82 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



This bird is new to Scotland, and is the third example 

 which is known to have visited the British Isles ; the others 

 having been obtained in Lancashire and Kent respectively, 

 and in the spring. It is not so very extraordinary, perhaps, 

 that this species should overstep its distribution when mov- 

 ing northwards to reach its south-western European summer 

 quarters in spring ; but it is very remarkable that it should 

 proceed northwards instead of southwards when embarking 

 upon its autumn journey to winter quarters. 



152. BLACK REDSTART, Rutidlla titys. This bird is new to the 



fauna of Fair Isle, and has not hitherto been recorded for 

 any island of the Shetland group. An immature bird was 

 detected among a rush of migrants in April, and another, 

 a female, appeared on 8th November. 



This species is only a wanderer to northern parts of 

 Britain, but is a regular winter visitor, in small numbers, to 

 the southern counties of England and Ireland. 



ARCTIC BLUETHROAT, Cyanecula suerica. The Bluethroat was 

 not observed in September, as in our previous visits, but 

 may have escaped notice owing to the shelter afforded to it 

 and other migrants by the standing corn. Only two came 

 under notice during the past autumn, namely, on the yth 

 and gth of October. 



WHINCHAT, Pratincola rubetra. This once supposed rare 

 visitor to the Shetlands again appeared during the spring 

 passage, when it was observed on no less than eight dates in 

 May and early June, sometimes in fairly considerable 

 numbers. It did not appear, or escaped notice, during the 

 autumn movements until Qth October, on which late date a 

 young male was captured. 



153. MISTLE THRUSH, Turdus viscivorus. The Mistle Thrush is 



regarded as a very rare visitor to both Orkney and Shetland 

 Archipelagos, and has not hitherto been detected at Fair Isle. 

 During the past year, however, it visited the island in small 

 numbers in both the spring and the autumn passage move- 

 ments, occurring in March, October, and November, and is 

 probably an annual visitor. 



HEDGE ACCENTOR, Accentor modular is. This species is 

 mentioned on account of the great numbers which appeared 

 on several occasions in April, especially on the gth, when 

 hundreds were observed in all parts of the island. 



RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER, Muscicapa parva. I saw a bird 

 of this species in immature plumage on 2 ;th September. Like 

 those seen last year, it was extremely shy, wary, and restless, 



