140 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



WHINCHAT (Saxicola rubetra\ p. 48. This bird is advancing 

 southwards, at least we now have some records from Barra. Dr. 

 M'Rury saw two hens, the first he had seen anywhere in the Outer 

 Hebrides, on June 16, 1892. These were passing migrants. Again, 

 in 1893, a pair were found which he believed nested ("Ann. Scot. 

 Nat. Hist"). At last a nest was found by Mr. Proud of Bishop- 

 Auckland, as related by Dr. M'Rury, and several broods were seen 

 by the latter gentleman himself in the same year, viz. 1895 ("Ann. 

 Scot. Nat. Hist." 1896, p. 24). 



STONECHAT (Saxicola rubicola), p. 49. I am not able to add 

 much information as regards this species in the Outer Hebrides. 

 Mr. Alfred Chapman mentions seeing one specimen a little to the 

 west of Lochmaddy. Mr. Abel Chapman also records that he saw 

 what he took to be a brood in August, just below Ben Langass, in 

 North Uist, but, he adds, "they were not seen later." Both 

 " Wheatears " and " Stonechats " are entered in the Flannan Isles 

 returned schedules. 



REDSTART (Rutidlla phcenicurus), p. 49. Mr. Finlayson of 

 Mingulay informed Dr. M'Rury that he had once met with this 

 bird on the island, namely on August 6, 1889. Another is recorded 

 at Barra Head on May 15 ("Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist." 1894, p. 153). 



BLUE-THROATED WARBLER (Cyanecula suecica\ p. 49. This is 

 an addition to the Fauna of the Outer Hebrides. On a schedule 

 from the late Mr. Agnew from the Monach Isles, dated October 1 1, 

 1888, occurs the item: "i Blue-throat, 2 P.M., W. strong, cloudy"; 

 and the remark " Another rarity has turned up here in the Blue- 

 throat. It must have got into the company of the Redstarts we 

 had last week. During all last week it was blowing a gale from 

 the north and north-east, with snow and hail showers." (Mr. Agnew 

 had previously known the species on the Isle of May.) Then upon 

 March 28, 1889, i.e. the following spring, I find another chronicled 

 by Mr. Agnew from the same locality, thus : " i Blue -throat 

 Warbler, i P.M., S.W., light, fog." 



REDBREAST (Erythacus rubecula), p. 49. In 1892 Dr. M'Rury 

 makes first mention of about half-a-dozen pairs as nesting in Barra, 

 and remaining all winter ; and again as breeding and increasing, 

 since trees have been planted there. 



WHITETHROAT (Sylria dnerea), p. 50. Records (till 1900) of 

 the species as only a passing migrant, but a pair was seen in 

 Dr. M'Rury's garden on May 13, 1892 ("Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist." 

 1892, p. 199); and a pair again seen in 1893. In 1894 one was 

 again seen in Barra on May 5, 1894 ("Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist." 

 1894, p. 153). And since then Mr. W. L. MacGillivray tells me 

 one was shot in June 1897, and a pair nested in the garden at 

 Eoligary last year (1900), but not this year (1901). 



