In autumn I have no records till the 13th September, "large numbers," at Isle of May, of Rock Pipits,--"a large increase on those already there,"--and none again at same station till 14th October, when a number arrived and "all except such as will probably remain the winter" left on 16th. More again appeared on the 25th, and still more on the 31st; and by the 4th of November a rush, with other migrants. At Bell Rock only six records of straggling birds between the 5th and 22nd. Rock Pipits are also given as still on Isle of May on the 23rd January, having wintered there as predicted. Of Meadow Pipits considerable numbers, with light E. and fog, at Isle of May, on the 16th and 18th September, and a few more seen occasionally up to the middle of October. No other records.
Muscicapidæ.--In spring a rush of Flycatchers noticed at Isle of May on 4th May, but no other records given from any other station. Considerable numbers were observed. No other records of any species during the year.
Hirundinidæ.--In spring I have a single record of a Swallow (Swift?) as early as 12th March, which arrived much exhausted, with strong S.E. wind and mist (see remarks under Stations, _antea_). In April only two records of Sand Martin at N. Unst, on 27th, and at Sumburgh Head on 10th, with light S.W. and S., clear (marked as "not common").
_Land Note._--Allan Water, in Stirlingshire, 13th April, and at Doune, same county, next day. Became numerous by May 3rd at Bridge of Allan. Kelso 23rd and 28th March, and again on April 10th (Dr. J. Grieve, _in lit._).
In May, records from Sumburgh Head in the North, Pentland Skerries, Cromarty, and I. of May. Earliest at the land-locked station of Cromarty on 5th, light N. and showers; indication of a rush apparently, about 11th or 12th, at the more northern stations, and faint indications at I. of May (eight birds) on 12th, with the remark "very few this year." On the 20th and 22nd also, simultaneous appearance of a few at Sumburgh Head and Isle of May--"Records in all, ten in May, at four stations, on six dates, between the 5th and 22nd." This formula perhaps shows as well as any method, the distribution and arrivals on our East Coast.[14]
[Footnote 14: It may not have been apparent to the readers of our previous and this Report that, in order to arrive at final conclusions, after our collection of data is considered large enough, a certain amount of formal sameness and method of recording has been followed by the Committee throughout. This is for the final development of a system of easy tabulation at the end when all our data, year with year, come to be compared and deductions drawn. Our Irish members of Committee have departed somewhat from this plan of work, but there seems no reason apparent why their results need not with equal ease be made workable into the final form of reduction.]