1 84 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



The Whitethroat, Sylvia communis communis. — This species 

 is first recorded from Loch Elrig (Mochrum) on 23rd April, the Isle 

 of May on 29th April, Melrose and Busby (Clyde) on 2nd May, and 

 Thornhill (Dumfriesshire) next day. After this the spread was 

 steady, and arrivals at breeding places are noted up to 23rd May. 

 On 23rd and 24th May Whitethroats were very numerous indeed 

 at Arisaig, then they began to decrease till by 30th May only the 

 breeding birds were left. Passage migrants, single birds in each 

 case, are reported from Fair Isle on 22nd and 28th May, and the 

 Island of Noss on 4th June. 



On 8th August several Whitethroats were at the Little Ross 

 lantern at i a.m., and from this time up to 18th September there 

 are constant notes of departure from our mainland and southern 

 lighthouse stations. Last seen Corsemalzie on 6th September, East 

 Fife on 8th and Evanton on 9th September, and one at Kil- 

 chattan Bay, Bute, on i8th September. Passage migrants, single 

 birds in each case, are recorded from Pentland Skerries on 

 2nd September, Fair Isle on 13th and 15th October, and Swona on 

 22nd October. 



The Lesser Whitethroat, Sylvia curruca curruca, — One is 

 reported a little west of Arisaig on 23rd May (i. 1916, 78), and one 

 at Loch Treig on 13th June (r. 1916, 78), see p. 151. On 9th 

 October a Lesser Whitethroat appeared on Pentland Skerries. 



The Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris. — On loth January a Fieldfare 

 is reported at Lerwick, five at Pentland Skerries next day, and 

 fifteen at Holy Island on 17th January. Throughout February 

 and up to 9th March there are constant notes of movements 

 of small numbers from stations in the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and 

 Shetland, and from Skerryvore, a few from the Isle of May, and one 

 at the Killantringan lantern at 8 p.m. on 4th March. For the rest 

 of March there are notes of large flocks from various mainland 

 stations. From loth April to 7th May we have constant notes from 

 our southern and mainland stations of the passage of large numbers 

 of Fieldfares, on nth and 14th April there were great rushes to the 

 Little Ross lantern, before midnight in each case, and many large 

 flocks are reported from various localities, all going north : probably 

 the majority of these were passage migrants. It is not a little 

 remarkable that during this period there are only a few notes 

 of single birds at our stations in Orkney and Shetland. The 

 absence of lantern records no doubt is responsible for this in some 

 degree, but it would seem probable that in many cases another 



