72 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



has only once previously been known to visit Scotland, 

 having occurred at Cape Wrath in the spring of 1906. 



1 66. GREY WAGTAIL, Motacilla melanope. This bird appeared in 



the spring. Since it does not nest in countries north of 

 our islands, it is not surprising that it is only a casual visitor 

 to the Orkneys and Shetlands. 



167. BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL, Motacilla flava. The occurrence of 



this species is interesting, because with its appearance all 

 the British species of Wagtails have occurred at Fair Isle. 

 The Blue-headed Wagtail has been recorded for both the 

 Orkney and Shetland groups ; but the occurrences of this 

 bird and the commoner, though much overlooked, M. borealis 

 have been mixed in the past, and it is now quite impossible 

 to say to which species most of the records refer. Both 

 species are summer visitors to Scandinavia, but this is much 

 the most uncommon of the two. 



1 68. RED-THROATED PIPIT, Anthus cervinus. I have long been on 



the look-out for this Pipit at Fair Isle, and had examined, 

 with the aid of a field-glass, great numbers of Meadow Pipits 

 in the hope of detecting it. During my last visit, however, 

 this bird proclaimed its presence on two occasions by its 

 notes, which are quite different from those of any other 

 Pipit with which I am acquainted. There are very few 

 reliable records of the visits of this bird to the British 

 Isles, indicating perhaps that its routes to and from the 

 north do not lie by way of our shores. It has not previously 

 been recorded for Scotland. 



169. RICHARD'S PIPIT, Anthus richardi. Several of this summer 



visitor to central and southern Europe appeared on the 

 island in the autumn. They frequented the crofts and open 

 grass lands, and were extremely wary and difficult to approach. 

 This species has only once previously been recorded for 

 Scotland, namely, near Dunkeld in the early autumn of 

 1880. 



170. SUBALPINE WARBLER, Sylvia subalpina. The occurrence of 



this species at Fair Isle is one of the most interesting events 

 of the year in the annals of British ornithology. That the 

 second British specimen of this pretty little Warbler should, 

 like the first, have occurred in one of the most remote of our 

 islands seems, on first thoughts, somewhat strange. It must 

 be remembered, however, that in such places, should there 

 be any one there to observe them, these waifs are more likely 

 to be detected than elsewhere. If this bird has visited St. 

 Kilda and Fair Isle it must surely have occurred elsewhere 

 with us. 



