THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE, NATIVE AND MIGRATORY 73 



LONG- TAILED DUCK, Harelda glacialis. A bird of the year appeared 

 at the North Haven on 3rd October. 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, Mergus serrator. Several females, or 

 immature males, were observed in the North and South 

 Havens. The first of these appeared on iyth September and 

 was followed by other single birds down to the date of our 

 departure, yth October. 



RING DOVE, Colnmba palumbits. A fine adult example was seen 

 among the crofts on 25th September, a day of many migrants. 

 Another was seen on the 2yth in a geo on the east side of the 

 island. We were informed that the Ring Dove was observed 

 not uncommonly on passage. A single bird is scheduled by 

 Mr. George Stout for 4th November. 



ROCK DOVE, Colnmba livia. The absence of the Rock Dove from 

 an island affording so many ideal nesting haunts was a matter 

 of much surprise and comment, but on inquiry we found that 

 it was formerly a resident and had only recently ceased to be 

 a native bird. Until some ten years ago it was quite abundant, 

 nesting in the numerous caves and fissures in the cliffs all 

 round the island. Now not even a straggler is to be seen 

 in the haunts that once knew these birds so well. It was, 

 however, subject to some persecution. For instance, a number 

 were captured in certain caves at night by placing a sail over 

 the mouth of their retreat and then lighting a lantern, on 

 which the frightened birds dashed against the obstruction in 

 their endeavours to escape and were secured. As many as 

 sixteen birds have been secured in a single cave by this means. 

 The caves, however, where it was possible to practise this 

 method were very few, and hence it was comparatively a 

 harmless proceeding, and one which cannot be regarded as 

 having contributed to the extermination of the species ; indeed 

 it was a method of capture which had been in vogue for many 

 years without inimical results. The Doves were also shot on 

 the stubbles, where as many as forty have been seen together, 

 and in this connection the introduction of guns by the light- 

 keepers is said by the Natives to have finally encompassed the 

 destruction of the bird. 



I am inclined to think that their extinction may have 

 been brought about by scarcity of food. The bird is essentially 

 a feeder on the land, and the limited area under cultivation, 

 which has been much reduced in recent years, would only 

 support a comparatively small stock of these pigeons, especially 

 in the winter. It is significant that the evidence obtained 

 points to the year 1895 as being about the date of the bird's 

 extinction. It will be remembered that the winter of 1894-5 



