70 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



Stout chronicles its appearance for 25th October, on which 

 date we saw a party of thirty. These were followed by larger 

 flocks, accompanied by Redwings, Blackbirds, and Bramblings 

 on the 29th. 



BLACKBIRD, Turdiis inenila. The Blackbird is a visitor on passage, 

 and also a winter guest in small numbers. During our 

 stay its movements were of an initial nature, for only single 

 birds came under notice. The first, a young male, appeared 

 on 1 4th September, and this was followed by birds of similar 

 age and sex on the iSth. On the 25th an adult male was seen 

 among turnips, along with warblers and other migrants. A con- 

 siderable number were observed on 3oth October, having arrived 

 with large flocks of Fieldfares, Redwings, and Bramblings ; and 

 Mr. J. W. Anderson tells me that one or two passed the 

 winter of 1905-6 on the island. 



RING OUZEL, Turdus torquatus. Ring Ouzels participated in the 

 rush of migrants between 23rd and 25th September. They 

 were not numerous, however, and did not seek the cultivated 

 portion of the island, but were observed on the face of the 

 cliffs and on the high heathery ground. 



WREN, Troglodytes parvulus. Fairly common, but only resident 

 birds came under our notice. These were chiefly observed on 

 the faces of the cliffs where scanty vegetation managed to exist, 

 but the bird was also widely though thinly distributed over the 

 island, frequenting the stone walls, and courses of the burns. 

 No migrants appeared during the period covered by our visit. 



GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, Dendrocopus major. Occurs occa- 

 sionally in autumn. Mr. Tulloch has kindly sent me some 

 feathers of this bird which he picked up on Fair Isle, in con- 

 firmation of its visit during his residence there. 



WRYNECK, lynx torquilla. There must have been a considerable 

 passage of Wrynecks just previous to our arrival at Fair Isle, 

 for we found on three consecutive days, early in September, 

 the remains of single birds in widely scattered localities, in- 

 cluding the high and exposed moorland area. That we should 

 have accidentally come across these recently deceased specimens 

 plainly indicates that disaster in the shape of adverse weather 

 had overtaken the birds on their autumnal journey southwards. 

 This probably detained them on the island, which, from its 

 exposed nature, is utterly unsuited to their habits and devoid 

 of suitable food, and thus led to numbers perishing, for many 

 dead birds must have escaped our notice. 



NIGHTJAR, Caprimnlgus europczus. One came under the notice of 

 Mr. Tulloch. 



