy Suspension Bridge. It lies
just at high-water mark, being covered by one to two feet
of water at high spring tides. It contains prostrate tree-
trunks up to one foot in diameter, and is overlain by coarse
stratified gravel and sand up to 15 feet in thickness. This
gravel and sand belongs to the so-called ' 2 5 foot raised
beach' of Scotland. It reaches in this country its greatest
development and altitude, but is traceable at lower levels
into northern England and Ireland. In the latter country
it has been proved to be throughout of Neolithic age, im-
plements of an early Neolithic type having been obtained at
considerable depths in its gravels. In many localities, both
in Scotland and Ireland, implements of a later type, but
still Neolithic, occur on its surface in such situations as to
show that the elevation which brought the beach into its
present position was, in part at least, accomplished during
Neolithic times."

The presence of prostrate tree-trunks confirms the con-
clusion to which the moss remains point, as to a woodland
origin. On the other hand, the remains of Phanerogams,
with which the mosses were associated, fail to confirm this
conclusion in a rather noticeable way. Mr. Clement Reid
has kindly sent me particulars as to the plant remains ; he
writes : " I am sorry to say that they do not throw much
light on climatic conditions they are common meadow
plants of wide range and are mostly badly preserved." And
in a later letter he adds : "I do not quite know what to say
as to the Fort William seeds. They are curiously badly
preserved much more so than the mosses. Perhaps the
mosses grew on the spot, whilst the seeds came from a
distance." The plants determined by Mr. Reid for the
most part indicate a slow-flowing stream through meadow-

"NEOLITHIC" MOSS REMAINS FROM FORT WILLIAM 109

land (Ranunculus Lingua, R. repens, Pliragmites, Lychnis
Flos-cuculi, L. dturna, etc.), though Corylus and Oxalis would
postulate a woodland origin for part of them. I believe
that the only possible conclusion is that the bulk of the
moss-remains had a different origin from that of most of
the flowering plants ; and considering the unusually well-pre-
served condition of the former, and the badly preserved state
of the latter, it would appear that the phanerogams must
have been brought down from a greater distance, and that
the stream must have flowed through some upland meadow
valley before coming to its rocky woodland course. Or
perhaps more probably the stream or river by which they
were deposited was formed by the union of two streams,
one of which brought down the mosses, while the other, a
larger and more slowly flowing stream traversing an alluvial
meadow-land, brought the phanerogams. These conditions
would almost be fulfilled at the present time if only the
lower slopes of Ben Nevis on its northern or western side
were wooded, when either of the streams rising on that
mountain, and uniting and flowing into the Lochy at Lochy
Bridge, would well afford the supposed requirements. It is,
I think, out of the question that the moss-remains are
derived from a large area, or brought from any great dis-
tance ; in such a case they could hardly have presented the
homogeneous association that they actually exhibit, while
aquatic or paludal species could scarcely fail to have been
in stronger evidence.

As regards the climatic conditions prevailing when this
plant association was growing, the general conclusion to be
drawn would be that they were very similar to those now
obtaining. The presence of Dicranum Scottianuin especially
has perhaps a particular interest, as probably indicating with
some certainty that, at least, no appreciably greater degree
of cold prevailed. The distribution of this species is notably
an Atlantic one ; it occurs in most of the groups of the
Atlantic Islands, in Brittany and Normandy and the Pyrenees,
in Denmark, and in Western Britain, but scarcely extends to
any extent eastwards in continental Europe. (Paris indeed
cites it as from Spitzbergen, but this must surely be a slip ;
it is not mentioned in Berggren's " Musci Spetsbergenses," or

I io ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

in any other work with which I am acquainted dealing with
the arctic regions.) It is therefore indicative of a mild and
equable climate, and I believe its presence may be taken
as fairly conclusive that the climate of the period was at
least in no degree more boreal than at the present time.

A somewhat special interest attaches to the three species
of Thuidium. T. tamariscinum is, of course, one of our
commonest and most widely-spread woodland mosses. But
the case is quite different with the other two. Until 1874
T. delicatulum was not recognised as a European moss,
though abundant in North America. In that year Lindberg
detected and recorded it from a single station in Finland.
Six years later Philibert found it in France, and subsequently
it has been discovered to be widely spread over the European
continent, though apparently not very common, and chiefly
in the lower montane regions. It was unrecognised as a
British moss until 1885, when it was recorded by Holt from
Tyn-y-groes, North Wales ; while in 1889, Binstead gathered
it in fruit at Lodore. Since that time its recorded distribu-
tion has been greatly extended, and it is entered in the
"Census Catalogue of British Mosses" (1907) from 17 vice-
counties in England, Wales, and Scotland (besides four
doubtful records), and 6 in Ireland. Of the former, 7 are
Scotch, 5 Welsh ; and of the 5 English, 3 are on the west
coast, the Isle of Wight and west Yorkshire being the
remaining ones. It will be seen, therefore, that its distribu-
tion with us is exclusively western and montane. It is, in
fact, almost entirely a rupestral plant, though occurring
occasionally on sandy debris by mountain stream and lake
sides. I have only once found it elsewhere, in a bog at
the foot of a Perthshire mountain, and then looking very
unhappy and unlike itself.

Thuidium Philiberti has a somewhat similar history,
though it is a still more recently recognised member of our
moss flora. It was described from France as a new species
(T. intermedium'} by Philibert in 1893, but the name had
already been preoccupied by Mitten, and Limpricht renamed
it as T. Philiberti in 1895. It was then known from several
localities in Central Europe and North America. I had
gathered it on Craig Chailleach, Perthshire, in 1893, but had

"NEOLITHIC" MOSS REMAINS FROM FORT WILLIAM in

not distinguished it from T. recognitum ; and it was not till
1897 that I recognised its identity with the continental and
North American plant, and recorded it for the first time as
British. It is recorded in the Census Catalogue from Mid-
Perth and Argyll only ; and though it occurs on several of
the Perthshire mountains, it is undoubtedly a rare moss, and
(with us at least) confined to wet rocks in mountainous
districts.

It is not very likely that anyone would suggest that
these two mosses are recent introductions into Britain. Still
the increasing army of invading aliens among Phanerogams
(and Splachnobryum and Hypopterygium may be cited among
mosses) tends to throw a more and more suspicious colour
upon all fresh discoveries, and every newly recorded British
plant has to run the gauntlet of a fierce fire of criticism
before it is allowed a place within the charmed circle of the
" native." It is, therefore, perhaps not unfortunate for the
future reputation of Thuidium delicatulum and T. PJiiliberli, as
indigenous British plants, that we can point to still existing
specimens which were growing in the mountain woods of
Western Scotland at the time when Neolithic man was
ranging them with his weapons of polished flint in search of
the bear, the wolf, the beaver, or the deer.

NOTES ON THE REVIEW OF KUKENTHAL'S

CAREX.

By ARTHUR BENNETT.

Kobresia caricina, Willd. Carex bipartita. All. " Fl. Fed." n. 230,
i, t. 89, f. 5.

Kunth (whose work is in advance even now of later work)
places this under Elyna caricina, Mert. and Koch = K. caricina,
Willd. 1 Here it may be well to clear up another doubtful
Carex, i.e. C. simpliciuscula, Wahlb., Westmoreland. Dr. Alm-
quist wrote me that the original specimen in " Heb. Vet.
Skand.," Stockholm, is Elyna caricina. This was founded on
specimens gathered by Dawson Turner in Westmoreland. 2

1 Baker, "Flora of the Lake District," 218, 1885.

2 Specimens of the Kobresia are in Balbi's herbarium at Turin named Carex
bipartita, All., Bailey, I.e.

112 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Carex binervis, Smith.

Urejer's var. alpina is characterised " /3 alpina humilior,
spicis paullo brevioribus = C. vesicaria, ft alpina, Lyngb. ! in
herb. Hornm., Faerd ad Quivig ! Lyngbye." The 56 (p. 48
in January " Annals ") must be a misprint, as the number is
52, p. 474, in the original paper. Drejer remarks " Hujus
plantae modo 2 frustula mala conservata in herb, nostro deposuit
Lyngb., quae tamen satis luculenter probant plantam hujus
floras civem esse."

Carex /lava, L.

Anderson in " Cyper. Scand.," p. 25, 1849, describes his var.
pygmtza as " culmo unciali-digitali foliis multo breviori, spicis
parvis subrotundatis confertis." Ascherson and Graebner place
this under subsp. CEderi, Ehrh.

C. alpina, Siv.

There is a difficulty to face with this name. C. alpina, Schrk.,
var. in " Fl." i, 299 (i"j8g)=C. sempervirens, Vill. (1787).
Then there is alpina, Hoppe = C. ferruginea, Scop.

Carex Buxbaumii, Wahl. (1803).

C. sitbnlata, Schum., 1801 ; C. polygama, Schkr. (1801); C.

fusca, All., "Fl. Fed." ii. (1785), 269. There is a good

specimen of Carex Bitxbaumii in Allioni's herbarium, seen by

Mr. L. H. Bailey, who also saw Wahlenberg's type, and

Schkuhr's ; so that the name according to priority is fusca. 1

C. data, All. The difficulty is that there is no specimen
extant of Allioni's plant ; and correspondence with several
Italian botanists leaves it doubtful as to whether acuta or stricta
is his plant.

Carex aquatilis, var. epigeios, Laest.

Now in the "Journal of Botany," 1897, I notice two plants
so named, one the plant of Laestadius (1822), and the other of
Fries " Bot. Not." (1843), p. 105. That of 1822 was the plant
from Perthshire which Dr. Almquist named as such ; there I
express doubt of its being so. The other is a form of salina,
which Richter, following Nyman, makes the C. bicolor, Nyl."
Nylander 2 has no such name ; it is no doubt a clerical error
for discolor, which he has. I there say I have seen only three
specimens of this epigeios from Scotland ; i.e. in herb. Boswell,
Kew, and my own collections. Anderson keeps up Nylander's
species ; Almquist and Hjelt 3 make it a form of C. salina,
sub-sp. cuspidata ; and Fries puts it with the stirpes C. salina.

1 C. subulata, Michaux (1803), will have to bear the name C. Collinsii, Nutt.
(1818).

"Spec. Fl. Fenn." part iii. (1846) p. 12.
3 "Consp. Fl. Fenn." (1895), 281.

NOTES ON THE REVIEW OF KUKENTHAL'S CAREX 113

It is a plant of Russian Lapland (Lapponia murmanica). The
var. sphagnophila of aqnatilis is very near epigeios, Laest., differ-
ing by its pale (not dark) scales. 1 It may be noted that
Nylander, pt. ii. (1844), 23, describes epigeios, Laest., under that
name.

C. aquatilis x salina ( = C. Grantii, mihi) was first found by
Mr. Grant, not Mr. Marshall, who gathered it some years after.
C. aqnatilis x Hudsonii ( = C. hibernica, mihi), C. Goodenovii,
Gay. Gay so spelt it, though it is not really the author's name.
No doubt Kiikenthal is right in making it juncea (Fr.), 1842,
and not juncella (Fr.), 1857. The var. strictijormis, Bailey,
Mem. Torrey Bot. Club, i. (1889), p. 74 (sub-vulgaris) is thus
characterised: "Tall and lax (i| to 2\ feet high), the leaves
long and narrow ; staminate spike longer peduncled ; pistillate
spike looser and often longer than in the species, the perigynia
never being so densely packed and usually being browner :
Canada, Maine south to Pennsylvania. The plant stands mid-
way between C. vulgaris and C. stricta. From the latter it is
distinguished by not growing in tufts, and by its narrower and
smoother leaves, and very obtuse black or brown and white-
nerved short scales."

The " C. elytroides, Fries," of my paper was an error, the speci-
mens representing a peculiar form of Goodenovii. C. spiculosa,
Fr., has been by the Scandinavian authors considered a hybrid
probably C. Goodenovii x salina in one of its many forms.
My var. forma nova, Hebridcnse, mihi, I.e., I there give the
date of Nylander's part ii. as 1843, but I did not then possess
it; the true date is June 1844. There is no more difficult
European Carex than salina to limit.
C. rigida, var. infer-alpina, Laest. (1839).

If Kiikenthal makes this the same as C. concolor, R. Brown,
in "Supp. App. Parry's Voyage " (1823), 218; then I think he
is wrong, no doubt it is a rigida form ; but infer-alpina is a
much more robust form.
Carex flava, L.

It is curious that Bailey 2 has a var. rectirostrata, from Van-
couver's Island (Macoun). He observes C. viridula, Boott.,
" 111.," t. 523, may possibly belong here, although the perigynia
are rather those of CEdcri.

C. pilulifera, L. The identity of the vars. Leesii and longi-
bracteata has been denied; but Fernauld (I.e., 499-504) made
a careful comparison of all European and American forms, and
agrees they are the same. I have no doubt I have Lange's
plant.

1 Fernald in " Proc. Am. Acad. Arts and Sciences," xxxvii. (1902), 497.
2 "Bot. Gazette" (1888), p. 84.

74 E

ii 4 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

C. ligerica, Gay. Named by Boeckeler ; but his work was
not good, as Mr. C. B. Clarke has often shown me.

C. diluta, Bierb, and C. piinctata, Gaud., the writer says
" not the same." If so, diluta is wrongly named in some
herbaria !

With regard to our Carices, the date 1897 is thirteen years ago.
Much has been done since to make for a perfect enumeration,
but all has not been done yet. In America, Prof. Bailey has
discussed, described, visited Europe, and seen all the types he
could ; yet Mr. Fernauld comes along in 1902, and reviews and
readjusts many of his conclusions. Had Mr. C. B. Clarke
lived, he would have reviewed the whole genus ; the present
author of the Carex Monograph, in the " Pflanzenreich," owes
much to my late friend.

ADDITIONS FOR 1908-1909 TO CENSUS OF
SCOTTISH HEPATIC^.

By SVMERS M. MACVICAR.

THERE are 89 additions to be given since the last instalment
was published in July 1908. LopJwzia longidens has not
been previously recorded for the west of Scotland. A melan-
choly interest attaches to the record of Preissia quadrata
from Shetland, owing to the death of the finder, Mr. W. H.
Beeby. The death of this most accurate botanist is a great
loss to Scottish botany, and an especial loss to those who
had the privilege of being his correspondents.

75. AYR.

Lophozia bantriensis, J. M 1 Andrew.
Kantia arguta, Miss K. B. Macvicar.

78. PEEBLES.

Lunularia cruciata, J. M 1 Andrew in lift.
Lophozia badensis, W. Evans.

79. SELKIRK.
(S. M. Macvicar.}

Marchantia polymorpha. Lepidozia setacea.

Marsupella emarginata. Scapania gracilis.

ADDITIONS TO CENSUS OF SCOTTISH HEPATIC/E 115

80. ROXBURGH.

Ptilidium ciliare ) .

^ , , ,, it vr < *-> M. iWacvicar.

Cepnaloziella stellulifera J

82. HADDINGTON.
(/. M ( 'Andrew.}

Lophozia excisa. Scapania purpurascens.

L. barbata. Madotheca Isevigata.

Cephaloziella byssacea. Lejeunea cavifolia.

83. EDINBURGH.
Aplozia sphaerocarpa, J. M l Andrew.

84. LINLITHGOW.
(/. Af l Andrew.)

Preissia quadrata. Lophozia incisa.

Lophozia badensis. Cephaloziella bifida.

85. FIFE.
Riccia Lescuriana, G. I Vest.

86. STIRLING.
Cephaloziella byssacea, S. M. Macvicar.

87. WEST PERTH.
Lophozia turbinata, W. Evans.

88. MID PERTH.
Lophozia obtusa, D. A. Jones and H. H. Knight.

89. EAST PERTH.
Cephaloziella byssacea, J. Fergusson.

94. BANFF.
Pallavicinia Blyttii, J. A. Wheldon and A. Wilson.

95. ELGIN.
(Miss E. Armitage.)

Aneura latifrons. Ptilidium ciliare.

Mylia anomala. Scapania gracilis.

Cephaloziella byssacea, Miss K. B. Macvicar.

n6 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

96. EAST INVERNESS.

(/. A. Wheldon and A. Wilson.}

Gymnomitrium crassifolium. Bazzania trilobata.

Marsupella Pearsoni. Scapania uliginosa.

Aplozia cordifolia. S. obliqua.

97. WEST INVERNESS.

(J. B. Duncan and H. H, Knight.}

Pallavicinia Blyttii. Chandonanthus setiformis.

Marsupella condensata. Lophozia longidens.

Harpanthus Flotowianus.
Anthoceros laevis, S. M. Macvicar.

98. ARGYLL.
Lophozia longidens, H. H. Knight. Cephalozia reclusa, D. Kennedy.

100. CLYDE ISLES.
(Miss K. B. Macvicar}

Pellia Neesiana. Madotheca Thuja.

Sphenolobus exsectseformis.

(/. M l Andrew.}

Aplozia riparia. Sphenolobus minutus.

A. atrovirens. Lophocolea heterophylla.

A. crenulata. Scapania nemorosa.

Lophozia inflata. Marchesinia Mackaii.

L. Muelleri.

Marchantia polymorpha^

Lophozia gracilis } J. M l Andrew in lift.

L. Floerkii

Cephalozia curvifolia, P. Eimng.

1 01. CANTYRE.
(P. Eiving}

Aneura multifida. Bazzania triangularis.

A. palmata. Scapania nemorosa.

Mylia anomala. Microlejeunea ulicina.

Cephalozia connivens. Jubula Hutchinsise.
Odontoschisma Sphagni.

104. NORTH EBUDES.
Cephaloziella byssacea, ,S. M. Macvicar.

105. WEST Ross.
Cephaloziella byssacea, S. M. Macvicar.

ADDITIONS TO CENSUS OF SCOTTISH HEPATIC^ 117

1 08. WEST SUTHERLAND.
(D. Lillie.}

Aneura latifrons. Mylia anomala.

Metzgeria furcata. Cephalozia fluitans.

M. pubescens. Blepharostoma trichophyllum.

Aplozia pumila. Scapania aspera.

Lophozia atlantica. S. irrigua.

no. OUTER HEBRIDES.
Cephaloziella byssacea, W. West.

in. ORKNEY.

Metzgeria hamata 1 Anthelia julacea ~|

D. Lillie. \ Dr. Grant.

Nardia compressa J Herberta adunca J

112. SHETLAND.
Preissia quadrata, W. H. Beeby.

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES.

Extraordinary Fecundity of a Whale (Balanoptera musculus).

I have in previous papers stated that Whales have very rarely more

than one calf at a birth. Still they have, as pointed out by Mr.

Harvie-Brown and others, been known to have twins, but such an

event is most unusual.

I have now to record a most singular instance, which was
brought to my notice by Mr. T. E. Salvesen of Leith. Captain M.
C. Bull, manager of some stations in Iceland, had a cow Common
Rorqual (Balanoptera musculus) of 65 feet in length brought in.
He was present when the whale was cut up, and to his astonishment
it contained six foetuses. Of these three measured 34 inches each,
one 20 inches, one 18 inches, and one 17 inches.

Had the whale given birth to all six it is unlikely that more
than two could have lived, the whale having only two teats.

Captain Bull has great experience in whaling, probably more
than any one else. This has caused the Norwegian papers to
notice what is a most curious circumstance, and can admit of no
doubt. R. C. HALDANE, Lochend, Shetland.

Large Otter in " Tay." An Otter is recorded as having been
trapped on Fonab Water of the river Tummel by Mr. Jas. Cowie,
which is given as " 3 ft. 9 ins. in length from tip to tip," and " of the
unusual weight of 25 Ibs." J. A. HARVIE-BROWN.

iiS ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Crossbills on the North-East Coast. Mr. A. G. Gavin records
that a number of Crossbills have been caught at Fraserburgh ; and
fishermen have caught a number at sea. One fisherman reported
that there were " hundreds " drowned, not being able to continue
their flight to land. Mr. Gavin, with whom I have been in direct
correspondence, informs me that these are the first that he has any
knowledge of as having ever been seen upon this bleak north-
eastern district of Aberdeenshire. Eight birds are reported as
frequenting the gardens about Wick and feeding entirely upon
green-fly (D. M'Lean in lit., 22nd July 1909). J. A. HARVIE-
BROWN.

Albino Reed Bunting 1 in Solway Area. I was shown a bird
in December that almost proved a puzzle as to identity. It was
absolutely pure white, except that there was one minute feather on
the shoulder of one wing, brown. The bill was that of a Bunting,
and so were the legs and feet, and also the wing formula. So,
with a little comparison, it was seen to be a Reed Bunting (Emberiza
scha'nidus). It is in the possession of the tenant of Brae of
Lochrutton, and makes a very pretty and interesting specimen. It
was described as having a novel and conspicuous appearance when
seen flying amongst a great flock of other small birds in dark winter
weather. ROBERT SERVICE, Maxwelltown.

Greater Wheatear at Mull of Galloway : a Correction. I
am sorry that a mistake has been made regarding the date of
the occurrence of Saxicola leucorrhoa recorded in the " Annals "
for January (p. 55). The bird was obtained on i2th September,
not 1 2th August as stated. ANNIE C. JACKSON, Swordale.

Great Spotted Woodpecker near Penpont, Dumfriesshire. I

watched a bird of this species for fully fifteen minutes on 23rd
December 1909. There were 4 inches of snow on the ground at
the time. HUGH S. GLADSTONE, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire.

Great Spotted Woodpecker in Forth and Dee. On i2th March
1909, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was .brought to Mr. Mowat,
Teacher, Dunipace School, and was preserved by him for the
School Museum. One was seen in Carron Glen on i8th July
1909.

In 1908, Mr. A. Macdonald wrote from The Public School,
Durris, Aberdeen, to Mr. Lawson, Manager, Braemar, about a bird
which appeared to be a Great Spotted AVoodpecker. This now
1909 seems to have been correct, and this spring 1909 the
bird continues, and it may be nesting. J. A. HARVIE-BROWN.

Greenland Falcons in Scotland. During the past winter we
have had quite a visitation of Greenland Falcons, Falco candicans.
Not only have they been observed in Scotland, but Ireland has been
similarly favoured by the visits of no less than six, and as in Scotland,

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 119

more have in all probability escaped notice, and it is to be hoped
the gun. The first Scottish visitor was shot at Barra on i5th
December, and another was seen on Christmas Day ; another was
observed near Inverbroom, West Ross-shire, late in December ; an
adult female was shot near Pitlochry on 4th January ; an adult
male was shot near Blairgowrie on 23rd January; two were seen at
the Flannan Islands, one in December, and the second on 25th
January; another is said to have been shot on Schiehallion, "early in
the year," and lastly one was seen in South Uist during most of
January ; making nine birds in all. For the above information
we are indebted to Lady Fowler, Mr. W. L. MacGillivray, Mr. T. G.
Laidlaw, and Mr. Robert Anderson. J. A. HARVIE-BROWN and
WM. EAGLE CLARKE.

Bittern in Fife. A very fine specimen of a male bittern
(Botaums stellaris] was taken near Cupar, Fife, on iith January
last. Mr. Adam Paterson, gamekeeper to Mr. Home-Rigg of Tarvit,
was looking for duck on the bank of the Eden about half a mile
below the town, between three and four in the afternoon, when a
large bird rose suddenly. He fired and winged it. The bittern
was most pugnacious, and struck out at the gamekeeper with its long,
sharp bill, missing his eye by an inch. The specimen has been set
up by Messrs. Small & Son, Edinburgh, who say it is the finest
bittern they have had through their hands. HENRY H. BROWN,
Cupar.

Long-tailed Duck near Gretna, Dumfriesshire. An adult
male was killed by a fisherman on 2nd November 1909. It is in
remarkably full winter plumage, and is now in the Tullie House
Museum, Carlisle, as I am informed by the curator, Mr. L. E.
Hope. HUGH S. GLADSTONE, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire.

Stock Dove in Dee. Mr. A. Macdonald, Durris, informs me
that the Stock Dove has nested now 1909 for two years, in
the Parish of Banchory Ternan, and he himself has found the
broken egg-shells in the hole in the rock where they breed. J. A.
HARVIE-BROWN.

Hybrid Blackcock and Capercaillie in Kineardineshire. In

1906 a brood of these hybrids was reared close to Fasque, Laurence-
kirk. The Capercaillie hen (the mother) was frequently seen with
her progeny, which is confidently stated by the gamekeeper on the
beat to have consisted of four cocks and three hens. These have
since been accounted for as follows: iSth January 1907 One
male was killed, and is now stuffed and in the possession of Sir
John Gladstone at Fasque. i9th December 1907 One male
and one female were shot. The male is now in the possession of
Lieut.-Col. C. J. Cotes, at Pitchford Hall, Shropshire. The female
was unfortunately not preserved. One male was picked up dead

120 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

in 1908, but was not in a fit condition to keep. i5th December
1909 One male was shot, and is now stuffed and in the posses-
sion of the writer. One female was also shot, but being only
winged was unfortunately not retrieved. The above notes are
especially interesting in view of the fact that so experienced a
naturalist as Mr. J. G. Millais, writes : " Female examples of
this hybrid are extremely rare, even on the continent, and I do
not know of a British example " (" The Natural History of Game
Birds," 1909, p. 1 6). It seems highly probable that female examples
of this hybrid, when they occur, are much more liable to escape
notice than their more conspicuous brethren : but even so, it is
certainly very strange that they should be stated authoritatively to
be so rare. In all justice to Mr. Millais, it remains to be pointed
out that in the " life-history " (if it may be so called) of the seven
Kincardineshire specimens above mentioned, there is to-day no
ocular proof of the previous existence of a female bird. The four
males of the brood are satisfactorily accounted for; two of the
females are believed to have been shot and lost ; the third female
would still seem to await a fate which may yet be glorious, as gain-
ing for it the title of the first recorded British specimen of a female
hybrid resulting from the cross of a Blackcock and a Capercaillie
hen. HUGH S. GLADSTONE, Capenoch, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire.

Capereaillie in East Lothian. On iyth December, 1909, Mr.
A. M. T. Fletcher of Saltounhall shot in his own woods a female
Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), rather small and not very well
nourished. Having heard that Mr. J. D. Hope, M.P., had liberated
some Capercaillie a few years previously at Letham (which is only
5 miles from Saltounhall woods as the crow flies) I went to him
about it. He informs me that he reared two male birds from eggs
sent to him, one of which he knows was afterwards shot. But as
the Saltounhall Capercaillie was a female it was certainly not the
other imported bird. H. N. BONAR, Saltoun.

Occurrence of Anarrhiehas latifrons in the North Sea. On
5th February 1910, a "Jelly Cat," Anarrhiehas latifrons, was sent
to the Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen, by Mr. Eunson, fish merchant.
It was in a fresh condition, having evidently been captured quite
recently. It had not been gutted. The fish, it was reported, had
been landed by one of the smaller Aberdeen trawlers, which work
in the North Sea, and within a comparatively short distance off Aber-
deen. It measured 3 feet 5 inches in length. A small pink-coloured
Trematode, found in the stomach, was diagnosed by Dr. Wm.
Nicoll, Lister Institute, London, as Lebouria idonea, a form which
is common in Anarrhiehas lupus. H. CHAS. WILLIAMSON, Marine
Laboratory, Aberdeen.

[This fish is the " Blue Sea-Cat " of the Norwegians. It differs
from its allies A. lupus and A. minor, as follows : the vomerine row

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 121

of teeth is shorter than the row on each of the palatine bones ; the
dorsal fin ends in an even curve down to the base of the caudal fin ;
the top of the frontal bones behind the eyes is at least as broad
as the interorbital space ; colour dark greyish brown or a lighter
chocolate colour, with indistinct round, or rounded quadrangular,
black spots, partly arranged in slightly marked transverse bands
across the back. It occurs on the coasts of Greenland and Iceland,
as well as in Norwegian Finmark. It has not hitherto, we believe,
been found in British Seas. EDS.]

Occurrence of Velella spirans, Eschsc/wltz, in Scottish Waters.
During the autumn of 1904 Mr. Wm. Eagle Clarke discovered, on
the Flannan Isles, a solitary specimen of this tropical and sub-
tropical Siphonophore, which he has since presented to the Royal
Scottish Museum. The Velella was found, after a strong south-
westerly gale, resting on a mass of spume with which it had been
borne to the top of the cliffs almost a hundred feet in height by the
force of the wind. It was perfectly fresh, of a brilliant blue colour,
and examination shows that the specimen was mature, for large
numbers of gonophores occur on the gonozooids or reproductive
individuals. Velella spirans is a casual visitor to the British Isles,
where it is occasionally found on the western coast, but probably
only after a gale from the Atlantic. It may have been the species
recorded from Scottish waters so long ago as 1771; of which
Fleming in his "History of British Animals " (Edinburgh, 1828),
p. 500, says that "Dr. Walker, in his MS. 'adversaria' for 1771,
states the Medusa velella of Linnaeus as having been found at Ose
in Sky ; and Mr. Pennant in his ' Caledonian Zoology,' prefixed to
Lightfoot's 'Flora Scotica,' vol. i. 66, notices the same animal
without any remark. It is impossible to determine with certainty to
which of the modern species these references belong." Prof. M'Intosh
also refers to its occurrence on the Scottish coast where, on the
Outer Hebrides, " countless myriads of the little Velella are tossed
in autumn on the sand " (" Marine Invert, and Fishes of St. Andrews,"
I ^75, p. 32). On the south-west of Ireland its occurrence, as one
would expect, is more frequent ; for example, at Valentia Harbour,
in the south-west of Kerry, there occurred in April 1899 a shoal
of small specimens, in June 1900 a large shoal, and in July 1901
a solitary large specimen (M. and C. Delap, " Rep. Fisheries,
Ireland," for 1902-1903, pt. 2, App. I. [1905], p. 4), while others
were stranded to the west of Cork Harbour on loth October 1903
(H. A. Martin, "Irish Naturalist," xiii. 1904, p. 27). JAMES
RITCHIE, The Royal Scottish Museum.

Ornithobius goniopleurus, Denny, on the Bernaele Goose.
The hosts given by Denny, and quoted by Piaget, for this Mallo-
phagous parasite are the Canada Goose and the Goosander ; and
Giebel gives it from the Mute Swan. To these I can add the

122 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Bernacle goose (Bernicla leucopsis\ having obtained two examples off
a specimen of that bird shot at Cobbinshaw Reservoir, Midlothian,
on gth October 1906, and one from a specimen killed at Barra,
Outer Hebrides, in January 1910. WILLIAM EVANS, Edinburgh.

Priapulus eaudatus, Lam., on the Fife Coast. On 5th March
(1910) I dug a small example of this curious Gephyrean out of the
mud between tide-marks in Dalgetty Bay, west of Aberdour, Fife.
Its length, with the "introvert" extended, was about 2^ inches.
The previous records from the Firth of Forth are : two found at
Leith by Dr. Coldstream prior to 1828 (Fleming's " British Animals,"
p. 492), one near Granton by Sir John Dalyell ("Powers of the
Creator," vol. ii. p. 253), and some taken by Dr. Thomas Scott
from stomachs of fishes caught in the Forth (8th Report, 1889,
Fish. Bd. Scot., pt. iii. p. 332). WILLIAM EVANS, Edinburgh.

Asearis oseulata, Rud., from a Common Seal killed in the
Inner Hebrides. In August 1908 I obtained about a dozen
specimens of this large Nematode from the nasal cavity of a
Common Seal (Phoca vitulina) shot at Coll, Inner Hebrides, that
month. Some of the worms were shown to Mr. A. E. Shipley, who
confirmed the identification. WILLIAM EVANS, Edinburgh.

BOTANICAL NOTES AND NEWS.

Saxifraga esespitosa, L. In my Notes on this plant 1 I
omitted to refer to Dr. Craig's notice in the Edin. Bot. Soc.
Trans, xvii. (1889) pp. 69-72. From his account there appears to
be some discrepancy as to the date of the gathering of Dr. M.
Barry's specimens. On the label accompanying my specimens it is
" August 6 (not 3 as printed), 1830. This is one of Barry's original
specimens, see Syme, E.B." F. M. Webb, in lift. Dr. Craig, speak-
ing of Mr. W. M'Nab's gathering on Beinn A'Bhuird in August 1836,
says: "The following year (1831) Prof. Graham, Mr. W. M'Nab,
Dr. M. Barry and others, made a special search on Beinn A'Bhuird,
but failed to find it. After the party returned, Mr. M'Nab and Dr.
Barry returned and again searched the mountain, but without
success. Dr. Barry remained behind, and accompanied by Mr. J.
Mackenzie, gardener at Invercauld, as his guide, examined the rocks
on Ben Avon facing Beinn A'Bhuird, and they were successful. The
first specimen was picked by Mr. Mackenzie, so that he, and not
Dr. Barry, was the real discoverer of the Ben Avon station. Dr.
Barry visited this station again in 1832, and picked the plant
sparingly," so it would seem that Mr. Watson's specimens were

1 "Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist.," 174, 1909.

BOTANICAL NOTES AND NEWS 123

not of the first gathering. Dr. Craig goes on to say that " Prof.
Babington in a letter remarks, 'Hooker, in 1821, seems to have
had specimens gathered by Don ("Scot. Fl.," pt. i. p. 32)." I do
not agree with Prof. Babington in this ; looking at Don's descrip-
tions 1 of this, condensata, and denudata, and Smith's remarks on
them, they seem to me to come under hypnoides and grxnlandLa ?
and Hooker's ccespitosa was evidently an aggregate species. Dr.
Craig says, " In the herbarium of Dr. Gordon of Birnie, there is a
specimen labelled 'Ben Avon, Aug. 1831. W. A. Stables,' with
label in his handwriting."

In the first edition of the "Species Plantarum," i, 404, 1753,
Linnaeus describes two Saxifrages

"No. 24. S. groenlandica. Habitat Grcenlandia, forte etiam in
Pyrenasis and Helveticis Alpibus.

"No. 27. S.cKspitosa. Habitat in Alpibus Lapponicis, Helveticis,
Tridentinis, Monspelii."

The Greenland, Iceland, and Scottish specimens (Dr. Barry and
Mr. Evans) accord very well with the latter (No. 27), the Ben
Lawers and Tul Dhu, Wales, may go to the former (No. 24).

Hooker and Arnott (ed. 8, 1860) evidently have No. 27 in
view, as has also Bentham (ed. i, 1858). And although so well
known to be what was called a "lumper," Bentham certainly refers
to the Arctic ccespitosa (No. 27), and not to the mixture of ccc.spitosa,.
decipiens, and grc&nlandica.

It is difficult no doubt for anyone who has not seen the true
ccespitosa to see why the Irish, Welsh, and Ben Lawers specimens
may not be so named. Of course if you make an aggregate species
including all these the matter is easily settled, in fact authors differ
ad lib. as to this section of the genus.

In the second edition of the " Cybele Hibernica " (1898), 131,
the authors remark, under S. hypnoides, L., var. grxnlandica (Eugl.),
" To this, rather than to S. azspitosa, L., should probably be referred
the plants gathered by Mackay and Mr. Linton on Brandon." In
this I quite agree with them. No doubt Prof. Babington put the
Welsh and other specimens under his caspitosa, as he speaks of
having gathered " -5". ccespitosa in Clogivyn-y-Garnedd" in " Journ. of
Life" (1897), p. 10. And of course others may say "you are
simply dealing with a super-species here, made up of many sub-
species ; if so, which name should it bear, 'grcenla ndica' or
' c&spitosa ' ? " A. BENNETT.

