346 THE NESTS AXD EC-GS OF 



north of us are V2ry likely to wander to us occasionally ; 

 whilst birds whose range does not extend so far north as 

 our area are in some cases apt to overshoot their mark 

 and reach it, but the date must in all probability be in 

 spring. That some American species have managed to 

 reach our islands we are bound to believe, especially 

 water birds ; for we know that vast numbers of Knots 

 do the double passage every year, via Greenland, Iceland, 

 and the Faroes, On the other hand, it is possible that 

 many stray northern Nearctic birds reach Western 

 Europe by way of Asia. The following is a list of such 

 species, individuals of which have been alleged to occur 

 within the limits of the British Islands. With the 

 exception of those species marked by an asterisk, I do 

 not think any possible claims have been ignored, and 

 that they are wisely excluded for reasons given under 

 each species. Those so marked I consider the evidence 

 is not quite sufficiently strong for their inclusion as 

 "British," but the probability is that future evidence of 

 a stronger and more unimpeachable character may be 

 obtained which will ultimately win for some of them the 

 honour of a place. Scarcely a year passes without some 

 bird new to the British avi-fauna reaching our islands. 

 It therefore behoves the fortunate possessors of these rare 

 stragglers to have their specimens properly examined by 

 competent authorities, to see that all the data concerning 

 them are collected, and by this means to preclude the 

 possibility of future doubt being cast over them. 



