NOTES 189 



little island, on which they never seem to rest very long. Early on 

 the morning (4 a.m.) of 9th May 1911, we were certain we heard a 

 Nightingale singing, and much to our surprise found a bird of this 

 species on the island during the day (Annals of Scottish Natural 

 History, 191 1, p. 132). Many of these were probably our own 

 summer visitors arriving, not passage migrants like Mr Tulloch's 

 Blackcap. On the other hand, however, such birds as the Greater 

 Wheatear undoubtedly belong to this category, and in all probability 

 the Warblers, etc., which pass late in May are also passage migrants. 

 Dr Lowe, in his charming book on Our Common Sea-birds (p. 13), 

 says: "Columbus notes that, 'at dawn two or three small land- 

 birds came singing to the ships, and afterwards disappeared before 

 sunrise ' ; but land-birds do not sing before sunrise, and still less 

 when they have lost their bearings on the ocean." The statement 

 that "land-birds do not sing before sunrise" does not, however, 

 always hold good. One of the most delightful experiences we ever 

 had was standing on the balcony of the lighthouse of the Isle of 

 May watching a big rush of Willow-warblers, etc., which took place 

 from midnight to 3 a.m. on 9th May 191 1. It is always a wonderful 

 sight to see so many birds round the lantern, and on this occasion 

 its charm was greatly enhanced by the fact that many of the Willow- 

 warblers sang sweetly while fluttering up to the light. There was 

 a light S.E. wind and small rain, and though many birds were 

 attracted by the light they did not dash themselves against the 

 glass, but merely fluttered singing up to the lantern and remained 

 gazing in, fascinated by its powerful rays. Possibly Columbus' 

 experience may have been parallel to ours. Evelyn V. Baxter 

 and Leonora Jeffrey Rintoul, Largo, Fife. 



Increase of the Goldfinch in Scotland. Mr Charles 

 Oldham's note in the June number accords with observations in 

 other parts of Scotland. The increase of this beautiful species 

 during recent years is one of the most gratifying results of protective 

 legislation. Probably no bird falls an easier prey to the professional 

 bird-catcher, whose work has been severely curtailed or prohibited 

 in those counties where the local authority is alive to its duty. 

 Goldfinches had become extremely rare in Galloway; when they 

 began to return there a few years ago, bird-catchers were busy 

 among them, until the attention of the police was called to the fact 

 that they are a protected species. Goldfinches are pretty numerous 

 now in our district, both in migratory flocks and as breeding pairs. 

 In April 191 3 I watched a flock of about thirty-live feeding in 

 a grass field. Herbert Maxwell, Monreith. 



