74 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



was one of extreme severity for a prolonged period, during 

 which the cold was intense greater than had been experienced 

 in Scotland for forty years as many as 40 of frost having 

 been registered, and the ground was ice-bound for several 

 weeks. It was a winter of great disaster to many ground- 

 feeding species, and it is possible that the Fair Isle Rock 

 Doves were among its victims. 



QUAIL, Coturnix coturnix. We were shown, and purchased, eleven 

 eggs of this bird, which had been taken in July last from a 

 nest among rough grass bordering a plot of corn. The nest 

 was found accidentally, and both the eggs and bird were 

 unknown to the Natives. The Quail breeds not infrequently 

 in Shetland, and perhaps also on Fair Isle. 



WATERHEN, Gallimtla ochropus. This species is said to be an 

 occasional visitor to the Isle. Mr. George Stout has sent me 

 one which was obtained on i5th January, 1906. 



CORNCRAKE, Crex crex. Is an annual summer visitor, but had 

 departed ere we arrived on 2nd September. 



GOLDEN PLOVER, Charadnus pluvialis. The Golden Plover was 

 observed on its southern passage down to 3oth September. 

 It chiefly arrived in small parties, but on the i4th many which 

 had appeared over night were seen in all parts of the island. 

 All these migrants remained one day only for food and rest, 

 and had resumed their journey before the following morning. 

 There is much ground on the island well suited for breeding 

 haunts, but the bird seems to be quite unknown as a native 

 species present or past. Perhaps the presence of the Peregrines 

 may account for the absence of this and other species during 

 the nesting season. 



RING PLOVER, &gialitis hiaticula. A small party consisting of old 

 and young birds was seen daily down to the third week of 

 September, when they took their departure. The Ring Plover 

 is a summer visitor to the Isle in limited numbers, and the 

 birds seen by us were probably the native contingent and their 

 progeny of the year. 



LAPWING, Vanelhts vamlhis. Mr. Anderson, ground officer, in- 

 formed me that a few Lapwings breed irregularly on the island, 

 and that he had found their nests with eggs. Any that may 

 have nested in 1905 had taken their departure before our 

 arrival, after which only a few single birds on passage came 

 under notice. The first of these appeared on nth September 

 and evidently passed on at once, as it was not observed after- 

 wards ; others, also single birds, were seen on the 26th, 27th, 

 and 29th, but possibly the same bird came under notice on each 

 of these dates. According to information supplied by Mr. George 



