116 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



menal. There were hundreds of both sexes engaged 

 in seeking food on newly-sown land^ and others were 

 similarly engaged on the rocks at the foot of the cliffs, 

 where they were observed to take short flights in the 

 pursuit of flies. At night these birds retired to the 

 grasslands and fallows to roost, some of the parties 

 containing quite as many as one hundred individuals. 

 The birds participating in this most remarkable passage 

 movement remained on the island until the 21st, and a 

 few lingered until the 27th. 



The autumn passages date from 20th September to 

 20th November, the main period ranging from 28th 

 September to 30th October. 



This is the only Bunting that seeks cover in the 

 crofts, where it is frequently found among the patches of 

 potatoes in the autumn. 



Plectrophenax nivalis, Sno-w-B tinting. — Common 

 as a winter visitor and bird of passage. It makes its first 

 appearance in autumn between 8th and i8th September, 

 when a few are to be seen on the high ground ; and 

 arrives in numbers and visits the crofts early in 

 October and November. In 1911, however, a single 

 bird was seen on 29th August. During snow these 

 birds form large flocks, and come quite close to the 

 doors of the houses in their search for food. 



The winter visitors, and others from the south which 

 have arrived during March, leave in the first week of 

 April. The birds on passage appear about the same 

 date, and the flights northward are witnessed until the 

 second week of May, though stragglers have been 

 observed as late as 14th June. 



Calcarius lapponicus, Lapland Bunting. — Occurs 

 annually as an autumn visitor ; and has during several 