Helleborine atroviridis, W. R. Linton, in W. Sutherland.
Rev. E. F. Linton has called my attention to a specimen sent to
him as Epipadis latifolia from Ardskinid Point, Tongue Bay, July
1900, which I had noted as having green flowers, scarcely tinged
with pink. He remarks that " it looks like ovalis, but that with.
1 "Trans. Linn. Soc.," V. xiii. 444-448.

i2 4 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

these flowers and gradually decreasing, narrowing leaves it should
be atroviridis. Not latifolia \ " My own herbarium-specimen (No.
1930) of August 3, 1907, from the same locality, fully bears out
this opinion ; it is, in fact, quite like the Little Boward, Hereford-
shire, E. ovalis, Bab., which Rev. A. Ley and I recently found to
be identical with authentic atroviridis (ovalis is for the most part a
synonym of atrorubens]. It follows that the hybrid found in 1900,
and published as E. atrorubens x latifolia, is so only in an aggregate
sense, and should be called Helleborine atrorubens x atroviridis, n.
hybr. EDWARD S. MARSHALL.

CURRENT LITERATURE.

The Titles and Purport of Papers and Notes relating to Scottish Natural
History which have appeared during the Quarter January-March 1910.

[The Editors desire assistance to enable them to make this Section as complete as
possible. Contributions on the lines indicated will be most acceptable, and
will bear the initials of the Contributor. The Editors will have access to the
sources of information undermentioned.]

ZOOLOGY.

THE WOLF IN SCOTLAND AND ELSEWHERE. J. R. M'Clymont.
The Zoologist, February, 1910, pp. 72, 73.

ON THE BIRDS OF THE GLASGOW DISTRICT. John Paterson.
The Glasgow Naturalist, vol. ii. No. 2 (February 1910), pp. 43' 61 -
Notes on 179 species, 47 of which are not recorded in Gray's
list published in 1876.

SOME INTERESTING BRITISH INSECTS (II.). G. C. Champion,
F.Z.S., and R. W. Lloyd, F.G.S. Ent. Mo. Mag., January 1910,
pp. 1-3, pi. i. Criocephalus rusticus, Dej. from Nethy Bridge, and
Pachyta sexmaculata, L., from Aviemore and Nethy Bridge, are
figured and described.

METHVEN Moss AS A COLLECTING GROUND FOR ENTOMOLOGY.
William Wylie. Trans. Perthshire Soc. Nat. Sri., vol. v. pt. i.
(1908-1909) pp. 1-5. Lists given of Macrolepidoptera, rare Dip-
tera, and a few Dragonflies.

MALACOSOMA NEUSTRIA, L., IN KINCARDINESHIRE. James
Waterston. Entomologist, January 1910, pp. 36-37. Notes on a
case of accidental introduction of this species in the egg-state, the
eggs being found on a rose-bush imported from Holland.

CEMIOSTOMA SUSINELLA, H.-S., A TINEID NEW TO THE BRITISH
LIST, IN SCOTLAND. Eustace R. Bankes, M.A., F.E.S. Ent. Mo.
Mag., January 1910, pp. 8-9. Two specimens taken at Aviemore
,in June 1909.

CURRENT LITERATURE 125.

CRYPHALUS ABIETIS, RATZ., IN SCOTLAND. T. Hudson-Beare.
Ent. Mo. Mag., February 1910, p. 32. Specimen taken at Gore-
bridge on May 13, 1905.

SOME HYMENOPTERA FROM THE HIGHLANDS. Claude Morley.
Ent. Mo. Mag., February 1910, pp. 36-38. Records of 47 species
(comprising Ichneumonidae, Braconidae, Proctotrypidas, Aculeata
and Tenthredinidte).

ACULEATE AND OTHER HYMENOPTERA IN SOAY (SKYE). C. H.
Mortimer. Ent. Mo. Mag., February 1910, p. 39. Seven species
recorded.

Two NEW SPECIES OF ANTHOMYID/E, IN THE GENUS FANNIA,
R. D. ( = HOMATOMYIA, BoucHE). J. R. Malloch. Ent. Mo. Mag.,
March 1910, pp. 67-68. Fannia nigra, n. sp., from Dumbartonshire
and F. femorata, n. sp., from Aberfoyle.

ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO THE BRITISH LIST OF MUSCID^E
ACALYPTRAT^E. J. E. Collin, F.E.S. Ent. Mo. Mag., February
1910, pp. 47-48. Cordylura atrata, Ztt, Amaurosoma brevifrons,
Ztt., and Acanthocnema nigrimana, Ztt, are recorded as Scottish.

LIFE- HISTORY OF DREPANEPTERYX PHAL^NOIDES, LINN.
Kenneth J. Morton, F.E.S. Ent. Mo. Mag., March 1910, pp. 54-
62. In this interesting paper the known records (including the
Scottish) of the species are summarised (pp. 55-56).

LIST OF THE "CLYDE" COPEOGNATHA, OR PSOCID/E. James
J. F. X. King, F.E.S. The Glasgow Naturalist, vol. ii. No. 2
(February 1910), pp. 34-36. Twenty-one species enumerated as
occurring in the Clyde valley, with localities.

A METHOD FOR THE STUDY OF THE ANIMAL ECOLOGY OF THE
SHORE. L. A. L. King, M.A., and E. S. Russell, M.A. Proc.
Roy. Pliys. Soc. Edin., xvii. No. 6 (October 1909), pp. 225-253.
Gives the results of a method employed at Millport in August 1908.
The list of species obtained includes eleven not previously recorded
for the Clyde.

NOTES FROM MILLPORT MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION. Richard
Elmhirst, F.L.S. The Zoologist, February 1910, pp. 69-71. Notes
on the Common Hermit-Crab, Eupagurus bernhardus (L.), associated
with Suberites domuncula ; Moulting and Regeneration of Galathea
strigosa, Fabr. ; the Lobster ; " Pull " of Solen siliqua ; and Spawn
of Oscanius (Pleurobranchus) membranaceus.

ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE THORNY LOBSTER (PALINURUS
VULGARIS) IN BRITISH WATERS. James Ritchie, M.A., B.Sc. Proc.
Rnv. Phys. Soc. Edin., vol. xviii. No. i, pp. 68-71 (February 1910).
A number of Scottish records are given in this paper.

SOME MEDUSA AND CTENOPHORES FROM THE FIRTH OF FORTH.
William Evans and J. H. Ashworth, D.Sc. Proc. Roy. Phys.

126 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Edin., xvii. No. 6. (October 1909), pp. 300-311. Records thirteen
species, several of them new to the Forth, obtained at Dunbar and
Burntisland in 1908.

BOTANY.

SUPPLEMENTARY RECORDS OF BRITISH RUBI. By Rev. W. Moyle
Rogers (Journ. Bot., 1909, 340-346), completes lists begun in the
previous month.

THE BRITISH ROSES (EXCLUDING EU-CANINA-:). By Major A. H.
Wolley-Dod (Journ. Bot., 1910, Appendix, pp. 1-32).

BRITISH SPECIES AND VARIETIES OF THYMUS. By Rev. E. F.
Linton (Journ. Bot., 1909, 346-348). A few additions to records
from Scotland ; a form new to Britain, T. Lovyanus Opiz, from
Ireland, is described.

BRITISH OAKS. By C. E. Moss {Journ. Bot., 1910, 1-8, 33-39,
pi. 502). Q. Robur has reflexed auricles at base of leaf-blade and
has not branched hairs ; Q. sessiliflora has branched hairs on lower
surface of leaves but has no auricles ; the hybrid Robur x
sessiliflora has both auricles and branched hairs. (W. Perth,
hb. B. M. and Dumbarton, hb. K.)

NEW RECORDS IN SCOTTISH BRYOPHYTA. By Eleonora
Armitage (Journ. Bot., 1910, 57-58). Seven mosses and four liver-
worts from Elginshire (95), two mosses from Easterness (96), and
one moss from Knockdolian Hills in Ayrshire (75).

DICRANUM BERGERI, BLAND., IN CAITHNESS. By Cecil B.
Crampton (Journ. Bot., 1910, 23). New to Scotland ; forms large
fertile cushions near the Dubh Lochans on Kilimster Moss.

SOME HIGHLAND FUNGI. By Harold J. Wheldon (Journ. Bot.,
1909, 348-349). From Speyside, twenty-eight species named (with
altitudes in most cases) of which seven seem to be new to Speyside
records.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STUDY OF DUMFRIESSHIRE FUNGI. By
A. Lorrain-Smith (Trans, and Journ. of Proc. Dumfr. and Gall. N.
H. and Anti. Soc., 1909, xx. pp. 170-177).

NOTE SUR UNE NOUVELLE ESPECE DE PSEUDOPHACIDIUM. By
E. Boudier (Trans. Brit. Myc. Soc., Season 1908, p. 81, i pi.).
P. Smithianum, on Empetrum nigrum in various parts of Scotland.

BOOK NOTICES.

A HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF KENT. By Norman F. Ticehurst,
M.A., F.R.C.S., F.Z.S., etc. With Twenty-four Plates and a Map.
London: Witherby & Co., 1909. 2is. net.

Judged from the ornithological standpoint, there are few

BOOK NOTICES 127

counties in Great Britain that can equal Kent in the attractions it
offers to feathered inhabitants, and none can surpass it for the
observation of migratory visitors. It has a diversified surface
offering suitable haunts to a great variety of species for the rearing
of their broods ; while its geographical position in relation to the
Continent renders it unique for witnessing the comings and goings
of hosts of seasonal migrants and casual visitors. That such a
county should have produced many bird-men in the past is not
surprising, but it has been left, we may say fortunately left, to Dr.
Ticehurst to treat of its avifauna in a way that does full justice to its
importance. As a history, the author has based his book upon an
exhaustive examination of the abundant literature at his disposal.
The nature of the edifice to be raised on such substantial founda-
tions, however, entirely depends upon the author's personal experi-
ences, for these alone must determine its attractive qualities and its real
worth. That Dr. Ticehurst possesses these essential qualifications
to an eminent degree is manifest throughout the volume. In an
excellent introduction the topography of the county is well described,
the nature of its avifauna discussed, migration in all its varied
aspects treated of, and the work of other authors alluded to. Then
follows the systematic portion of 557 pages wherein the 312
species (excluding doubtful ones), of Kentish birds are admirably
reviewed. We have studied most of the books devoted to British
topographical ornithology, and in our opinion the " Birds of Kent " is
second to none of them. The volume is well got up, the illustrations,
which are mainly from photographs of bird haunts, are very
appropriate, while an orographical map of the county affords a
useful appendix to a volume which is in every way well worthy of
the patronage of British ornithologists.

BRITISH WARBLERS : A HISTORV, WITH PROBLEMS OF THEIR
LIVES. By H. Eliot Howard, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. Illustrated by
Henrich Gronvold. Part IV. London, R. H. Porter. 2 is. net.

It has been our pleasure to speak in the highest terms of praise
of the previous parts of this entirely original and beautiful work.
The part before us fully maintains the high standard, as regards both
letterpress and plates, of those previously issued. The species now
treated of are the Common and Lesser Whitethroats, the Greenish
Willow Warbler, and the Siberian Chiff Chaff, to whose portraits and
actions ten plates are allocated, while another plate contains
excellent figures of the eggs of a number of species. We are
glad to see that Mr. Howard, following in the footsteps of Prof.
Newton, Mr. Howard Saunders, and other leading authorities, is
including the more uncommon species as British Warblers. The
question of what is a British species has, in our opinion, long ago
been determined by the findings of the authors of the standard works
on British Birds, and Mr. Howard's beautiful plates will help to

128 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

make the rarer species more familiar and hence less liable to be
overlooked. G. G.-M.

REPORT ON THE IMMIGRATION OF SUMMER RESIDENTS IN THE
SPRING OF 1908 : ALSO NOTES ON THE AUTUMN MOVEMENTS OF
1907. By a Committee of the British Ornithologist's Club.
London: Witherby & Co., 1909. 6s.

This Annual Report is written on the same lines as those which
we have noticed favourably in past years, and hence it does not
call for an extended notice. It is to be commended to all those
Scottish naturalists who are interested in the subject, since it usefully
links up the details relating to their own country with that of
England. The report has grown in scope since its inception in
1906, and now includes records of " Unscheduled Species," and
" Notes on the Migratory Movements of the Autumn," and runs to
235 P a ges.

THE BRITISH FRESHWATER RHIZOPODA AND HELIOZOA. By
the late James Cash, assisted by John Hopkinson, F.L.S., etc.
Vol. II. Rhizopoda, Part II. (London : Ray Society, 1909.)

The first volume of this valuable monograph was published in
1905 (vide "Annals" for 1906, p. 127), and now we have the
second of the series of three in which it is being issued before us.
Owing to the lamented death of Mr. Cash on February 20, 1909,
shortly after he had finished writing out the descriptions of the
species and notes on distribution, the task of completing the MS.,
and seeing the volume through the press, fell entirely on Mr.
Hopkinson. A proof, it is interesting to observe, was read by Dr.
Penard of Geneva, and Prof. G. S. West has contributed to the
illustrations.

The present volume, which takes us to the end of the Arcellida,
deals with 14 genera (Difflugia to Zonomyxa), and Si species with
varieties, 13 of the species being new to science. These are fully
described in 166 pages of letterpress, and illustrated by an ample
series of excellent figures, mostly from Mr. Cash's own drawings, on
1 6 plates, 10 of which are coloured, with many text-figures besides.
The .synonymy and references to literature to end of 1908 entirely
the work of Mr. Hopkinson are very full. Under each species is
given a general statement as to the nature of the habitat, followed
by a fair number of localities in various parts of the British Isles,
including Scotland, both north and south. In all respects the
volume worthily upholds the high traditions of the Ray Society's
publications. W. E.

The Annals

of

Scottish Natural History

No. 75]

1910

[JULY

OBITUARY MEMOIR OF
WILLIAM HADDON BEEBY, F.L.S.

By Rev. EDWARD S. MARSHALL, M.A., F.L.S.

READERS of the " Scottish Naturalist " and its present
successor will hardly need to be told that the sudden death,
on 4th January, of the subject of this memoir, aged sixty, is
a very serious loss to British Botany generally, and more
particularly to that of Scotland ; as, for many years past,
his annual summer holidays had been spent in a careful and
systematic study of the Flora of Shetland, and the results
have been, from time to time, published in these pages. To
the present writer, who is indebted to him for much help,
especially in earlier days, these appear to be models of such
records, combining keen observation and the fruits of long
experience with close attention to detail and the most
scrupulous accuracy.

Beeby made his mark while still a very young man ;
and he continued to add to our plant-knowledge, even after
failing health had befallen him. The earliest Shetland
paper from his pen known to me appeared in 1887 ; his
discoveries there included several " first notices '' of plants
as British, besides the species and varieties described by
himself. So far as I am aware, his only collections on the
Scottish mainland were made near Aberdeen ; but he was
75 B

130 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

keenly interested in the plants of North Britain, as well as
of the Faeroes, Iceland, and Scandinavia, and he corresponded
regularly with such students as Ostenfeld, Dahlstedt, etc.
Many years ago he attended a botanical congress at (I
think) Upsala ; and the few excursions made on that
occasion probably led up to his work in our " Ultima
Thule."

For a long time I was in regular correspondence with
him about the projected " Flora of Surrey," which his
business engagements as a bank official and his other
occupations unfortunately prevented him from completing ;
and I know how thoroughly he explored even the least
attractive parts of that county, making full lists of the
commonest, as well as of the rarer and more interesting
plants ; so that in some cases he had noted up to 300
occurrences of a single species ! All doubtful specimens
were examined under the microscope, in the use of which
he was remarkably proficient ; and this practice accounts
for the fact that his matured opinion about any given form
was very seldom wrong. Personally he was reserved in
manner, and thus became less well known to his botanical
confreres generally than any other man of equal ability with
whom I have had acquaintance. In his prime he hardly
knew the meaning of fatigue, and was not disheartened by
the longest day's tramp over barren ground, with little or
nothing to repay his trouble.

The new species and varieties from Shetland published
by Beeby are as follows : CaltJia radicans, Forster, var.
setlandica (this he afterwards rightly regarded as only a
leaf -form); Hieracium ScJnnidtii, Tausch, var. fealense ;
H. dovrense, Fr., var. HetJilandice ; H. breve ; H. zetlandicum ;
H. demissuin, Stromf., var. australius ; H. subtruncatum ;
H. strictum, Fr., var. Jmmilius ; H. crocatum, Fr., vars.
congestuin and vinaceum ; Taraxacum spectabile, Dahlst,
subsp. Geirhildce ; and Glyceria distans, Wahlb., var. prostrata.
His other additions to the list for v.c. 112 (those which
are starred being novelties for Britain, when first found) are
mainly taken from Mr. Arthur Bennett's Supplement to
" Topographical Botany," ed. 2, issued as an appendix to
the "Journal of Botany," vol. xliii. (1905): Ranunculus

OBITUARY MEMOIR OF WILLIAM HADDON BEEBY, F.L.S. 131

Baudotii, Godr. ; Cochlearia micacea, E. S. Marshall, and
*C. grcenlandica, L. (vera) ; Subularia aquatica ; Brassica
alba, Boiss. ; Viola sylvestris, Kit., V. canina, Fr. (ericetorum,
Schrad.), and V. lutea, Huds. (this is queried) ; Drosera
anglica, Huds. ; Elatine kcxandra, DC. ; Sagina saginoides,
Dalla Torre (saxatilis, Wimm.) ; Spergularia marginata,
Kittel ; Arenaria rubella, Hook. ; Hypericum pidchrum, L.,
forma *procumbens, Rostrup (this I believe to be only a
dwarf, prostrate state, due to exposure) ; Radiola linoides,
Roth ; Anthyllis Vulneraria, L., var. Dillenii (Schultz) ;
Geum rivale, L. ; * Callitriche polymorpha, Lonnr., and C.
autumnalis, L. ; Slum erectum, Huds. (angustifolium, L.) ;
Hieracium Sckmidtii, Tausch, var. crinigerum, Fr. ; H.
silvaticum, Gouan, var. micracladium, Dahlst. ; *//. truncatum,
Lindeb. ; H. auratuin, Fr., var. *thulense, F. J. Hanb. ;
* Taraxacum spectabile, Dahlst., and var. *maculiferum^ Dahlst.
(to this form he thought that most of the Scottish mainland
specimens were referable) ; Arctium nemorosum, Lej. (as
A. intermedium, Lange ?) ; Veronica polita, Fr. ; V. Tourne-
fortii, C. Gmel. (Buxbaumii, Ten.) ; Euphrasia borealis,
Towns. ; E. scottica, Wettst. ; E. curta, Wettst, and forma
*piccola, Towns. ; *E. foulaensis, Towns. ; Utricularia inter-
media, Drev. and Hayne ; U. minor, L. ; A triplex patula, L.
(' erecta ') ; Polygonum viviparum, L., var. *alpinum, Wahl. ;
Oxyria digyna, Hill ; Rumex conspersus, Hartm. (domesticusY.
obtusifolins] ; R. acutus, L. (j>ratensis, Koch, crispusKobtusi-
folius] ; Orchis incarnata, L. ; Potamogeton pectinatus, L. ;
*P. vaginatus, Turcz. ; P. prcelongus, Wulf. ; P. nitens,
Weber ; Ruppia maritima, L. (spiralis, Hartm.) ; R. rostel-
lata, Koch ; ZannicJiellia polycarpa, Nolte ; Sparganium
minimum, Fr. ; 5. simplex, Huds. ; Luzula sylvatica, Gaud.,
var. *gracilis, Rostrup ; Eleocliaris acicularis, Roem. &
Schult. ; E. uniglumis, Schultes ; E. multicaulis, Sm. ; Scirpus
pauciflorus, Lightf. ; ^S. fluitans, L. ; Carex fulva, Host
(Hornschuchiana, Hoppe); Deschampsia setacea, Richter (Aim
uliginosa, Weihe) ; Festuca rubra, L. ; Cystopteris fragilis,
Bernh. ; and Isoetes lacustris, L.

In conclusion, it may be added that Beeby was strongly
convinced of the value of cultivation as a test of permanent
distinctness ; he thus proved (to my satisfaction, at least) the

I 3 2 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

specific difference between Valeriana officinalis, L. (Mikanii,
Syme) and V. sambucifolia, Mikan. His Shetland Cerastium
arcticum, Lange, var. Edmondstonii (C. nigrescens, Bab.,
prius), which kept constant as long as it was grown in a pot
of its native serpentine earth, reverted to type on being
transplanted into ordinary garden soil.

WEST MONKTON RECTORY, TAUNTON,
6th April 1910.

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY

IN 1909.

By EVELYN V. BAXTER and LEONORA JEFFREY RINTOUL.

As a foreword to the Report, we desire to thank very
cordially all those who have rendered its preparation possible
by sending schedules and notes. These contain much that
is of interest, and every item is of value ; we hope that those
who have helped in the past will continue to do so and that
other observers may be induced to give their kindly aid.
Our thanks are due to Lewis Dunbar, Thurso ; John S.
Tulloch, Lerwick ; Her Grace the Duchess of Bedford and
William Eagle Clarke, Fair Isle; T. Henderson, junr., Spiggie;
The Lightkeepers, Sule Skerry ; John Bain, Pentland
Skerries, all in the northern group of localities ; to A.
Harley, Kirkcaldy ; William Evans, Edinburgh ; S. E.
Brock, Kirkliston ; William F. Little, West Calder ; Rev.
H. N. Bonar, Saltoun ; Annie C. Jackson, East Ross ; John
Maccuish and ourselves, Isle of May ; Lewis N. G. Ramsay,
Aberdeen ; Arthur G. Davidson, Aberdeen ; and A. Landes-
borough Thomson, Aberdeen, on the East ; and to John Muir,
Skerryvore ; Robert Clyne, Butt of Lewis ; Robert Anderson,
Flannan Islands ; Peter Anderson, Tiree ; James M'Quarrie,
Davaar Lighthouse ; John Craig, Beith ; B. S. Macmichael,
Craignish ; Lady Fowler, West Ross ; Rev. J. D. W. Gibson,
Carmichael ; James Bartholomew, Beattock ; D. Macdonald,
Tobermory ; W. E. Frost, Monach Islands ; and Charles H.
Alston. Loch Awe, on the West. We are indebted to the

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 133

Weather Report of the Meteorological Office for our
meteorological data.

SPECIES NEW TO SCOTLAND.

It is not by any means an easy matter to add a new
species to the avifauna of a country as well worked by
competent observers as Scotland. This year, however, two
additions have been made, one in spring the other in
autumn. Foremost among these is the Eastern Pied Chat
{Saxicola pleschanka] a bird which is not only new to the
fauna of Scotland but to that of the British Isles. A
female of this remarkable visitor was procured on the
Isle of May on the ipth October, and its occurrence
recorded and the specimen figured in the Annals for
January of the current year. It was in the white-throated
plumage described by Hemprich and Ehrenberg as 5. vittata.
The second of these novelties is the White-spotted Blue-throat
(Cyanecula cyanecula), a fine adult male having been obtained
on the Fair Isle. This bird nests in Central Europe, has
only occurred in England as a very rare straggler, and has
not been recorded before from Scotland. In Heligoland,
too, it has seldom been met with, except in 1877, when it
occurred there in considerable numbers.

BIRDS NEW TO FAUNAL AREAS, AND UNCOMMON

VISITORS.

Under this section we propose to take not only the
birds which are uncommon visitors to Scotland, but any
which are rare or previously unknown, in the faunal area from
which they are reported. As will be seen, a large proportion
of the birds which come under this heading, are recorded for
the Fair Isle and Isle of May. The small size of these
islands renders it possible to watch the new immigrants from
day to day, while the absence of trees and shrubs limits the
amount of covert in which the birds can conceal themselves.
In the case of the Fair Isle we have had the advantage of
the observations of a watcher, Stewart Stout, the year round.

The work which has been accomplished during the last
few years has greatly changed the status of some of our

I 3 4 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

more uncommon visitors, and a number which were before
considered rare stragglers have now proved to be regular
spring or autumn migrants. On the whole the first dates
of the appearance of these uncommon migrants have been
earlier this year than heretofore.

A Black Redstart (Ruticilla titys] ? is reported from the
Fair Isle on the I4th October; this bird was formerly
considered rare in Scotland, and is always a good find,
especially as far north as the Shetlands. There is only one
record of the Red-spotted Blue-throat (Cyanecula suecicd) in
spring, namely, at Fair Isle ; in autumn two occurred on the
Isle of May, on the I4th and I7th September, and an adult
male at Fair Isle on the 22nd September. Among the
uncommon visitors the Warblers take a prominent place.
On 1 3th September a Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisorid] 6
was procured on the Isle of May, while a 9 is recorded
from Fair Isle in autumn. What may be considered one of
the features of the year is the number of Yellow-browed
Warblers (Phylloscopus superciliosus) which occurred in
Scotland. One was seen in Dumfriesshire on the I ith
April by Mr. George Stout, whose familiarity with this
interesting little bird on the Fair Isle, makes his identifica-
tion of it certain. This is the first record of the occurrence
of P. superciliosus in the British Isles in spring, and also the
first record for the mainland of Scotland. In autumn, two are
reported from East Ross, on the 23rd and 2 7th September
(the first autumn occurrence for the mainland of Scotland
and first record for Moray), four from Fair Isle between the
28th September and 4th October, and at least ten from the
Isle of May on dates ranging from i6th September to
24th October, on one occasion (27th September) as many
as three being seen at one time. A Siberian Chiff-chaff
(Phylloscopus tristis} was obtained from Fair Isle. A Reed-
warbler (Acrocephalus streperus} is also reported, the fourth
time this bird has been taken in Scotland, and this, as well
as all previous records, comes from Fair Isle.

The Fair Isle gives us spring and autumn records of the
Grey-headed Wagtail (Motacilla borealis\ and a Richard's
Pipit (Anthus richardi] is reported from the same station.

There are four records of the Golden Oriole (Oriolus

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 135

galbuld] : Mr. Hugh S. Gladstone reports that an adult <$
was caught at Penton Lynns, Dumfriesshire, on the 3Oth
April ; a young c? was observed in a garden in Renfrew-
shire during the first half of May; on loth May one was
found dead at Port-Glasgow ; and a bird, seen at Fair Isle
on the 26th May, " about the size of a Fieldfare and all over
yellow colour," was undoubtedly O. galbula.

On 1 4th September a young Red-backed Shrike (Lanius
collnrio] was found lying dead at the base of the lighthouse
tower on the Flannan Islands. This is a very interesting
occurrence, being the first record of this species for the Outer
Hebrides.

The only record of the Red- breasted Flycatcher (Musci-
capa parvd] is a young $ from the Isle of May on the 25th
September ; this is the first authenticated occurrence of this
bird in the Forth area.

A Hawfinch (Coccothraustes vulgaris} occurred on the
Fair Isle, the second on record for the island ; while on
1 8th May a specimen of the White - throated Sparrow
(Zonotrichia albicollis) was shot on Eilean Mor, Flannan
Islands. This American species has not been previously
recorded from the West of Scotland. A Scarlet Grosbeak
(Carpodacus erythinus} ? was obtained on the Isle of May
on 1 3th September. Among the extraordinary number of
Crossbills which visited Britain in the summer of 1909
were two Two - Barred Crossbills (Loxia bifasciata), both
adult males, one from Fair Isle, the other from the
Flannans ; the latter is the first record of the occurrence of
this bird for the Outer Hebrides.

The Buntings occupy a large place among the un-
common visitors this year, the Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza
hortuland) occurred on Fair Isle both in spring and autumn,
and a Rustic Bunting (Emberiza rusticd] $ was obtained on
the same island ; this is the third record for Scotland. The
Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla) also occurred on Fair Isle,
and two birds of this species are recorded from the Isle of
May on the 25th and 26th September, this being the first
record of this north-eastern species in the Forth area. We
have only one spring report of the Lapland Bunting (Cal-
carius lapponicus), namely, from Fair Isle ; an adult male

136 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

was procured on the Flannan Islands on 3rd September and
a female on Fair Isle at the end of the month. Two Shore-
larks (Otocorys alpestris) were seen on the Isle of May on
i 3th October, and single birds are noted there up to i6th
October.

On 2/th April a Hoopoe (Upupa epops] was taken at
Waternish ; this is only the second time that this bird has
been recorded in Skye ; another was picked up dead near
Leadhills on the 1st June.

There are several records of Greenland Falcons (Falco
candicans) in 1909; on the 1st, 2nd, and I4th December
they visited the Flannans, one was shot at Barra on
i 5th December, and another seen there ten days later, and
a bird undoubtedly of this species was seen at Inverbroom
(West Ross) on the 28th. A Greenland Falcon is reported
from the Butt of Lewis on 4th December, and an Iceland
Falcon (Falco islandus] was seen at the Flannans on ist
December.

The second known occurrence of the Little Bittern
(Ardetta minutd] in Orkney is recorded, an adult male having
been taken alive at Loch Stennis on I4th May. A number
of Pink-footed Geese (Anser brachyrJiynchus) visited Fair Isle
during the stormy weather which prevailed from the 7th
to the 1 8th October, and one was shot. This is an addition
to the birds known to have occurred in Shetland. On the
1 8th June an adult female Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna
casarcd] was obtained at Sule Skerry. This is a first
record of this species for the Northern Isles.

A Little Crake (Porsana parva) was found in an ex-
hausted condition in a fisherman's boat in Girvan Harbour
(Ayrshire) on the 29th March, and is the first record for
Clyde. A Dotterel (Eudromias morinellus] was found dead
at Bellshill, near Glasgow, in spring. A Great Snipe
(Gallinago major] was procured on Fair Isle in September ;
and two visits of the Green Sandpiper (Totanus ocJiropus]
were noted : one was shot on the banks of the Ae, Kirk-
michael (Dumfriesshire), on 2Oth January, and the other at
Fair Isle. A Dusky Redshank (Totanus fuscus] occurred
at Balgray Dam (Clyde), with a small party of other Waders
on i 8th September.

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 137

From Lervvick comes the only record of Sabine's Gull
(Xema sabinii], it was seen by Mr. Tulloch on the 25th
July.

An Eared Grebe (Podicipes nigricollis] is noted as
having been seen at Bishop's Loch near Glasgow in 1909.

EXTENSION OF BREEDING RANGE.

This is an important though difficult part of our Report,
and under it we have to deal with five species. The White
Wagtail (]\Iotacilla alba) is not uncommon with us on migra-
tion, and has been known to nest occasionally in England.
In 1909 it bred on the Fair Isle, this being the first time it
has been proved to breed in Scotland, though its probable
nesting at Spiggie (Shetland) in 1900, and at Killilan (N.W.
Highlands) in 1908, has been recorded in the "Annals of
Scottish Natural History."

The Corn Bunting (Einberiza miliarid) is recorded by
Mr. Macdonald as breeding in Mull in 1909; hitherto he
has only observed it as a " sporadic spring migrant " in this
locality. It is curious that it should not have been found
nesting in this island before, as it nests in lona. In the
spring a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers (Dendrocopus
major} safely hatched their young on the estate of Brucefield,
West Fife. This bird breeds in various parts of the
south-east and centre of Scotland (as may be seen in Mr.
Harvie-Brown's useful map in the "A.S.N.H.," 1908, p. 209)
and has probably spread from there into Fife, where it has
not been previously reported as breeding, though it occurs
as an occasional visitor.

Early in June two nests of the Gadwall (Anas streperd)
containing seven and five eggs respectively were found beside
a loch in the south-east of Scotland. The only previous re-
cord of the breeding of this species in Northern Britain was in
Peeblesshire in 1906. If unmolested there seems to be no
reason why this duck should not extend its breeding range over
Scotland, as several other of the Anatidae have done in the
last few decades. The Sclavonian Grebe {Podicipes auritus]
is recorded as breeding in Scotland in " British Birds " (vol.
iii. p. 380). In 1908 a bird of this species was seen in the

138 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

beginning of June on a small loch in Inverness-shire, swim-
ming restlessly about a nest of green reeds, but was un-
fortunately shot. Mr. Warrand (who records the occurrence)
writes: "I was cheered to learn the following year (1909)
that one or two pairs had appeared on the same loch, but
soon afterwards heard that the nests had been ruthlessly
robbed by a private egg-collector." This bird is occasionally
recorded in Scotland in spring and summer in full breeding
plumage, and has been suspected of nesting in Perthshire
and Benbecula (Outer Hebrides).

NESTING.

The nesting season of 1909 seems to have been a very
average one, in spite of spells of inclement weather. The
earliest nest reported is that of a Long -eared Owl with
two eggs at Kirkliston on 28th February. By 8th April
Lapwings were laying in various localities ; and the Little
Grebe at Kirkliston on 2/th April. On 4th May a pair of
Blackbirds and a pair of Thrushes were found to be using
the same nest near Paisley ; the hen-birds laid three eggs
each on alternate days, and fought for the privilege of
sitting. When the eggs hatched a great battle ensued, the
Blackbirds winning ; the nest was harried when it contained
five young. In May two Hawfinches' nests with eggs are
recorded in East Lothian ; these probably belonged to the
same pair of birds, for they were only about sixty yards
apart, but unfortunately in both cases disaster overtook the
eggs. This is the first time the nest and eggs of this bird
have been found in " Forth," though young Hawfinches
newly out of the nest have several times been taken near
Edinburgh. On 2ist May two Tawny Owlets were found
in East Ross in a nest in a rabbit-hole ; while in the same
locality, on the 28th, a Shelduck's nest with thirteen eggs
was discovered ; these may have been laid by two ducks, as
they were in different stages of incubation.

A Cuckoo's egg in a Willow-warbler's nest is recorded
from East Ross ; and at Beith one was found in a Hedge
Accentor's nest, "darker than most Meadow -pipits and
smaller than usual " ; at the same place a Cuckoo's egg

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 139

was found in a Reed Bunting's nest. Crested Tits are
fledged in Strathspey by 3rd July, and flying about the
trees, the parents feeding them. From East Ross, between
the 7th August and i/th November, we have records of
flocks of Crossbills, "the young being fed by their parents,
though they could and did feed themselves." On 25th
September newly- hatched Skylarks were found in North
Argyll, a very late date. On the 25th November a
perfectly fresh Starling's egg was found on the ground at
Old Aberdeen. From various parts of the country records
come of these birds having built flat open nests usually in
conifers ; while in Orkney they nested among the rubble on
the seashore and in rabbit burrows.

Increase of the numbers of various species nesting in
this country is reported, though in some cases the difference
is merely local. In the Blantyre district of Clyde a great
increase of Redshanks is noted, while the increase of
Woodcock nesting in the Highlands is sustained, the birds
often being double -brooded. The Black -headed Gull is
reported as increasing at several of its breeding places,
while more Great Crested Grebes are noted as nesting in
various parts of Scotland. Quite a number of old Blackbirds'
nests were found near Lerwick (Shetland), several pairs of
Quails nested in East Lothian, and about thirty pairs of
Stock Doves built in ivy-covered cliffs in Arran.

At Kirkliston several old nesting haunts of the Sedge-
warbler, which were used prior to 1908, were still unoccupied
this season, while here and there are records of a decrease
in the numbers of breeding Terns.

MIGRATION.

