So ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



summer visitor. The exact date of its appearance as a nesting 

 bird is a little uncertain, but only dates some three or four 

 years back. In 1902, Mr. Tulloch informs me, it was present 

 during the summer, but no nests were observed; but in 1903 

 about a dozen pairs bred on the cliffs at the N.W. end of the 

 island, and probably also at the Sheep Craig, where a good 

 number were observed. Since then it has thoroughly estab- 

 lished itself, and breeds in suitable places, which are very 

 many. 



The extension of the range of the Fulmar to Fair Isle and 

 the Western and Northern Isles of Scotland, as well as to the 

 north coast of the mainland, may be due to the congestion that 

 has probably taken place in St. Kilda, which until a quarter 

 of a century ago was its only native British habitat. During 

 recent years the human population of St. Kilda has markedly 

 decreased, and this, taken with the fact that the people are no 

 longer dependent on the Fulmar for food to the same extent 

 as formerly, has led to fewer of these birds being killed, and 

 hence a considerable increase in their numbers would naturally 

 result, and the seeking of new haunts become a necessity. 



At the close of the nesting season the Fair Isle birds 

 evidently soon take their departure, for we only saw a few, 

 namely the 2nd and 3rd of September, and none afterwards, 

 though we kept a careful lookout for them. We were informed, 

 however, that it is occasionally seen in winter. 



LITTLE GREBE, Podicipes fluviatilis. Both Mr. Tulloch and Mr. J. 

 W. Anderson tell me that the Little Grebe occurs in the lochans 

 in the autumn. 



SLAVONIAN GREBE, Podicipes auritus. A pair of these birds appeared 

 in the South Haven on 6th October, and a pair, perhaps the 

 same, was observed in the North Haven on the 4th. Single 

 Grebes are recorded in the schedules by Mr. George Stout for 

 loth and iSth October; and Mr. J. W. Anderson reports three 

 during February. Probably all these observations relate to this 

 species. 



ADDENDUM. 



TREE PIPIT, Anthus trivialis. A male was shot on 3oth September, 

 and was by an oversight omitted from its proper place in this 

 list. This species is an addition to the avifauna of Shetland, 

 and Mr. Ranken appears to be the only person who has ever 

 observed it in Orkney. It probably occurs on passage in both 

 spring and autumn in the Northern Isles, but has hitherto 

 been overlooked. 



THE ROYAL SCOTTISH MUSEUM, EDINBURGH. 



