Procellariidæ.--One record of Storm Petrel at Lismore, where it is
accounted very rare, on Oct. 3rd, when one was killed; strong N.W.
wind, and haze. One species.
Alcidæ.--At various stations taken notice of as follows:--At Barra
Head, a few seen on Feb. 4th; fresh S.W., banks of fog. No records in
April. "Marrots" and "Razorbills." At Barra Head, numbers seen of same,
and Puffins, on April 27th; light S.E. wind. A few Puffins seen on May
1st; and fresh N.E. A great many more on May 2nd; fresh N.E. At Butt of
Lewis, first Razorbills seen on April 25th.
In autumn, Marrots leave Barra Head Aug. 12th, along with the bulk of
Razorbills, but Puffins not till Aug. 25th. Marrots and Razorbills
left with fresh E. wind. Puffins left in fresh S. wind.
Cormorants arrived about same time as Razorbills and Aleidæ, but remain
about six weeks later at Butt of Lewis; and at Kyleakin there is record
of a flock of twenty-eight flying W. on 13th, with S.W. breeze. Four
species.
Colymbidæ.--On June 10th one great N. Diver seen swimming near
Lighthouse, at Kyleakin, moving N. (but this movement may be due to set
of the tide only, hour not given, J. A. H. B.). In autumn, at Sound
of Mull, a G. N. D., passing S., var., light breezes. At Lismore, one
flying south; stormy W., rain, on Oct. 17th. At Sound of Mull, two
passing south, at noon; light airs. If the movement is only local
and due to tides, this should be mentioned in schedules, and the
words "drifting with tide," or "swimming with tide," used instead of
"passing." They are not likely to swim against the tide, but if this
phenomenon is observed it should be recorded. One species.
Weather Notes for General Remarks on Spring Migration, 1883.
Fearful snow-storm over the north of Shetland on March 17th, and N.E.
gales and snow prevailed from March 5th to 24th; E. and N.E. and N.
winds prevailed all over Scotland with gales, notably on March 6th and
17th; from 6th to 24th slight changes to S.E., but of short duration;
on 25th (Sunday) wind S.W. strong to gale and rain, the first rain
since February, but only lasted half a day; wind backed again to N.E.
In Orkney the sea rose suddenly very high on the E. coast on March
21st; very cold and fine on 22nd, wind light S.W. "Large quantities
of Cormorants, Razorbills, and Shags, &c., are coming ashore along
the E. coast of Orkney." Deaths supposed to be from scarcity of food,
_viz._, coal-fish; and great damage done to rabbits by Hawks, in some
cases nearly exterminating them (daily papers of March 23rd, 1883). At
Dunipace 12° of frost on night of March 27th. Fearful gale at 9 a.m. on
March 30th, bar. at 28′ 9″; gale all night from S.W., bar. rising all
day; again till 9 p.m. to 29′ 6″, wind S.W. at 10 p.m.; again at 30′
2″. S. gale at Isle of May on March 29th and 30th.
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