THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE, NATIVE AND MIGRATORY 79 



ARCTIC SKUA, Stercorarius crepidatits. This bird formerly bred in 

 some numbers on the island, but is now reduced to a single 

 pair, which nests on the hill above the North Haven. The 

 Fair Isle name for this species is the Q (? queue). The 

 native birds had departed before our arrival. 



In the summer of 1905 one of the birds broke its wing 

 while striking a dog which had ventured near the nest. 



GUILLEMOT, Uria troile. This bird breeds in great numbers on 

 the cliffs and sides of the numerous stacks, but had quitted 

 its native haunts ere we arrived. Two only were seen by us, 

 and one of these was still in deep moult on i6th September, 

 its feathers lying around it on the rock upon which it was 

 seated. The other was observed on the sea at the North 

 Haven. A few are seen off the island during the winter by 

 the Natives when engaged at the fishing. 



RAZORBILL, Alca torda. This species breeds in abundance, but 

 like the last had quitted its nesting haunts before September 

 set in. Single birds were seen by us on the North Haven on 

 ist and 6th October, and two appeared at the same place on 

 the 4th. A few are seen off the island in winter by the fisher- 

 men. 



BLACK GUILLEMOT, Uria grylle. A common resident species, 

 finding abundant nesting sites in the crannies of the cliffs. It 

 was to be seen in numbers on the sea close to the island 

 during the entire period covered by our visit, and Mr. G. Stout 

 alludes to it as common in his list of winter birds. 



LITTLE AUK, Merguhts alle. A regular and common winter visitor 

 to Fair Isle seas. The first for the autumn of 1905 is recorded 

 by Mr. George Stout for 8th November. Mr. Tulloch informs 

 me that many are killed in winter by the Great Black-backed 

 and Glaucous Gulls. 



PUFFIN, Fratercula arctica. The only Puffin seen was observed off 

 the cliffs on the east side of the island on the day of our 

 arrival. This species breeds in vast numbers on the cliffs 

 and grass-topped stacks, indeed it is much the most abundant 

 of all the Fair Isle birds, but all save the solitary example 

 alluded to had moved out to sea for the winter ere September 

 set in. Mr. George Stout informed me that an albino example 

 was several times seen in August last. 



STORM PETREL, Procellaria pelagica. Mr. Tulloch tells me that he 

 found a number nesting at the north end of the island, and it 

 is well known to the Natives as a breeding species. 



FULMAR PETREL, Fulmarus glacialis. Formerly this species was 

 only an occasional visitor to the island, now it is an abundant 