January, The beginning of the year gives us records of
a considerable local movement caused by the severe snow-
storm at the end of 1908. Fieldfares, Skylarks, Dunlins,
and Lapwings are recorded in numbers from Fair Isle, and
Skylarks from the Isle of May. On i 5th January Fieldfares,
Redwings, and Lapwings are reported from the Butt of Lewis,
while next day these birds, along with considerable numbers
of Skylarks and Snipe, are recorded at Fair Isle. The move-

1 40 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

ment of the above-mentioned species continued spasmodically
to the end of the month on both East and West Coast
stations.

February. No important movement is recorded in the
first half of February. On the isth, iSth, and 24th small
rushes took place at the lantern of the Isle of May, the birds
seen included Thrushes, Blackbirds, Skylarks, Starlings,
Lapwings, and Oyster-catchers, besides many birds in the
rays which could not be identified. On the 25th from
Lerwick we have the note of three Long-eared Owls (an
unusual date) and a lot of Blackbirds, while great numbers
of Thrushes are recorded along the shore at St. Monans
(East Fife) on the same day. From our lighthouse reporters
come notes of small movements of various species of Passeres
and Waders throughout the month.

March. From the 2Oth to the 3ist the British Isles
lay in a region of low pressure, during which south-easterly
and north-easterly winds prevailed. In the beginning of
the month little migration is reported, with the exception
of an immigration of Skylarks at Fair Isle on the 2nd, and
a few days later a rush of Snipe. On the iSth the first
Wheatear of the season is recorded from Lendalfoot (Clyde),
and on the 2Oth a small rush is reported from various
stations, while White Wagtails arrived at Lamlash next
day. By the 22nd the movement had increased in intensity :
Rooks and Lapwings are recorded in great numbers at Fair
Isle and the Isle of May, with Thrushes, Redwings, Skylarks,
Starlings, and Golden Plover ; the first Stonechats occurred
at Fair Isle, while Water-rails struck the lantern at the
Mull of Galloway (Wigtown) and Tarbat Ness (E. Ross), and
Dabchicks (a single bird each time) were killed by striking
at Tarbat Ness and the Isle of May. This migratory move-
ment was also noted at Sule Skerry, where flocks of Snow-
buntings are recorded ; in addition to other species ; and
Lerwick, where large flocks of Rooks are noted. From
the last-named place come several other records of large
numbers of Rooks up to the end of the month, and a
Redstart on the 28th. The migration continued in a lesser
degree to the end of March.

April. For the first ten days of April anticyclonic

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 141

conditions were the dominating factor over Western Europe.
While England and East Scotland were wholly within their
influence, the more western parts of the kingdom were
affected by an ocean depression which occupied the northern
half of the Atlantic. For the rest of the month cyclonic
conditions mainly prevailed.

For the first ten days of April a good deal of migration
is recorded from Fair Isle and the West Coast, but not
from the East. The arrivals included Wheatears, Chiffchaffs,
Willow-warblers, Meadow and Tree-pipits, Swallows, and
House-martins. On the loth numbers of Wheatears arrived
at Tiree and Fair Isle, and Sand-martins at Saltoun (E.
Lothian). Migrants continued to arrive on the West Coast
and in smaller numbers on the East; on the I4th Yellow
Wagtails and Common Sandpipers made their appearance
on the West, and the latter two days later on the East Coast.
On Tiree small parties of White Wagtails were seen travelling
north from I5th April to /th May. A decided immigration
of Passeres over all Scotland took place from the i/th to
the i pth increasing in intensity, and for the next ten days
a veritable rush ensued. By the end of the month almost
all the summer migrants had arrived, a very different state
of affairs from what obtained at the corresponding date in
1908. Swallows and Sandpipers are recorded from all
parts on the 2Oth, and the Cuckoo appeared on the West
next day. On the 22nd Whimbrel arrived at Tiree, and
Whinchats, Common and Sandwich Terns in East Fife.
Next day the rush increased, and on the 24th Cuckoos are
recorded in numbers in various places on both East and
West Coasts. Swifts arrived at Beith on the 25th and
next day at Kirkliston, while Whitethroats and Blackcaps
are reported from the East Coast and Sedge-warblers from
the West.

May. The distribution of pressure during this month
was mainly favourable to anticyclonic conditions over our
islands. The rush continued till 9th May, slackening some-
what after that date. Numbers of the Greater Wheatear
are recorded from Fair Isle on the 3rd, and on the same
day a flock of about 150 Fieldfares was seen at Yester, the
last mainland record. On the 4th Wood-warblers arrived

I 4 2 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

at Saltoun, and Swallows at the Butt of Lewis ; on the 5th
a Spotted Flycatcher is reported at Dairy, and Little Terns
at St. Andrews. On the /th a Pied Flycatcher arrived at
Fair Isle with small numbers of other migrants, next day a
Wryneck and a Hawfinch at the same place, and a Grass-
hopper-warbler at Dairy (Clyde). Although the main rush
was past migrants continued to arrive and spread over
Scotland; by the I5th East Lothian and East Fife had
received their full quota of Warblers ; while from the 1 2th
to the end of the month Arctic, Common, and Little Terns
kept arriving at Tiree. Slight movement is recorded almost
every day up to the 3 1st from various stations, but no rush
of sufficient importance to merit special notice.

June. -As we might expect there is little migration to
fecord for June, but the month is signalised by an irruption
from Europe of those gypsy migrants the Crossbills. The
first was seen at Fair Isle on 23rd June, later many were
recorded from our northern islands and various parts of the
mainland. The birds reported from our shores only form
part of a larger movement which included England, Ireland,
and parts of the Continent in its range.

July. The immigration of Crossbills continued through-
out July, the greatest number being seen in the north.
Among them were a couple of Two-barred Crossbills.
About the middle of the month decided traces of Wader-
migration are recorded, and by the end various Limicolae
were moving freely. Greenshanks, Sandpipers, and flocks
of Golden Plover, Sanderling, Turnstones, and Whimbrel
were seen by the shore in East Fife, and records of most of
these species come also from Fair Isle and East Ross. The
first influx of Willow-warblers is recorded from the East
Coast.

Aiigust. The first half of August was anticyclonic, the
second half unsettled and cold. Pressure was high for the
first fortnight, thereafter low. The first half of August
shows a continuance of the Wader-migration, and by the
lOth Passeres were also on the move, Wheatears being
reported from the lanterns on the Flannan Islands and Isle
of May. On the I4th and I5th Wheatears, Willow-
warblers, Sedge-warblers, Whitethroats, Spotted Flycatchers,

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 143

and a young Cuckoo appeared at the lantern on the Isle of
May. By this time most of the Swifts had left. After the
middle of the month small numbers of migrants are recorded,
on the i 8th flock after flock of White Wagtails passed over
Fair Isle, on the 2ist this species is recorded from East
Fife. Flocks of Terns were seen flying round Barnsness
Lighthouse (Forth) during the evening of the 23rd, and
next day Sandwich Terns, mostly adults, were seen in large
numbers in Largo Bay. During the last week of August
migration became more pronounced, records come from all
over Scotland of the southward movement of various species
of Waders, while Duck of different kinds began to return to
their winter quarters. The commoner Warblers and other
Passeres are recorded as on the move at Fair Isle, the
Isle of May, the Flannans, Dunnet Head, and parts of the
mainland. Crossbills lingered in places throughout August,
but the greater number seem to have disappeared by the
end of the month.

September. The first three weeks were anticyclonic on
the whole ; the first week was unsettled and changeable, but
the second and third were fine and dry. The last week was
very unsettled, and on the 25th there was a severe magnetic
storm of world-wide distribution. Little migration is noted
during the first ten days, more being recorded from the
Flannans than elsewhere. From this station a Lapland
Bunting is reported on the 3rd, while White Wagtails were
passing Tiree on the same day. From the I ith to the I4th
greater activity ensued, numbers of Terns appeared at
Lerwick as migrants on the night of the i ith, and on the
i 2th, Greater Wheatears, Redstarts, and Whitethroats were
passing the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse, specimens of
each striking the lantern. On the i/th a movement of
Wheatears is recorded from the West Coast at the Flannans
and Butt of Lewis, and Warblers and other birds from the
Fair Isle and Isle of May. From the iSth to the 2Oth
large numbers of Swallows and House-martins were observed
at the Isle of May, Meadow-pipits in great numbers at the
Butt of Lewis and the Flannans ; and on the 20th, another
wave of Wheatears at the last-named place and the Isle of
May. On the 22nd, many arrivals are recorded Siskins,

I 4 4 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Lesser Whitethroats, and Whimbrels at the Fair Isle and
Isle of May ; Whitethroats and a Grey Wagtail at the
Flannans ; while from i to 3 A.M. on the 22nd and the next
two nights, Terns passing in numbers were heard, or seen
in the rays of the lantern at Fair Isle, Lerwick, and Isle of
May. A big rush occurred on the 25th, numbers of Snipe
arrived at Fair Isle and Lerwick, many Siskins at Fair Isle
and Isle of May, and in both these places Tree-pipits,
Bramblings, and Garden-warblers, along with many other
common species and some rareties already mentioned. Red-
wings arrived at Fair Isle, and next day at the Isle of May.
The rush continued on the 26th and 2/th, Wheatears were
numerous at the Isle of May and Butt of Lewis, and at the
latter place, large numbers of Skylarks and Meadow-pipits
are reported. On the 28th a large immigration of Warblers
took place at Fair Isle and the Isle of May, and with them
many birds of other species. Next day brought fresh
arrivals to Fair Isle, including large numbers of Greater
Wheatears, Bramblings, Chaffinches, Siskins, and Snow-
buntings, the stream slackening on the Isle of May. The
30th shows a continuance of migration on the Fair Isle,
little movement being reported elsewhere, with the exception
of the arrival of great numbers of Red-throated Divers in
St. Andrews Bay. Few Crossbills remain. In the latter
half of September several reports of Great Spotted Wood-
peckers are sent from Fair Isle and other parts of Shetland,
the Butt of Lewis, and Isle of May.

October. The general distribution of barometric pressure
during this month was of a well-marked south-westerly type,
but the gradient was nearly double the normal. At the
telegraphic reporting stations there were only two days
on which the wind did not exceed the force of a strong
breeze, on twenty-one days the force of a gale was attained,
and on twelve of these, it was a strong or whole gale at one
or more stations. On every day of this month the weather
was under the influence of one or more low-pressure systems,
and observation at migration stations was greatly hampered
by the strong westerly and southerly winds which pre-
vailed. October opens with a fair amount of migration ;
from the ist to the 4th (when the weather was fine) there

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 143

are records of the arrival of flocks of Geese from the Ross of
Mull, Beattock, Spiggie (Shetland), and the Isle of May. A
gale put a stop to a great extent to the arrival of migrants
between the 5th and pth, though a number of Snipe were
seen on Fair Isle on the 7th, and a considerable influx of
Blackbirds and Thrushes took place at Loch Awe during this
period. The first big Redwing immigration occurred on the
loth, numbers arriving all day on the Isle of May, and at
night at Lervvick and Fair Isle. A large arrival of Bram-
blings also took place at the Isle of May, and many Rock-
pipits are reported from the Butt of Lewis. From 12 to 3
A.M. on the I ith a small rush to the lantern is recorded at
Fair Isle Redwings, Thrushes, a Ring-ouzel, Bramblings,
Skylarks, and Starlings being killed, while Redwings were
numerous there and on the Isle of May during the day.
Another arrival of Redwings accompanied by Blackbirds
occurred on the i 3th ; both species are reported in numbers
from Spiggie (Shetland), Fair Isle, and Isle of May ; Red-
wings are reported on the i6th from the Butt of Lewis and
the Flannans. Early on the i/th a small rush took place
to the lanterns of the Pentland Skerries and the Isle of
May, while early next morning a big rush is recorded at the
latter place, Butt of Lewis, Tarbatness, Lervvick, and Fair
Isle. The great majority of birds killed were Redwings,
but along with them were Blackbirds, Thrushes, Fieldfares,
Ring-ouzels, Goldcrests, Bramblings, Meadow- pipits, Sky-
larks, Starlings, and Jack-snipe. On the night of the I 8th
hundreds of Redwings, Fieldfares, and Starlings are recorded
as flying round the lantern all night at the Flannans, and the
same species were killed at the South Lighthouse on Fair
Isle. On the 23rd, Redwings and Fieldfares are reported
from the Flannans, crowds of the former at the lantern at
Skerryvore, and large flocks of Snow-buntings at Tiree.
Towards the end of the month hundreds of Snow-buntings
and Barnacle Geese are recorded at the Flannans, and Snipe
were numerous at Tiree ; these three species were also noted
at Fair Isle. The last Crossbill is reported from Fair Isle
during this month, and Great Spotted Woodpeckers from
Lerwick, Fair Isle, and Dingwall.

November. November was still, cold, and dry, and

75 c

146 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

mainly anticyclonic. From the ist to the 6th Redwings
and Fieldfares in thousands are recorded from Inverbroom
(West Ross). Redwings at the Butt of Lewis and Flannans,
and Snow-buntings in numbers at the latter place and Fair
Isle. Slight movements are recorded from the Pentland
Skerries, Butt of Lewis, Flannans, and Loch Awe, mostly of
Turdinae. Very little movement took place between the
7th and I4th, but Snow-buntings are reported from various
stations. Woodcock were numerous at Spiggie (Shetland)
on the loth, and the same species is reported in numbers
from Glenorchard on the I5th to I /th. Large numbers of
Snipe arrived at the Butt of Lewis on the I4th, and this
species and Jack-snipe are recorded from the Pentland
Skerries and the Flannans. The hard weather experienced
at this time caused a certain amount of movement ; at
Aberdeen on the I4th and I5th Skylarks, Starlings, and
Lapwings passed south in numbers during a snowstorm.
Reports come from the Pentland Skerries, Butt of Lewis,
and East Ross of numbers of Fieldfares, Song-thrushes, and
Golden Plover, while Redpolls were seen at the Skerries and
Iceland Gulls at the Flannans. Slight movement took
place from the I7th to the 22nd, mostly among Fieldfares,
Blackbirds, and Lapwings; on the 25th a large flock of
Lesser Redpolls and a few Siskins arrived at Loch Awe, and
great numbers of Goldcrests at the same place on the 3Oth.
From the Flannans come reports of small numbers of birds,
mostly Redwings, Blackbirds, Lapwings, and Snipe, from the
22nd to the end of the month. Great Spotted Woodpeckers
are recorded from Caithness, West Ross, and East Fife.

December. The closing month of the year was cold
and unsettled. Small movements are recorded from the
Flannans, Butt of Lewis, Pentland Skerries, and Fair Isle,
probably caused by the severe frost on the mainland. The
birds noticed were mainly Blackbirds, Redwings, Snow-
buntings, Starlings, and Lapwings.

WINTER.

During this season in 1908-1909, our winter migrants
were present in quantity. From ist January onwards we

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 147

have reports of large numbers of Fieldfares, Redwings, and
Bramblings ; they are recorded as numerous in Mull, Fair
Isle, the Isle of May, and East Fife, and in smaller numbers
from various inland localities. A good many Blackbirds
are reported from Lerwick, and Snow-buntings in their
usual numbers at St. Andrews and Fair Isle. In January
Swans are noted at Inverbroom (West Ross) and Fair Isle,
and a Whooper at Morton Loch (East Fife). Barnacle
Geese were in Solway in their usual numbers, but Mr.
Service remarks on the absence of Grey Lags. Great flocks
of the common winter duck are reported, and Pintail are
recorded as being more than usually plentiful in Solway ;
a flock of twenty to thirty Gadwall visited Morton Loch in
January. Glaucous Gulls were frequent at Fair Isle, and
Little Auks were seen there in enormous numbers from the
ist to the 5th February. Swans are reported from the Butt
of Lewis in the middle of February, and large numbers of
Red-throated Divers in Largo Bay.

The end of the year 1909 was a contrast to the beginning.
The numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares were much below
the normal, notes of the scarcity of these birds coming from
both the East and West of Scotland. Many of the former
were killed by the November frosts. The absence of
Bramblings is noted in various parts of the country. Great
Spotted Woodpeckers were unusually numerous in the last
quarter of the year, reports of these species coming from
various parts of Scotland. On i/th November Merlins were
numerous in Tiree, chasing flocks of Fieldfares, while an
unusual number of Greenland Falcons appeared during the
winter.

Other winter birds appear to have been present in their
usual numbers ; large flocks of Snow-buntings are recorded
from the Flannans, Pentland Skerries, and Fair Isle. Brent
Geese, Sheldrake, Wigeon, and Golden-eye were plentiful in
our northern firths in November, flocks of White-fronted and
Barnacle Geese and Golden-eye at Tiree, large flocks of
Barnacles at the Flannans, huge flocks of Mallard in Largo
Bay and at Crosswood Reservoir, while Gadwall were
noticed in Elginshire and Tiree. Wigeon were late in
returning to Solway and Craignish (Argyll), though the

148 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Wild Geese arrived at their usual time. The flocks of
Waders were present in their usual numbers. Golden Plover
were numerous on :6th November in East Ross and at the
Pentland Skerries, and large numbers of Snipe are reported
from various stations during the month. Glaucous Gulls
are noted at Fair Isle and the Isle of May, and Little Auks
in numbers at the former place in December.

FOOD.

During the great immigration of Crossbills into Scotland
in 1909 many of these birds visited localities which could
not afford their usual diet, and they were therefore obliged to
resort to various makeshifts. At Lerwick they fed on the
yellow centres of daisies ; on Fair Isle they ate last year's
berries, the heads of thistles, flowers, the seeds of grasses
and other plants ; at the Flannans they fed on sea-pinks,
and at Wick they scooped the Green-fly off the shoots of the
roses. From Grantown-on-Spey they are reported as feeding
on the larvae of the Pine Saw-fly, but as they are there in
the midst of coniferous woods, this can hardly be attributed
to a lack of their usual food, and it is suggested that the
Crossbills' menu may, in the ordinary course, include the
Spruce-gall aphis, Green-flies, and Pine Saw-flies. Towards
the end of autumn many greatly emaciated Crossbills were
found on Fair Isle, having died of starvation.

(To be continued.}

ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE ROCK THRUSH
(MONT I CO LA SAX ATI US) IN THE ORKNEY
ISLANDS.

By WILLIAM EAGLE CLARKE, F.R.S.E., F.L.S.

I HAVE received, in the flesh, for the Royal Scottish
Museum, a fine adult male of this brilliantly plumaged and
extremely rare visitor to the British Islands. It was captured

ROCK THRUSH IN THE ORKNEY ISLANDS 149

on the 1 7th of May at one of the Orcadian light stations
the Pentland Skerries, a famous islet for the visits of
migratory birds.

Though this species is a summer visitor to the hill country
of Western Central Europe, and has on several occasions
occurred at Heligoland, yet only a single example has
hitherto been captured in the British Isles, namely an adult
male which was shot on the iQth of May 1843 m Hert-
fordshire. This specimen was seen in the flesh by the late
William Yarrell, and described and figured by him in the
first supplement to his " British Birds " in 1845 I other occur-
rences have, it is true, been recorded, but both Prof. Newton
and Mr. Howard Saunders have regarded them as un-
.authenticated. The bird also nests in localities of a rocky
nature in Southern and South-Eastern Europe, Northern
Africa, Asia Minor, Persia, Turkestan, Southern Siberia, and
Northern China ; and passes the winter in North-Eastern
and North Tropical Africa, Southern Arabia, Northern
India and Burma.

Its occurrence in the Orkneys, like that of many other
species in our Islands, is quite remarkable, and to be
attributed to deviation from the usual course followed when
journeying to its accustomed summer haunts.

THE ROYAL SCOTTISH MUSEUM, EDINBURGH.

THE INSECT FAUNA OF GROUSE MOORS.
By PERCY H. GRIMSHAW, F.R.S.E., F.E.S.

AT the request of the Committee appointed to investigate
Grouse Disease, I spent some time in the months of June
and July 1908 on various grouse moors, principally for the
purpose of investigating the nature of the food of grouse
chicks. The contents of the crops and gizzards of several
birds from a few hours to three weeks old were obtained,
and in order to aid in the somewhat difficult task of identify-
ing the insects and fragments of insects therein found, a
sample of the entomological fauna of the moors was taken,

150 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

especially in the marshy hollows where the chicks were
accustomed to feed. This material, carefully examined,
served its purpose, and it has been thought desirable to
publish the list of species separately, inasmuch as it may
have a certain amount of interest from a purely faunistic
point of view. The Chairman of the Committee, Lord
Lovat, has very kindly sanctioned the publication of the
"List" in this Journal, and in order to retain its full bear-
ing on the question of the food of grouse, as well as that of
local distribution, notes have been appended referring to
such species as have been picked up by the chicks in their
search for nourishment. Such species (as well as the
families to which they belong) are indicated in the list by
an asterisk.

The localities mentioned below are : Dunachton in
Inverness-shire ; Tulchan in Elginshire ; Ballindalloch in
Banffshire ; and Burley-in-Wharfedale in Yorkshire.

ORDER DIPTERA.

*Family MYCETOPHILID/E (Fungus Gnats).

*SCIARA, spp. One male, Dunachton ; two females, Burley-in-
Wharfedale. A fragment of this genus found in one gizzard
from Tulchan.

BOLETINA, sp. One male, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

*Family BIBIONID^.

*BiBio LACTEIPENNIS, Ztt. One male and one female, Dunachton.
A male found in a crop from Dunachton. Remains of four
other Bibios were found in two crops and a gizzard from
Dunachton, but the species was not determined.

Family SIMULIID^E (Sand-Flies).

SIMULIUM, spp. Two males and two females of an undetermined
species were taken at Dunachton, and two females of another
species at Ballindalloch.

*Family CHIRONOMID/E (Midges).

(The members of this family were found in many of the crops
and gizzards examined. The majority of them belonged to the

THE INSECT FAUNA OF GROUSE MOORS 151

genus Ceratopogon, one species (at least) of which was very common
in the marshy spots frequented by the young chicks.)

CRICOTOPUS, sp.- -Four males and four females belonging to this
genus were taken at Ballindalloch, but I have not been able
to assign them to any of the described species.

ORTHOCLADIUS DOLENS, Wlk. (niveipennis, Ztt). Seven specimens
of each sex, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

ORTHOCLADIUS, spp. Two females (each of a separate species),
Burley-in-Wharfedale.

METRIOCNEMUS FUSCIPES, Mg. One male, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

DIAMESA OBSCURIMANUS, Mg. One male, Dunachton ; one male,
Ballindalloch.

TANYPUS CHOREUS, Mg. One male, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

* CERATOPOGON FLAVIPES, Mg. - One female, Ballindalloch.
Remains of this genus were found in many of the crops and
gizzards, especially at Uunachton, and as the present species
is common in the marshy areas where the chicks feed, it may
be the one represented.

CERATOPOGON, sp. Near flavipes, but quite distinct, neuration
different, hairs on antennal joints much longer, legs darker,
and whole insect smaller. Six males and eight females taken
at Dunachton.

CERATOPOGON FEMORATUS, Mg. One female, Ballindalloch.
CERATOPOGON, sp. Near gracitipes, Winn. One male, Dunachton.

Family CULICID^E (Gnats).
CULEX PIPIENS, L. Two males, Dunachton.

*Family LIMNOBIIDvE.

The Crane-flies belonging to this family form a large proportion
of the insect food of the young grouse. There is a tolerable variety
of species in the marshy ground at the sources of the various
rivulets, and being fairly large insects they are attractive to the eyes
of the chicks. In some cases, as noted below, their crops were
absolutely gorged with specimens of the small species known as
Molophilus ater.

LIMNOBIA PNITIDA, Vert: A single male, presumably of this
species, was taken in marshy ground on the moors above
Carr Bridge.

DICRANOMYIA MORio, Fab. Several males, Dunachton.

1 52 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

GONIOMYIA TENELLA, Mg. Common on the moors at Dunachton,
Ballindalloch, and Carr Bridge.

- C; MOLOPHILUS ATER. Mg. This was, to me, the most interesting
insect met with on the moors. It is a small species compared
with other members of the family, and remarkable for its
stunted wings, which, I should imagine, are perfectly useless
for flight. The fly is very common in certain of the marshy
areas around the sources of the rivulets, where, at the proper
season, it is to be seen climbing up and down the leaves of
grass and Juncus. Its white halteres are very conspicuous,
while the insect itself is curiously spider-like in appearance.
Hundreds of specimens were seen in one marsh at Dunachton
(many of them pairing) and a large number collected and
preserved both dry and in spirit. Of 26 chicks killed at
Dunachton no fewer than 14 were found to have been feeding
on this insect, and in 5 of these the crops contained over 100,
56, 50, 34 and 11 specimens respectively.

~' I; RHYPHOLOPHUS NODULOSUS, Meg. Several specimens taken at
Dunachton. A single male found in a crop from the same
moor.

ERIOPTERA TRIVIALIS, Mg. A common inhabitant of the moors.
Several examples taken at Dunachton, Ballindalloch, and Carr
Bridge.

IDIOPTERA TRIMACULATA, Ztt. Of this rare and interesting fly I
took six males and one female at Dunachton.

PCECILOSTOLA PUNCTATA, Schrk. - - One example of each sex,
Dunachton.

LIMNOPHILA MEIGENII, Verr. A common species; many taken at
Dunachton.

LIMNOPHILA LINEOLELLA, Verr. Females taken at Ballindalloch
and Carr Bridge.

LIMNOPHILA BICOLOR, Mg. Common ; taken in numbers and in
both sexes at Dunachton and Ballindalloch.

^DICRANOTA BIMACULATA, Schitm. One male of this rare species
captured at Dunachton. A male also taken from a crop from
the same locality.

AMALOPIS IMMACULATA, Mg. 2 males and i female, Dunachton.

Family TIPULID^ (Crane-Flies).

DOLICHOPEZA SYLVICOLA, Curt. A few examples of this extremely
beautiful fly were seen flying over a tiny stream at Dunachton,
and afterwards captured.

THE INSECT FAUNA OF GROUSE MOORS 153

TIPULA VARIPENNIS, Mg. Of this common species several examples

were taken on the moor at Dunachton.
TIPULA ? PRUINOSA, W. Two males, which I believe belong to this

species, were taken at Dunachton.
TIPULA MONTIUM, Egg. Two males taken at Dunachton. The

occurrence of this species in Britain was first confirmed by

Henderson (" Ent. Mo. Mag.") in 1901, who took it in the

Clyde district.
TIPULA OLERACEA, L. The commonest and best known of the

Tipulidae, and popularly called " Daddy Longlegs." Taken on

the moors in Yorkshire, but not noticed on the northern hills,

though doubtless it occurs in plenty.

Family TABANID/E.

THERIOPLECTES MONTANUS, Mg. One female captured on the
moors above Carr Bridge.

Family LEPTIM).
LEPTIS SCOLOPACEA, L. One male taken at Ballindalloch.

PTIOLINA ATRA, Staeg. One male, Dunachton. This species was
only added to the British List in 1904.

Family THEREVID/E.

THEREVA PLEBEIA, L. A single female taken on the moors above
Carr Bridge.

*Family EMPID^.

This family is represented on the moors by several species of
common occurrence, especially in the sheltered and marshy hollows
near the streams. Cyrtoma spuria, one of the smallest species, was
found in many of the crops from Dunachton, and was also found,
by sweeping, to be very plentiful.

HYBOS FEMORATUS, Mull. Several taken at Ballindalloch and
Carr Bridge.

* CYRTOMA SPURIA, Fin. Abundant on the moors at Dunachton,
Ballindalloch, and Carr Bridge. Remains found in eight of the
crops obtained at Dunachton and also in that from Glen
Eunnich.

*RHAMPHOMYIA SULCATA, Fin. A large, conspicuous, and abundant
species, taken at Dunachton and Ballindalloch ; fragments
found in a crop from the former locality probably represent this
species.

RHAMPHOMYIA ALBOSEGMENTATA, Ztt. Also common and con-
spicuous. Many examples obtained at Dunachton and one
female at Ballindalloch.

154 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

RHAMPHOMYIA, sp. A single female of an undetermined species
captured at Dunachton.

EMPIS BOREALIS, L. One female of this well-marked fly, Dun-
achton.

P^MPIS TRIGRAMMA, Mg. One male, Dunachton.

EMPIS LUCIDA, Ztt. Seven specimens taken at Dunachton.

*EMPIS, sp. Several specimens of a small Empis with black legs
and yellow halteres were taken at Dunachton, but I am unable
to identify it with certainty. The remains of a small species
were found in the crop and gizzard of a chick from Dunachton.

HILARA, spp. The members of this genus were common on all
the moors visited, but I have not been able to ascertain the
species.

HEMERODROMIA MELANOCEPHALA, Hal. One of each sex taken at
Ballindalloch.

ARDOPTERA GUTTATA, Hal. Three specimens of this peculiar little
fly were taken by sweeping at Ballindalloch.

TACHYDROMIA, spp. Several specimens of this genus, which I can-
not identify, were taken at Ballindalloch and Carr Bridge.

Family DOLICHOPODID^E.

The members of this family are commonly found in marshy
ground, but I found no evidence of their having been eaten by the
chicks. The following list, therefore, is of interest only from a
faunistic point of view.

DOLICHOPUS ATRATUS, Mg. Seven males and five females, Ballin-
dalloch.

DOLICHOPUS VITRIPENNIS, Mg. A few taken at Ballindalloch and

Burley-in-Wharfedale.
DOLICHOPUS PLANITARSIS, fin. Two males of this rare species,

Dunachton.
DOLICHOPUS ? PUNCTICORNIS, Ztt. Two males and one female taken

at Ballindalloch seem to fit the description of this species, but I

cannot feel quite certain about it.

RHAPHIUM LONGICORNE, Fin. One male, Dunachton.

PORPHYROPS, sp. Three males of an undetermined species, with
yellow spine on the middle coxae, were taken at Dunachton.
These certainly merit further investigation.

HYDROPHORUS BOREALIS, Lw. One male, Dunachton.

CAMPSICNEMUS LORIPES, Hal. Two males and three females, Dun-
achton.

SYMPYCNUS CIRRHIPES, Wlk. One male, Ballindalloch.

THE INSECT FAUNA OF GROUSE MOORS 155

--Family

The Syrphidce are essentially lovers of the sunshine, and are
often seen hovering in the air on bright days, and if disturbed,
darting off like lightning to hover again a few feet away. They are
difficult to catch in flight, and are most easily taken when feeding
or resting on flowers. Their occurrence in the crops of grouse
chicks I regard as of little or no importance.

*PLATYCHIRUS MANICATUS, Mg. One female, Burley-in-Wharfedale.
An example (female) found in a crop from Tulchan.

PLATYCHIRUS CLYPEATUS, Mg. One female, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

MELANOSTOMA MELLINUM, L. Three males and four females, Dun-
achton ; one female, Burley-in-Wharfedale ; one female, Ballin-
dalloch.

SYRPHUS TORVUS, O.-S. One male and three females, Dunachton.

SYRPHUS VITTIGER, Ztt. One male and four females, Dunachton.

*SPH^ROPHORIA PICTA, Mg. One male, Burley-in-Wharfedale ; one
female, Ballindalloch. A male found in a crop from Tulchan
and another male in a crop from Dunachton.

SERICOMYIA LAPPONA, L. One male taken on the moors at Dun-
achton.

Family TACHINID^E.

MACQUARTIA ? TENEBRICOSA, Mg. One example of what I take
to be this species was captured at Dunachton.

CYNOMYIA MORTUORUM, Z. One male and one female of this
common, but handsome, " Flesh-fly " were taken at Dunachton.

ONESIA COGNATA, Mg. One female, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

Family MUSCID..

The " House-Fly " family. Insects of rapid flight, apparently
never eaten by the grouse.

H/EMATOBIA STIMULANS, Mg. One female, Dunachton.

POLLENIA RUDIS, F. Commonly resting on stones at Ballindalloch.
A common fly, of which six males were taken.

MORELLIA SIMPLEX, Ler. One male, Dunachton ; one male,
Burley-in-Wharfedale.

* Family ANTHOMYIID.^.

The remains of flies belonging to this family, but not deter-
mined, were found in crops from Glen Eunnich and Dunachton.

HYETODESIA LUCORUM, Fin. Two males and one female, Dun-
achton ; one female, Ballindalloch.

156 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

HYETODESIA OBSCURATA, Mg. One male and one female, Ballin-

dalloch.

MYD^A NIGRITELLA, Ztt. One male, Ballindalloch.
SPILOGASTER DUPLICATA, Mg. Two males, Dunachton.
LIMNOPHORA SOLITARIA, Ztt. Two males, Dunachton.
HYDROT/EA IRRITANS, Fin. One female, Dunachton.
TRICHOPTICUS CUNCTANS, Mg. One female, Dunachton.

HYLEMYIA VARIATA, Fin. Fifteen males and five females, Dun-
achton.

*PHORBIA IGNOTA, Rnd. Seven males, Dunachton. A specimen
probably belonging to this genus, but not specifically determined,
was found in a crop from Tulchan.

AZELIA ZETTERSTEDTI, Rtid. One male, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

CARICEA TIGRINA, Fab. One male, Ballindalloch.

CARICEA INTERMEDIA, Fin. Six males and three females, Ballin-
dalloch.

CCENOSIA GENICULATA, Fin. One male Dunachton ; one male,
Ballindalloch.

Family CORDYLURID.E.

Although the flies of the genus Scatophaga are so abundant and
conspicuous in the marshy areas where the grouse chicks feed, yet
I have not found their remains in any of the crops or gizzards
examined.

CORDYLURA PUDICA, Mg. One male, Dunachton.

SCATOPHAGA SUILLA, Fab. Two males, Ballindalloch ; one female,
Dunachton.

SCATOPHAGA STERCORARIA, L. A very abundant fly on the moors.
Numerous specimens were collected, and have been examined
by Mr. Shipley and Mr. Bygrave for possible cysts of tape-
worms, but without results.

SCATOPHAGA SQUALIDA, Mg. The commonest fly in the marshy
places on the moors. A large number of specimens were
collected and examined for cysts, but in vain.

Family SCIOMYZID/E.
TETANOCERA UEVIFRONS, Lw. One male, Ballindalloch.

TETANOCERA UMBRARUM, L. One example of each sex taken at
Dunachton.

Family PSILID/E.

PSILA NIGRA, Fin. Two specimens, Dunachton.

LOXOCERA ARISTATA, Pz. One female, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

THE INSECT FAUNA OF GROUSE MOORS 157

Family OPOMYZID^.
OPOMYZA GERMINATIONIS, L. One female, Ballindalloch.

Family SEPSID.^.

SEPSIS VIOLACEA, Mg. One female, Ballindalloch.
SEPSIS CYNIPSEA, L. -- Three males and one female, Burley-in-
Wharfedale.

Family PIOPHILID^.

PIOPHILA AFFINIS, Mf. One specimen, Dunachton.

* Family GEOMYZID^.
DIASTATA UNIPUNCTATA, Ztt. One specimen, Dunachton.

'^DIASTATA NEBULOSA, Fin, An example of this species was found
in a crop from Dunachton.

Family EPHYDRIM:.

HYDRELLIA GRISEOLA, Fin. An abundant species, of which three
examples were taken at Dunachton, three at Ballindalloch, and
sixteen at Burley-in-Wharfedale.

SCATELLA STAGNALIS, Fin. One specimen, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

Family DROSOPHILIDvE.

SCAPTOMYZA GRAMINUM, Fin. One specimen, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

Family CHLOROPID.E.

CHLOROPS, sp. An undetermined example, belonging to this genus,
was taken at Ballindalloch.

OSCINIS FRIT, L. One specimen, Dunachton.
ELACHYPTERA CORNUTA, Fin. One female, Dunachton.

