6 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



There are no trees or shrubs of any description, native 

 or cultivated, and thistles and bracken (confined to 

 a small belt in the N.E.) are the giants of the native 

 flora. 



The natives number a little over one hundred, but 

 a few years ago were much more numerous. They are 

 crofter-fishermen, and live in the most primitive fashion ; 

 indeed, after the manner of their forefathers. They were 

 most kindly disposed towards us, and afforded us every 

 facility in their power for carrying out our biological survey. 

 That the island has been inhabited for a long period is 

 manifest from the presence of tumuli, in which cinerary urns 

 have been discovered. 



Since 1892 there have been two lighthouses on the 

 island, namely, Skadan at the extreme S.W., and Skroo at 

 the N.E. limit. Both are furnished with powerful white 

 revolving lights. 



During the past autumn, I spent five weeks on Fair Isle 

 with my friend Mr. Norman B. Kinnear, whose congenial 

 companionship and indefatigable co-operation it is a pleasure 

 to acknowledge. We arrived on September 2, and left on 

 October 7. Previous to our visit, nothing whatever of a 

 reliable nature was known regarding the fauna and flora of 

 the island, and practically nothing about the geology. Did 

 it belong zoologically to the Shetland or the Orkney group ? 

 This was a problem we desired to solve, as well as to obtain 

 information on bird - migration, and, indeed, on matters 

 generally relating to its natural history, past and present. 

 We are now able to say that zoologically and geologically, 

 as well as politically, that the island is an outlier of the 

 Shetland group ; for it lacks among terrestrial animals the 

 Shrew, Vole, and Toad, all of which are members of the 

 Orcadian fauna ; while its rocks belong to the Shetland 

 section of the Old Red series, as I am informed by my 

 friends Drs. Peach and Home, who have examined the 

 specimens procured by us. As to the plant-life of the island, 

 my colleague, Prof. Trail, will report on our collections in due 

 course. I may say here that about a thousand insects were 

 obtained, and will also be reported upon by the specialists, 

 to whom the specimens have been submitted for examination. 



