8 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



the occurrence of a Wood-warbler at the far outlying Sule Skerry be 

 regarded as an Orcadian record, then this bird is the second known 

 visit of this species to the Orkneys. 



Northern Chiff-chaff {Phylloscopus collybita abietinus). 

 Chiff-chaffs visited the island on four occasions between 14th 

 September and 6th October, and were noted in small numbers 

 on 30th and the 1st. The specimens obtained belonged to the 

 Northern European race, not previously recorded for Orkney. 



Whinchat {Saxicola rubetra). There are very few Orcadian 

 instances of the autumn visits of this bird to any of the islands. 

 Two appeared at Auskerry on 15th September, one on the 16th, 

 and one on the 30th. 



Red-spotted Bluethroat (Cyanecula suecicd). An immature 

 bird frequented the garden all .day on the 5th of September. This 

 species has only hitherto been recorded for the Orkneys from the 

 Pentland Skerries. 



Black Redstart (Ruticilla titys). Single birds were observed 

 on 29th and 30th September and on 5th October. There are 

 only a few previous records for the visits of this species to the 

 Orkneys. 



Hedge Accentor {Accentor modularis). Continental Race. 

 A male was obtained in the garden on 1st October the record 

 day for the presence of migratory birds during our visit. This is 

 the first record of the occurrence of the Continental race in the 

 Orkneys. 



Sparrow Hawk (Accipiter nisus). An adult female and young 

 bird arrived at the island on 24th September. This is an interesting 

 occurrence, since we have no previous reliable record of the 

 undoubted appearance of this species as a bird of passage in any 

 of the northern islands of Scotland. 



Stock-dove (Columba anas). One appeared on the 4th of 

 October. This may, perhaps, be regarded as the only satisfactory 

 instance of this bird's occurrence in the Orkneys, though there are 

 previous records for 1849, 1859, and 1861. 



Black Tern {Hydrochelidon nigra). An immature example 

 was captured at the lantern of the lighthouse on 1st October. 

 Many birds were flying in the rays from dark onwards, and 160 

 skylarks struck the lantern and were killed. The other unfortunates 

 included Oarden-warbler, Blackcap, Redwings, Wheatears, Song- 

 thrush, Goldcrest, Jack Snipe, Storm-petrel and Teal ; but a 

 number of other species were flying in the rays. The Black Tern 

 is new to the fauna of Orkney, and Auskerry is the most northerly 



ility visited in the British Isles. 