Family AGROMYZIM).

AGROMYZA, sp. One male, Ballindalloch ; one female, Burley-in-
Wharfedale.

CERATOMYZA DENTICORNIS, Pz. One example, Ballindalloch.
OCHTHIPHILA JUNCORUM, Fin. One specimen, Dunachton.
OCHTHIPHILA GENICULATA, Hal. One specimen, Dunachton.

Family BORBORID^.
BORBORUS GENICULATUS, Mcq. Two specimens, Ballindalloch.

BORBORUS, sp. An undetermined species, one example of which
was taken at Ballindalloch.

158 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

SPH^EROCERA DENTICULATA, Mg. A specimen was found among
heather sent me from Colintraive in February 1909.

*Family HIPPOBOSCID^.

*ORNITHOMYIA LAGOPODIS, Sharp. This parasitic fly must be a
source of much annoyance to the young grouse, since from
six chicks I obtained more than 100 specimens !

*ORDER COLEOPTERA (Beetles).

Besides the Beetles enumerated below, the fragments of one
were found in a crop from Ballindalloch, but were not identified.

Family CARABID.E.
ELAPHRUS ULIGINOSUS, Fab. One specimen, Dunachton.

* Family STAPHYLINID^E.

Two species of this family, undetermined, occurred on the moors
at Dunachton. The group was also represented in the crops of
three chicks (two from Dunachton and one from Tulchan).

* Family ELATERID^ (Click Beetles).

SERICOSOMUS BRUNNEUS, L. One specimen, Dunachton.

*CORYMBITES CUPREUS, Fab., var. ^ERUGINOSUS, Fab. Five
specimens of this common beetle taken at Dunachton.
Remains were found in three crops from Dunachton.

Family DASCILLID^.
HELODES MARGINATA, Fab. One, Dunachton ; one, Ballindalloch.

Family TELEPHORID^.

TELEPHORUS NIGRICANS, Mull. var. DISCOIDEUS, Steph. One,
Dunachton.

TELEPHORUS OBSCURUS, L. Five, Dunachton.
RHAGONYCHA LIMBATA, Thorns. One, Ballindalloch.
RHAGONYCHA ELONGATA, Fin. Eight, Dunachton.
MALTHODES FLAVOGUTTATUS, Kies. One, Ballindalloch.

Family CHRYSOMELID^.
DONACIA DISCOLOR, Panz. Three, Dunachton.

THE INSECT FAUNA OF GROUSE MOORS 159

LOCHM^A SUTURALIS, Thorns. One female, Dunachton. This is
the so-called " Heather Beetle," and although only one
specimen was taken during my collecting trip, yet from other
evidence (see my special Report on this insect) it is obvious
that it is generally distributed in Scotland, and only too
abundant on many of the moors.

HALTICA ERICETI, AIL One, Dunachton.

"Family CURCULIONID/E (Weevils).

"Remains of an undetermined Weevil occurred in a crop from
Dunachton."

^STROPHOSOMUS LATERALIS, Payk. Remains of this species were
found in two crops from Tulchan.

'THYLLOBius MACULICORNIS, Germ. One, Dunachton.
LIMNOBARIS T-ALBUM, L. One, Dunachton.

*ORDER LEPIDOPTERA (Butterflies and Moths).

The only Lepidopterous remains found in the crops I examined
were those of an undetermined Tineid Moth. The occurrence is
apparently of no importance.

Family NYMPHALID^.

ARGYNNIS EUPHROSYNE, L. This Fritillary is no doubt often seen
flying over the heather in most parts of Scotland. One
example was caught at Dunachton and others seen.

CCENONYMPHA DAVUS, F. Also a common moor-loving species.
One specimen taken at Ballindalloch.

FIDONIA ATOMARIA, L. The "Heath" Moth, very abundant on
the moors, especially at Dunachton, where I obtained twenty-
seven specimens.

EUPITHECIA, sp. Three specimens of a " Pug" taken at Dunachton
but too much rubbed for identification.

PYRAUSTA OSTRINALIS, Hb. Four, Dunachton.
CNEPHASIA MUSCULANA, Hb. One, Dunachton.

PHOXOPTERYX UNGUICELLA, L. Nine, Dunachton ; one, Ballin-
dalloch.

GELECHIA ERICETELLA, Hb. Two, Dunachton.
ARGYRESTHIA GCEDARTELLA, L. One on wall at Ballindalloch.

160 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

*ORDER HEMIPTERA.
HETEROPTERA.

Family SALDID^.
SALDA SALTATORIA, L. One specimen, Dunachton.

*HOMOPTERA.

Fragments of Homoptera were found in two crops, from
Dunachton and Ballindalloch respectively, but they were not
determinable.

Family DELPHACID^.

LIBURNIA, sp. One specimen, species not determined, Dunachton.

Family CERCOPID^.

PHIL^ENUS SPUMARIUS, L. Eight specimens, Burley-in-Wharfedale.
This is an abundant insect everywhere, especially in dampish
places. It is the well-known species known as the "Cuckoo-
Spit."

PHIL^NUS LINEATUS, L. Two, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

*ORDER HYMENOPTERA.
--Family TENTHREDINID^ (Saw-Flies).

*DINEURA, sp. One specimen, undetermined, Dunachton. An
example, probably of the same species, was found in a crop
from the same moor.

PCECILOSOMA SUBMUTICUM, Thorns, One, Dunachton.
DOLERUS PALUSTRIS, Klug. One, Dunachton.
DOLERUS FISSUS, Htg. One, Dunachton ; one, Ballindalloch.
TENTHREDO OLIVACEA, King. One, Dunachton.

-Family CYNIPID^.

A small hymenopterous insect, apparently a Cynipid, was
found in a crop from Ballindalloch the occurrence was, perhaps,
a casual one.

^Family CHALCIDID^E.

Undetermined specimens belonging to this large, interesting,
but difficult group of insects, were found in two crops from
Dunachton and one from Tulchan. A Chalcid was also captured
in the net at Dunachton.

THE INSECT FAUNA OF GROUSE MOORS 161

Families ICHNEUMONID^ and BRACONID^.

A number of undetermined specimens were found in three crops
from Dunachton and one from Tulchan.

CRYPTUS TARSOLEUCUS, Schr. One female captured at Dunachton.

Family APID/E (Bees).

BOMBUS TERRESTRIS, L. One, Dunachton. A number of Bomln
were seen flying over the moors, but they are of no special
interest in the inquiry regarding Grouse Disease.

ORDER TRICHOPTERA (Caddis-Flies).

Family SERICOSTOMATID.E.

SERICOSTOMA PERSONATUM, Spcnce. One, Ballindalloch.
SILO PALLIPES, Fab. One, Ballindalloch.

Family LEPTOCERID^.
MAURUS, Curt. Two, Ballindalloch.

Family HYDROPSYCHID.-K.

PHILOPOTAMUS MONTANUS, Don. Very abundant along all the
streams at Dunachton ; 19 examples taken.

ORDER NEUROPTERA.

ODONATA (Dragon-Flies).

PYRRHOSOMA NYMPHULA, Snlz. -One of each sex taken at
Dunachton.

*Family EPHEMER1D.F, (May-Flies).
A fragment of a May-fly was found in a crop from Tulchan.
LEPTOPHLEBIA SUBMARGINATA, Steph. Two males, Dunachton.
RHITHROGENA SEMICOLORATA, Curtis. Eleven males, Dunachton.

* Family PERLID.-E (Stone-Flies).

Fragments of undetermined Perlidce were found in two gizzards
from Dunachton.

CHLOROPERLA GRAMMATICA, Poda. - Three, Dunachton ; one,
Ballindalloch.

ISOPTERYX TRJPUNCTATA, Scop, One, Ballindalloch.

75 D

162 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

*NEMOURA, sp. Five, Dunachton ; one, Burley-in-Wharfedale.
Remains of this genus occurred in a crop from Dunachton.

*LEUCTRA, sp. Two, Dunachton; one, Ballindalloch; one, Burley-
in-Wharfedale. Fragments belonging to this genus were found
in a crop from Dunachton.

'Family PSOCID,.
GRAPHOPSOCUS CRUCIATUS, L. One, Ballindalloch.

*C^:ciLius, sp. A specimen of this genus, undetermined, occurred
in a crop from Tulchan.

Family SIALID^ (Alder-Flies).
SIALIS LUTARIA, L. Three specimens, Dunachton.
THE ROYAL SCOTTISH MUSEUM, EDINBURGH.

SCOTTISH DRAGONFLY RECORDS.
By W. J. LUCAS, B.A., F.E.S.

SINCE the publication in 1900 of my text-book on the
British Dragonflies, a number of records for Scotland have
come to hand. Our knowledge of the distribution of this
interesting order of insects in the northern part of the United
Kingdom is still, however, meagre in the extreme, and it is
with the hope that entomologists generally may be good
enough to try to add to our knowledge that the following
list is submitted. A full account of the distribution of the
Odonata in the Forth area was published in this magazine
by Mr. W. Evans in 1905. There is, of course, no necessity
to include the localities there recorded in the list that appears
below. No doubt some published records have escaped my
notice ; of such I shall be glad to hear.

LEUCORRHINIA DUBIA. Inverness-shire: Nethy Bridge, i3th June
1900 (Col. Yerbury). Aberdeenshire : scarce at Invercanny
Moor (J. Mearns).

SYMPETRUM STRIOLATUM. Isle of Lewis : Stornoway, a striking
variety figured in "Entom.," May 1900, p. 139 (H. S. Fremlin).

SCOTTISH DRAGONFLY RECORDS 163

Argyllshire: Tayrallich (1900), and Taynish Loch (A. M.
Stewart). Bute : Cumbrae near Millport (A. M. Stewart).
Renfrewshire : Wass-hill (A. M. Stewart).

S. SCOTICUM. Sutherlandshire \ 4th and 8th August, 1900, The
Mound, and i4th August, Golspie (Col. Yerbury) ; 1901, Rogart
and Lairg (J. M. Munro). Aberdeenshire : abundant on most
moors (J. Mearns). Bute : Cumbrae near Millport (A. M.
Stewart). Argyllshire: Tayrallich (1900), and Taynish Loch
(A. M. Stewart). Dumfriesshire : Common at Ellangowan
(B. M'Gowan). Kirkcudbrightshire: Colvend (Ur. B. White,
"E.M.M.," 1900, p. 109). Renfrewshire: Wass-hill (A. M.
Stewart).

LIBELLULA QUADRIMACULATA. Isle of Lewis : Stornoway (H. S.
Fremlin). Inverness-shire: 4th July, 1900, Nethy Bridge (Col.
Yerbury). Aberdeenshire : Common at Scotston Moor and Ban-
chory (J. Mearns). Banffshire : i3th July 1903, Crannoch Loch
near Cullen (H. H. Brown, "Entom.," 1903, p. 219). Argyll-
shire: (J. Mackay). Arran: July 1901 (Mr. Dunsmore, sent
to me by A. M. Stewart). Renfrewshire : Dargavel Moss
(A. M. Stewart). Kirkcudbrightshire : Colvend (Dr. B. White,
"E.M.M.," 1900, p. 109). Dumfriesshire: Ellangowan, three
seen, one of them captured, June 1900 (B. M'Gowan).
Berwick-on-Tweed ': migrants, 1900 (G. Bolam).

ORTHKTRUM C^ERULESCENS. Kirkcudbrightshire : Colvend (Dr. B.
White, "E.M.M.," 1900, p. 109).

SOMATOCHLORA METALi.iCA. Inverness-shire : Not uncommon in
Strathglass, July 1899, but patience and devotion in the highest
degree needed for their capture (C. A. Briggs, in lift., 2 yd
November 1899).

S. ARCTICA. Perthshire : Mr. K. J. Morton took the species in
Black Wood, Rannoch, igth July 1905 ; and Mr. J. W. Cardew
took it in the same locality, 2nd August 1908.

CORDULEGASTER ANNULATUS. Inverness-shire : Strathglass, July
1899, not uncommon and easy to catch (C. A. Briggs, in lift.,
23rd November 1899); Nethy Bridge, i3th June 1900 (Col.
Yerbury). Sutherlandshire: 6th and 1 7th July 1900, Invershin
(Col. Yerbury). Aberdeenshire : Common at Invercanny Moor
(J. Mearns). Argyllshire : Taynish (A. M. Stewart).

CAERULEA. Sutherlandshire: i5th July 1900, Invershin
(Col. Yerbury). Inverness-shire : Rare and hard to catch in
Strathglass, July 1899 (C. A. Briggs, in litt., 23rd November
1899). Ross-shire: 8th July 1890, at Loch Rosque near
Loch Maree a ? (J. J. F. X. King, "E.M.M.," 1900, p. 136).
Perthshire: Learan, Rannoch, i4th July 1905 (K. J. Morton).

164 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

yE. JUNCEA. Isle of Le^tns : Stornoway, 1901, three specimens (C. A.
Briggs, collected by H. M 'Arthur). Sutherlandshire : 5th and
i4th August 1900, Golspie ; and loth and 24th August, The
Mound (Col. Yerbury). Inverness-shire: 4th July 1900, Nethy
Bridge (Col. Yerbury). Banffshire : A newly emerged with
its nymph-skin from half-way up Cairngorm on 5th July 1900
(Col. Yerbury). Aberdeenshire : Common at Scotston Moor,
Banchory, and Nigg (J. Mearns).' Selkirkshire : Galashiels
(J. C. Haggart). Renfrewshire: Lawmarnock ; and in 1901
near Paisley (A. M. Stewart). Kirkcudbrightshire : Colvend
(Dr. B. White, "E.M.M.," 1900, p. 109).

M. GRANDIS. Dumfriesshire: Ellangowan (B. M'Gowan). Kirk-
cudbrightshire: Colvend (Dr. B. White, "E.M.M.," 1900,
p. 109).

CALOPTERYX VIRGO. Kirkcudbrightshire : Colvend (Dr. B. White,
"E.M.M." 1900, p. 109).

C. SPLENDENS. Prof. Trail tells Mr. J. Mearns that C. splendens
has occurred at Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, in abundance (E. N.
Bloomfield, "E.M.M.," 1900, p. 263).

LESTES DRY AS. Kirkcudbrightshire: Colvend (Dr. B. White,
"E.M.M.," 1900, p. 109; but M'Lachlan considered the
record doubtful).

L. SPONSA. Aberdeenshire : " One specimen sent me ; others have
been taken by Mr. J. Mearns" (E. N. Bloomfield). Renfrew-
shire: near Paisley, 1901 (A. M. Stewart). Argyllshire: Tay-
nish Loch and Tayrallich (A. M. Stewart).

PYRRHOSOMA NYMPHULA. Isle of Lewis: Stornoway, 1901, a fine
series, evidently common (C. A. Briggs ; collected by H.
M'Arthur). Inverness-shire; Aviemore, 28th June 1900, and
Nethy Bridge, i3th and 2yth June 1900 (Col. Yerbury).
Banffsliire : Crannoch Loch, near Cullen, i3th July 1903 (H.
H. Brown, " Entom.," 1903, p. 219). Aberdeenshire: Common
at Banchory and Whitestripes (J. Mearns). Perthshire (G. W.
Kirkaldy). Renfrewshire: Wass-hill, and near Paisley 1901
(A. M. Stewart). Dumfriesshire: Ellangowan (B. M'Gowan).
Kirkcudbrightshire: Colvend (Dr. B. White, "E.M.M.," 1900,
p. 109.

ISCHNURA ELEGANS. Isle of Lewis : Stornoway, $ $ $ $ , rather
small (C. A. Briggs, collected by H. M'Arthur). Banffshire :
Crannoch Loch, near Cullen, i3th July 1903 (H. H. Brown,
"Entom.," 1903, p. 219). Aberdeenshire: Common at Scot-
ston and Invercanny (J. Mearns). Argyllshire : Taynish Loch
(A. M. Stewart). Dumfriesshire: Ellangowan (B. M'Gowan).
Renfrewshire : near Paisley (A. M. Stewart).

SCOTTISH DRAGONFLY RECORDS 165

AGRION PULCHELLUM. - - In Scotland according to de Selys
("E.M.M.," 1900, p. 109).

A. PUELLA. Indicated as Scotch, by De Selys ("E.M.M.," 1900,
p. 88). Mid-Lothian : One taken in June i 896, near Rosslyn
(W. Evans, "E.M.M.," 1900, p. 88). Renfrewshire: near
Paisley, 1901 (A. M. Stewart). Dumfriesshire: a single male,
June 1902, Ellangowan ; probably others were present (B.
M'Gowan, in Hit., iSth Feb. 1903).

A. HASTULATUM. Rediscovered, 1 28th June 1900, by Col. Yerbury,
who captured a male at Aviemore (Inverness-shire), which
happened to be somewhat aberrant and resembled Enallagma
cyathigerum ; Mr. J. J. F. X. King took it again in Aviemore in
1903.

ENALLAGMA CYATHIGERUM.--/^ of Lewis: Stornoway, 1901,
twenty males and four females ; specimens rather large ; the
spot on segment 2 usually large, in one or two cases somewhat
similar to that figured in " E.M.M.," 1900, p. no (C. A. Briggs,
collected by H. M'Arthur). Aberdeenshire : Common at
Bishop's Loch (J. Mearns). Banffshire : Crannoch Loch,
near Cullen, i3th July 1903 (H. H. Brown, " Entom.," 1903,
p. 219). Inverness-shire: A male from Nethy Bridge, July
1909 (D. Sharp). Perthshire (G. W. Kirkaldy). Argyllshire:
Taynish Loch (A. M. Stewart). Kirkcudbrightshire : Colvend
(Dr. B. White, "E.M.M.," 1900, p. 109). Dumfriesshire:
Ellangowan (B. M'Gowan). Renfrewshire: near Paisley, 1901
(A. M. Stewart).

28 KNIGHT'S PARK, KINGSTON-ON-THAMES,
June 1910.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO A FLORA OF THE OUTER

HEBRIDES. No. 4.

By ARTHUR BENNETT, F.L.S.

THE following records, etc., are partly new records, partly
records omitted, notes, etc., that have come to my notice
since No. 3 appeared in the "Annals" of July 1905.

I regret to say that my correspondent Mr. W. S. Duncan
has since that date been seriously ill, and able to do scarcely

1 Mr. C. W. Dale had in his collection (now in the Hope Museum in Oxford),
specimens taken by R. Weaver in Stttherlandshire in 1842 (see Notes on the
Dale Collection, in "E.M.M.," xix. p. 198 ; xx. p. 79, where references are also
made to other Scottish dragonflies).

1 66 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

any collecting and observing ; but the following pages will
show that while he could he has done good work.

I shall be extremely glad if any one can add to these
records, and will publish the additions, no matter how
trivial they may seem. It is only by many units that we
can build up a floral record of any county.

Working through Messrs. Balfour and Babington's 1841
List, 1 there is little to comment on, as a first-list notice was
of course taken of species rather than of critical forms.
The Cerastium atrovirens, Bab., is simply a state of C.
tetrandrum, Curt. Potentilla Tormentilla is given as " flourish-
ing at a height of 3000 feet." There is no hill in the Outer
Hebrides that attains that altitude, Clisham in North Harris
being the nearest to it (2622 feet) ; but at that date the
altitudes were little known. Taraxacum officinale " Upon
the upper part of Langa (2102 feet) we found a variety of
this plant, approaching palustrc, but with descending lobes
to the leaves, and the outer scales of the involucrum lanceolate-
attenuate." Under Eriophorum they give both angusti-
folium and polystachion ; according to "Babington's Manual"
(1843) their angustifolium represents the type, and the other
is " elatius, Koch." Their Carex ccespitosa is C. Goodenovii >
Gay. " Molinia ccerulea, ft alpina, on the mountains of
Lewis and Harris," is not mentioned in the " Manual," but
according to Macreight 2 ft alpina M. alpina (Don) = M.
depauperata, Lindley ; but Don's name for it was " Melica
alpina." 3 In the last edition of the " London Catalogue "
we have two varieties named under Molinia, but not this
old one. Upon Langa they gathered " Thalictrum alpinmn^
Arabis petrcea, Silene acaulis, Saxifraga stellaris, Oxyria
reniformis, Luzula spicata, amongst rocks on the summit
(2102 feet) Hymenophyttum Wilsoni, and on moist micaceous
rocks on the north-west side Saussurea alpina"

The above seems to be the only station yet recorded in
the islands for Arabis petrcea.

THALICTRUM MAJUS, Crantz. Mr. Ewing records this, giving
Babington as the authority ; but this record in " Top. Botany,"

1 "Trans. Bot. Soc. Edin." i. (1844), pp. 145-154.

2 "Man. Brit. Botany," 1837.
3 "Notes from Roy. Bot. Card. Edin.," 1904, p. 134, Nos. 12 and 13.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO A FLORA OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES 167

ed. 2, 1883, was a record of an aggregate species ; there is no
doubt that a second species occurs on the islands in addition
to T. dunense, Dum., but it is probably T. collinum, Wallr.
ANEMONE NEMOROSA, Linn. Mr. Ewing gives this l as vouched
for by Mr. A. Somerville, but I do not know where it was
recorded.

RANUNCULUS TRICHOPHYLLUS, var. DEMERSUS, N. E. Brown. Dr.
Williams makes this the R. aquatilis, var. eradicatus, Laest. 2
With this I cannot agree ; I had a specimen of Laestadius'
plant, which is a very delicate form, not seen by me from else-
where. He describes it as " sub-aquaneus, caule bi-l-3-pollicari,
filiformi ; floribus minutissimis, ante explicationem vix semine
cannabis majoribus ; foliis non proprie capillaribus, sed
abbreviatis ; radice filiformi, fibrosa. Hab. in stagnis vadosis,
ex. gr. Karavuopis et Saxajerfvi ad Karesuando Lappon.
Tornensis." Fries included eradicatus in his Batrachium con-
fervoides, " Bot. Not.," 1845, p. 141, and "Sum. Veg.," 1846,
p. 139; and C. P. Laestadius 3 also quotes L. L. Laestadius'
habitats for B. confervoides, Fr. Mr. N. E. Brown seems to
think 4 that the eradicatus (quoted from Hiern) is something
different from Fries' plant. No doubt it is not the same,
but it is a delicate form or variety of it.

I have a series of the Perth plant, gathered by Mr. A.
Sturrock. It does not seem to be mentioned in the " Flora of
Perth" (1898). A succulent form of Fries' plant occurs in
thirteen of the botanical provinces of Finland. It is B.
admixtum, W. Nylander.

Hartmann 5 quotes " R. paucistamineus, Tausch, var.
borealis, Beurling ("Bot. Not," 1852), as a synonym of Fries'
plant.

Laestadius at the end of his paper remarks " R. aquatilis
eradicatus, a, subaquaneus. Hujus forma minima, p. exsiccata
vix pollicaris ad ripas lacuum exsiccatas post defluxum aquas
florens caule filiformi depresso, foliis filiformibus, peltatis nullis,
obvenit. circa Karesuando." Specimens referable to Mr
Brown's plant I have from Harris, Duncan, sp.

RANUNCULUS HEDERACEUS, Linn. Loch Boisdale in South Uist.

TROLLIUS EUROP^US, Linn. In all floras species supposed to be
absent are almost as interesting as recorded ones. This is a
case in point. Why does Trollius grow in West Sutherland,

1 "Glasgow Cat. of Native Plants" (1899), p. i.

2 In " Loca Parall. Plant," written in 1831 and 1832, but not published
until 1839.

3 "Bid. till kan. Tornea Lappmark." 1860, p. 39.

4 "Eng. Bot." Suppl., 1892, p. 13.

5 "Hand. Sk. Fl.," ed. 10 (1879), p. 167.

168 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Caithness, West Ross and Skye, yet not in the Outer Hebrides ?
Another similar case is that of Corydalis daviculata.

ARABIS HIRSUTA, Scop., var. PROPINQUA (Jord.} Coast sand-hills,
Balranald, North Uist, 16/7/1898, Dr. Shoolbred.

The Rev. E. F. Linton * refers these specimens to the
above species of Jordan, as does the late Herr Freyn, who
observes: " A. hirsuta, Scop., var. agrees with var. propinqua
(Jord.) Rouy ; but this is an alpine plant." Certainly very
different from the Glamorgan (Newton Nottage) specimens
which Rev. E. S. Marshall tells me are referred to A. Retziana,
Beurling (PI. Scand., 1859), var. hispida, by M. Rouy. In
this I concur ; it nearly corresponds with the Caithness plants I
have referred to Retziana, except that they are nearly glabrous.
Lonnroth 2 discusses many forms of hirsuta.

COCHLEARIA DANiCA, Linn. Coast near Scalpig, North Uist,

Shoolbred, sp.
POLYGALA OXYPTERA, Reichb. West side of South Uist, growing

near to or with P. eu-vulgaris, A. Somerville, sp.

STELLARIA HOLOSTEA, Linn, Wood in the Stornoway Castle
grounds, where a few plants come up every year, W. J. Gibson.

MONTIA FONTANA, L., sp., LAMPROSPERMA. Chamisso. 3 Island of
Barra, July 1884, A. Somerville, sp. Another specimen from
South Uist (A. S.) has no fruit ripe enough to be certain of.

RUBUS PULCHERRIMUS, Ncuman. North Uist and Barra. Dr.

Shoolbred.

R. INCURVATUS, Bab. | Rev. W. Moyle Rogers, " Handbook of
R. CORYLIFOLIUS, Sm.} British Rubi," 1900, p. 100.

FRAGARIA VESCA, Linn. Castle grounds at Stornoway, W. J.
Gibson, sp., 1908.

ROSA OMISSA, Desegl. Trail, "Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist.," 45, 1908,
ex Rev. A. Ley, "Journ. Bot," May 1907.

PEPLIS PORTULA, L. South Uist, A. Somerville. In part ii., 1892,
this was listed as " Duncan Cat." Mr. Duncan wrote
(3/6/1896) that this was an error; and I omitted to note
Mr. Somerville's record in part iii., 1895.

EPILOBIUM TETRAGONUM, Linn (seg.). Scarp, W. S. Gibson, sp.
E. ANAGALLIDIFOLIUM, Lam. Clisham (2622 feet), Dr. Shoolbred.

CRITHMUM MARITIMUM,* Linn. Mangustra Cliffs, north of the
island of Eileen Moloch, west coast of the Lewis. Beyond

1 "Exch. Club Report for 1898," p. 565.
2 "Obs. Crit. PL Suec. 111.," 1854, pp. 8-12.
3 Cf. Beeby in "Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist.," 104, 1909.
4 See "Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist.," 1909, p. 54.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO A FLORA OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES 169

the distribution given, I.e., it occurs in Malta and on the
coast of the Black Sea. But the plant, though succulent in its
annual growth, becomes after some years almost woody at the
base ; and the roots penetrate some distance into the cliffs.
At St. Margaret's Bay, East Kent, there was a large plant that
I knew for 15 years. It was nearly 2 feet long and quite
woody. The sea has since swept it away. The Lewis
specimens are almost typical, while the Colonsay ones are
more drawn and taller, up to 1 6 inches high.

SAUSSUREA ALPINA, DC. In No. 3 I gave the height of its occur-
rence on the Caithness Cliff at "about 40 feet." But 20 feet
is about the altitude.

HIERACIUM OREADES, Fr., var. SUBGLABRATUM, F. J. Hanb. Cliffs,
south side of Loch Maddy, North Uist, Shoolbred.

H. ARGENTEUM, Fr. Clisham, North Harris. Cliffs near Tarbet,
South Harris, Dr. Shoolbred.

H. SCOTICUM, F. J. Hanb. Crogay More, North Uist ;] Clisham,
North Harris, Dr. Shoolbred.

H. SILVATICUM, Gonan, sub-sp. CORDIGERUM, Norrlin. Scarp,
\V. S. Duncan, sp. A remarkable plant which I have not seen
from elsewhere in Britain. The peculiar form of the leaves
and the dense silky covering are very unusual.

H. SAGITTATUM, Lindeb., var. SUBHIRTUM, F. J. H. Linton ("Br.
Hier.," 1805, p. 52).

H. STICTOPHYLLUM, Dahlst. Stornoway, Linton ("Journ. Bot.,"
1893, P- T 98); near Tarbert, South Harris, Shoolbred, I.e.

H. STRICTUM, Fr., var. RETICULATUM (Lindeb.}. Linton's ("Journ.
Bot.," 1893, p. 201).

VERONICA CHAM^EDRYS, Linn. Castle Grounds at Stornoway and
in the neighbourhood, W. J. Gibson, sp.

EUPHRASIA BOREALIS, Wetts. Bernera, Harris, Mrs. MacGillivray,
July 1828, Trail ("Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist.," 1901, p. 179).

E. BREVIPILA, Burnat and Gremli. Tarbert, W. A. Shoolbred
("Journ. Bot," 1899, p. 480).

E. FOULAENSIS, Toivns. Baleshare Island and Ben Lee, North Uist,
W. A. Shoolbred, I.e.

E. SCOTTICA, Wettst. Ben Lee, North Uist, W. A. Shoolbred, I.e.

RHINANTHUS PUBESCENS, Wallr. East coast of Benbecula, W. A.
Shoolbred ("Journ. Bot.," 1895, p. 245).

MELAMPYRUM SYLVATICUM, L. "no, Macgillivray," " Glas. Cat."
(1899, p. 99), much needs confirmation.

170 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

UTRICULARIA VULGARIS, Linn. no Hebrides, "Top. Bot." ed. 2,
1883. Recorded by Balfour and Babington in 1841, from N.
Uist. As they went from Dunvegan to Loch Maddy in N.
Uist, and as Dr. Shoolbred found U. neglecta near there, it is
possible that they gathered the same plant, as U. neglecta was
not then differentiated in Britain from U. vulgaris.

As yet I have not seen specimens of U. vulgaris from the
islands, and by the kindness of Messrs. Goode and Moss, I
have ascertained there are no specimens of Utricularia from
the Outer Hebrides in the late Prof. Babington's herbarium.
Dr. Bayley Balfour kindly allowed Mr. Jeffrey, the Curator of
the Edinburgh Herbarium, to look if there were any specimens
from the Outer Hebrides in it, and he reports " there are none,"
so that we cannot prove whether it was vulgaris that was seen.

(To be continued.}

NOTES ON CAREX.
By Rev. EDWARD S. MARSHALL, M.A., F.L.S.

PERHAPS I may be allowed to supplement my friend Mr.
Druce's general review of Pfarrer G. Kukenthal's monograph
(pp. 46-52) by some more detailed remarks. In the revised
list which I drew up for the tenth edition of the " London
Catalogue " there are some errors and inadvertent omissions
of varieties, the latter mainly due to my having taken over
the work in an advanced stage, and too hastily assumed that
most, if not all, recent additions had already been included
in the rough draft.

C. chatophylla, Steudel. Specimens from Seaford, 14, East Sussex,
were so named for Mr. H. S. Thompson in 1905 by Mr. C. B.
Clarke. They look fairly distinct from our ordinary British
C. divisa, having very slender filiform leaves and a smaller
inflorescence.

C.diandra, Schrank,var./ir/iar/iana (Hoppe). I cannot distinguish
the English specimens so named from type ; it is accordingly
ignored in " Lond. Cat."

C. contigua, Hoppe (muricata, Koch, et auct. angl.). This name
is definite, and preferable to the earlier C. spicata, Huds. ; the
synonyms quoted by Hudson are very vague, and the habitat

NOTES ON CAREX 171

assigned (in aquosis et ad margines fossarum) is quite unusual
for this normally dry-soil species.

C. muricata, Linn. Herb. ! (Paircei, F. Schultz). The description in
"Spec. Plant." (capsulis acutis divergentibus spinosis) confirms
the evidence of the specimen ; its patent fruit being one of the
obvious characters which mark off Paircei from contigua. Mr.
W. A. Shoolbred and I found what we thought was a new
British sedge on sandy hedge-banks near Pyle, 41, Glamorgan,
so far back as 1902 ; Kiikenthal at first named it Leersii, but
subsequently identified it in herb. C. E. Salmon as Paircei.
Last year Rev. E. F. Linton collected this species in fine
condition at Edmondsham, 9, Dorset.

C. Leersii, F. Schultz. Clearly very near the last, though authentic
specimens at Brit. Mus. are considerably more robust, and have
larger fruit, in addition to the longer and more interrupted
spikes. Our British plants are usually weaker, but cannot be
separated by any definite character. If treated as a mere
variety, it should apparently be called C. muricata, L., var.
pseudo-divulsa, Syme. Mr. Druce's C. muricata x remota has,
I believe, contigua as one parent ; I have hitherto seen no
other British examples, though Focke calls it " perhaps the
most frequent Carex-hybrid.."

C. canescens, L. Mr. Druce has shown good grounds for retaining
this name, instead of C. curta, Good.

C. cespitosa, L. Mr. Beeby some years ago informed me that he
had given up the Shetland plant so determined by Dr. Lange
(I saw his herbarium specimen at a Linnean Society Meeting,
and could not make out how it differed from C. Goodenowif) ;
but Mr. Bennett is satisfied that the Wensleydale cespitosa is
correct.

C. gracilis, Curt., var. sphccrocarpa, Kiik. My Bignor, 13, West
Sussex, plant (No. 2610) has brown, roundish fruit. I have
not seen a description of this variety.

C. aquatilis, Wahl., forma angustata, Kiik. Speyside below
Kingussie, 96, East Inverness (Nos. 2102-3). I n 1898
Kiikenthal wrote that my specimens were analogous to C.
gracilis, var. personata, Fr. Spikelets slender ; foliage narrow.
I have the same thing, in a reduced form, from 2800 feet in
Corrie Kander, 92, South Aberdeen (No. 2983).

Var. sphagnophila, Fr. Is an earlier name for the var.
minor, Boott, so common on the Clova Mountains.

Var. epigeios. Kiikenthal in 1898 named my specimens
from the tableland above Glen Callater, coming from Canlochan,
at over 3000 feet, as var. epigeios, Anders. ; whether that is the

172 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

same as of Lsestadius I am unable to say. They are about 1 8
inches high. Male spikelet solitary ; female 2 or 3, appressed
to the stem, short, fairly stout, with very dark, blunt glumes.
Dr. Buchanan White's alleged var. epigeios from Methven was
placed under Goodenowii (C. vulgaris y elatior, Lang, forma
angustifolid] by Kiikenthal, and certainly cannot stand under
aquatilis.

C. elytroides, Fr. Kiikenthal does not accept the Anglesey plant
which has been so called. He remarked on my two sheets
which, by the way, are fertile " Carex elytroides, Fr., ex orig.
longe aliena, nempe hybrida Carex gracilis x vulgaris. Haec
est nil nisi forma elatior C. vulgaris."

C. Goodenowii, Gray, var. strictiformis, Kiik. I was glad to see
this fine plant (Nos. 1936, 2378) at length decisively named.
Mr. Shoolbred and I discovered it in a peaty ditch within fifty
yards of C. chordorhiza, which we met with a few minutes later
in its first British station. When growing it has quite the
appearance of a distinct species, being considerably more robust,
and having stouter spikelets than any other of our numerous
Goodenowii forms known to me. Kiikenthal at first confidently
named it Goodenowii x gracilis; but it is quite fertile, and gracilis
is unknown in the north of Scotland. In 1901 he wrote that
it came nearest to C. Gaudichaudiana, Kunth, from Australia
and New Zealand. Rev. E. F. Linton's unpublished C.
Goodenowii, var. subacuta, from Co. Westmeath, seems to be
closely allied. Probably a subspecies, rather than an ordinary
variety.

