THE BIRDS OF THE FLANNAN ISLANDS 81 



RING PLOVER (sEgialitis hiaticula). Visits the island occasionally 

 during the autumn. On the i2th of September, a single bird 

 in immature plumage appeared, and was followed by another 

 and similar bird on the igth. This pair frequented the bare 

 patches among the sea-pink on the top of the island down to 

 the date of our departure. 



There are several previous records of the visits of this 

 species, all for August, and three seems to have been the largest 

 number observed on these occasions. 



('.OLDEN PLOVER (Charadrius pluvialis). Occurs on passage, in 

 both spring and autumn, arriving in small parties which do not 

 remain long on the island. The first visitors during the 

 autumn of 1904, were four birds which appeared on the i2th 

 of September. These were followed by a few others on the 

 1 3th and i yth. 



The latest recorded date for their autumnal visits is the gth 

 of November, and the earliest the 28th of August. 



The date of the spring movements north ranges from the 8th 

 of April to the ist of May. 



LAPWING (Vanellus vanellus.} Occurs regularly on passage in both 

 spring and autumn, but only in small numbers. There is a 

 record of its appearance in winter, namely, a single bird on the 

 5th of January 1903. 



We had only one visit of Lapwings during our stay. On 

 the 1 3th of September three appeared in the early morning and 

 remained a few hours on the island. 



It occurs also during October and November, the 2oth 

 being the latest date for its visits in the autumn. 



In spring its appearances as a migrant range from the i2th 

 of March to the i2th of May. 



TURNSTONE (Strepsilas interpres). Occurs occasionally during the 

 autumn passage and in winter ; but the island with its pre- 

 cipitious sides affords little attraction for this bird, and they do 

 not remain long. We observed a single bird on the yth of 

 September; and two appeared on the loth and remained for 

 several days, during which one of them fell a victim to the 

 Peregrine Falcon. These birds, like the Ring Plovers, fre- 

 quented the bare patches amid the sea-pink on the top of the 

 island. 



WOODCOCK (Scolopax rusticula). Appears to be observed on the 

 autumn passage and occasionally during severe weather in 

 winter. Small numbers occur annually in October and 

 November, the i6th of the former month being the earliest 

 date chronicled for their appearance. Three were killed at 

 the lantern on the 5th of November 1902. 



54 C 



