THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE 83 



as are nearly all the woodland and cover-haunting passerines 

 which visit this shrubless island. As is the case with 

 most of the insect-feeders among the birds of passage, it 

 haunted the face of the lofty cliffs, especially those which 

 tower perpendicularly above the Atlantic on the west side. 

 Here, under the genial influence of the afternoon sun, flies 

 and other insects are abundant ; but a more hopeless situa- 

 tion in which to attempt bird-watching it would be impossible 

 to conceive, and thus many miles of retreats for migrants are 

 lost to the would-be observer. 



[RED-RUMPED SWALLOW, Hirundo ritfula. George Stout 

 informed me during my recent visit to the island that three 

 of these birds visited Fair Isle at the end of May 1906, 

 and of these the bird found dead and recorded (" Annals," 

 1906, 205) was one. He noticed these swallows for several 

 days, being attracted by their red band across their lower 

 backs, but did not then know the significance of this 

 character, or of the bird's rarity.] 



HOUSE MARTIN, Chelidon urbica. The Martin was more than 

 usually abundant in the spring; and was observed, for the 

 first time since these investigations were instituted, in the 

 autumn. 



SWIFT, Cypselus apus. This is another new bird for the 

 autumn, when several were observed between nth and i6th 

 September late dates for this species so far north. They 

 frequented the face of the high cliffs on the sheltered side of 

 the island. 



154. HOOPOE, Upupa epops. An adult male of this remarkable 



wanderer visited the island on gth September. It frequented 

 stone walls, and was very shy and difficult to approach. 



SHORT-EARED OWL, Asio accipitrinus. This owl was first 

 seen on 28th September, and at intervals throughout October. 

 On two occasions from forty to fifty were observed. 



155. LONG-EARED OWL, Asio otus. Two arrived late in October, 



along with other immigrants ; and single birds occurred in 

 November and December. This is an addition to the ascer- 

 tained fauna of the island. 



156. SNOWY OWL, Nyctea scandiaca. One seen on 26th October 



is the first example reported for Fair Isle. 



PEREGRINE FALCON, Falco peregrinus. In the early autumn 

 the Fair Isle Peregrines feed almost entirely on young Herring 

 Gulls. We found the freshly-killed remains of this species 

 almost daily during our rambles, and on several occasions 

 disturbed the raptor while still engaged with its kill. The 