Var. subccespitosa, Kiik. Peaty marsh-dyke near Rosslare,
Co. Wexford, June 1897 (No. 1969); forming dense hassocks up
to 1 8 inches high, both caespitose and stoloniferous. Kiikenthal
remarked that it had much the aspect of a cespitosa x rulgaris.
The spikelets are crowded in a head one to two inches long,
subtended by a bract often twice its length. Var. jwicella is
sometimes densely tufted, but has its leaves more or less
involute-filiform ; whereas in var. subcaspitosa they are flat, and
occasionally 15 inches long.

C. panicea, L., var. intermedia (Miegeville). Still known as British
only from a wet heath about a mile east of Fort William
(No. 431), where I found it on June 23, 1888. It remained
constant under cultivation, and exactly matches Bordere's
specimens at Kew, thus named, from the Pyrenees. Kiiken-
thal's comment in 1898 was as follows: "Carex intermedia,
Mieg., est mihi ignota (K. Richter ad C. vulgarem ducit !).
Haec forma pulchra reducta Caricis panicese." The station,
only 100 feet above sea-level, cannot account for its divergence

NOTES ON CAREX 173

from type, which seems to me quite varietal. I have always,
however, regarded the so-called var. borealis, And., of C. vaginata,
which is frequent on the Cairngorms above 3000 feet, as merely
an alpine state.

C. binerris, Sm., var. Sadleri (Linton). Both this and var. nigrescens,
Druce, remain constant under cultivation; but the former,
whether identical with var. alpina, Drejer, or not, is at least a
good subspecies, whereas var. nigrescens, from Corrie Kander,
differs from type only by its darker glumes, the fruit-character
being normal.

C, distans, L. My inland gatherings from the neighbourhood of
Trowbridge and Devizes, North Wilts (No. 2718, etc.), where it
is locally plentiful, have the beak of the fruit rather longer and
more gradually narrowed from the base than in the coast-form
referred by C. B. Clarke to C. neglecta, Degland ; the utricles
also appear to be less conspicuously punctate.

C.flava, L. The typical plant of Linn. Herb, seems to be most
rare in Britain ; I believe that I have observed it only once,
near Fulbourne, Cambridgeshire, but alpine forms occur in
the Breadalbanes which belong here, one of which (from about
2000 feet on Ben More, 88, Mid-Perth), with very inflated,
subglobose fruit, and stems 3 to 6 inches high, was named var.
pygmtza. And., by Kiikenthal. C. lepidocarpa, Tausch, perhaps
distinct enough to rank as a species, is most frequent in north
Scotland, but occurs as far south as Dorset, and in Ireland.

C. CEderi, Retz., var. <xdocarpa, And. (flava, var. minor, Towns.).
By far our most common and generally distributed representa-
tive of the yfrtz'rt-group in the three kingdoms. Much can be
said in favour of keeping it under restricted C. flava, L. ; but
it varies greatly (this is well shown on the plate in Flora Danica),
being sometimes nearly two feet high, and sometimes only two
or three inches, as at Fleet Pond, 1 2, North Hants, where it
shades off almost imperceptibly into typical CEderi. I think that
Andersson's name should be retained, both as being older, and
as more in accordance with the features of the plant taken as
a whole. Though the beak is usually (not always) much longer
than in type-CEderi and the other varieties, it is straight, never
in my experience abruptly deflexed, as mflava and lepidocarpa;
and occasionally the fruit itself is small.

C. inflata, Huds., Fl. Angl., ed. 2, p. 412 (1778). Mr. Beeby, the
most accurate and careful botanist of my acquaintance, whose
untimely death is an almost irreparable loss, demurred to the
identification of this with C. rostrata, Stokes (ampullacea, Good.),
on the ground of Hudson's species being described as having a
solitary male spikelet ; but I cannot see that the expression,

174 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

" mascula erecta lanceolata " need imply this, and the objection
would be equally valid against C. vesicaria, L., the only possible
alternative, which also has two to four male spikelets.

Var. utriculata, Kiik. Plants from near Cong, West Galway
(No. 1478), and Lough Drin, Westmeath (No. 142 6), which seem
hardly separable from Mr. Lloyd-Praeger's supposed C. rhyncho-
physa, were named by Kiikenthal C. rostrata, var. latifolia,
Aschers (1864). An even stronger form, found by Mr. Shool-
bred and myself in Glen Clova (No. 2764), was identified by
Mr. Bennett with C. ampullacea, var. robusta, Sender (1851),
an earlier synonym of var. clatior, Blytt (1861). I suspect that
all the above-mentioned gatherings should rank as one variety,
which in Lond. Cat. I have called C. inflata, var. robusta.

C. Grahami, Boott. A careful study of wild specimens from Clova,
as well as of living plants from that locus classicus, cultivated
at Kew and Bournemouth, has quite convinced me that this is
a variety or subspecies of C. vesicaria, L. The var. alpigena,
Fr., as named for me by Kiikenthal, has short, roundish female
spikelets and a shorter beak, and agrees well with some
specimens issued in Herb. Normals, Fr., though not quite with
all. This tends towards C. saxatilis, L. (pulla, Good.);
the transitions from which to Grahami, e.g. in the bog below^
the neck separating Ben More from Stobinian (also called
Am Binnein and Ben Ein), are numerous, and may be due
in part to hybridity. When growing by itself, C. saxatilis is
very characteristic and quite constant ; I regard it as being
more distinct from vesicaria than is C. lepidocarpa from type-
flava.

WEST MONKTON RECTORY, TAUNTON,
February 21, 1910.

ON SOME SCOTTISH ALPINE FORMS OF

CAREX.

By P. EWING, F.L.S.

I HAVE been asked to put on record, through the medium of
the " Annals," my opinions regarding some of the critical
forms of our alpine Carices, and now that Georg Kiiken-
thal's able monograph of the genus has been published in the
" Pflanzenreich " the work is much simplified. His arrange-
ment, however much it may differ from the arrangement of
former authors, is the one I prefer to follow in whatever

ON SOME SCOTTISH ALPINE FORMS OF CAREX 175

remarks I make, as it is more in accordance with my ideas
concerning the relative position of the forms. The descrip-
tions of these forms may not be comprehensive enough, but
on the whole, so far as I have tested them, they seem to fit
our British plants fairly well.

The species I intend to discuss are well known, therefore
I do not think it necessary to enter into their synonymy,
which may be found in the above-mentioned work, and in
various other sources at the command of most students. I
may just be permitted to say in passing that this monograph
from an authority of such generally recognised ability, has
not come too soon, as the great discrepancies to be found in
the descriptions of different authors must have been a source
of great inconvenience to all students of the genus, and the
want of a good standard book, more up-to-date than any we
have, for reference on critical points, must have long been a
felt want.

The hill-forms of Carex are, in my opinion, more interest-
ing than the low-country forms as they are much more varied,
and taking note of these variations as one is quietly ascend-
ing a mountain-side adds much to one's knowledge, relieves
the muscular exertion, and thereby makes toil a pleasure.
Also by observing the effects on the same plant, growing in
a wet bog or dry soil, or on rock ledges, at different altitudes,
helps the student very materially to decide which form of
the plant the author had before him when he was drawing
out his description.

Let me begin with :

Carex rostrata, Stokes. If we go to the muddy shores
of Loch Dochart we find this plant with a stem longer than
the leaves, and the leaves themselves comparatively flat ; but
if we follow the streams and examine the marshes right up
to the highest bog-land and note the changes in the pro-
portion of stems to leaves ; we see the stems getting shorter,
and the leaves becoming longer, narrower, and more involute,
till we find it with leaves twice as long as the stems, and as
a rule we find all the other organs proportionately changed
in shape and colour.

Under the type Kiikenthal describes five forms, of which
I think we can lay claim to the following :

176 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Forma 3. pendulina, Blytt. With us the peduncle is
often over 6 cm. long, and the lower spikelet often has a
small spikelet at its base. It is found at the same elevations
as the var. brunnescens, but in deeper and more sheltered glens.
There is a fine patch of this at the base of Beinn Chaluim.

Forma 5. longipalea, Neuman. This is the only other
form, so far as I am aware, we have ; it is found pretty well
up on the hills in such places as the marsh on the saddle-
back between Ben Lawers and Meall Garbh ? I have never
seen it with the fruit so well developed as to cause the
spikelet to droop.

Of the varieties described by this author, var. brunnes-
cens, Anderss., is our common hill form, from about 250-750
meters, easily distinguished by its narrow leaves which are
much longer than the stem, and the brownish appearance of
its spikelets, although the glumes are often for the most part
white and membranous.

Var. borealis, Hartm., is not a rare variety with us, but
it is very rare in fruit. It may have one or two spikelets,
but they are always closely sessile. Although found at
higher altitudes than the var. brunnescens, the perigynia when
present are always better developed than in that variety at a
lower altitude. It is easily known, even when barren, by its
long involute leaves, and is a plant of the saddle-backs from
750 meters upwards, if water is constant.

C. vesicaria, L. The so-called varieties of this plant
have always been a mystery, and no two authors seem to
agree about them. This is due, of course, to the want of
field-experience of the variations. Begin at the shores of
Loch Dochart and follow this plant up the mountains and
you will see the following changes taking place. The type
occurs on the exposed shore, the form elatior in the muddy
bays, the dwarf form 30 cm. high, and smaller in all its parts,
in the meadows ; then as we ascend the mountain we lose
sight of it altogether, and not till we reach 750 meters do we
come across it again from 30-60 cm. high, with very short
erect spikelets, when it is known as C. Grahami, Boott ; and
associated with it we find another form 20-30 cm. high, with
its lower spikelet hanging on a long hair-like peduncle. Now
let us take these two last forms in their order.

ON SOME SCOTTISH ALPINE FORMS OF CAREX 177

Var. Grahami (Boott) Kiikenth. This plant has always,
been a difficulty to botanists, and the reason is easily
explained when one knows the plant. I have gathered it at
all the stations recorded for it and a few others, and have
long known that a correct description of the plant did not
exist, from that of Dr. Boott to that in the last edition of
Babington's " English Flora." Kiikenthal puts it in its right
place, and is the first, so far as I am aware, to place it, as a
plant having three stigmas, under C. vesicaria. Had Boott
done this, and described it as a plant of caespitose habit, it
would have saved much confusion. Generally the female
glumes are light brown, often with a green midrib ; the peri-
gynia are generally light green, often shaded with brown ;
and both these organs are darker if there has been much
sun in July.

I have this from Sweden as C. vesicaria, var. alpigena, Fr. ;
and I saw it this year in the Herbarium at the University of
Christiania among C. saxatilis, L., collected by O. A. Hoffstadl
at Kirkebyfjeld, Meraker, N. Trondhjem Amt.

Forma intermedia, mihi. This form seems intermediate-
between var. Grahami and C. saxatilis, differing from the
former in being 15-30 cm. high, not caespitose, and with,
flatter leaves ; from the latter it differs in having the female
spikelets 1-3, the lower one at least hanging on a long hair-
like peduncle when mature ; glumes as long as the perigynia,,
subulate, blackish-brown, with a light-coloured midrib and a
white tip ; perigynia as in Grahami, but always darker in.
colour, in fact large plants of this in the young state may
easily be confused with Grahami, as may be seen in the Royal!
Herbarium at Edinburgh, where they are mixed together.

This is certainly not the form that Fries describes in
Mant. iii. (1842), p. 142, as alpigena, under C. vesicaria, as
it sometimes has three male spikelets and always a rudi-
mentary second spikelet ; female spikelets are never sessile,.
and the leaves are always flat. Then, if Kiikenthal is right
(as I believe he is), in stating that C. vesicaria, var. dichroa*
Anderss., is the same as C. Grahami (Boott), Kukenth., this
plant is not that form, as may be easily seen by a reference
to the figure in Andersson's " Cyper. Scand.," (1849.
t. n. VIII. f. io;b.

75 E

178 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

There is a fair quantity of this on our hills ; and it is no
doubt often taken for the form alpigena. On Beinn Laoigh
it grows in the same marsh with Grahami ; on Beinn Heas-
garnich, where I have not seen Grahami, it grows mixed
with C. saxatilis. I have no doubt var. Grahami would soon
become C. vesicaria if it were grown at a low elevation ; but
I am not so sure about this form ; it looks so different when
growing on the hill beside var. Grahami. Yet I would not
be surprised if, after a few years' growth at a lowland lake-
side the forms proved to be identical.

Var. alpigena, Fries. This is another very doubtful form.
My having got the vars. Grahami and intermedia, and fairly
typical C. saxatilis, sent me from the Continent as this form,
shows we are not much worse than our northern friends ;
and I do not think we are much helped by the description
given by Kukenthal in this case. That a Carex may be
found so commonly with both " 3 and 2 stigmas " as to
warrant this being entered as part of the description, rather
upsets my ideas of specific differences. For my own part, I
am inclined to so name a form which agrees very closely
with that described by Kukenthal in all but the three stigmas.
This form is found at higher altitudes even than C. saxatilis,
and as a rule on rock ledges, where, if growing fairly dry.
the spikelets take on a very dark blackish shining appear-
ance, the perigynia always remaining lighter at the base, not
so abruptly tapering to the comparatively long neck as in
C. saxatilis, but with a very evident bifid beak, very like the
beak of C. rostmta. I have never seen this form with more
than two stigmas.

I have always looked on this as the alpigena of Fries ;
and if it is not, then I am very doubtful if we have got such
a plant on our hills ; and as may be seen from what I have
said above, it is very questionable if the form is at all well
known on the Continent. I must, therefore, differ from
Kukenthal, and say that if he intends to recognise var.
alpigena, Fries, as a good variety he must place it under
C. saxatilis, it having two stigmas ; otherwise there is no
difference so far as I can see between his admitted vars.
Grahami and alpigena.

C, saxatilis, L. I note that Kukenthal reduces this to a

ON SOME SCOTTISH ALPINE FORMS OF CAREX 179

subsp. under C. vesicaria, L. ; and quite possibly with his
wide knowledge of the species, he has good reason for so
doing. Speaking from my own knowledge of the British
forms, I think it would be a pity if the authors of our floras
were to do this. It is well worthy of specific rank. Quite
independently of what the floras say, it is no more a plant
of three stigmas than C. Goodenowii is ; and I may say that
this remark is borne out by the investigation of hundreds of
spikelets which I have examined in various districts in
Norway. No doubt it is rather a difficult plant to describe
definitely. It seems to me what De Vries would call an
ever-sporting species ; yet the most essential features vary
little, -what variation there is being probably due to cross-
ing and intercrossing, so that some of its forms when dried
are hard to separate from some of the forms of C. rigida
and C. Goodenowii. It has very little in common with
C. vesicaria until crossed with it, when the light-tipped
glumes, lengthened, stout, tapering neck of the perigynia,
and the deeply bifid beak shows this at once. It should be
classified as a species having two stigmas, light to blackish-
brown, seldom without a white tip, perigynia nerveless unless
at the sides, light to blackish-brown, beak emarginate or
erose. In the type the perigynium is suddenly contracted
into a very short neck, the mouth in the flowering stage is so
shallow in the fissure as scarcely to warrant the term bifid ;
and it can best be separated from the var. alpigena by the
perigynia of that form tapering to a much longer constricted
neck, and always having a distinctly bifid beak.

Forma I. dichroa, Blytt. Through the kindness of Prof.
Wille I had a few hours among the Carices in the Uni-
versity Herbarium in Christiania this year, and turned up
this form. In going carefully over all the sheets I found
Blytt's own description, " med naesten straagule Frukter," to
fit them exactly. They are neither more nor less than the
ordinary form of the type with almost straw-yellow perigynia.
The almost is advisable here, for like our own there were
some with a considerable part green, and some with a light
brown tinge among them.

This form is quite common on our hills. As a rule it is
greenish when collected in July, but dries yellow, while in the

i8o ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

end of August the yellow is quite apparent on the grow-
ing plant. Here and there on our hills there is a form
with curved stems, single male spikelets, and single sessile
small ovate female spikelets, which always remains green
when dried. I sent this to Kukenthal ; and he determined
it as var. dicJiroa, Blytt, although Dr. B. White and I always
looked on it as C. saxatilis x C. flava.

Var. compacta (R. Br.), Dew. This description suits a
form growing in the eastern ravine of Ben Lawers, and on
Carn nan Sac, Glenshee. Its perigynium is very broadly
ovate and inflated, so much so that when the specimens are
taken from the drying-press you find that the perigynia on
either side have all been crushed in, the female spikelet being
so compact that there is not room for them to flatten out
with pressure. This form is always found in wet but well-
drained situations, and has much darker and more shining
perigynia than is usual with the type.

Var. glomerata, mihi. I wish to mention another much
more distinct form than any of the above, a form which it
seems to me has been passed over as small plants of
C. atrata, to which in facies it closely approaches, as may be
seen from the following description : Rootstock shortly
creeping, with light brown and bright purple-coloured leafless
sheaths at the base, the barren shoot and that of the follow-
ing year's curved upwards from the base, leaves narrow and
shorter than the stem, strict, slightly keeled, margins revolute
with angular points, edges rough, stems stout 15-25 cm. high,
bluntly triangular, scarcely rough at the top (thus far it is
practically C. saxatilis}. Spikelets 3-4 bluntly ovate-oblong,
upper spikelet very shortly stalked, next sessile near its
base, next shortly stalked, lowest on a long stalk, so that
they are all crowded ; terminal spikelet may be all male, or
all female, or partly both, and stamens are often seen on the
other spikelets ; lower bract leaf-like, not sheathing ; glumes
lanceolate, acuminate, dark purple with a lighter tip and
slender midrib, visible only on some of the glumes ; peri-
gynia yellowish at the base, purple above, broadly ovate,
slightly inflated, veinless except at sides ; neck and bifid
beak distinct ; stigmas two.

I have seen this form on Ben Lawers, Creag Mhor,

ON SOME SCOTTISH ALPINE FORMS OF CAREX 181

Glen Lochay, and Beinn Heasgarnich ; and Mr. Young of
Kirkcaldy has got the same form on Beinn Laoigh, where I
must have overlooked it myself.

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES.

The Common Dolphin in Moray Firth. About the first week
of May a female Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) was stranded on the
coast three miles east of Nairn Harbour. It lay on the shore for
more than two weeks before I heard of the occurrence, and was
somewhat damaged when I went to see it. I took the following
measurements: Total length (in straight line), 5! feet; snout to
blow-hole, 12 inches; snout to dorsal fin, 28 J inches; height of
dorsal fin, 6 inches ; length of flippers (anterior border), 9 inches ;
breadth of tail flukes, 10 inches. It was black above, and whitish
grey along sides and belly. The line of demarcation was quite
distinct. There were no separate stripes or lines through the light
coloured parts. I secured the damaged skull. It measured i6|
inches in total length, and the upper and lower jaws were of equal
length. Teeth only about 45 or 46 on each side of each jaw, which
is fewer than usual, but I think it only shows that the example was
not full-grown. I am not sure if the number of teeth differs in the
two sexes. The skull of this species is easily distinguished from that
of every other British Dolphin by the deep groove on each side of the
bony palate. This species has rarely occurred in the Moray Firth ;
and the late Mr. Sim never found it on the Aberdeenshire coast, the
example, 8 feet long, which he recorded was really a White-beaked
Dolphin, as he afterwards told me. WM. TAYLOR, Lhanbryde.

Crossbills in Perthshire. Though I believe there are always
Crossbills in the neighbourhood of Meikleour in the winter, and
possibly a few breeding there, it is of interest to note, in view of the
recent invasion of Great Britain by Crossbills, that there was a very
marked increase in the number of them when I visited Meikleour
in March and April. Small flocks were frequently seen, and their
work amongst the fir cones was very much in evidence. Bramblings,
Redpolls, and Goldfinches were also feeding on the seeds of the
larch and Scotch fir, and threw down the cones in the same way as
the Crossbills. M. BEDFORD, Woburn Abbey, Woburn.

A Peeblesshire specimen of the Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus].
I ought, perhaps, to put on record a specimen of the Chough from
Peeblesshire which has been in my possession for the past twenty
years. Mr. R. S. Anderson, Peebles, on seeing the specimen in a
house in West Linton in 1889, and being assured that it had been

182 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

got in the neighbourhood, kindly procured it for me. The account
given of the bird was, that it was shot by a man named James
Culloch on Leadlaw Hill, near Stoneypath Farm, a little to the north
of West Linton, about the year 1872, and given to Mr. Porteous, late
landlord of the Townhead Hotel there, who got it stuffed in Penicuik.
These particulars Mr. Anderson had from Mr. Porteous and his
sister. In the " Proceedings " of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club
for 1 88 1 (vol. ix., p. 488), there is a record of a specimen of the
Chough procured in the vicinity of The Glen, near Innerleithen.
WILLIAM EVANS, Edinburgh.

Crossbills on the North-East Coast of Scotland. In connection
with Mr. A. G. Gavin's remarks, re Crossbills at Fraserburgh, I may
state that I saw a party of seven in the Sinclair Hills, on Philorth
estate, on i5th December 1909. I have shot this wood for many
years, but have never seen Crossbills there before. I also saw a
Great Spotted Woodpecker on the same day. W. STEWART-MENZIES,
Craig Ellachie.

Golden Oriole in Fife. On 1 6th May a fine adult male Golden
Oriole (Oriolus galbula) was found dead, but in a perfectly fresh
condition, in an old wooded quarry in the policies of Dhuloch House,
Inverkeithing. The bird was sent to Dr. Hew Morrison, Edinburgh,
who very appropriately presented the bird to the Royal Scottish
Museum in the name of Miss Lauder, of Dhuloch, who had
forwarded the specimen to him. It has made a beautiful mounted
example. WM. EAGLE CLARKE.

Greater Wheatear in the Solway Area. On the i8th of May
I saw, during the greater part of the day, three individuals of Saxicola
lucorrhxa in some fields close to Southerness on the Solway coast
of Kirkcudbrightshire. I have seen this peculiar and quite
distinguishable form of Wheatear in other springs, and also in
autumn, and have always been greatly interested in its visits.
ROBERT SERVICE, Maxwelltown.

Arctic Bluethroat in the Clyde Area. On i4th May I had
the great good fortune to come across an Arctic Blue-throated
Warbler (Cyanecula suecica), while walking up the Clyde Valley with
my friend, Mr. H. Duncan. It was skulking in fairly thick foliage
in the close vicinity of the river, and when disturbed was very rest-
less. Its identity was, however, established beyond any doubt, and
as it flew off, we particularly noted the tail with its slight amount of
red and conspicuously dark terminal band. It is a bird with which
I am quite familiar, having seen quite a number of them during my
residence on Fair Isle. It is, I believe, an addition to the birds of
the Clyde area, and the second record for the Scottish Mainland
in spring. This particular locality, near Carmyle, seems to have
an attraction for birds on passage, for on the same day we noted

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 183

the Garden Warbler, Common White-throat, Sand Martin, and Swift
as new arrivals. It may also be worthy of mention that we saw
a single Lesser Whitethroat on the early morning of the 2Oth, near
Rouken Glen. G. STOUT, Glasgow.

Dipper in the Island of Barra. A Dipper (Cinclus aquaticus),
was seen at the Borve on the west side of the Barra, Outer Hebrides,
on the 2nd February. Single birds have also been seen in previous
years, but not for some time past. WM. L. MACGILLIVRAY, Barra.

Great Spotted Woodpecker in Perthshire. On 25th June,
while bird-watching in a pine wood in the Dunkeld district, I had
the pleasure of seeing an adult male Great Spotted Woodpecker
(Dendrocopus major}. As this handsome bird is fortunately spread-
ing as a nesting species in Scotland, I venture to think your readers
may be interested to know of its presence in this part of Perthshire
in the summer season. GLADYS GRAHAM MURRAY, Stenton.

Great Spotted Woodpecker in Sutherland. It may be of in-
terest to record the fact that a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendro-
copus major], has been seen here for nearly two months, namely, from
the middle of March to well on into May, but not later. I only
observed one bird, which I think was a male. FRANCIS G. GUNNIS,
Gordonbush, Brora.

An Argyllshire Heronry. In the lists of Scottish Heronries
which have been published recently in the " Annals," I find no
mention of one in the woods adjacent to Ardgour House, Argyll-
shire. This was certainly in existence as a going concern in 1887
or 1888, and may be used still for all I know. As far as I
remember it was only a small colony. I may have an opportunity
during the ensuing summer of examining the place, and will make a
point of doing so if possible. W. I. BEAUMONT, Plymouth.

Eider Ducks in Clyde Area. From Loch Sweyn on the west side
of Kintyre (Argyll) Eiders have, during the past few months, appeared
for the first time across the peninsula and within "the Clyde Area."
Although known for some time to have frequented Loch Sweyn,
by Col. Campbell of Inverneil, Ardrishaig, they have never been seen
by him on the east side anywhere on Loch Fyne. But R. F.
Graham, Esq., of Skipness, tells me he had seen them for the first
time off Skipness shore, Loch Fyne, in November, when there
were five 2 males and 3 females. Since then he has seen them
on three occasions, the last being on loth April 1910, when he
saw seven - - 3 males and 4 females, one male being immature.
On the other two occasions, dates of which he cannot recall,
once there was a pair, and the other time four or five birds ; the
immature male seen on the loth April is the only one not in mature
plumage. These birds have always been in exactly the same spot,

184 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

over the submerged rocks off Skipness Point. The above notes are
of special interest to students who have watched the progress and
processes of expansion and especially dispersal of a species whose
movements in several directions have been already carefully re-
corded for many years.

The accompanying fact that Eiders are now known to frequent
the islands of Cara and Gigha is also of importance in tracing the
advance of the species southwards along the confines of " Clyde," or
on the west side of the watershed between "Argyll" and "Clyde."
Apparently they have broken through the divide at its lowest " neck,"
" pass," or " depression " between Loch Sweyn and the Skipness
shore of Loch Fyne, about the closing months of the year 1909.
Whether they have nested inside of Clyde area yet or not, these
notes cannot fail to be of interest to ornithologists, and we may hope
that Mr. R. F. Graham may carefully note down and record such
an event and as soon as he can put the occurrence beyond doubt-
perhaps in this summer of 1910. J. A HARVIE-BROWN.

American Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) in
Argyllshire. I do not know if the following record of the occur-
rence of this bird in Colonsay in 1904 has appeared in any ornitho-
logical magazine, but I can find no mention of it in the " Annals of
Scottish Natural History."

Mr. Murdoch M'Neill (author of "Colonsay, one of the Hebrides,"
Edin. 1910) writes to me that an "unknown bird was found near
the centre of the island, on 6th November 1904, by Lady Edith
Adean and her son, and was sent for identification to the Natural
History Museum, in South Kensington, and was there named the
American Yellow-billed Cuckoo." I am informed by my friend Mr.
Pycraft that this interesting specimen is now in the Natural History
Museum, Cromwell Road, London, S.W. HUGH S. GLADSTONE,
Capenoch, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire.

Notes on Siphonaptera. When examining a Black Water-vole
(Arvicola amphibius, var. ater) from Fearnan, Loch Tay, last August,
I observed a number of small yellow fleas running about in its fur.
A few were secured ; and they proved on examination to be
CtenopJithalmus agyrtes (Heller). Many specimens of the same
species, mistaken at the time for Ct. gracilis, were also found in a
mole's nest at Dirleton, East Lothian, on i4th March, 1908.

The accidental occurrence of Siphonaptera on other than their
natural "host " is not uncommon. Thus, in October 1905, I got a
Pulex (Ctenocephalus) felis, $ determined by Mr. N. C. Roths-
child on a Tawny Owl from near Edinburgh ; and in April 1908
Mr. Macvicar sent me a number of P. cuniculi, Dale, taken off the
ears of a cat at Invermoidart, Argyllshire, after it had been in a
rabbit's burrow. Occasionally, ' too, one finds them away from any
host. In November 1900, for instance, I beat a P. irritans off a

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 185

hedge at Comiston, near Edinburgh; and in October 1896 a P.
erinacei was shaken from moss and leaves at Mortonhall.

Perhaps the following observations on the Squirrel flea (Cera-
tophy Hits sriuroruni) are worth mentioning. In the beginning of June
1909 I had a squirrel's nest, from near Dunbar, securely tied up in
a stout paper bag. On opening the bag from time to time living
fleas have always been encountered ; to-day, iSth March, i.e. after the
lapse of 9 1 months, five or six were seen on a hasty glance. From
a hole in the bottom of the bag a number of dead ones have on
several occasions been shaken out. The bag, I may say, has lain
all along in a dry place, and the nest has never been moistened.
None of the images that were in the nest when it was obtained are
likely, I should think, to have survived all this time, those latterly
met with being, it may be presumed, a subsequent brood which have
passed through their various stages in the interval. I have already
recorded in the "Annals" (1906, p. 163) the finding of C. styx in
plenty in Sand-Martins' burrows, near Elie, on i3th April (not May-
as erroneously printed in the note) awaiting the return of the birds
from their winter quarters in the south. How long Siphonaptera
are able to live without access to a host, and whether such access is
necessary for the repetition of the life-cycle, are questions of con
siderable interest. WILLIAM EVANS, Edinburgh.

British Orthoptera (Earwigs, Cockroaches, Grasshoppers, and
Crickets). Mr. W. J. Lucas (28 Knights' Park, Kingston-on-
Thames) would be glad to hear of records or captures of Scottish
examples, especially of the commoner species, so that a better know-
ledge may be obtained of the distribution of the members of this
Natural Order in Britain, for a monograph which he has in hand.

BOTANICAL NOTES AND NEWS.

Andresea petrophila, Ehrh., var. gracilis, B. and S. J. A.
Whaldon, in the "Journal of Botany " (1910, p. 102), in a paper on
'Marrat's Collection of British Mosses,' has a note to the following
effect : " I refer to this a slender reddish plant, labelled by Marrat,
'A. alpina, Hed., a curiosity found on Ben-na-Boord, Forfar. July,
1844.' It is new to V.C. 90." As this note may lead to the moss
being erroneously recorded for Forfarshire, V.C. 90, it seems well to
state that " Ben-na-Boord" is not in Forfarshire, but on the border
of South Aberdeenshire, V.C. 92, and Banffshire, V.C. 94, being
chiefly in 92.

Lyeopodium Selago, Z., in a strange habitat. This Clubmoss
has become scarce within some miles of Aberdeen, the peaty soils
preferred by it having been much reduced by the exhaustion of
many of the peat-mosses and the drainage and cultivation of moors.

1 86 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

I rarely see the species near the city, hence I was the more surprised
when, during a walk in May through the parish of Maryculter, a
few miles up the valley of the Dee, I found a very healthy plant
growing on the thatch of a cottage which had been left to decay.
Both sporangia and separable buds were present in plenty, so the
peculiar habitat seemed likely to be colonised by the Clubmoss.
JAMES W. H. TRAIL.

Sareoseypha protraeta (Ft-.} Sacc. In " Grevillea " (1890, p.
83) this fungus was recorded as British, under the name Lachnea
mirabilis, Borscz., a clump of the elegant small cups having been
found by me in April 1890 on the bank of the Dee, near Ballater,
in short turf, and reported as Anthopeziza Winteri, Wettst., under
which name it was described and excellently figured in the
"Verhandl. Zool. Bot. Gesellsch.," Wien, 1886, p. 383, pi. 16,
enabling me to identify it as new to Britain. I reported it in the
"Scottish Naturalist" (Oct. 1890, p. 384) as Lachnea mirabilis,
having been informed by Mr. Phillips of the identity of A. Winteri
with this; but in the "Scottish Naturalist" of Jan. 1891, pp. 34-35,
I corrected this to the earlier specific name protraeta given by Fries.
In Saccardo's " Sylloge Fungorum " it is placed in the genus
Sareoseypha.

My specimens are preserved in the botanical museum in the
University of Aberdeen. I am not aware of its having been found
again in the British Islands until April 1910, when Miss J. L. Legge,
a student of advanced botany, after graduating B.Sc., picked up,
during a short holiday at Ballater last winter, various plants, which
were shown to me for assistance in their identification. Among
them were two or three of the very characteristic cups of S. protraeta,
rediscovered after twenty years near the place where it was pre-
viously found. JAMES W. H. TRAIL.

CURRENT LITERATURE.

The Titles and Purport of Papers and Notes relating to Scottish Natural
History which have appeared during the Quarter April-June 1910.

[The Editors desire assistance to enable them to make this Section as complete as
possible. Contributions on the lines indicated will be most acceptable, and
will bear the initials of the Contributor. The Editors will have access to the
sources of information undermentioned.]

ZOOLOGY.

NOTES ON THE MAMMALS OF ISLAY. J. A. Harvie- Brown,
Zoologist, April 1910, p. 157. Refers to the occurrence of the
Common Shrew and the Lesser Shrew in Islay, and a White Otter
in Jura.

CURRENT LITERATURE 187

SUMMER NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF GARELOCHHEAD. W. R.
Baxter, Glas. Nat., May 1910, pp. 69-78. Notes on seventy-eight
species.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIST OF CLYDE COLEOPTERA. Anderson
Fergusson, Glas. Nat., May 1910, pp. 83-92. First paper.

LIST OF AQUATIC COLEOPTERA FROM THE MONKLANDS (LANARK-
SHIRE). Mr. J. M'Leod, Glas. Nat., May 1910, pp. 78-80.

BISTON HIRTARIA IN INVERNESS - SHIRE. Robert Lawson,
Entomologist, May 1910, p. 145. Met with in April 1910.

ENARMONIA ERICETANA, H.-S., A SPECIES OF TORTRICINA NEW
TO THE BRITISH LIST, IN SCOTLAND. Eustace P. Bankes, M.A.,
F.E.S., Ent. Mo. Mag., May 1910, pp. 110-114. Specimens
recorded from Aviemore.

LESTEVA SICULA, ERICHS., AND LESTEVA PUNCTATA, ERICHS.
T. Hudson Beare, Ent. Mo. Mag., May 1910, pp. 117-118. L.
sicula is recorded from Nethy Bridge, Aviemore, and Edinburgh.

DIAGNOSES OF SOME NEW SPECIES OF GABRIUS. David Sharp,

M.A., F.R.S., Ent. Mo. Mag., June 1910, pp. 129-131. G.

pennatus, appendiculatus, and bishopi, spp. nn., are recorded from
Scotland.

NOTES ON CORTICARIA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW

SPECIES. D. Sharp, M.D., M.A., F.R.S., Ent. Mo. Mag., May
1910, pp. 105-108. C. fowleriana, sp. n. described from specimens
found at Braemar in June 1871.

ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO THE BRITISH LIST OF
MusciDiE ACALYPTRAT^E. J. E. Collin, F.E.S., Ent. Mo. Mag.,
May 1910, p. 124, and June 1910, pp. 125-129. Numerous
Scottish records are included in this paper.

BOTANY.

NOTES ON BRITISH ELMS. By Rev. Augustin Ley (Journ. Bot.,
1910, pp. 65-72, pi. 503).

THE BRITISH ROSES (continued). By Major A. H. Wolley-
Dod (Journ. Sot., 1910, Suppl. pp. 33-64). A few entries for
Scotland.

NOTES ON BRITISH CARICES. By G. Claridge Druce, F.L.S.
(Journ. Bot., 1910, pp. 98-101). Chiefly based on Kiikenthal's
Cyperacetz - Caricoideiz, but containing some new records for
Scotland.

