MIGRATORY BIRDS OBSERVED AT FAIR ISLE loi 



identified as the Calandrella bracJiydactyla longipcnnis of 

 Eversmann (^BiilL Sac. Imp. Nat. Moscou, xxi., p. 219 [1848]). 



As this bird does not appear to have hitherto been 

 known to visit Europe, it is desirable to give a short 

 description of its plumage, and an indication of its 

 geographical distribution. The following information on 

 these points has been culled from Dr Hartert's useful work, 

 Die Vcigel der paldarktischen Fauna, vol. i., pp. 216-17. 



Calandrella brachydactyla longipcnnis is to be distinguished 

 from the Western Short-toed Lark (C brachydactyla brachy- 

 dactyla^ by the appreciably greyer tone of the upper plumage, 

 which entirely lacks the reddish sandy-fawn coloration. 

 Like the back the upper surface of the head is never reddish, 

 and the same observation applies also to the rump and the 

 upper tail-coverts. The whitish superciliary streak is ver}- 

 distinct. The beak is almost always more slender, the wing 

 3 to 5 mm. shorter. 



This Eastern Short-toed Lark is a native of the Trans- 

 caspian region, Turkestan, Afghanistan, and Tibet. As a 

 winter guest it is found in the western parts of India. 

 Messrs Rothschild and Hartert obtained three specimens 

 in Algeria in spring, and revise the statement that the wing 

 is shorter than that of the typical race — it is equal to, or a 

 {q"^' millimetres longer {Novitates Zoological, vol. xx., p. 42). 



NOTES ON THE MIGRATORY BIRDS OBSERVED 

 AT FAIR ISLE IN 1914. 



By William Eagle Clarke, 



The systematic investigations on the migrations of birds 

 at Fair Isle in 1914 were carried out by Mr Jerome Wilson, 

 who has acted as observer for several years. To the informa- 

 tion afforded by Wilson's daily register of ornithological 

 events must be added a series of notes kindly contributed by 

 the Duchess of Bedford, who visited the island in spring. 



