NOTES ON THE MAMMALS AND BIRDS OF ROUSAY. 5S 



ever, was unoccupied; as here, just as elsewhere, 

 *' cocks' nests " are commoner than the family 

 mansions. 



Fam. Motacillidcc, 



Pied Wagtail (Motacilla lugubns). Only a few 

 pairs bred on the island; but numbers arrived in 

 August and beginning of September, disappearing 

 by the end of the latter month. 



Meadow Pipit (Anthus j^yritensis). Not a particu- 

 larly numerous species, though it is resident and 

 breeds. It is very scarce in winter. 



Rock Pipit (Anthus obscurusj. Very common and 

 resident, breeding along the coast, and always close 

 to the sea. I have found the nest in banks, heaps 

 of stones, and once in nettles alongside an old wall. 

 The nest itself is made entirely of fine grass, and 

 contains usually five eggs, much like those of the 

 Meadow Pipit, but larger. 



Fam. AJaudldie. 

 Skylark (Alauda arvenstsj. Common and resi- 

 dent, though not very numerous ; nor does it seem 

 to sing in such a joyous manner or ascend to such a 

 height as in England; but perhaps the comparatively 

 cold climate of Orkney may account for this, as it 

 was never, even in the height of summer, really 

 hot for more than a day at a time. 



Fam. Eviberizidfv. 



Snow Bunting (Einheriza nivalis). First seen on 

 10th October, when I picked ui3 a dead bird. A 

 scarce bird during the winter here, j)robably on 

 account of the continued mildness of the season. 



Black -HEADED Bunting (Emheviza schocniclusj. 

 Rare ; only seen on one or two occasions. 



Bunting (Einheriza miliaria). Common and resi- 

 dent, breeding abundantly in the cultivated districts. 

 A good many additions arrive in the autumn, or it 

 may be that the residents, old and young, gather 

 into flocks then and sit on the trees in the garden, 