CALLITRICHE INTERMEDIA, HOFFM., VAR. TENUIFOLIA. By
Edward S. Marshall (Journ. Bot., 1910, p. in). Refers to record
of this variety in Exch. Cl. Rep. for 1908, p. 187, by Mr. A. Bennett,
as from Inchnadamph (V.C. 108).

188 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

INVERNESS AND BANFF CRYPTOGAMS. By J. A. Wheldon,
F.L.S., and Albert Wilson, F.L.S. (Journ. Bot., 1910, pp. 123-
129). Enumerates mosses, liverworts, and lichens found, in July
1909, during four days spent among the higher Cairngorms and on
Craig Ellachie ; and contains numerous additions to county lists to
records of altitudes.

ROSS-SHIRE PLANTS, 1909. By Rev. E. S. Marshall, F.L.S. ,
and W. A. Shoolbred, F.L.S. (Jou?-n. Bot., 1910, pp. 132-140).
Chiefly from E. Ross (106), with a few from W. Ross (105)
vascular plants, a good many being additions to county lists.

NOTES ON LASTR^A REMOTA (MOORE). By W. B. Boyd
(Trans. Edinb. F, Nat. and Micr. Soc., 1909, vi., pp. 85-92).
Discusses its origin, as a hybrid between L. dilatata and L. Filix
mas probably, and records its occurrence between Ardlui and
Tarbet (V.C. 99).

MlCROFUNGI OBSERVED AT TRAQUAIR AND ROSLIN. By D. A.

Boyd (Tr. E. F. N. and M. S., 1909, vi., pp. 149-152). A list of
species, of which Marssonia Daphnes, Sacc., on Daphne Mezereon, is
a new record for Britain.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE EXCURSIONS DURING 1908, OF THE
EDINBURGH FIELD NATURALISTS' AND MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY.
(Tr. E. F. N. and M. S., 1909, vi., pp. 172-178, and pi. 14-15).
A number of flowering and flowerless plants are named as observed,
several being new records for counties.

BOOK NOTICES.

DARWINISM AND HUMAN LIFE. By J. Arthur Thomson, M.A.
Pp. xii and 245. (Andrew Melrose, London, 1909.) Price 53. net.

The volume contains a graceful and enthusiastic appreciation
of Darwin, the ideal seeker after knowledge, "one of the great
Immortals among men," whose persistent, lifelong aim was the
discovery of truth ; and of Darwin's work, the effect of which has
been so far-reaching that "without exaggeration ... it may be
said that no other man of science has influenced the framework of
humair'thought as Darwin has done." But it is much more than
a mere eulogium of Darwin and his work, for while our debts to
the great scientist are fully acknowledged, his contributions to the
philosophy of natural science, and especially to the doctrine of
organic descent, are examined in the light of the recent researches
to which his work was the direct incentive. Thus there are chapters
discussing the Web of Life, the Struggle for Existence, the Raw
Materials of Progress, the Facts of Inheritance, and Selection ; and

BOOK NOTICES 189

in all these Professor Thomson places in our hands the results of
the most apposite experiments, and inquires into their significance
from the Darwinian standpoint. He insists on Darwin's breadth of
view, for example, as regards the "struggle for existence," maintaining
that the phrase, as originally used, had a wider application than
some recent exponents of Darwinism are willing to allow. It
connotes more than the "assumed competition for survival between
individuals of the same species," and occurs "wherever living
creatures press up against limiting conditions." Of great interest
are the author's efforts to show the importance of a full understanding
of the principles of organic evolution to the well-being of mankind,
and in especial to show how necessary it is that some mode of
rational selection should be adopted in human society now that
humanitarianism and the complex of inter-dependent labour have
nullified the winnowing effects of natural selection.

It is unnecessary to add that a work from Professor Thomson's
hand is delightfully written, and contains much stimulating suggestion.
The type is clear, and the text is free from misprints, the only error
detected occurring in Professor Cossar Ewart's name on p. 147.
A bibliography containing representative books on Darwinism is
appended, but, while there is an extended list of contents, it is
regrettable that an index, which would have facilitated reference to
the numerous and frequently striking results of researches brought
together in this volume, has not also been added. J. R.

THE VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF CHESHIRE AND LIVERPOOL BAY.
Edited by T. A. Coward, F.Z.S. With illustrations by Thomas
Baddeley. In two volumes. London: Witherby & Co., 1910.
265. net.

From its comprehensiveness and the excellent manner in which
its varied subjects are treated this book is entitled to a place in the
foremost rank of works of its kind. That such works devoted to
the western counties of England are so remarkably few adds to its
value and acceptability, as does also the fact that the volumes are
results of the labours of well-known naturalists. Messrs. Coward
and Oldham contribute an exhaustive and interesting account of
the Mammals and Birds, which runs to 459 pages, and forms the
bulk of Vol. I. ; the remaining pages, xxxii in number, are devoted
to introductory matter, and include an account of the physical
features of the area viewed from the zoological standpoint. That
Cheshire is rich in members of the great and attractive classes of
animals named is manifest from the fact that no less than 46 species
of mammals and 231 of birds, excluding doubtful records, are
members of its fauna.

Volume II. treats of the Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fishes, and
includes sections giving much information relating to the sea-area
and its vertebrate life. Concerning the Reptiles Messrs. Coward

I 9 o ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

and Oldham inform us that Cheshire is remarkable for its poverty,
and that no single species is common. This poverty, however, is
not without interest to the student of geographical and ecological
distribution. The amphibians are at full strength, and include the
locally dispersed Natterjack. The section on the fishes is contributed
by Mr. James Johnstone. The number of forms treated of amounts
to 107, regarding which much information of a varied and useful
nature is given. An extensive bibliography forms the concluding
portion of this volume.

The volumes, which are admirably got up and abundantly
illustrated by half-tone plates from photos devoted to depicting the
topography of the area, form a welcome and authoritative contribution
to the zoological survey of the British Islands.

A HISTORY OF BIRDS. By W. P. Pycraft. With an Introduction
by Sir Ray Lankester, K.C.B., F.R.S. London: Methuen & Co.
i os. 6d. net.

In this volume, which forms the second of a series of an
evolutionary history of animal life, we find Mr. Pycraft at his best
as a writer of popular books. The aim of the series, we are told,
is to provide, free from technicalities, a graphic history of all that
pertains to animal life in relation to the external world, and we
congratulate the author on having successfully accomplished his
share of so difficult a task. He has brought together, and treated
in a lucid and pleasant fashion, a number of factors having an
important bearing on bird life which the student of that fascinating
subject will not find elsewhere in a single volume. These deal with,
among others, the relation of birds to other animals, distribution,
seasonal life, migration, relation to environment, inter-relations, social
life, nidification, nestlings, plumage, variation, acquired characters,
natural and sexual selection, structural adaptations, etc. The volume
is excellently and abundantly illustrated, and forms an admirable
introduction to the study of bird life.

LIFE -HISTORY AND HABITS OF THE SALMON, SEA-TROUT,
TROUT, AND OTHER FRESHWATER FISH. By P. D. Malloch.
London: Adam and Charles Black, 1910. IDS. 6d. net.

Salmon problems, to the consideration of which much of this
volume is devoted, are numerous and difficult, and anything which
contributes to their elucidation is a most welcome addition to
Ichthyological literature. Mr. Malloch has enjoyed exceptional
opportunities of studying a number of these problems during many
years, and in many waters, and it is probable that his experiences
are quite unique. A book written by an author such as this is
worthy of the perusal of all who are interested in a series of very
complicated and vexed questions. On many of these Mr. Malloch
throws much light, while on others his suggestive remarks will be of

BOOK NOTICES 191

great use for future investigators. To those who are interested in the
faunal aspect of such a work, the author's account of the numerous
forms of Salmonidas found in the various Scottish rivers and lochs
is of exceptional interest, and, as far as trout are concerned, in-
comparably of greater value than anything that has been hitherto
made known. The illustrations devoted to this aspect of Mr.
Malloch's work are particularly acceptable. Many other subjects
are dealt with, such as the age of salmon as indicated by their scales,
salmon disease, migration, and histories of a number of "coarse
fish " (especially as Scottish species) are treated of. The book is
remarkable for the number and beauty of its illustrations, of which
there are 239.

A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. Vol. X.
By J. W. Tutt, F.E.S. London: Swan Sonnenschein Co., 1908-
1909. Price \ net.

With indomitable perseverance Mr. Tutt has completed another
volume, the eighth in order of publication, of his exhaustive and
masterly treatise on British Lepidoptera. Since only five species
are dealt with in this volume, whose history and that of the tribes
to which they belong occupies some 358 closely printed pages, it
may readily be imagined that little remains to be done in the
elucidation of the life-history, variation, and distribution of these
attractive insects. Yet in the preface the author modestly states
that, hard as he has striven to reach his ideal, he has "in many
ways failed signally to do so." Upon examining the result of the
author's labours we feel constrained to remark that the ideal aimed
at must have been an exceptionally high one, for we are not
acquainted with any single entomological work in any language
which surpasses that now lying before us in thoroughness of detail
and in the amount of conscientious labour which has been bestowed
upon it. Planned as it is on the same lines as the previous volumes
noticed it is unnecessary for us to describe the form of the book
in detail. Part I. contains three chapters which complete the
exhaustive account of the " Family Habits in Butterfly Larvae "
commenced in a previous volume. The number of plates continues
to increase, and we are here presented with no fewer than 53, which
are beautifully executed, and which deal mainly with the eggs and
larval skin (in the various instars) of the species treated of in the
text. These are, Everes argiades, Citpido minimus, Plebeius argus
(agon), Cyaniris semiargus, and Agriades thetis (bellargiis). At one
time they were all grouped under one generic name {Lye&na), but
times have changed, and so have most of the names of British
Butterflies ! The scientific study of structure, apart from mere
superficial resemblance, and based upon the Butterflies of the whole
world, has revealed characters which amply justify the separation of
these forms into distinct genera, unfamiliar as these may be to the

192 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

amateur collector. The 38 pages dealing with the variation of the
puzzling Plebeius argits are a revelation to us, showing what can be
done by carefully studying a large series of specimens taken in
different localities and under different conditions. It will astonish
not a few, indeed, to read that " the impress of these conditions
is such as to lead us to recognise almost at sight the origin of
individuals coming from lowland, highland, heath, and moorland
districts." Mr. Tutt's volumes are verily a treasure - house of
information, of which it is impossible to speak too highly. We can
only wish him strength and length of days to continue, if not to
complete, the herculean task, so much of which he has already
admirably accomplished. P. H. G.

COLONSAY, ONE OF THE HEBRIDES, ITS PLANTS, THEIR LOCAL
NAMES AND USES LEGENDS, RUINS, AND PLACE-NAMES GAELIC
NAMES OF BIRDS, FISHES, ETC. CLIMATE, GEOLOGICAL FORMATION,
ETC. By Murdoch M'Neill. Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1910.
Sm. 8vo. Pp. x and 216.

This little volume is a valuable contribution to the history,
natural and civil, of the island of Colonsay. Unpretentious in
form and in style, it is full of most interesting information of the
nature detailed in the title-page. Introductory chapters, extending
to 85 pages, deal with the past history and traditions of the island
and its people, the Gaelic names of animals, the geological structure,
and the more general matters relating to the habitats and characters
of the flora, both native and introduced ; but the greater part of
the book (pp. 86-204) is devoted to a systematic account of the
flowering plants and fern allies of the island. All the species
and their varieties are named, and information is given as to
frequency, the localities being added for most. The Gaelic names
and local uses of all that could be determined are also given, as
well as numerous notes from other works, the local being clearly
distinguished from the more general information. The interest of
many of the notes, gathered in the island, of folklore that is fast
dying out, causes regret that so much has been already lost, and
that so few attempts have been and are being made to preserve such
records of the past. There are several additions to the species
and varieties previously recorded from vice-county 102, of which
Colonsay forms a part.

The Annals

of

Scottish Natural History

NO. 76] 1910 [OCTOBER

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY

IN 1909.

By EVELYN V. BAXTER and LEONORA JEFFREY RINTOUL.

(Continued from p. 148.)

WE are indebted to the " Annals of Scottish Natural
History," the " Glasgow Naturalist," and " British Birds " for
several of the following records :

TURDUS VISCIVORUS (Missel-Thrush). Three arrived in Mull on
2nd February, single birds occurred on the Isle of May on
20th March, and Fair Isle on 2ist April. The first migratory
band going south passed Mull on iyth August; it consisted of
about forty birds. One at the Isle of May, 2ist September.

TURDUS MUSICUS (Song-Thrush). A few all night at the lantern
on the Isle of May, igth March, and there and at Fair Isle on
the 22nd. Many on the Isle of May on ryth October, and on
Fair Isle next day. One was seen near Largo on loth
September, " with a curious oblique light band across the tail,
not far from the tip."

TURDUS ILIACUS (Redwing). The last records of the spring
departures are from the Butt of Lewis, yth April ; Kirkliston,
8th ; East Ross, i3th; and Fair Isle, 2ist. The first autumn
record is at Fair Isle on 25th September, and several at the
Isle of May next day ; the first mainland record is at Tyning-
ham on 3oth September. A great immigration at the Isle of
76 B

i 9 4 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

May on xoth October, and in numbers at the lantern on Fair
Isle from 7 p.m. on the loth to 3 a.m. on the nth. A
great rush, 367 being killed, at Tarbatness lantern between 12
and 4 a.m. on the i8th; on the same day enormous numbers
on the Isle of May, and at Fair Isle at the lantern and
numerous on the island, and in hundreds all night at the
lantern on the Flannans. At the Skerryvore lantern on the
23rd, on which day they arrived in Mull. In thousands at
Inverbroom (West Ross), from the ist to the 6th November
(sleet and snow). Reports come of scarcity of this species in
the winter of 1909-10.

TURDUS PILARIS (Fieldfare). Last seen in Mull, 5th April ; very
numerous on the Isle of May, 22nd and 23rd; and about 150
seen at Newhall, near Yester, on 3rd May. Last noted at Fair
Isle on 28th May. In autumn two or three are recorded at
the lantern on the Isle of May in the early hours of i7th
October, one was killed at Tarbatness early on the i8th,
while next night numbers are reported on the lanterns of
the Flannans, Sule Skerry, and Fair Isle. At Mull "a large
flock seen, 3oth October (N.N.E. light, snow), flying low over
the crofts to the south, when they turned to E.S.E. and
starting from sea-level ascended in a zig-zag until they
disappeared at about 2000 ft., still rising, and would eventually
over-top the Ardgour and South Lochaber Hills." In
thousands, Inverbroom (W. Ross), from the ist to the 6th
November, and a very large flock at the Butt of Lewis on
1 8th November. In East Ross on i gih April, a Fieldfare was
seen " with an almost pure white head and nape, throat and
breast white, flecked with grey."

TURDUS MERULA (Blackbird). Not much movement is recorded in
spring; a lot at Lerwick on 25th February, a few at the
lanterns on the Isle of May and Fair Isle on 22nd March, and
several at Sule Skerry on the 26th. A pair were found near
Paisley laying in the same nest as a Thrush ; last nest at
Kirkliston, 26th July. A considerable influx of Blackbirds
took place at Loch Awe on 8th October, numbers are reported
from Dunrossness (Shetland) on the i3th, and Fair Isle on the
1 4th, while a rush to the lantern is recorded on the i8th from
Sule Skerry, Tarbatness, and Fair Isle.

TURDUS TORQUATUS (Ring Ouzel). First noted on the West in Mull
(i c?) on 7th April, Shutterflat Moor (Ayr) on the nth, and
not till the i7th on the East, when one was seen in the Ochils.
Arrived at Fair Isle on the i6th, and a few still on passage at
the Isle of May on 2nd May. The return journey is noted at
the Isle of May on 26th September, at the Flannans on

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 195

4th October, three were killed at the Butt of Lewis on the
i yth, and the same number at Tarbatness next night. On the
same date several were seen at Fair Isle and Isle of May.
Single birds at the Pentland Skerries on 4th November and
Fair Isle on iSth December.

SAXICOLA OENANTHE (Wheatear). First recorded from the West at
Lendalfoot (Clyde) on iSth March, the first East Coast record
not being till the 3ist at the Isle of May. A male at Tiree on
ist April, and males are recorded on the 5th as reaching Mull
and Fair Isle, the first female arriving at the latter place on the
i ith. Very numerous on Tiree and Fair Isle on the loth. The
first return migration is noted at the Isle of May on 28th July,
at the Flannans (i) on loth August, and at Sule Skerry (6) on
the i gth. Last seen on the Isle of May, 7th October; at Kirk-
liston, 8th ; Fair Isle, i2th ; Butt of Lewis, 171)1 ; and Flannans,
3 1 st. A semi-albino seen on Dumbarnie Links on 2oth July
was dense white on the nape and sides of the neck, white
shading off to brown on the back and crown, elsewhere the
ordinary sandy-brown plumage. The larger race of this
species, S. cenanthe leucorrhoa (the Greater-Wheatear), is
recorded in spring from Fair Isle, a number being present on
3rd May. Single birds were killed at Dunnethead on August
3oth ( ? ), the Mull of Galloway on i2th September, and at the
Isle of May on 2oth and 26th September and 22nd October.
Observed on Fair Isle on thirteen dates between 28th September
and 1 6th October. The wing measurements recorded range
from 102 to 109 millimetres.

SAXICOLA PLESCHANKA (The Eastern Pied Chat). One ? procured
on the Isle of May on i gth October, the first record for Britain
("A.S.N.H.," 1910, p. 2).

PRATINCOLA RUBETRA (Whinchat). First recorded from the East
Coast at Balcomie (East Fife) a on 22nd April and at Possil
(Clyde) next day. Five males arrived in Mull on the 24th,
and two females and a male are recorded on passage from Fair
Isle on 6th May. On return migration in East Fife i8th
August, and several at Fair Isle on the 25th. Last seen East
Ross on 1 7th September, Kirkliston and Isle of May i8th, and
Fair Isle 25th.

RUTICILLA PHCENICURUS (Redstart). Very early records of this
species come from the Shetlands, single birds being seen at
Fair Isle on 22nd March and at Lerwick on 28th March.
The first mainland record is from Carmichael on igth April,
and a pair at the Bass on the night of the 26th ; first seen East
Ross on the 28th. The first note of the return movement
comes from Largo on 25th August, several at the Isle of May

196 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

on the 28th. Last records are a male at the Flannans on
23rd September; Isle of May, ist October; and a female at
Fair Isle next day.

R. TITYS (Black Redstart). One ? at Fair Isle on i4th October.

CVANECULA SUECICA (Red-spotted Blue-throat). Is recorded from
Fair Isle both in spring and autumn, and single birds from the
Isle of May on i4th and lyth September.

CYANECULA CYANECULA (White-spotted Bluethroat). An adult
male was procured on Fair Isle in spring, the first record for
Scotland ("A.S.N.H.," 1910, p. 68).

SYLVIA CINEREA (Whitethroat). First noted on the East Coast at
the lanterns of the Bass and Isle of May on the night of the
26th-27th April. The first West Coast records are at Mull and
Beith (Clyde) on 2nd May, Fair Isle, 4th. On autumn passage
at the Isle of May on i5th August. Lots on the Isle of May,
24th, last seen there 27th September. Last at Fair Isle, ist
October.

SYLVIA CURRUCA (Lesser Whitethroat). Single birds at Fair Isle on
23rd April and 4th May. In autumn one seen near Cathcart
Cemetery (Clyde) in August (" Glas. Nat." vol. ii. p. 46). Small
numbers are recorded from Fair Isle from 25th August to 2nd
October, and from the Isle of May from the i6th to the 3oth
September ; a good many on the 24th.

SYLVIA ATRICAPILLA (Blackcap). The only spring record of this
species comes from Kirkliston on 2Qth April. In autumn a
few are noted at Fair Isle between 24th August and 4th
October, and at the Isle of May between i3th September and
1 9th October.

SYLVIA HORTENSIS (Garden Warbler). Arrived on the West at
Rouken (Clyde) on loth May, and on the East at Kirkliston
next day. In autumn the first record of movement is at the
Isle of May on 5th August ; several there and at Fair Isle, 29th
September. Last seen Fair Isle, nth October; and Isle of
May, 1 7th October.

SYLVIA NISORIA (Barred Warbler). A female was procured on Fair
Isle in autumn and a male on the Isle of May on i3th
September.

REGULUS CRISTATUS (Golden-crested Wren). No large or wide-
spread immigration is reported in 1909, though Goldcrests
were numerous on Fair Isle on 28th September, and at Loch
Awe on 3oth November, extraordinarily tame at the latter
place.

PHYLLOSCOPUS SUPERCILIOSUS (Yellow-browed Warbler). A bird of
this species was seen at Lockerbie (Dumfriesshire) on the nth

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 197

April, the first record for Britain in spring and first mainland
record for Scotland ("A.S.N.H.," 1909, p. 182). In autumn
on eight dates on the Isle of May between i6th September
and 24th October, one to three at a time ; at least ten birds
were seen ("A.S.NH.," 1910, pp. 4-9). Two are recorded
from East Ross, a on 23rd September, and a 9 on the
27th. This is the first autumn record for the mainland of
Scotland and first record for Moray (" A.S.N.H.," 1910, p. 55).
Four are reported from Fair Isle between 28th September and
4th October.

PHYLLOSCOPUS RUFUS (Chiff-chaff). First recorded, at Dairy
(Clyde) on 3rd April. A male was killed on 8th April at the
Mull of Galloway Lighthouse ; the first record for Fair Isle is
7th May. A pair nested in Mull (" A.S.N.H., " 1909, p. 247).
Autumn records come from East Fife and the Isle of May of
small numbers between 2ist July and 28th September.

P. TRISTIS (Siberian Chiff-chaff). One was procured on Fair
Isle in autumn.

P. TROCHILUS (Willow-Warbler). Is first reported from the West
at Beith and Loch Awe on 6th April, but the species was
not common till a fortnight later. The first records for
the East Coast are at Dreghorn and Kirkliston, both on igth
April ; next day it is noted at Fair Isle. In Mull during the
first fortnight in August the local birds were withdrawing and

o o o

migrants passing, some in song, for short periods. One was
killed at the lantern on the Bass on 2Oth August and more
seen there next day. Last seen at Kirkliston, 1 3th September ;
Fair Isle, 2nd October; Isle of May, iSth October.

P. SIBILATRIX (Wood -Warbler). First recorded from Saltoun
(E. Lothian) on 3rd May, from Mull next day, and Fair
Isle on the 5th; one killed at the Mull of Galloway Light-
house, 1 7th May.

ACROCEPHALUS STREPERUS (Reed- Warbler). One bird of this species
was procured on Fair Isle in autumn.

ACROCEPHALUS PHRAGMITIS (Sedge-Warbler). The first record
comes from the West at Possil (Clyde) on 2pth April. E.
Ross, 8th May ; Fair Isle, i gth. The only autumn records are
one on passage (E. Fife) on 8th August, and one at the lantern
on the Isle of May on i5th August.

LOCUSTELLA N^VIA (Grasshopper Warbler). There are but few
reports of this species in 1909. A male was killed at the Mull
of Galloway Lighthouse on 24th April, and this species
recorded at Dairy (Clyde) on 8th May.

j \ J / J * ' C

I 9 8 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

MOTACILLA ALBA (White Wagtail). Arrived at Lamlash (Arran) on
2ist March. Small parties are recorded from Tiree travelling
north from i5th April to yth May; two at Fair Isle on the
20th April. A pair bred on Fair Isle, the second breeding record
for Scotland. On autumn migration flock after flock flew over
Fair Isle about 5 p.m. on i8th August, at least 200 birds being
seen. On passage, East Fife, on 2ist August; at Lerwick on
the 29th ; Tiree, 3rd September; and Flannans on the 5th.
Last seen on the Isle of May on the 28th September; last
recorded at Whitberry Point, near Tyninghame (3), on 3oth
September.

M. MELANOPE (Grey Wagtail). Three were seen on passage at the
Isle of May on 25th March, three at the Flannans on yth
August, one at the Isle of May on 2ist September, and one at
Lerwick on 8th December.

M. BOREALIS (Grey-headed Wagtail). Is reported from Fair Isle on
both spring and autumn migration.

M. RAII (Yellow Wagtail). First recorded from the West at Beith
(Clyde) on i4th April. One at Fair Isle on the 23rd.

ANTHUS TRIVIALIS (Tree Pipit). Is first noted at Fair Isle on 6th
April, several at Cadder (Clyde) on igth April. Last seen at
Kirkliston on i5th September; a few on the Isle of May on
various dates between 24th September and i8th October; and
on Fair Isle from 25th September to i6th October numerous
on 28th September.

A. PRATENSIS (Meadow Pipit). Arrives in Mull on 2ist March, at
Carmichael on the 28th, at Glenorchard (Stirling) on ist April,
and Fair Isle on the 3rd. The autumnal passage began at
Kirkliston on 26th August, in Mull large numbers were passing
on 5th September, while at the Butt of Lewis on the igth and
at the Flannans on the 2oth there was a rush all day. Large
numbers are recorded from the Butt of Lewis on 26th
September and iSth October, many at the Fair Isle on i6th
October, and several at the Butt of Lewis on 2nd November.

A. RICHARDI (Richard's Pipit). One was observed in autumn on
Fair Isle.

A. OBSCURUS (Rock Pipit). Many on the Monachs in September
with a very dark variety, quite distinct in shade from the
normal birds.

ORIOLUS GALBULA (Golden Oriole). An adult male at Penton
Lynns (Dumfries) on 3oth April, a young male flying about a
garden in Renfrewshire the first half of May, another was found
dead at Port-Glasgow on loth May, and a fourth was seen on
Fair Isle on 26th May.

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 199

LANIUS EXCUBITOR (Great Grey Shrike). One is recorded from Fair
Isle on 1 8th October.

L. COLLURIO (Red-backed Shrike). A bird of the year was found
dead on the Flannans on i4th September, the first record for
the Outer Hebrides.

MUSCICAPA ATRICAPILLA (Pied Flycatcher). The only spring record
is a male at Fair Isle on yth May. A young bird was obtained
at Dunrobin (Sutherland) on 2oth June, one at the Fair Isle
lantern on loth September, and a few on the Isle of May from
the 1 4th to the 25th September.

M. GRISOLA (Spotted Flycatcher). The first arrival recorded is
from the West, at Dairy (Clyde), on 5th May ; on the East
it is reported simultaneously from Kirkliston and East Ross
on the 1 4th. Obtained at the lantern, Isle of May, on i4th
August. Last seen in Mull on 5th September, at the Flannans
on the 23rd, Isle of May, 26th, and Fair Isle, 4th October.

M. PARVA (Red-breasted Flycatcher). One young male was pro-
cured on the Isle of May on 25th September, the first record
for Forth.

HIRUNDO RUSTICA (Swallow). Is first recorded from the West in
three localities in Clyde on 8th April, the first noted on the
East being on the i3th at Edinburgh and Kirkliston. Is

reported from Fair Isle on iyth April and Sule Skerry on
May. Many (ad. etjuv.} on the Isle of May on i8th September,
last seen at Kirkliston, i2th October, and St. Andrews, 2nd
November.

CHELIDON URBICA (House-Martin). First noted on the West at
Cardross (Clyde) on 9th April, and on the East at Kirkliston
on the 1 8th. "The local nesting birds" in Mull "did not
begin to build till 2ist May, a few pairs arriving as late as the
first week in June, which is abnormal." Many at the Isle of
May on i8th September, last recorded at Kirkliston on the
27th. An albino was seen at Cupar (Fife) on 24th July.

COTILE RIPARIA (Sand-Martin). Is first recorded on the East, near
Dirleton, on gth April, the first record from the West being on
the 1 6th at Loch Loskin (Clyde). Last seen at Kirkliston on
8th September.

COCCOTHRAUSTES vuLGARis (Hawfinch). One seen at Tayfield
(Fife) on 2ist April, and one at Fair Isle on 8th May. A nest
and five eggs was found in East Lothian on gth May, the eggs
being destroyed by some animal ; another nest was found 60
yards away on 23rd May, but these eggs also were destroyed
("A.S.N.H.," 1909, p. 181). The first nest and eggs found
in Forth.

200 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

CARDUELIS ELEGANS (Goldfinch). A bird of this species was seen
near Largo (Fife) on ayth January and 2nd February, and two
immature birds were seen in East Ross on 25th September.

CHRYSOMITRIS SPINUS (Siskin). Three are recorded from the Isle
of May on 25th March, and two on Fair Isle on 23rd April.
Remarkable numbers on Fair Isle between 22nd September
and 1 8th October, and more than usual on the Isle of May
from 22nd September to 2nd October. A few are reported
from Loch Awe with a very large flock of Lesser Redpolls on
25th November they were feeding on alders. There appears
to be only one previous record of this species in Argyll.

ZONOTRICHIA ALBICOLLIS (White-throated Sparrow). One shot on
Eilean Mor, Flannans, on i8th May ("A.S.N.H.," 1909, p.
246).

FRINGILLA CCELEBS (Chaffinch). A few are reported from Fair Isle
on 22nd March, and from the Isle of May on the 25th.
Many are recorded from Fair Isle on 2 8th September and 1 8th
October, and huge flocks arrived in Mull on 23rd and 2yth
October. In Tiree a small flock with Greenfinches on i4th
November (both species uncommon there). An albinistic
variety is noted in East Fife on 28th February, and a partially
melanic specimen was procured on Fair Isle on 6th May.

F. MONTIFRINGILLA (Brambling). On ist March a flock of 800 or
900 is recorded from Solway, on the 23rd April about 12 at the
Isle of May, while the last noted was at Fair Isle on 2oth May.
In autumn this species appeared on the Isle of May on 1 7th
September, on Fair Isle on the 25th. On loth October there
was a great immigration to the Isle of May, and to the lantern
at Fair Isle, and on that island next day huge numbers were
seen. A small flock arrived at the Pentland Skerries on the
1 2th and stayed several days.

CARPODACUS ERYTHINUS (Scarlet Grosbeak). One female procured
on the Isle of May on i3th September ("A. S.N.H.," 1910, p. 4).

LOXIA CURVIROSTRA (Crossbill). 1909 was characterised by a great
immigration of these birds. The first is recorded from Fair
Isle on 23rd June; they kept on arriving till loth July, when
as many as 300 were seen. After this date the birds diminished
slowly ; last seen in numbers on Fair Isle on 26th August, and
the last is recorded from there on 2nd October ( $ imm.) ;
many were found lying dead, starved ("A.S.N.H.," 1909,
p. 215, and 1910, p. 54). On 27th June, an adult male is
recorded from Unst (Shetland), and next day Crossbills arrived
at Lerwick, where they are reported up to 2ist August in
small parties not more than a dozen strong, at Sule Skerry,

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 201

where they remained about three weeks, the largest number
seen being 42, and at the Butt of Lewis, whence 7 are reported,
one being an adult male. They are also recorded from many
other localities in Shetland ("A.S.N.H.," 1909, pp. 215 and
216). Late in June many appeared on the Flannans and
remained some time, the last being seen there on 22nd Sep-
tember ("A.S.N.H.," 1909, p. 216, and 1910, p. 54). Three
immature birds were seen at Graemeshall, S.E. Mainland, from
29th June to ist July ("Brit. Birds," vol. iii. p. 82), and 2
are recorded from Lochmaddy, N. Uist ("A.S.N.H.," 1909,
p. 216). On gth July, a flock of about 20 alighted on a
steamer off Bervie, Kincardineshire, and remained on board
for several hours ("A.S.N.H.," 1909, p. 216), while on the
1 2th one came on board the 'Goldseeker' when 95 miles E.
by S.-|S. of Auskerry Light (Orkney); it was dead tired and
allowed itself to be caught ("A.S.N.H.," 1909, p. 217), and
hundreds are reported by the fishermen as drowned in the
North Sea ("A.S.N.H.," 1910, p. 118). Ten or twelve were
seen at Creetown (Kirkcudbright) from 2 gth July to 3rd
August ("Brit. Birds," vol. iii. p. 124). A male at Scrabster
(Caithness) on 3ist July, and many at Gordonbush (E. Suther-
land), a lot being caught in the strawberry nets (" A.S.N.H.,"
1910, p. 55). Eight visited a garden in Wick and stayed a
fortnight, while others are recorded from Kirkwall and Sanday
in Orkney, and from Hawick and Fraserburgh ("A.S.N.H.,"
1909, p. 216). Many were seen near Sumburgh Head, and
numbers were taken on fishing-boats to the east of Shetland
("A.S.N.H.," 1909, p. 216). One at Gifford (Haddington-
shire) in August ("Brit. Birds," vol. iii. p. 227). Young birds
and females predominated, but some old males were observed
where the birds occurred in any numbers ("A.S.N.H.," 1909,
p. 216). All obtained belonged to a slender-billed continental
race ("A.S.N.H.," 1910, pp. 66, 67).

LOXIA BIFASCIATA (Two-barred Crossbill). Adult males were pro-
cured on Fair Isle and the Flannans, among the flocks of the
common Crossbill (" A.S.N.H.," 1909, p. 217).

EMBERIZA MILIARIA (Corn Bunting). A small flock is noted at
Lerwick on gth May, and this species is recorded as fairly
common in Mull, specially near Tobermory, where it nested
this year for the first time ("A.S.N.H.," 1909, p. 247). A flock
at Lathones (E. Fife) and one at the Flannans, both on
1 8th December.

E. CITRINELLA (Yellow-hammer). Four at Fair Isle on 24th March,
and a female at the Isle of May on ist April. One at Tiree
(where it is a rare straggler) on i3th November.

202 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

E. HORTULANA (Ortolan Bunting). This species is recorded at
Fair Isle on both spring and autumn passage.

E. RUSTICA (Rustic Bunting). One male was procured in autumn
on Fair Isle.

E. PUSILLA (Little Bunting). A bird of this species is recorded
from Fair Isle in autumn, and single birds from the Isle of
May on 25th and 26th September, this being the first record
for Forth. ("A.S.N.H.," 1910, p. 6).

E. SCHCENICLUS (Reed Bunting). Laying in Banffshire on ist May.
An albino was procured in Solway (see "A.S.N.H.," 1910,
p. n8).

PLECTROPHANES NIVALIS (Snow-Bunting). Flocks at Sule Skerry
on 26th March, and two at the Isle of May on the 3ist. A
small flock in Tiree travelling north on iyth April, one at the
Butt of Lewis on the 25th, and last seen at Fair Isle on igth
May. In autumn several were seen at Sule Skerry on 6th
September, two at the Flannans on the 8th, first seen East
Ross, 2yth; many at Fair Isle on the 29th. Flocks are recorded
from Tiree on 23rd October and Aberdeen on the 25th, about
100 arrived on the Flannans on the 3ist, and a large flock on
Fair Isle on ist November, many more arriving at the two last-
named places on the 2nd.

CALCARIUS LAPPONICUS (Lapland Bunting). A single bird is re-
corded from Fair Isle in spring and another in autumn, and
one was procured on the Flannans on 3rd September.

STURNUS VULGARIS (Starling). A flock of arrivals is noted on Fair
Isle on 1 8th March, and a few at the lantern on the Isle of
May next night. Some numbers on these two places, and at
both lanterns on the 22nd and 23rd. Laying at Kirkliston on
2 ist April, in an open nest in the head of a Scots fir at that
place on isth May, while from Beith we have the note "nest
with four eggs built in a tree, and other starlings carrying
building materials to similar places. There seems to be a
scarcity of nesting holes for the birds, and they have taken to
building in trees." Nesting in the cliffs at the Butt of Lewis,
and among rubble on the sea-shore. At the Fair Isle lantern
on nth October, and numerous at the light there, and at the
Flannans on the i8th. Numbers passed south in a snow-
storm at Aberdeen on i5th November.

