CONTRIBUTIONS TO A FAUNA OF SHETLAND 13 



sea slope, and others about the same dates, but not before. 

 Again one in Sand Lodge garden, on 2ist October. 



GOLD-CREST (Regulus cristatus). Gold-crests were reported to us 

 by Mr. Youngclause as appearing at the lantern of Sumburgh 

 Head Lighthouse previous to 2Qth October 1891. But there 

 are no returns during October 1892 in Mr. Youngclause's 

 schedules, although they appeared so abundantly at more 

 southern stations. 



COMMON WREN (Troglodytes parvulus). Not very abundant. In 

 1891 only one seen in "plantie cruives " near Spiggie. Shot 

 one in Garthwick Burn, and saw a family party in Moussa, 

 one of which was shot, and is now in Edinburgh Museum. 

 The other, of which I have the skin, I took the following 

 measurements of: base of bill to end of tail, 4| inches; 

 wing from carpal joint \\^ inches. These Shetland Wrens 

 appear to be large and large-footed, light-coloured, and much 

 vermiculated, both on back and under parts. 



MEADOW PIPIT (Anthus pratensis). Not very abundant. In 1891, 

 appeared to be almost confined to the limited marshy edging of 

 the Hillwell Burn, by the base of Fitful, and the valley behind 

 "The Cleap"; and there only singly or in pairs, up to about 

 3rd October. In 1891, we made the note on the date of 3rd 

 October, " Meadow Pipits and Larks are now flocking," and 

 " Meadow Pipits not common, and very local." Most seen 

 about 3rd or 4th October. 



ROCK PIPIT (Anthus obscurus]. Seen commonly, even abundantly, 

 in its usual haunts, especially around the fish-curing station at 

 Garth Banks ; occurring also, however, inland, up the Eel Burn, 

 and on the shore of Loch Hillwell. Observed no increase of 

 numbers at any date, either in 1891 or in 1892. 



SWALLOW (Hintndo msticci). A solitary bird seen at Loch Hillwell on 

 1 7th October 1891. In 1892, two seen flying over Loch 

 Brow, 8th October. The Swallow was reported to us by Mr. 

 George Bruce as unusually abundant in the summer of 1892, 

 along with Swifts. 



SAND MARTIN (Cotile riparia). One seen hawking over upper 

 Culsetter Marsh, near Hillwell Burn, on 8th October 1892; 

 and another seen at Spiggie on i3th October. 



ROBIN (Erithacus rubecida}. In 1891, only one seen close to Garth 

 fishing-station. In 1892, five or six seen, one at Hillwell Farm 

 on 8th October. 



HOUSE-SPARROW (Passer domestiais). Common at Quendale Farm, 

 and indeed at most, if not all, the farm-towns from Sumburgh 

 House to Lerwick, yet scarcely to be called generally distributed, 



