From Kinnaird Head Lighthouse I have the following reply to my inquiry:--"Birds at this lighthouse are every year getting more scarce, as the town is now extended to the lighthouse, and cooperage works at the very gate make much noise, and sparks of fire fly about whilst making the barrels." At the same time Mr. D. M. Scott, now at Sumburgh Head, tells me he has once caught, in one watch, forty-eight Starlings at the lantern, and some Thrushes. I have also to thank Mr. Alexander Greig for the first return from Noss Head. The movements of Gannets, as related there, cannot fail to be of use to the Committee. Mr. Greig says, "There has been great scarcity of birds this last year, except those which are generally with us." Through Mr. Thomas Southwell's kindness I have received a few items of interest from the log of the whaler 'Eclipse,' Capt. D. Gray. Also a note from Mr. T. H. Nelson, taken on board the 'Camoens,' 150 miles N.N.W. of Orkney; as also a note or two, through the kindness of Mr. Robert Gray, taken on board the 'Marathon' in the Atlantic by Mr. Thomas Anderson. These are now given; and the land notes will be entered after the paragraphs on each species or group. 'Eclipse.'--March 28th, 1883, 70° 7′ north, 3° 40′ west, saw but one Hooded Seal to-day, but plenty of Rotches, Looms, Snow Birds, and Mallemauks. April 19th, 69° 53′ north, 5° 30′ west, saw a few Bottlenose Whales, and at night a Merlin lighted on the fore-topsail-yard, and there fell asleep, and was afterwards caught. He seemed very tired and weak. I made a box for him, and fed him on small pieces of meat. April 22nd, the Hawk seems to be thriving; he is kept below during the day and on deck when it is fine. April 24th, 68° 29' north, 9° 12′ west, let the Hawk away at 10 a.m. He flew straight to S.W. At 2 p.m. spoke the 'Catharine' brig. Whilst speaking the 'Catharine' I was astonished to see my old friend the Hawk sitting on one leg in the lower quarter boat, looking very disconsolate, and, when scared, immediately flew to the 'Catharine.' He had evidently come across that vessel at sea, and had flown on board her. May 2nd, 68° 20′ north, 11° 30′ west, a great many birds about the ship, a few hundreds of Mallemauks, and numerous Snow Birds, Burgomasters, Snow Buntings, two Eider Ducks, and one Iceland Falcon. May 4th, the vessel was followed by a good many Mallemauks, Burgomasters, Snow Birds, &c. May 18th, 69° 37′ north, 9° 9′ east, in the morning a Loom alighted on the main-topsail-yard, and Rotches have been numerous, besides the usual number of Mallemauks, Kittiwakes, Snow Birds, and Burgomasters. May 22nd, 69° 59′ 3° west, about 65 miles N.N.E. from Jan Mayen, "a few Bottlenose Whales seen during the day, and several Black-headed Gulls and Whimbrels." [This is an interesting note in the distribution of the Whimbrel, which species Capt. Gray knows well, having brought home skins before now, all the way from the coast of S. Greenland, and