CORVUS FRUGILEGUS (Rook). A good deal of movement is recorded
in March. Large numbers at Lerwick on 2oth March, 500 to
600 at Fair Isle, and " swarming " on the Isle of May on the
22nd, and at the lanterns of both places that night, while 200
or more are noted at Lerwick on the 23rd and 27th.

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 203

ALAUDA ARVENSIS (Skylark). A small rush to the lantern of the
Isle of May is recorded on the nights of the i5th to the ryth
February, and very large flocks are noted at Fair Isle on 2nd
March ; on the 2 2nd a great many of these birds were on the
Isle of May, and at the lantern there and at Fair Isle that night.
In autumn large numbers at the Butt of Lewis on 26th
September, numerous on Fair Isle on iSth October and killed
at the lantern there that night. Numbers moving south in a
snow-storm at Aberdeen on i4th and i5th November.

A. ARBOREA (Wood-Lark). Four reports of this species come from

Fair Isle in January.
OTOCORYS ALPESTRIS. (Shore-Lark). Two on the Isle of May on

1 3th October and single birds there on the i4th and i6th.

CVPSELUS APUS (Swift). Is first recorded at Beith (Clyde) on 25th
April, three were seen at Kirkliston next day. One was
killed at the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse on nth August.
Last seen Kirkliston, 26th August; Flannans, single birds on
23rd and 28th September, and one at Fair Isle on 4th
October.

IYNX TORQUILLA (Wryneck). Single birds on Fair Isle on 8th and
1 2th May.

DENDROCOPUS MAJOR (Great Spotted Woodpecker). A single bird
at Dunipace on i2th March. Bred in West Fife ("A.S.N.H.,"
1910, p. 56) and several pairs nested in the Crieff district.
One in Carron Glen on 1 8th July. As autumn immigrants, a
bird of the year on the Isle of May on the i6th September, one
at the Butt of Lewis on 23rd September, and single birds at
four places in Shetland between the 24th and 28th September.
On seven occasions on Fair Isle one to three birds at a time
between 22nd September and 3rd October ; one dead at
Lerwick on ist October, and a $ near Dingwall that month.
Two seen at Inverbroom (W. Ross) on 6th November, single
birds at Ferse House and Langwell (Caithness) on the 22nd,
and a $ at Colinsburgh (E. Fife) about the middle of the
month. One near Penpont (Dumfries) on 23rd December.

UPUPA EPOPS (Hoopoe). One at Waternish (Skye) on 27th April,
second record for Skye, and another was picked up dead at
Leadhills on ist June.

CUCULUS CANORUS (Cuckoo). The first two records are from the
West, viz., at Dairy on 2 ist April ("Glas. Nat." vol. i. p. 72),
and at Loch Awe on the 23rd. By the 24th it is recorded
from Crosswood Reservoir (Midlothian). At Beith a
Cuckoo's egg was found in a Hedge Accentor's nest, darker
than most Meadow-pipit's and smaller than most Cuckoo's eggs

204 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

found in the locality. On 3151 May an egg of this species was
found in a Willow-warbler's nest in East Ross. On ist July a
Meadow-pipit's nest was found near Beith containing only one
egg, and that a Cuckoo's ; this egg hatched about the 1 2th, and
the young bird was ready to leave the nest when about twenty-
one days old. At Beith two young Cuckoos, one and two days
old respectively, were put into a Meadow-pipit's nest : the
larger threw out the smaller, three eggs and three young
Meadow-pipits, the last-named twice over, making ten in all.
In the same locality a Reed Bunting's nest was found with a
Cuckoo's egg in it, about the same size as a Skylark's, but
lighter brown. Return movements are noted on the Isle of
May on i/|.th and i6th August, at Lahill (E. Fife) two adults
were observed in the gooseberry nets on 22nd August, a young
bird at Syre (Sutherland) on the 25th, and the last record for
the year is a young bird near Largo (Fife) on gth September.

Asio OTUS (Long-eared Owl). Three are reported near Lerwick on
25th February, this being an unusual date for their appearance
in Shetland. On 28th February a nest and two eggs of this
species was found at Kirkliston, the other birds not laying till
the end of March; incubation 28-31 days.

A. ACCIPITRINUS (Short-eared Owl). A male was killed at the
Mull of Galloway Light on 3rd March. Single birds on the
Isle of May on loth August, several on Fair Isle on various
dates between 5th August and i8th October, one at Sule Skerry
on 2nd November and one on the Pentland Skerries next day,
while several are reported from Tiree on 2oth November.

BUTEO LAGOPUS (Rough-legged Buzzard). A mature female was
shot at Borrolol, Sutherland, on 3oth March, and one was seen
at Moorfoot (Forth) in November.

FALCO CANDICANS (Greenland Falcon). Single birds are reported
from the Flannans on ist, 2nd, and i4th December, from the
Butt of Lewis on 4th December, Barra on i5th and 25th
December ("A.S.N.H.," 1910, p. 119), and Inverbroom
(W. Ross) on 2 8th December (" A.S.N.H.," 1910, p. 119).

ARDETTA MINUTA (Little Bittern). An adult male was caught alive at
the opening of the Loch of Stennis into the sea on i4th May,
the second record for Orkney (" A.S.N.H." 1909, p. 183).

ANSER ALBIFRONS (White-fronted Goose). One is recorded at Wick
on 26th January and on 26th April this species was travelling
from Tiree towards Barra. One shot at Lerwick on 26th
October, and large flocks in Tiree on gth November.

A. BRACHYRHYNCHUS (Pink-footed Goose). A female was shot
in the Moray Firth on 26th April. A number are recorded
from Fair Isle during wild weather from the 7th to the iSth

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 205

October, one being shot. This is the first record of this
species for Shetland ("A.S.N.H.," 1910, p. 67).

BERNICLA LEUCOPSIS (Barnacle Goose). Several single birds were
seen at Fair Isle during the first three months of the year, two
being procured : this species is new to Fair Isle. In autumn,
the first is recorded at Dunrossness (Shetland) on 23rd
October, hundreds at the Flannans on several dates between
26th October and 29th November, and a flock at Tiree on
2ist November.

BERNICLA BRENTA (Brent Goose). A flock of about 500 is
recorded in the Cromarty Firth on 3ist March, about 100
there on gth April and 60 on 3rd May. Five returned to the
Dornoch Firth on 2ist September, one at Dunrossness
(Shetland) on the 29th, and at Fair Isle on i6th October an
injured Brent was captured this was an addition to the Fair
Isle fauna. A great many in the Dornoch Firth on 6th
November.

CYGNUS MUSICUS (Whooper Swan). One was found dead at Morton
Loch (N.E. Fife) on iSth January. Eight at Dunrossness
(Shetland) on igth October, and unusual numbers in Tiree on
8th November.

C. BEWICKI (Bewick's Swan). A few on Tiree on 3rd November ;
very plentiful there later, throughout the winter.

TADORNA CASARCA (Ruddy Sheldrake). An adult female was
obtained at Sule Skerry on i8th June, the first record for the
Northern Isles (" A.S.N.H.," 1909, p. 247).

ANAS STREPERA (Gadwall). A pair are reported from Morton Loch
(Fife) on 25th January, and on the 2gth a flock of 20-30 at
the same place. A pair were seen on Bishop Loch near
Glasgow on 25th April, and in June two nests containing five
and seven eggs were found near a loch in S.E. Scotland
(" A.S.N.H.," 1909, p. 184). A male was shot in Elginshire on
2nd November, and this duck is recorded from Tiree on the
loth.

DAFILA ACUTA (Pintail). Rather plentiful in Solway waters in the
winter of 1908-9, and a male shot at the Edenmouth on i2th
January. Last seen in Solway at Southerness on 28th
February.

MARECA PENELOPE (Wigeon). The main body left Mull on i2th
April, three were seen there on the 24th, and on the 28th
the last flock is recorded from the Cromarty Firth. Two
nests in E. Scotland on 22nd May with six and nine eggs
respectively. A bird marked when young at Loch Brora
(E. Sutherland) on igth June, was captured in the province of

206 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Groningen (N.E. Holland) on 3rd September ("Brit. Birds,"
vol. iii. p. 220). Reappeared on Linlithgow Loch on 26th
August, and first seen on the Cromarty Firth two days later ;
about a hundred there by 4th September.

FULIGULA FERINA (Pochard). Last seen at Kirkliston on 26th
April. Returned to Kirkliston on 26th August.

HARELDA GLACIALIS (Long-tailed Duck). A good many at
Balcomie (E. Fife) on 22nd April, two at Fair Isle on ist
May. In autumn one is reported as seen in East Ross on
26th September, six off Fair Isle on i4th October; when
diving they remained under water sixty-six and sixty-seven
seconds. An adult male at the Isle of May on the i5th, and
an adult male was shot inland near Gretna (Dumfriesshire) on
2nd November ("A.S.N.H.," 1910, p. 119).

COLUMBA CENAS (Stock-Dove). Laying at Kirkliston on i5th April,
hatched about the 23rd in East Fife. About 30 pairs were
nesting in ivy-covered cliffs at Shiskin (Arran). Unusual
numbers in Largo Bay on gth August; and, 2ist, "parties
everywhere."

TURTUR COMMUNIS (Turtle-Dove). A good many are reported,
single birds being recorded from Kelso on i5th May, Fair
Isle on 2oth and 2yth May, Syre (Sutherland) on ist July,
Fair Isle on the yth, Dunrossness (Shetland) and the Flannans
on loth September.

TETRAO TETRIX (Black Grouse). A hybrid between a Blackcock
and a Capercaillie hen was shot in Kincardineshire on i5th
December ("A.S.N.H.," 1910, p. 120).

COTURNIX COMMUNIS (Quail). Heard in E. Fife at five places near
Crail from 2nd to 4th July. Several pairs bred in East
Lothian; heard calling there in June and loth July to 23rd
August.

CREX PRATENSIS (Corn-Crake). Is first recorded from Beith in the
West of Scotland on iSth April, and not till the 27th from the
East Coast, when one was observed on the Isle of May ; at
Fair Isle on the 4th May. On the return journey one was killed
at the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse on 3 ist August, and the
last record for the year comes from Fair Isle on i8th October.

PORZANA PARVA (Little Crake). One was caught in a fishing-boat
in Girvan Harbour on 29th March, the first record for Clyde
("A.S.N.H," 1909, p. 185).

RALLUS AQUATICUS (Water-Rail). Single birds are recorded from
Fair Isle, 6th February, and as killed at the lantern, Tarbatness,
on 22nd March, and at the Mull of Galloway that night and the
next. By a small loch near the Butt of Lewis on i8th April,

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 207

and Sule Skerry 2oth June. In autumn several are noted at Fair
Isle, one was killed at the lantern of the Isle of May on i6th
October, and a single bird is noted from Tiree on the 24th.

GALLINULA CHLOROPUS (Moorhen). One was killed at the lantern
of Davaar Lighthouse (Argyll) on 23rd February, and one
is reported from the Isle of May just a month later.

EUDROMIAS MORINELLUS (Dotterel). One was found dead at Bells-
hill (Lanarkshire) on 2oth April ("Glas. Nat." vol. i. p. 135).

CHARADRIUS PLUVIALIS (Golden Plover). On the hills at Beattock
on 4th February. Small numbers at the Isle of May and Fair
Isle on 22nd March, and 30 at the Butt of Lewis on agth April.
The return movement is first noted at Largo (Fife) on 8th
July, a great many at the Cromarty Firth on 7th August, flocks
arriving at Tiree on i ;th September, and a number at Fair
Isle on the 2oth.

SQUATAROLA HELVETICA (Grey Plover). One in winter dress on
the Dornoch Firth, 3rd June ; fourteen at the Edenmouth on
3ist August, seven being in summer plumage.

VANELLUS VULGARIS (Lapwing). A considerable movement of this
species took place in March, when it was numerous at the
Isle of May on the 2ist, and in uncountable numbers there
and at Fair Isle next day ; a rush to the lantern at these places
being recorded the following night. At Lerwick and Isle of
May great flocks on the 23rd, and several at Sule Skerry on
the 25th. About one hundred on Fair Isle on 6th October,
and this species participated in the movement at Aberdeen
during a snowstorm on i4th and i5th November. A Lapwing
ringed at Glenorchard (Stirling) on i7th June was shot 20
miles west of Pau, Basses Pyrenees, France, on i yth November
("Brit. Birds," vol. iii. p. 251).

STREPSILAS INTERPRES (Turnstone). Present in East Fife through-
out the summer.

HJEMATOPUS OSTRALEGUS (Oystercatcher). Arrived at Sule Skerry
on the 1 2th February, very numerous at Fair Isle on 8th March,
and a small flock at the Butt of Lewis ont he 3oth ; by 3rd
April it was on Loch Awe. On 5th June there were large
flocks at the Edenmouth, and many hundreds there on 3151
August.

PHALAROPUS FULICARIUS (Grey Phalarope). Is twice recorded from
Fair Isle in January and once in October, two being procured.
This species is new to Fair Isle. Phalaropes, probably this
species, are recorded from Sule Skerry in January and September.

SCOLOPAX RUSTICOLA (Woodcock). Notes of birds on spring migra-
tion come from Fair Isle on 23rd March, Sule Skerry on the

2o8 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

28th, and the Isle of May on the 3ist. Several nests in
Morayshire, last hatched yth August (" Brit. Birds," vol. iii.
p. 129). In autumn one is recorded from Dunrossness
(Shetland) on iSth October, many there on loth November.

GALLINAGO MAJOR (Great Snipe). One was procured on Fair Isle
in September.

G. CCELESTIS (Snipe). Is recorded as very numerous on Fair Isle
on i gth and ayth January, ist February, and loth March.
Scarce at Lerwick early in September, but plentiful by the 25th,
on which day we have a note of arrivals at Fair Isle "flying
round for quarters." Numerous in Tiree on 3oth October,
large numbers at the Butt of Lewis on i4th November, and
next day at the Pentland Skerries (frost and snow). Again
numerous in Tiree on 23rd November, and on 2ist December
in Mull ; severe weather drove numbers within the burgh of
Tobermory.

TRINGA MINUTA (Little Stint). Two in Aberlady Bay on 4th
September, and one at Fair Isle on the 3oth.

T. SUBARQUATA (Curlew Sandpiper). Two at the Edenmouth on
3ist August, and five or six in Aberlady Bay on 4th September.

T. CANUTUS (Knot). Small numbers remained throughout the
summer at the Cromarty Firth. Four at Balcomie (E. Fife)
on 1 4th August.

CALIDRIS ARENARIA (Sanderling). Last seen in Largo Bay on i6th
May, returned there i yth July.

MACHETES PUGNAX (Ruff). One seen at Waukmill Glen Dam
(E. Renfrew) on 2gth August and i2th September, and two
at Balgray Dam on the latter date.

TOTANUS HYPOLEUCUS (Common Sandpiper). First seen on the
West Coast at Dairy (Clyde) on i4th April, and two days later
on the East beside the Tyne (E. Lothian), and Fair Isle 24th.
First reported on autumn migration on iyth July in East Fife.

T. OCHROPUS (Green Sandpiper). One was shot on the banks of
the Ae in Dumfriesshire on 2oth January, and one was seen
on Fair Isle late in July.

T. FUSCUS (Spotted Redshank). One seen at Waukmill Glen Dam
(E. Renfrew) on 2gth August and i2th September (" Glas.
Nat." vol. i. p. 146).

T. CANESCENS (Greenshank). A pair is reported from Tiree on
nth June, one at Largo (E. Fife) on 22nd July, two beside
the Spey on 5th August, and two or three at the Edenmouth
on 3131 August. Two in East Renfrew on i2th September.
Records come from the Cromarty and Dornoch Firths in April

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 209

and June, and from August to the end of the year mostly
single birds.

LIMOSA LAPPONICA (Bar-tailed Godwit). One was killed at the
lantern at Tarbatness on 23rd March. A flock of about fifty
at the Edenmouth on 5th June, and three in summer plumage
in Largo Bay on 2oth July. Small numbers stayed by the
Cromarty Firth throughout the summer; on 28th September
one was seen there " with creamy upper parts."

L. BELGICA (Black-tailed Godwit). Single birds are reported from
the Cromarty Firth on six dates between 23rd April and i6th
September, July being the only month without a record. One
at Luce Bay, Wigtownshire, on i3th August, and one shot at
Morton Loch (Fife) on 2oth August in interesting transition
plumage, two at Tiree on the 27th, and one at Waukmill Glen
Dam (E. Renfrew) on the 291)1, and i2th September ("Glas.
Nat." vol. i. p. 146).

NUMENIUS PH^EOPUS (Whimbrel). A few in Tiree on 22nd April,
becoming more numerous till the middle of May, several at
the Butt of Lewis on 2nd May, and three at Fair Isle next day.
In autumn about twelve at Balcomie (E. Fife) on 28th July.
Last seen Isle of May on 25th September, several records from
Fair Isle between 23rd July and iyth October, and four
records from East Ross between 23rd September (3), and
1 6th November (i).

STERNA CANTIACA (Sandwich Tern). First seen near Crail (Fife)
on 22nd April. Quantities in Largo Bay on 24th August, and
very many at the Edenmouth on the 3ist. Last seen Isle of
May on Qth October.

S. FLUVIATILIS (Common Tern). First reported from Balcomie
(E. Fife) on 2 2nd April, and next day from Largo Bay and
the Cromarty Firth. In numbers in Aberdeenshire on the
2 Qth. Numerous at the Isle of May on i8th July, young on
the shore in Aberdeenshire, still being fed by their parents on
8th September, last seen there two days later.

S. MACRURA (Arctic Tern). First reported on 3rd May from the
Cromarty Firth, arriving at Tiree from the i2th till the end of
the month, at Lerwick on the 23rd. Last seen at the
Cromarty Firth on 4th September, the breeding Terns last seen
at the Butt of Lewis on the 5th. Great numbers of migrating
Terns, probably this species, are recorded as passing Lerwick on
the night of nth September and again on the nights of the
22nd to 24th; a number were round the lantern on the Isle
of May early on 22nd September and at Fair Isle next night.

S. MINUTA (Little Tern). First seen at St. Andrews (3) on 5th
May, arriving at Tiree from the 1 2th to the end of the month
76 c

210 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

XEMA SABINII (Sabine's Gull). An adult was seen at Lerwick on
25th July and again a few days later ("A.S.N.H.," 1909,
p. 248).

LARUS RIDIBUNDUS (Black-headed Gull). On northern passage at
Mull on 5th March and many passing over Aberdeen on the
night of the 2ist. Arrived in Mull on the return journey on
7th July and next day hundreds appeared in Largo Bay, nearly
all adults in full summer plumage. Thousands are recorded
from the Bass Rock in December during frost, the first seen
on the Rock by Mr. Campbell. One with roseate plumage
shot at Inverbroom (W. Ross) on gth December and many
more roseate birds seen there later.

L. CANUS (Common Gull). A number on Loch Awe on

March. Many arrived at Fair Isle on 5th October, while on
the 1 4th (before a gale) there were an unusual number on this
island, several hundreds being recorded.

L. FUSCUS (Lesser Black-backed Gull). One in Glasgow Harbour
on 1 3th March. Several still at Fair Isle on 5th October, and
one at the Isle of May on the 23rd and 27th.

L. GLAUCUS (Glaucous Gull). Occurred in small numbers, mostly
immature birds on Fair Isle during the first and last quarters
of the year. One immature bird at the Isle of May on 24th
October.

MEGALESTRIS CATARRHACTES (Great Skua). Seen at Foula on i2th
April. One at Fair Isle on 4th May, last seen there 8th
October. A young bird was killed at Borrolol (Sutherland) on
1 9th October.

MERGULUS ALLE (Little Auk). Very numerous in the sea off Fair
Isle on 2oth January and ist February, the numbers having
decreased by the 5th, and single birds are recorded from Largo
Bay on the 26th February and at St. Andrews on zoth March.
Again noted off Fair Isle on i8th November becoming more
numerous, till at the close of the year a great many were
present.

FRATERCULA ARCTICA (Puffin). A white Puffin was seen at Sule
Skerry on i8th June.

COLYMBUS ARCTICUS (Black-throated Diver). One young bird of
this species was shot at Morton Loch (Fife) on 2ist January,
and one was seen off Gullane Ness on 2yth December.

C. SEPTENTRIONALIS (Red-throated Diver). Great numbers in
Largo Bay on i5th February. St. Andrews Bay full of them
on 3oth September and a great many in Largo Bay on 27th
December.

REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 211

PODICIPES CRISTATUS (Great Crested Grebe). Three or four at St.
Andrews on the 25th January, one on Duddingston Loch on
1 4th March, the first seen there in six years. Single birds in
the sea at St. Andrews on 2nd November and at Craignish
(Argyll) on the 8th.

P. AURITUS (Sclavonian Grebe). In 1908 a pair tried to breed on
an Inverness-shire loch, but one parent was shot; in 1909 one
or two pairs appeared on the same loch, but their nests were
robbed by a private collector ("Brit. Birds," vol. iii. p. 380).
One at Fair Isle on 9th September and 6th October ; it stayed
below water about half a minute when diving.

P. NIGRICOLLIS (Eared Grebe). One is reported as having been
seen on Bishop's Loch near Glasgow in 1909 (" Glas. Nat."
vol. ii. p. 58).

P. FLUVIATILIS (Little Grebe). Single birds were killed at the
lantern at Tarbatness and the Isle of May on 22nd March.

PROCELLARIA PELAGICA (Storm Petrel). Several at Sule Skerry on
1 8th June in holes and under stones. One at the Bass Rock
found at 2 A.M. on iith December lying exhausted on the
pathway round the lantern.

OCEANODROMA LEUCORRHOA (Fork -tailed Petrel). - -Two were
killed at the lantern at Sule Skerry on 26th August and one
was driven ashore by the rollers in a dying condition at Mull
on gth November.

PUFFINUS ANGLORUM (Manx Shearwater). Two seen in the Firth
of Forth on loth June and about twenty on 5th August.
Single birds were killed at the lantern on the Isle of May on
1 5th and iyth August.

FULMARUS GLACIALIS (Fulmar). Arrived in the geos on Fair Isle
on 23rd January. One was killed at the lantern at Sule Skerry
on 2nd February. One found dead on shore at Kingsbarns,
Fife, on 4th July ("Glas. Nat." i. p. 145).

[The Editors desire to express to Mr. John Paterson their
indebtedness for, and high appreciation of, the series of
excellent Reports on Scottish Ornithology which he was
good enough to prepare for the " Annals." The Editors
know from experience the labour involved in their prepara-
tion, which is infinitely greater than would be supposed by
those who have not been engaged on such work. EDS.]

212 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

ON VISITS PAID TO THE ISLAND OF

N. RONA.

By HER GRACE THE DUCHESS OF BEDFORD.

DURING the present summer I have on two occasions
visited the Island of North Rona, viz. on ipth July and on
25th August. As on a previous visit in 1907, I landed
without difficulty.

A cave running almost half-way across the narrow
isthmus at the north-west end of the island affords an excellent
landing-place on the western side. There is no anchorage
on this side for a large vessel, and, as the sailing instructions
vaguely inform one that " a low water rock lies two cables off
the southern side of the island and others more than half a
mile off," North Rona is more interesting to me than my
Captain. The yacht therefore has to stand some distance
out at sea.

The author of " The Fauna of the Outer Hebrides,"
describing his visit to the island in 1887, says: "The sea-
pink, which grows in continuous profusion over the whole
surface, filled the air with delicious fragrance, faint but
sweet." The sea-pink was in bloom at the time of my visit,
but by no stretch of the imagination could I have detected
its fragrance amidst the all-pervading stench of the nesting-
place of hundreds of Fulmars, Great and Lesser Black-backed
Gulls and Herring Gulls, and his remark probably bears
eloquent testimony to the great increase in these birds since
that time, an increase which may possibly be due to the
island being now entirely uninhabited. The Fulmars occupy
not only the cliffs, but all the old ruins and even the sloping
ledges of rock. The low peninsulas both at the south-west and
northern ends of the island are thickly covered with the nests
of the Lesser Black-backed Gull, and in smaller numbers
the Greater Black-backed and Herring Gulls. The cliffs are
tenanted by thousands of Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills,
Kittiwakes, and Shags. At the extreme south-western end
is a large colony of Arctic Terns. Great numbers of Gannets
were seen flying round the island, probably members of the
colony nesting on Sulisgeir.

ON VISITS PAID TO THE ISLAND OF N. RONA 213

I found several Petrel haunts, but those I pulled out
were all Storm Petrels. As they nest in the same places as
the Fulmars it is somewhat difficult to detect them, and as I am
still less able to discriminate between the odours of a Fork-
tailed Petrel and the Storm Petrel I had to abandon the
search for the former.

Numbers of Eider Ducks frequented the bays, and Rock
Pipits were numerous, as also Oystercatchers.

The Fulmars are unpleasant people to deal with at close
quarters. The adults allow one to approach within 4 or 5
feet before leaving the nest, and the young are able to squirt
the oil a distance of 2 to 3 feet out of their mouths. When the
supply of oil is exhausted they disgorge the contents of their
stomachs, after which they may be handled with impunity, but
after the last operation one ceases to desire to interfere with
them. They seem loath to leave the nest long after the
condition of their plumage would lead one to suppose that
they could fly, and I confess that having seen the capture of
the young Fulmars on St. Kilda by the cliff climbers, I feel
less sympathy for them than I did when I had only read
about it. They are so intensely stupid, sitting still to have
their necks wrung, that I feel sure that Providence must have
designed them to be caught in order to limit the surplus
population of a bird which can have few other enemies.
The manner of their death is rapid and merciful, and if the
young Fulmar has cause for complaint it can only be that of
thousands of other young creatures in the world, " Since I
am so quickly done for, I wonder what I was begun for ? "

I set my mouse-traps for several hours, but caught
nothing. It is strange that it pays any one to keep sheep on
the island. I saw a great deal of fresh mutton lying about,
as also carcases in every stage of decay, and there can be but
few months in the year when the grass affords them a diet
to grow fat on. The few that are there are extremely
wild.

At the time of my second visit in August, owing to
there being rather more swell than on the previous occasion,
an easier landing was effected by rowing to the extreme end
of the cave. From here there is a curious gap sloping up
from the sea to the grass-covered surface above. The

2I 4 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

opening being very narrow, daylight cannot be seen from
below, and, bending almost double, one has to feel one's way
in comparative darkness for the first few yards. It is more-
over extremely slippery, but the actual landing is less risky
in a swell than jumping on to wet sea- weed at the mouth of
the cave.

A great change had taken place amongst the birds since
my visit in July. The Guillemots, Razorbills, Eider Ducks,
and Terns had all gone. A few Puffins remained and a good
many Kittiwakes and Fulmars. Some of the young Fulmars
had not yet left the nest. Great and Lesser Black-backed Gulls
were still very numerous, Herring Gulls had increased, and a
few pairs of Oystercatchers were still about. In place of
the departed breeding birds there had been a great
immigration of Wheatears, Meadow Pipits, White Wagtails,
and Waders. I think that the Rock Pipits had also
increased. There must have been hundreds of Meadow
Pipits and Wheatears on the island, and as I suspected the
latter of belonging to the larger race I shot one. The wing
measured 99 mm. White Wagtails, though not so abundant,
were there in great numbers. A large flock of Curlews
(upwards of 50) arrived whilst I was on the island, and I also
saw a flock of Starlings. Many of the little spray pools
were tenanted by Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Redshanks, and
Turnstones, and a solitary Heron flapped slowly away as I
landed. I also put up a Snipe.

The Great Grey Seal was very much in evidence in the
bays. Some of them appeared to be huge animals. It is
a splendid place for watching them, as, when the boat has
gone back to the yacht and all is quiet, they show up at
the mouth of the cave only some forty feet directly below
one in perfectly clear water.

The horrible modern tombstone erected to the memory
of the last two inhabitants who died there in 1887, and
placed in the little chapel -yard amongst the old locally
carved stone crosses, had been re-whitewashed. If ever I
commit sacrilege it will be here.

I had hoped to return to Rona the following day, but
" the best laid schemes o' mice and men gang aft agley," and
an easterly gale compelled me to go southwards instead.

NYSSIA ZONAR1A IN THE OUTER HEBRIDES 215

NYSSIA ZONARIA, SCHIFR, IN THE OUTER

HEBRIDES.

By PERCY H. GRIMSHAW, F.R.S.E., F.E.S.

Natural History Department, the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh.

THIS interesting and very local Moth, the so-called " Belted
Beauty," has been known as a British species since the year
1834, but until recent years it was only recorded from the
sand-hills on that part of the English and Welsh coast which
stretches from New Brighton to Conway, a distance of less
than 40 miles. Within the last few years, however, the
insect has been observed, either in the caterpillar or imago
state, in a few isolated localities in other parts of the British
Isles, but always in the West, on coasts exposed to either
the Atlantic Ocean or Irish Sea.

During an official collecting expedition in the month of
June last I was fortunate in discovering what I believe to be
an entirely new locality for the Moth, and one which con-
siderably extends its distribution. I refer to the extensive
range of sand-hills on the western shore of the island of South
Uist, in the Outer Hebrides. For a distance of at least a
mile and a half of the coast due west of Daliburgh, that is
to say, on the Atlantic coast of the southern part of the
island, the conspicuous and unmistakable caterpillar of Nyssia
zonaria was seen in myriads crawling over rushes, Lotus
corniculatus, and other low-growing plants which carpeted
these interesting dunes. So numerous were they, indeed,
that I found it necessary, before sitting down to rest, to look
carefully lest I should crush numerous examples of this local,
but here predominant, species.

In this connection it is interesting to find that my
experience confirms an old record which was published by
Mr. J. B. Hodgkinson in the " Zoologist" for 1844 and 1845
and one that has for many years been received with
suspicion and distrust In the two notes referred to the
Moth is recorded for Skye, while the island of " Bernarah " is
also mentioned as a locality for the species. As these were
the first (and until 1899 tne on ly) records for Scotland it

216 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

may be interesting to quote what is actually said. In the
" Zoologist " for 1 844, p. 686, Hodgkinson writes : " A friend
of mine who lately visited the Isle of Skye observed a great
number of the larvae of a Geometra, very similar to those of
Abraxas grossulariata : they were feeding on the burdock,
on the summit of Ben Beckley, where he shot a rock dove
(Coluniba livia\ the crop of which was completely gorged with
them. A few of these larvae have since changed into pupae."
The following year (1845, p. 1006) the same naturalist
communicated the following note : " Caterpillar of Nyssia
zonaria in Skye. I formerly made a communication respect-
ing some larvae which were found in the Isle of Skye, by my
friend Mr. Cooper, of Preston (' Zool.' 686). I saw him last
week, and learned that a female Nyssia zonaria had come
out this spring, from one of the chrysalides that was un-
injured. I hinted to Mr. Henry Doubleday what I thought
they were. Now it is a question whether Nyssia zonaria is
indigenous to the Hebrides or not ; and those which have
been found at New Brighton, Cheshire, have been originally
imported thither among wool, etc., or rushes that have been
used to pack up fish with. My friend informs me that the
larvae were in swarms upon the sand-hills of Bernarah, and
several other islands which he visited."

It will be seen that some doubt is here thrown upon the
question of the insect being a true native, especially in the
Hebrides. In view of the fact that it has since been recorded
from Tiree by Mr. William Evans (" Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist,"
1899, p. 239) and from several places in Ireland, I think
there can be no doubt but that it is a truly British moth.
When referring to the Tiree record in his " Lepidoptera of
the British Islands " (vol. vii. p. 1 5 2), Barrett makes the
pertinent remark that " it seems possible that the creature
belongs naturally to this more northern latitude, and that
this may help to explain the failure of the species to
establish itself more extensively upon the English coast,
where suitable sand-hills are by no means wanting." This
opinion receives ample support from my experience of the
caterpillar in such vast numbers on the extreme west of the
Outer Hebrides, to which remote place its importation seems
inconceivable.

NYSSIA ZONARIA IN THE OUTER HEBRIDES 217

A concise summary of the British distribution of Nyssia
zonaria as now known may be useful :

England and Wales. CHESHIRE AND NORTH WALES: Coast from

New Brighton to Conway.
LANCASHIRE : Coast from Liverpool to
Blackpool.

Scotland. INNER HEBRIDES : Skye and Tiree.

OUTER HEBRIDES : South Uist and (?) Bernerah.

Ireland. ANTRIM : Ballycastle.

MAYO : Achill Island and Bingham Castle.
GALWAY : Slyne Head and Roundstone.

ON THE SCOTTISH SPECIES OF OXYURA
(PXOCTOTRYPID^PART V. 1

By PETER CAMERON.

IN this part of the Catalogue of the Scottish Oxyura I
have dealt with the Diapriincs, and have recorded 47 species
known to me from Scotland, namely, 14 of the tribe
Spiloinicrini and 33 of the tribe Diapriini. Of these 35
have been described by Dr. Kieffer as new species. I give
also, within square brackets, the localities of 6 new species
from England and 2 from Spain. Spilomicrus compressus,
Thorns., is also an addition to the British Fauna. Marshall,
in his Catalogue published by the Entomological Society
of London, records 1 3 genera and 5 2 British species of
DiapriincE. Most of the species recorded in this Catalogue
not taken by me, have been described by C. G. Thomson
from Scandinavia and by Marshall himself from England.
Not much appears to be known regarding the early stages
of the DiapriincE. Some have been bred from gall-making
Diptera.

SPILOMICRINI.

SPILOMICRUS, West.

[annulicornts, K., Mickleham (C. G. Champion)].
i. minor, K., Dairy ; Bishopton ; Boxhill (C. G. Champion.)

1 Continued from p. 95.

218 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

*2. abnormis, Marshall, Ballantrae.

3. crassiclavis, K., Bishopton.

4. compressus, Thorns., Kenmuir Bank, near Glasgow.

*5. basalyformiS) Marshall, Bonar Bridge; Kingussie; Claddich ;
Loch Awe ; Clober ; Aviemore (C. G. Champion) ; Dunham
Park, Cheshire ; London District (C. G. Champion).
6. integer, K., var. varicornis, K., Cambuslang.

*7. S. hemipterus, Marsh., has been taken at Boxhill by Mr.
C. G. Champion.

IDIOTYPA, Foer.

1. nigrieepS) K., Mugdock.

2. rufiventris, K., Eccles, Dumfriesshire.

PARAMESIUS, West.

1. Cameroni, K., Fossil Marsh, near Glasgow.

2. dentatuS) K., Mugdock.

3. nigricornis, K., New Galloway.

ANEURYNCHUS, West.

1. oviventris, Thorns., Dumfries; Cheshire.

2. ruficorniS) Thorns., Clyde at Newton ; Loch Awe ; Boxhill

(C. G. Champion).

3. obliquus, K., Cadder.

DIAPRIINI.

PLATYMISCHUS, West.
i. dilatatus, West. Frith of Clyde, near Cloch Lighthouse.

BASALYS, West.

[fo/taris, K., York (F. G. Binnie).]
i. rufiscapus, K., Mull.

LOXOTROPA, Foer.

