52 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



do during the time of high winds and heavy rain at 

 both seasons. 



In autumn the Warblers, Flycatchers, and other non- 

 gregarious birds are very silent, and do not utter any 

 note when disturbed among cover. Sometimes, how- 

 ever, one hears the pretty call-note of the Willow- 

 Warbler, and the low plaintive note of the Yellow-browed 

 Warbler, but I do not remember to have heard any other. 

 Though these birds may be numerous they are only 

 found singly, and not in company or in parties. 



It is otherwise with the Finches and Buntings. 

 These birds continually " call," even when in parties, but 

 particularly so when met with singly, as if to get a 

 response from another of their kind. The Blackbirds, 

 Ring-Ouzels, and Fieldfares are noisy when alarmed ; 

 the Thrushes and Redwings are less so. 



Fair Isle is richest in the number of its Passerine 

 visitors, and poorest in those representing the Waders 

 and Ducks. Its rock-bound coastline, with scarcely a 

 break in it for the formation of a beach, offers little or 

 no attraction for shore-birds. The reefs at the south- 

 western corner of the island are the chief resort of the 

 waders that do alight ; but this haunt is a most difficult 

 one to explore, owing to its remarkably rugged nature, 

 due to the outcrop of the strata being almost per- 

 pendicular, and their edges extremely irregular, sharp, 

 and saw-like — a combination which renders investigation 

 both a painful and a rough-and-tumble process, during 

 which most of the birds slip away unnoticed. The Isle 

 is also deficient in congenial haunts for the various 

 kinds of ducks which obtain their food in fresh water, 

 especially for the diving forms, and the few of the latter 

 which have occurred have generally appeared singly. 



