I 4 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



Oct. $th. N. gale and few birds. 



Oct. 6th. N. strong breeze, dull and cold. An uneventful 

 day. 



Oct. ith. As this was our last day on the island, it will be well 

 to enumerate the migratory birds observed as still present. There 

 were many Bramblmgs, Snow Buntings, and Skylarks ; several Lapp 

 Buntings, Mealy Redpolls, Tree Sparrows, Redwings, Wheatears, 

 and Purple Sandpipers ; a few Meadow Pipits and Goldcrests ; one 

 Siskin, Rook, and White Wagtail ; also Mallard, Wigeon, Oyster- 

 catcher, Redshank, Curlew, Snipe, and Heron. Some of the species 

 named probably winter on the island. 



The foregoing record relates to the movements of no less than 

 fifty-seven species, and chronicles several days when the tide of the 

 feathered stream rose high, and yet the lanterns of the lighthouses 

 contributed nothing to our researches, the only birds appearing at 

 their lights being a Skylark, a Starling, and a Snow Bunting ! We 

 had two advantageously placed bird traps (lighthouses) and six 

 enthusiastic observers, but such was the result. The explanation 

 is not, however, far to seek. Here it is. There was not during 

 the whole of the thirty-six nights we spent on the island a single 

 one on which the weather conditions were favourable for the 

 successful working of our decoys, namely the presence of abundance 

 of moisture in the atmosphere to render the beams of these two 

 powerful lanterns attractive for attractive, we were assured, they 

 are when the meteorological conditions in the shape of rain, drizzle, 

 or mist prevail, and migrants are on the move. 



This was a very significant demonstration of the difficulties 

 which have to be encountered by those in search of migration data ; 

 and the necessity, happily recognised long ago in both England and 

 Scotland, for the co-operation of a band of trained ornithologists to 

 supplement the observations of the lightkeepers. 



II. THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE. 



As the result of our investigations and inquiries, the Birds of Fair 

 Isle, as at present known, number 100 species. Of these 80 have 

 a place in the avifauna through our own observations. The Native 

 Birds, i.e. the Residents and Summer Visitors (which together form 

 the breeding species), are 3 1 in number ; and the Migratory visitants, 

 or Birds of Passage, 65. In addition, a few species are probably 

 winter visitors to the island, but regarding these we have little 

 positive information. A few (4) again have ceased to be Natives, 

 though some of them may occasionally, or, in the case of the Tern 

 and the Great Skua, periodically, visit the island. 



In the preparation of this section I acknowledge with pleasure 

 the assistance I have received from Mr. Tulloch, formerly one of the 