1. macroptera, K., Loch Awe.

2. convexa, K., Cadder.

3. ciliata, K., Dumfries ; Clober ; Lee (C. G. Champion).

4. scotica,) K., Claddich ; Cambuslang ; Dumfries.

5. sulcata, K., Claddich.

6. atricrus, K., Clyde at Newton.

7. cursitans, K., Rannoch ; Claddich; Lade at Cadder.

ON THE SCOTTISH SPECIES OF OXYURA 219

8. longipennis, K., Mull ; Manuel ; London District (C. G.

Champion) ; Peak of Derbyshire in house.

9. bifoveata, K., Cambuslang.
10. luctuosa, K., Dumfries.

ir. itnifoveata, K., Bonar Bridge.
*i2. dispar, Nees, Rannoch ; Lade at Cadder.

DIAPRIA, Latr.

*i. conica, Ltr., Cadder; Gloucester.

\tetratoma, K., Gloucester.]
*2. oogastra, Thorns., Cambuslang.

\_nocticolor, K., York (F. G. Binnie).]

3. clavatipes, K., Bishopton.

4. apicalis, K., Bishopton.

5. melanopa, K., Mugdock ; Ballantrae.

6. iiuzqualiS) K., Cadder.

[conotoma, K., Alsasua, Spain (D. Sharp).

7. petiolaris, K., Bishopton.

*8. verticillata, Nees (Ltr. ?), Eccles ; Dunham Park, Cheshire ;

Bexhill (Champion).
9. ciliaris, K., Clydesdale.
10. varipes, K., Cadder.

PH/ENOPRIA, Ashmead.

1. Cameroni, Clyde at Newton; Mickleham (Champion).

2. subimpressa, K. I have no definite locality for this

species.

3. halterata, K., New Galloway.

TRICHOPRIA, Ashmead.

1. inermis, K., Thornhill.

2. atricornis, K., Glen Lyon, Clyde, near Newton.

3. fiwbriata, K., Craigton in fungus.

GALESUS, Curt.

[Cameroni, K., Caterham (C. G. Champion).]
\bispinosuS) K., Scarborough (D. Sharp).]

1. parvuhiS) K., Clober.

2. atricornis, K., Clober.

*3> ccecutiens, Marsh., Edinburgh.

[mayett, K., var. hispanicus, K., and rufimanus, K., Gibraltar
(J. J. Walker, R.N.).]

220 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

CONTRIBUTION TO OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE
HYDROID FAUNA OF THE WEST OF SCOT-
LAND.

BEING AN ACCOUNT OF COLLECTIONS MADE
BY SIR JOHN MURRAY, K.C.B., ON S.Y. " MEDUSA."

By JAMES RITCHIE, M.A., B.Sc.,
The Royal Scottish Museum.

THIS paper is an almost insignificant attempt to reduce our
ignorance of the marine invertebrate fauna of the West Coast
of Scotland. Apart from that relating to the Clyde Sea
area, to which many skilled and painstaking naturalists have
devoted their attention, little information can be gleaned of
the natives of our western seas. This is the more to be
wondered at since the Atlantic Coast has already shown
itself to be worthy of close scrutiny. Not only the recent
magnificent researches of the Irish Fishery Board on the
west of Ireland, but even casual records from Scottish waters,
foretell that the western coast of Scotland will yield to the
investigator many kinds of animals at present regarded as
members of a more southern fauna, and many kinds also,
unknown on our eastern coasts, which will link the fauna of
South- Western Europe with that of Norway.

The material to which I had access consisted of collec-
tions brought together by Sir John Murray and presented by
him to the British Museum (Natural History) between the
years 1887 and 1892. But in order to make the account
of the work accomplished by the " Medusa " as thorough as
possible, I have included the references to Hydroids contained
in the yacht's log-books, and in various lists of species
representing the content of collections examined by experts
at Sir John Murray's request. Such manuscript records are
indicated by " (M.)," and although some of them have already
been published in the British Association volume, " Fauna,
Flora, and Geology of the Clyde Area " (1901), the desire to
make this a comprehensive list of the Hydroids collected by
Sir John Murray in the West has induced me to repeat them
here.

THE HYDROID FAUNA OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND 221

In addition I have included a few species collected by
Dr. Oswald Fergus of Glasgow, Dr. J. N. Marshall of
Rothesay, and myself, in the Kyles of Bute, off Tighna-
bruaich and the Burnt Isles, amongst these being the boreal
TJniiaria tenera, a species hitherto unknown to British lists.

In these records there has been given, even in the case
of common forms, every locality at which a species was
obtained ; but for this seeming triviality there need be no
apology in days when the necessity for the closer and more
detailed intensive study of the distribution of marine animals
has been recognised. In order to simplify reference, however,
I have grouped the records ; those from the Clyde Sea area
being arranged as in the scheme adopted in the British
Association handbook mentioned above and shown on the
map which accompanies that volume. In recording epizoi'c
forms the name of the host species has invariably been
stated where it was known, in the hope that accumulation of
evidence may reveal some constancy of association between
epizoon and host ; for in discussing the Hydroid fauna of the
Mergui Archipelago, I have already shown that all Hydroid
species are not equally subject to infestation by extraneous
Hydroid growths. Synonyms have been inserted where the
recognised name of a species has altered since Hincks wrote
his classical " History of the British Hydroid Zoophytes "
(1868), but it has been considered necessary to refer the
reader only to the name made use of by Hincks.

The collections made from the " Medusa " contained
representatives of 75 species : 14 Gymnoblastea, 61
Calyptoblastea. Three of the latter are worthy of special
mention as being recent additions to the fauna of Britain.
ParascypJius simplex (Lmx.), from between Sanda Island and
Ailsa Craig, has not hitherto been found in the North
Atlantic Ocean, and for this species I have found it expedient,
on account of its Campanularian habit associated with its
Sertularian hydranth, to institute a new genus. Thuiaria
tenera (Sars) is not to be found in any British list, though,
strange to say, a specimen from " Great Cumbray " exists in
the Vienna Natural History Museum, its presence there
having been recorded by Marktanner-Turneretscher in 1890.
The addition of Polyplumaria flabellata, Sars, to the British

222 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

fauna by the two records here given, was anticipated by a
few months through the discovery of Dr. Jaderholm that the
collections of the Swedish National Museum contained some
specimens from an indeterminable locality in the Shetland
Islands.

In conclusion it gives me pleasure to thank Mr. R. Kirk-
patrick of the British Museum, but for the facilities given by
whom this collection could not have been examined by me ;
Sir John Murray, K.C.B., and Mr. J. Chumley of the
" Challenger " Expedition Office, the former especially for his
generosity in granting me access to his log-books and
manuscript lists ; and Miss J. J. Elliot for assistance in the
classification of localities.

These symbols have been employed : (M.), record extracted from
the log-books of the " Medusa," or from manuscript lists in the
possession of Sir John Murray. Referring to the frequency of
occurrence of specimens : c., common ; m.c., moderately common ;
c.c., very common; r., rare; m.r., moderately rare; r.r., very rare.

GYMNOBLASTEA.

Family CLAVIDvE.
i. CLAVA SQUAMATA (Miiller).

CLYDE SEA AREA. DUNOON BASIN, 20-40 fms. ; W. shore (M.).
KYLES OF BUTE Burnt Islands, on Fuais at low water, c.

Family BOUGAINVILLID^.

2. PERIGONIMUS REPENS (Wright).

CLYDE SEA AREA. BARRIER PLATEAU between Sanda Is. and

Ailsa Craig, 24-28 fms.
LOCH ETIVE, 30-40 fms.
LOCH CARRON, 60 fms., on outside and inside of shell of Ckrysodomus

antiquus.

3. DICORYNE CONFERTA (Alder).

CLYDE SEA AREA. BARRIER PLATEAU Sanda to Achinhoan, 19
fms., r.r. (M.).

4. BOUGAINVILLIA RAMOSA (van Benedcn).

The branching and habit in general, and the structures of the
perisarc of the colonies, agree so closely with those of B. ramosa,

THE HYDROID FAUNA OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND 223

that, even although hydranths are absent in the specimens from both
localities, there can be little doubt of the specific identity.

MULL OF CANTYRE, 49 fms.

FIRTH OF LORNE, 50-70 fms., 3 fine colonies, 5 cms. high.

5. HYDRACTINIA ECHINATA (Fleming).

CLYDE SEA AREA. GARELOCH (M.) head to Shandon, 14-22
fms. ; head to Stroul, to 23 fms., c. ; W. side, 10-20 fms., c. ;
centre above Narrows, mud, 20-30 fms., c. LOCH GOIL (M.)
shore, low water, m.c. ; head to Stuckbeg, 25-45 fms., m.c.
E. side below pier, 30-35 fms. ; Beach Point to Stuckbeg, 20
fms. ; W. side, off Aird Madailh, soft mud, 20 fms. ; off Ard-
minean Farm, 10-12 fms. ; outside Barrier, 10-12 fms., m.c.
DUNOON BASIN (M.) E. side, 6-20 fms., m.c. ; centre, 10-20
fms., m.c. ; W. side, 6-8 fms., r. LOCH STRIVEN (M.) E. side,
10-30 fms., c.c. ; Berry's Pier, 15-25 fms., r. ; centre, 30-40
fms., c.c. ; W. side, 15-35 fms., m.c. UPPER LOCH FYNE (M.)
-E. side, 10-30 fms., m.c. ; below Strachur Pier, stones, gravel,
and sand, 10-15 fms., c.c.; Newton Bay, stones and sand,
10-20 fms., c.c. ; W. side, 10-15 f m s., m.c.; off Crarae, 3-9
fms. ; centre, 34-36 fms., m.c. ; Minard Narrows, 12-20 fms., c.
ARRAN BASIN (M.) Kilbrennan Sound Otterard to Carra-
dale, 18-20 fms., r. ; off Davarr Is., 20 fms., r. E. section
off Ardrossan, iofms., c. ; off Pladda, 30-35 fms., r. BARRIER
PLATEAU (M.) Sanda to Achinhoan, 19 fms., m.c. ; between
Sanda and Ailsa Craig, 24 fms.

MULL OF CANTYRE, 50 fms.

LOCH ETIVE, 30-40 fms., on Trochus.

LOCH SUNART, 45-50 fms., very fine specimens, with long tentaculo-
zooids bordering margin of shell.

SOUND OF SLEAT, Knock Castle, mud, shells, 40 fms. (M.).

Family EUDENDRID^.

6. EUDENDRIUM CAPILLARE, Alder.

CLYDE SEA AREA. ARRAN BASIN Kilbrennan Sound, 10-15 fms.,

on Thecocarpus myriophyllum.
MULL OF CANTYRE, 50 fms.
FIRTH OF LORNE, five records at depths varying from 30-110 fms.,

on Abietinaria abietina and Tubularia indivisa.

7. EUDENDRIUM RAMEUM (Pallas).

CLYDE SEA AREA (M.). UPPER LOCH FYNE, centre. ARRAN
BASIN Kilbrennan Sound; off Largs, 20 fms.; Millport

224 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

Bay, 6 fms. BARRIER PLATEAU Sanda to Achinhoan, 22
fms., r.
SANDA Is., 35 fms.

8. EUDENDRIUM RAMOSUM (Linn.).

CLYDE SEA AREA (M.). UPPER LOCH FVNE off Dunerave Castle,
30 fms. ; centre, between Strachur and Inveraray, 70 fms.
ARRAN BASIN Kilbrennan Sound. BARRIER PLATEAU-
Achinhoan Head to Davarr Is., sand, 17-20 fms.

FIRTH OF LORNE, two records at depths between 50-70 fms.

EUDENDRIUM, sp. indet.

CLYDE SEA AREA. BARRIER PLATEAU between Sanda Is. and
Ailsa Craig, 24 fms.

Family CORYNID^.
9. CORYNE PUSILLA, Gaertner.

CLYDE SEA AREA. KYLES OF BUTE Burnt Islands, on rocks at
low water, c.

10. SYNCORYNE PULCHELLA, Allman.
FIRTH OF LORNE, 70-80 fms. (M.).

Family PENNARID^K.

11. STAURIDIUM PRODUCTUM, Wright.

Only a single immature hydranth, which I imagine belonged to
this species, was observed, growing on a specimen of Lafoea dumosa.
The hydranth was small, with four short capitate tentacles, and was
divided into two portions, the lower stem-like portion being rather
longer than the upper. Unfortunately the polyp was lost during an
attempt to detach it for closer examination.

FIRTH OF LORNE, 30-50 fms.

Family TUBULARID^E.

12. TUBULARIA CORONATA, Abildgaard.

CLYDE SEA AREA (M.). GARELOCH head and E. side, 7-12 fms. ;
head to Stroul, r. DUNOON BASIN E. side, 5-42 fms., r.
LOCH STRIVEN E. side, off Strome Pt., 10-15 f ms -> r - r -
ARRAN BASIN centre, off Saddell, 47 fms., r.

FIRTH OF LORNE, 70-80 fms.

THE HVDROID FAUNA OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND 225

13. TUBULARIA INDIVISA, Linn.

CLYDE SEA AREA. DUNOON BASIN (M.), 20-40 fms. ; E. side,
35-42 fms., m.r. ; centre, 10-40 fms., r. LOCH STRIVEN (M.)
head, 10-15 fms., r. ; E. side, 15-30 fms., r. ; centre, 10-15
fms., r. ; W. side, 20-30 fms., r.r. ARRAN BASIN (M.) Kil-
brennan Sound, centre, off Saddell, 47 fms., c.c. ; S. end
of Bute, off Pladda, 30-35 fms., c. BARRIER PLATEAU (M.)
Sanda to Achinhoan, 19 fms., r. ; between Sanda Is. and
Ailsa Craig, 24 fms.

MULL OF CANTYRE, 65 fms.

FIRTH OF LORNE, 30-50 fms., in considerable quantities ; 70-80 fms.

UPPER LOCH TORRIDON, mud, 30-40 fms. (M.).

14. TUBULARIA LARYNX, Ellis and Solander.

CLYDE SEA AREA (M.) GARELOCH head to Stroul. LOCH GOIL
head to Stuckbeg, 20 fms., r. ; W. side up from Aird
Madailh. DUNOON BASIN centre, 30-40 fms., r.

(To be continued.}

CONTRIBUTION TO A FLORA OF CAITHNESS.

No. V.

By ARTHUR BENNETT, F.L.S.

FOLLOWING up the notes in the "Annals," Oct. 1904, the
following records, corrections, etc., have accumulated.

I.Mr. J. Greg Nicolson contributed to the "Trans.
Edinb. Bot. Society," vol. xxii. (1905), pp. 41-45,
' Some rare Caithness Plants, with Notes.'

2. Rev. D. Lillie, ' Hepatics of Caithness,' " Journ. of

Botany," 1905, p. 124.

3. Mr. G. C. Druce, 'Caithness Plants,' "Ann. Scot.

Nat. Hist," 1904, p. 1 68.

4. Mr. G. C. Druce, ' Plants of Sutherland and Caith-

ness/ I.e., 1908, pp. 39-106.

Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brown of Larbert very kindly sent me
a copy of R. Dick's Catalogue, transcribed for him at Thurso,
but unfortunately I am not competent to judge of the value
of the extracts.

76 D

226 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

It was marked thus : " Red C." Caithness plants so
marked by Dick. " Black C."- -Do. wild plants not marked
as such in Dick's Herbarium, though several are virtually so,
or referred to in Smiles' " Life of Dick."

t Plants occasionally found wild in Caithness, but
probably or evidently introduced.

Garden escapes, trees in plantations, weeds of cultiva-
tion, casuals, aliens, etc.

I have collated this with my own Catalogue and papers
on the Flora, and additions are here given. Those marked
as " Garden escapes, etc.," I have marked with the star.

ANEMONE NEMOROSA, L. Marked by Mr. Nicolson in his catalogue
for Caithness; on record for 108 counties.

Mr. Nicolson (I.e.} mentions that specimens of aquatic
Ranunculus from Staxigeo " vary much, and on comparing
them with the descriptions and figures in Sowerby's " Eng.
Botany " one seems to have a choice between calling them inter-
mediate forms of R. Drouetii, R. Baudotii vulgaris, and R.
Baudotii confusus, or supposing the differences between them
are imaginary."

Now there is no better defined species of the aquatic
section than R. Baudotii, and the differences from R. Drouetii,
even when dried, and still more when living, are so definite
that it suggests that his specimens may be hybrids, as I do
not remember, in the thousands of specimens that have passed
through my hands, Baudotii ever being named Drouetii or vice
versa.

RANUNCULUS FLAMMULA, L., var. RADICANS, Nolte. Wick river,
Grant, sp.

R. ACRIS, L., var. TOMOPHYLLUS (Jordan}. Reay, etc., Grant, sp.

R. ACRIS, -L., subsp. STEVENI, Andrz. Marshall and Shoolbred, " J.
Bot." 1898, p. 167.

CALTHA PALUSTRIS, L., var. GUERANGERII (Bor.}. Reay, Dr. Ward.
Neither name nor locality given at p. 249, 1892.

*ERANTHIS HYEMALIS, Salisb.
* DELPHINIUM AJACIS, L.

ARABIS HIRSUTA, Scop. A small (3" high) form of this with long
transparent hairs on Yarrows hills, R. Bain, sp., 1909.

CARDAMINE HIRSUTA, L. A nearly glabrous form from Yarrows, A.
Sutherland, sp.

*ALYSSUM MARITIMUM, L.

CONTRIBUTION TO A FLORA OF CAITHNESS 227

*BRASSICA NAPUS, Z., *B. RUTABAYA, DC., and : ' f B. RAPA, Z., SATIVA

DRABA INCANA, Z., var. GRACILIS (Z>. gracilis, Led. " Fl. Ross."
i. (1842), p. 152). Gelert, in"Bot.Tiddsk.," 1898, p. 310, says:
" This is a thin form of D. incana with only few leaves on the
stem." Such weak plants have often been called D. hirta.
Some Caithness specimens seem to agree with Ledebour's
description.

CERASTIUM VULGATUM, Z., var. HOLOSTEOIDES, Fr. Reay Links,
W. R. Linton, sp.

C. SEMIDECANDRUM, Z. Downreay, Holborn Head, Druce.

ARENARIA PEPLOIDES, Z., var. DIFFUSA, Hornem. Downreay, near
Murkle Bay, Druce.

SPERGULARIA MARGINATA, Kittel. (S. halophila media, Marss).
Roadside near Wick, R. Bain, sp.

MONTIA FONTANA, subsp. LAMPROSPERMA, Chamisso in Linnaea,
1831; var. MAJOR, Bab. ( = AT. fontana, var. rivularis, Syme,
teste Beeby). John O'Groat's, Miss Geldart, 1899; shores of
Yarrows lochs, J. Grant.

HYPERICUM PULCHRUM, Z., var. PROCUMBENS, Rostrup. Holborn
Head, " Bot. Ex. Club Rep." 1897 (1898).

*GERANIUM PH^EUM, Z.

*!I,EX AQUIFOLIUM, Z.

ACER CAMPESTRE, Z.

RADIOLA MILLEGRANA, Z. Dunnet Hill, Miller, sp.

PARNASSIA PALUSTRIS, Z. Abundant on the banks of the Thurso
river, Miller, sp.

LOTUS CORNICULATUS, Z. Near top of Morven, 2300 ft., J. Grant,

sp.
LATHYRUS MONTANUS, Bernh., var. TENUIFOLIUS, Roth. Among

heath and juniper on river braes near Wick, R. Bain, sp.

RUBUS ID^EUS, Z. Among boulders at summit of Morven, J. Grant,

sp.
fPvRus ARIA, Z., Brown, Campst., in " Tr. Bot. Soc. Edin." 1860.

Planted about Castleton, Druce, I.e.

EPILOBIUM PALUSTRE, Z., var. LAVANDUL^FOLIUM, Lee. et Lam.
Probably seen by Rev. E. S. Marshall ("J. Bot." 1889, 146).

PEPLIS PORTULA, Z. Bower, D. Doull, sp.

CALLITRICHE PALUSTRIS, Z., (vernalis, Koch). I have seen no
specimen that could be referred to this segregate from Caith ;
ness.

C. INTERMEDIA, Hoffm., var. TENUiFOLiA (Persoon, sp., 1805).

228 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

C. HAMULATA, Kuetz, var. TENUIFOLIA, Lonnr., 1854.

C. HAMULATA, Kuetz, var. HOMOIOPHYLLA (Gr. et Godr. "Fl. Fr." vol.
i. (1848), 591, where they say, " Variete souvent sterile." This
form seems to be far more plentiful in the north than in the
south, and is often named " C. autumnalis, Z."). Halkirk, Dr.
Davidson, sp.

In Neuman's "Sveriges Flora" (1901), p. 308, he seems
to make for the idea of hybridity, and has a species C. bicuspidata
(C. hamulata, auct. /./.), which may be the product of C.
polymorpha, Lonnr., and " C. hamitlata, auct." What is here
supposed to be " C. hamulata, auct." is not given for Sweden,
though it is not explained what the author himself means by
this hamulata. Hoffman's name intermedia is certainly older,
and more appropriate, as the various states do shade off towards
autiwinalis on the one side, and towards vernalis on the other.
There is a C. intermedia, Hoppe, but Hoffman's name seems to
be one year earlier. These plants must be in good fruit to be
certain of the naming, except C. autumnalis, L., which is
generally to be recognised by leafage alone. Fries, has a C.
tetmifolia ("Nov. fl. Suec." ed. i, 1814), which Hartmann puts
to C. haimdata, Ktitz, with a ? .

SANICULA EUROP^EA, L. Braes above Wick river, with ivy, juniper,
hazel, etc., half a dozen tufts, 1906, R. Bain, sp.

GALIUM VERUM, Z., var. MARITIMUM, DC., 1805 ( = littorale, Breb.,
1836). Dunnet Links, Grant, sp.

ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM, Z., var. viLLOSA, Hartm. Coast near

Scrabster, E. S. Marshall, sp.
MATRICARIA INODORA, Z., var. PH^OCEPHALA, Rupr. East Coast,

Grant.
PETASITES FRAGRANS, Presl. River-side at Thurso, J. Grant.

TANACETUM VULGARE, Z. On sea-cliffs near Clairdon Head,

Druce.
CARDUUS ARVENSIS, Curt., var. HORRIDUS (Wimm. and Grab., sub.

Cirsiuni). Gersa, Watten, A. Sutherland.

CREPIS VIRENS, Z., var. AGRESTIS ( Willd). Watten, A.
Sutherland, sp.

C. PALUDOSA, Moench. Brae below Sibster, A. Sutherland, sp.
HIERACIUM LEYI, F. J. Hanb. Thurso, Rev. H. J. Riddelsdell.

H. RIGIDUM, Hartm., var. FRIESII, Dahlst. Berriedale cliffs,

Linton, 1888.
H. SCHMIDTII, Tausch. Banks of the Isauld Burn, W. F. Miller!.

H. PROXIMUM, F. J. Hanb. Between Thurso and Scrabster, E. S.
Marshall, 1897. First found by Mr. J. Grant in 1883 !.

CONTRIBUTION TO A FLORA OF CAITHNESS 229

H. GRAVESTELLUM, Daklst. (rhomboides, Stenstr.). Thurso, Rev.

H. J. Riddelsdell.

H. CERINTHIFORME, Back. Thurso, Druce, I.e.
H. RUBICUNDUM, F. J. Hanb., var. f3 BOSWELLII, F. J. H. (H.

jBoswellii, Linton). Strath of Dunbeath, Linton.

H. SOMMERFELTII, Lindeb. Berriedale, form with very hairy leaves,

Linton.
H. SILVATICUM, Gouan, var. PH/EOTRICHUM, Dahkt. Thurso, Rev.

H. J. Riddelsdell.
H. SARCOPHYLLUM, Stenstr., var. EXPALLIDIFORME, Dahlst. Reay,

Linton's "Brit. Hieracia," p. 55.

H. SUBANFRACTUM, E. S. Marsh. Thurso, Rev. H. J. Riddelsdell.
H. VULGATUM, Fr., var. SUBFASCICULARE, IV. R. Linton. Berriedale

and Dunbeath, " Brit. Hieracia," p. 64.
H. STRICTUM, Fr., var. OPSIANTHUM, Dahht. Thurso river and

Wick river, " Brit. Hieracia," p. 86.

(To be continued.}

CONTRIBUTIONS TO A FLORA OF THE OUTER

HEBRIDES. No. 4.

By ARTHUR BENNETT, F.L.S.
( Continued from p. 170.)

U. NEGLECTA, Lehin. ( = U. major, Schmidel, ex Keller). The plant
referred here, gathered by Dr. Shoolbred in " a small loch near
Loch Maddy in North Uist," I believe to be correctly named.
This species seems to vary in size more than the others, I have
specimens with flowering stems 20 inches long and pedicels
ii inches long from " Staines, Middlesex, G. Nicholson."
These I refer to the U. neglecta, Lehm., "f. gigantea, Prahl, 1
mit 1.5 m. langem Bliitenstand fand Prahl ! ."

Dr. Williams (" Prod. Fl. Brit." p. 6 (1909), p. 346) makes
this the /3 major of U. vulgaris ; and quotes Herr Meister as
saying that he considers vulgaris and neglecta are extreme states
of one species. I cannot agree with this. U. neglecta is
abundant in one spot in Surrey, and flowers freely, and both
grow together under the same conditions.

U. INTERMEDIA, Hayne. Scarp, W. S. Duncan, sp. " Small lochs
and ditches in N. Uist, Harris, and Taransay," Dr. Shoolbred.

1 In Prahl's " Krit. Fl. Schl.-Holstein " (1890), p. 173.

230 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

U. MINOR and U. INTERMEDIA grow near together in Scarp, so that
Dr. Neuman's contention that U. ochroleuca, Hartm., is a hybrid
between these two species seems reasonable.

U. MINOR, Linn. Island of Scarp, by Harris, July 1893, leg.,
W. S. Duncan.

If rightly placed here, a very delicate form with fine fili-
form leaves, very numerous bladders on pedicels ^ inch long,
without leaves, as well as numerous bladders on the leaves ;
evidently would have produced flowers, and already bore
" winter-buds," the flowering stems from the axils of leaves with
bladders. I am inclined to think that where the flower-stems
are produced late, if the flowers are not developed "winter
buds" take their place? Dr. Williams (I.e.] remarks that
Zabel has described a land form of U. minor. Such I found
on Woking Heath, Surrey, growing among moss and without
any water at that date (July 17, 1880), with flowering stems 3 to
5 inches high, and flowers expanded. I have a very delicate
form of minor from Flinders Moss, near Stirling, A. Croall,
1880. Mr. Croall was very successful in showing the flowers,
his specimens of U. negleda are beautifully dried.

U. BREMII, Heer. 1 "Aug.-Sept. U. pulchella, C. B. Lehmann in
////. Simillima U. minori, sed omnibus partibus paullo robustior,
sepala subrotunda subreniformia apiculo minuto," etc.

To this I refer " Utricularia, Loch-a-na-Suinahe, Broadford,

Skye, July 1895, S. M. Macvicar," and " Utricularia, East Loch

Fad, Isle of Colonsay (V.C. 102), 26/7/1908, M. M'Neill;"

and specimens gathered by Messrs. Marshall and Playfair at

" Moss of Inshoch near Nairn, and in another station about a

mile distant (V.C. 96) on 13/8/1898 (ref. No. 2176)," are I

believe Bremii. They agree well with the plate (drawn from

an authentic specimen) by Mr. N. E. Brown for " Eng. Bot.

Supp.," but unfortunately not published. I refer here also a

plant from "Loch Urr, Kirkcudbright, July 1888, Mr. Coles."

A specimen from " Moidart, 1891, S. M. Macvicar, I cannot

place anywhere. It has the habit of ochroleuca ; but branches

given off from the main stem (2 ins. long) are almost leafless,

with 25 to 40 bladders (the original specimens of ochroleuca

have very few bladders), rather larger than those of minor, but

on branches each bearing three, and wonderfully simulating

the drawings of Cladocera or Water-fleas. 2 I can only suggest

such a combination as U. neglecta x minor (U. major x minor}.

Focke, in " Pflanzen-Mischlinge," iSSi, gives no hybrids of

Utricularia. U. ochroleuca has been recorded also from Germany

1 "Fl. d. Schweiz," 1840, p. 984.
2 R. Gurney, "Trans. Norf. and Nor. N. Soc." viii. (1905), 44.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO A FLORA OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES 231

as U. brevicornis, Celak, 1 and from the Vosges under the name
of U. intermedia. I do not know what U. spectabilis, Madauss,
may be ; but it is placed under neglecta by Boll, 2 and seems to
differ but little from that plant. The history of U. Bremii as
a Scottish plant is interesting. There is no doubt the Rev.
J. B. Brichan was the first to gather it in 1833, in the Moss of
Inshoch in Nairn ; and there is a specimen in Kew Herbarium
from him attached to a sheet of continental examples of U.
intermedia? In the " Phytologist," i. (1842) 259, he discusses
whether the specimens belong to intermedia or to minor. In
June 1836 the plant was gathered by Bremi by the Lake of
Katzen near Regensdorf, Canton Zurich. They were described
by Heer, I.e. in 1839. It was first definitely included in the
British Flora, by Mr. F. M. Webb in the " Journal of Botany,"
in 1876, p. 142. Prof. Babington, in the 3rd edition of his
"Manual," 1851, p. 257, remarks " U. Bremii (Heer) is
probably a native"; but this seems to have arisen from some
idea that it was a Fen plant.

UTRICULARIA OCHROLEUCA, Hartmu.

U. INTERMEDIA, Hayne x MINOR, Z., N. Neuman.^ Two forms are
reported, viz. f. snbintermedia and f. snbminor ( = U. ochroleuca,
f. microceras, J. Strandmark, in exsic. from specimens sent by
Dr. Neuman). I have also excellent specimens from "Helsingel,
Sweden," July 1871, legit R. Hartmann, comm. Dr. Nordstedt,
" e loco classico."

Here I would doubtfully place Dr. Shoolbred's plant from
"small shallow loch and stream near Tarbert, Harris, July,
21/7/1894," named at that date U. minor by myself.

Other specimens that I believe to belong here are "Harris,
July 1889, Mrs. Duncan, comm. Mr. King."

For additional notes on Utricularia, see Linton in " Trans.
Ed. Bot. Soc." 1894, p. no, and "Proc. Dorset Nat. Hist.
Soc." xv. (1894) p. 8 1.

AJUGA PYRAMIDALIS, Linn. Scarp, high bank of a stream near the
coast, and on slopes near, some twenty specimens, commencing
to flower early in May.

South-west side of the hill of Maodal, Harris, at 100 feet.
South-west slope of Ben Chaipaval, at about 300 feet, in rough
ground among heather and short grass, and moderately dry,
Duncan.

North bank of the ravine at the mouth of the River Creed,
on a high rocky cliff, now wooded. A limited number of
plants come up every year, W. J. Gibson.

1 "Osterr. Bot. Zeit." 1886. 2 " Fl. Meckl. Suppl." 1864, p. 125.
3 Dr. Williams, I.e. p. 369. * "Bot. Notiser," 1900, p. 65.

232 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY

PLANTAGO MARITIMA, Linn., var. PYGM^EA, Lange. St. Kilda,
plentiful, R. M. Barrington ("Journ. Bot.," 1886).

ATRIPLEX BABINGTONII, Woods, var. VIRESCENS, Lange. On the
beach near Stornoway, Trail (Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist, 1909,
p. 250).

EUPHORBIA DULCIS, Linn. Sent from Lewis as wild, but no doubt
a garden escape, Trail ("Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist.," 1906,
p. 1 80).

MERCURIALIS PERENNIS, Linn. Near Stornoway, W. J. Gibson,
sp.

CORYLUS AVELLANA, Linn. "A number of bushes on the rocky
banks overhanging the sea near Lochboisdale in South Uist,"
Somerville, sp. Undoubtedly native on cliffs in North Harris
and South Harris, Shoolbred. Mr. Watson remarked, " In
the Hebrides the Hazel has perhaps been introduced again,
after having become extinct there." This referred to Balfour
and Babington's station of " Rhoddal in Lewis," 1 which was
admitted to be a very doubtful one. But Mr. Watson ' 2 remarks,
"the question respecting its nativity in the Hebrides would
seem to be satisfactorily answered in the affirmative ; Mr.
Macphail is said to have found some hazel-nuts in a large
moss drain in the Lewis, at a depth of nine feet from the
surface." 3

SALIX HERBACEA, L. In the "Annals," 1905, p. 171, I gave
600 feet in St. Kilda (Barrington, sp.), as the lowest known
British altitude; since then ("Annals," 1908, p. 107), Mr.
Druce records it from " near coast level at Cape Wrath,
A. M. Bell," this is of course a very exposed position, but
none the less a remarkably low altitude.

It is given in the paper by Babington from the "top of
Knockgava 4 at a lower level than before," but he had no
instruments for measuring heights.

PINUS SYLVESTRIS, L. Remains of this are found in post-glacial
deposits in Lewis (Trail, in //#.)

ALNUS-GLUTINOSA, L. f? Stream-side, Rhoddill Glen, South Harris,
Dr. Shoolbred.

JBETULA VERRUCOSA. Rhoddill Glen, South Harris, planted, Dr.
Shoolbred.

1 "Trans. Bot. Soc. Edin.," i (1844), p. 151.

2 "Cyb. Britt.," iii. (1852) p. 507.

3 "Bot. Soc. Edin.," ex " Phytologist," iv. 523.

4 "Journ. of Life" (1841), 105.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO A FLORA OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES 233

The following account of the Orchids of the Isle of
Scarp by Mr. Duncan, is of interest, as showing the habitats
much more fully than usual.

MALAXIS PALUDOSA, Sw.

1. Among grasses and sedges in very shallow slowly flowing
water beside Loch Steoavat, on the south side of Strone
Udemul at 430 feet altitude, but small.

2. Among very short, damp sphagnum, in two other spots
on the south side of the same hill, and at the same altitude.

3. In and beside a small pool of stagnant water on a natural
terrace on the east side of the same hill, at 800 feet, here
it is as large as it grows in North Harris in pure water, and
among abundance of green sphagnum.

4. On shallow disintegrated peat which is damp and often
rather watery on the south-east, at 360 feet, near the pass called
" The Cloup."

5. On ground which has been out of cultivation a good
many years, on a narrow ridge covered with a dense coat of
grass, with an open drain on either side, on the south-east side
of the hill, at about 250 feet. Here it is very small.

LISTERA OVATA, R. Br. On a grassy knoll on the east side of the
same hill, at 100 feet alt. This is the rarest orchid of the island.

L. CORDATA, R. Br. Common in the northern part of the island,
among or covered by heather, and in open ground in damp
soil, at almost all elevations. It flowers as early as April.

ORCHIS MASCULA, Linn. Frequent on ledges of the coast-cliffs in
the north, and extending a short way inland ; large, but with
unspotted leaves. In North Harris, just across the Sound of
Scarp, among grass it is poor. Also in South Harris on
the heath, but south of Scarista it is as large as the Scarp
specimens.

O. LATIFOLIA, Linn. Frequent in the east, occasional elsewhere.
In deep, damp soil this and the next often grow together in
great luxuriance.

O. INCARNATA, Linn., var. ANGUSTIFOLIA, Bab. Frequent. In
parts where the coast is low it grows in the sand close to the
stones rolled up by the sea, and a few paces inland among
grass