8 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



the island ; there were a few at the lantern on Sth April, 

 and a great many throughout the day on the 9th. Blackbirds 

 nest on the island ; 1 found their nests on the ground or in 

 holes in stone gate-posts and such-like places. I saw very 

 few till 22nd September, when a number arrived but stayed 

 only two days ; the next immigration was on ist October, and 

 they continued plentiful till the 4th, but appeared in renewed 

 numbers on the 5th, and continued plentiful till I left. In 

 the early morning of 23rd October a few were at the lantern; 

 on the 24th and the next three nights some were reported at 

 the light. From 6.30 p.m. on 3rd November till next morning 

 a few were seen, and many from i a.m. till daylight on 5th 

 November. 



Ring Ouzel, T. torquatus. — On the 26th April (N.E. light, clear) 

 one was seen, and two next day. I only saw one, namely, on 

 5th October. On the night of 23rd October two came to the 

 light; one on the night of the 27th; and three the next 

 night. 



Wheatear, S. ce?tanthe. — The first of the season is noted on ist 

 April, and one stayed on the lantern all that night ; on the night 

 of the Sth there were a few at the light, and next day they were 

 present on the island in large numbers. On the night of 30th 

 April they were numerous, as also from 12 to 4 a.m. on the 

 morning of 4th May, and next night they were " swarming on the 

 lantern from 11 p.m. till daylight on the morning of the 5th " ; 

 they were numerous from 10 p.m. on 5th May till daybreak on 

 the 6th. Under date of 22nd June Mr. Maccuish writes, 

 " Wheatears do not breed here ; not one is to be seen." On 

 13th August the first detachment (consisting of two birds) of 

 the autumn migrants arrived, and on the 17th and 20th single 

 birds were at the lantern. When I reached the island on 

 loth September a few were to be seen till 22nd September, 

 when a good many arrived and remained for a while. On 

 5th October there were fresh arrivals, which, however, passed 

 on next day. A few came to the light with the big rush of 

 migrants on the night of 23rd October, and one w^as observed 

 on the island on 29th October. 



AVhinchat, F. rubetra. — Two of these smart little birds are reported 

 on 5th May, and a beautiful male killed itself against the lan- 

 tern on the night of 6th May. Whinchats were present from 

 the 19th September to the 4th October. The largest number 

 seen was on 25th September. 



Stonechat, p. riibicola. — A male on Sth October is the only 

 record for the year ; it frequented a large patch of thistles not 

 far from the lighthouse. 



