BIRD NOTES FROM THE ISLE OF MAY i 



J 



Rock Pipit, A. ohscurus. — Mr. Maccuish informs me that this 

 species remains on the island throughout the year. I saw 

 them every day; a good many from the 14th to 28th 

 September ; otherwise a few only. 



Great Grey Shrike, L. exciibitor. — One was caught in the lobby 

 of the lighthouse at 6 p.m. on 25th October, and sent to me. 

 It proved to be a female with a single wing-bar. 



Spotted Flycatcher, M. grisola. — The only spring record is for 

 7th May, when one came to the lantern at 11.30 p.m. In 

 autumn I saw two on 25th September, one on the 26th, and 

 one was killed at the lantern the same night. 



Pied Flycatcher, M. atricapilla. — The first of these nice little 

 birds came in on 19th September, and frequented the ravine. 

 It had a way of sitting on a pinnacle of rock and shrieking 

 without intermission for several minutes. I often heard it long 

 before I came in sight of it, and at first I could not think what 

 bird it was that was making such an unholy noise. There 

 were one or two about till 23rd September, a good many on 

 the 24th and 25th, two or three on the 26th, and a good 

 many at the lantern that night; one on the 28th. The light 

 seems to have a great attraction for these birds, and if there 

 were any on the island they were sure to turn up at the lantern, 

 if the night were at all favourable. They frequented both the 

 gardens and the rocks, and were very wild at the beginning of 

 the migration, but much tamer ere its close. 



Swallow, H. rustica. — The only spring record is for the nth May. 

 In autumn I saw one on the 12th September, two on the 15th 

 (one young and one old), several on the 22nd, one on the 23rd, 

 and several flying over from north to south on the 24th. 



House Martin, C. urbica. — I have only two notes of this species, 

 one on 15th September and three going south on 29th 

 September. 



Sand Martin, C. riparia. — One flew over from north to south on 

 nth September. 



Siskin, C. spinus. — A flock of seven appeared on 22nd September. 

 I think they were probably a family party, as they consisted ot 

 one male in good plumage, and six in the duller dress of the 

 female and young. These stayed for three days, and a fresh 

 small flock came in on 25th September ; there were three or 

 four on the 26th ; a pair, $ and ? , on the 29th ; and on 3rd 

 October there were three, one being a beautiful male. One 

 came to the lantern on the night of 17th October, and a few 

 during the small hours of 28th October. All were wonderfully 

 tame while they pecked away at the heads of thistles. 



