Tern, _Sterna_.--Only one record. One struck at Pentland Skerries at 8.30 p.m. on Sept. 8th; wind strong S., and fog.
Terns always appear upon our Stirlingshire coast the end of August and beginning of September, remaining usually about a fortnight to three weeks.
The unusual scarcity of migrants is very generally reported upon at almost all the east coast stations. The remarks of the reporters, comparing the observations with former years, generally show this to be the case. Thus, commencing with our most northerly station. North Unst, I find it stated that, in most seasons, "Land birds, as Snow Buntings, Stonechats, and Starlings, strike the lantern." It is also stated that--"Until the last three years, large flocks of Iceland Gulls were seen during the month of April, going N.W. A few returned this way." They are seen, however, every year in some numbers in October. At Sumburgh Head, Mr. Anderson says, "In twenty-one years I have not seen so few birds strike the lantern"; and Mr. Tulloch, writing from North Ronaldshay, says, "We have had so much of N.W. winds here this fall, that I think the birds have been kept more towards the south." Similar complaints of scarcity of migrants reach me from Auskerry, Hoy Sound (High), Holborn Head, Ness Head, and Isle of May; and an entire _absence_ of all birds--"since the schedules came to hand"--is reported at several of these stations. The reason assigned by Mr. Tulloch is no doubt the correct one. From other stations local influences probably have more to do with the scarcity, as, for instance, the unfavourable positions of the lanterns. Thus, Cromarty is "situated on the point of the town of Cromarty, and almost among the houses." During seventeen years that the present principal light-keeper has been there, he does not think that more than a dozen birds have struck the glass. Altogether, few of our Scottish stations are situated in as favourable positions for observation as the lightships of the English coast. Perhaps the Bell Rock and Isle of May are the most favourable in the south, and the Pentland Skerries and some of the Orkney and Shetland stations in the north.
Besides the records under the various species which have been identified, there are many records of birds striking or passing, which were not identified. It is from a comparison of these and the other records that I arrive at the conclusion that the above stations are the most favoured. Thus, large numbers of birds struck the lantern of Bell Rock, and were lost between midnight and dawn on Oct. 7th, and again on the 14th, between 3 a.m. and dawn; on both occasions in foggy, hazy, or rainy weather, &c., as is almost invariably the case. I have not been able to trace from actual data, except in a few cases, the direction of the flight of the migrants, as such has not, as a rule, been noted by the reporters. It would be an advantage to have this done next season, under the column in the schedule for "General Observations." The species which have appeared in greatest numbers are Thrushes and Blackbirds, Larks, Wheatears, and Swallows; whilst Hooded Crows--noted as most numerous on the English east coast--are absent from all the Scottish returns, and Rooks occur only in one very far north instance, _viz._, at North Unst.