30 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



the autumns; the 15th and 17th of October are the dates for 1909 

 and 19 10. Their latest spring records are in 1910 and 191 2, 

 when they were seen on 7th and nth May. 



Fieldfare {Turdus pilaris). — This species is seldom seen 

 numerously here. The season of 191 3 was a complete blank, none 

 coming under notice; and for 19 12 there was only one record — 

 in January. The third week of October in 19 10 and 191 1 are 

 the earliest records of its arrival. It is rarely seen on its 

 homeward journey in spring, for I have only one record — in 

 April 1909. 



Blackbird {Turdus meruld). — The most frequent if not the 

 most numerous visitor of the Thrush family, for in addition to 

 its regular autumn visitations, each October and November, a 

 few usually arrive and remain for weeks in March and April. One 

 or two pairs are known to have nested in the vicinity. 



Ring-ouzel {Turdus torquatus). — I have only one note of this 

 species being seen or got here ; three being killed at the lantern 

 on 17th October 19 10. 



Wheatear (5aj[:/(r6'/i3 xtianthe). — The 30th of March in 191 3 and 

 1 9 14 are our earliest records of the arrival of this interesting spring 

 visitor. About ten days later is the date of its first appearance 

 in other years. The first arriving birds, males, pass on after resting, 

 the local breeders not arriving till early in May. Its autumn 

 passage is very intermittent : parties arriving remain for a short time 

 and pass on, so that on one day many may be seen, and then for a 

 few days a blank or only one or two birds, until another small party 

 puts in an appearance. From 15th to 20th October is the 

 usual date of final departure, but the latest record was on 3rd 

 November 1908. In fair numbers they breed in the turf and stone 

 dykes in the locality. When on passage many of them are attracted 

 to the lighthouse lantern when the sky is overcast. 



Stonechat {Prafincola rubicold). — I have only in one year, 

 1910, seen this species in our immediate locality, when several were 

 about all the month of March. As a few were got this autumn, 

 19 14, about four miles from the Butt, where there is more natural 

 shelter, doubtless they are resident and breeders there. 



Redstart {Ruticilla phoenicurd). — Of this species I have 

 records for the first week of October in 1910 and 191 1, and at end 

 of that month in 1908. 2nd April 1914 is the only spring record. 

 I have just been informed that a pair successfully nested in 19 14, 

 near Galson Farm, about 8 miles S.W. from the Butt. 



Redbreast {Erithacus rubeculd). — This familiar homely species 



