12 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



Sept. iS//z. The most interesting birds to-day were three Arctic 

 Redpolls (Acanthis hornemanni). The other species more 

 numerously represented were Skylarks and Snipe. Another Red- 

 breasted Merganser arrived, also a Blackbird and several Thrushes. 

 A pair of Jackdaws were also seen. 



Sept. \^th. A number of Lapp Buntings have appeared, and 

 the species was noted daily as fairly common down to our departure 

 on Oct. 7th. The last of the Common Sandpipers on passage was 

 chronicled, and the first Jack-Snipe. The Ringed Plover, a small 

 party of which had been observed daily, emigrated about this date. 



Sept. 2oth. The feature of the day was the abundance of the 

 Jack-Snipe. 



Sept. 2\st. The usual migrants observed. 



Sept. 22nd. The favourable meteorological conditions of 

 yesterday --fine weather and moderate S.E. breeze, has had a 

 marked effect, for to-day Goldcrests are swarming everywhere, 

 among the turnips, potatoes, and even the faces of the great cliffs, 

 where they seem to be sadly out of place from our point of view. 

 A number of Mealy Redpoles have also arrived. Two common 

 Gulls and one Black-headed Gull --uncommon birds during our 

 stay were seen on the land. 



Sept. 2yd. --The effects of the continuance of the highly 

 favourable conditions for over-sea migration which have prevailed 

 for the last two days were evident to-day. Bramblings were 

 abundant and a few Ring-Ouzels, Redbreasts, Blackcaps, Chaffinches, 

 Dunlins, and Herons appeared. Most of the Goldcrests, perhaps 

 all seen yesterday, have passed on, at any rate they are much fewer 

 to-day, and those seen may be fresh arrivals. 



Weather for the .Week ending Sept. 30^. --The favourable 

 weather conditions characteristic of the closing days of the past 

 week prevailed until the 26th, and were succeeded by a period 

 during which less unfavourable weather was experienced. The 

 barometer was highest over Northern and South-Western Europe, 

 with moderate depressions in the intervening regions. The general 

 direction of the wind over the northern countries was consequently 

 N.E. or E. fresh or strong. Temperature low for the time of the 

 year. At the close of the week a deep depression that was moving 

 over Scandinavia was accompanied by gales over the North Sea, 

 and these entirely arrested the migratory movements of birds, which 

 had been pronounced during the early days of the period. 



Sept. z^th. This was probably the best day for migrants, but it 

 being Sunday and the natives rigid Sabbatarians, we did not venture 

 near the crofts, our chief hunting grounds. The only newcomer 

 seen was the Siskin, but Goldcrests had evidently again arrived, for 

 they were abundant on the faces of the cliffs. 



Sept. 2$th. This was our greatest day among the migrants. 



