BIRD NOTES FROM THE ISLE OF MAY 15 



ROBIN, Erithacus rubecula. Seen on five occasions during our stay, 

 viz., several on i2th, iyth, and aoth September, and 4th and 

 5th October. They were always about the gardens, except on 

 4th October when we found them frequenting the rocks. 



WHITETHROAT, Sylvia rufa. Single birds were seen on the iith 

 and 1 2th September, two on the i3th, and one on 20th, 22nd, 

 and 23rd September. They usually frequented the potatoes 

 and turnips in the gardens, and were silent, shy, and difficult to 

 put out of covert. 



LESSER WHITETHROAT, Sylvia curruca. One seen in the hemlock- 

 tangle from 2 Qth September to 3rd October, and one in the 

 lighthouse garden on the 3oth September. A third was 

 procured by Mr. Maccuish on loth October and sent to us. 

 They had a low, harsh note, made more noise than any of the 

 other Warblers, but were more confiding than the last-named 

 species. 



BLACKCAP, Sylvia atricapilla. A beautiful full-plumaged male 

 frequented the potatoes and turnips in Mr. Ross's garden on 

 the 2yth and 28th September, and a female was seen in the 

 hemlock-tangle on 2nd October. They were rather tame, fear- 

 less little birds. A male was procured by Mr. Maccuish on 

 the 5th November and sent to us. 



GARDEN WARBLER, Sylvia hortensis. Two came in on 26th 



September (S.E. wind, very light) and left again before 



morning. They took covert in the turnips and potatoes, and 

 were difficult to drive out into the open. 



BARRED WARBLER, Sylvia nisoria. We put a bird of this species 

 out of a turnip-patch on the 24th September (W. wind, light). It 

 took fairly long flights when disturbed, but always returned to 

 the turnips, slipping into them so quickly and quietly from 

 behind a wall or other shelter, that it was most difficult to 

 locate, though not at all hard to flush. It was shot at twice, 

 but in spite of this was found in exactly the same place next 

 day and secured : it proved to be a female. 



GOLDEN CRESTED WREN, Regulus cristatus. A female was got at 

 the lantern on 26th October and a male on 5th November: 

 they were sent to us by Mr. Maccuish. The light-keepers tell 

 us that these little migrants frequently come into the houses 

 and eat freely of the flies on the windows, and that about half- 

 an-hour after this feast they fall dead. 



YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, Phylloscopus superciliosus. This most 

 interesting little Asiatic warbler was first seen on the morning 

 of Sunday, 29th September (S.E. wind, light). It was in the 

 hemlock-tangle, where it stayed for a time, and we got an 



