144 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



anon darting out from the precipitous faces in pursuit of 

 flies, its identity always being clearly indicated by the 

 display of its " fire-tail." 



RuTiciLLA TiTYS, Black Redstart. — There have been 

 six known visits of single birds of this species to the 

 isle during as many years. Four of these have been 

 made in the springtime, and two in the autumn : they 

 are the most northerly records for the British Islands. 



The spring records are for 9th April 1907, when a 

 male in the plumage of R. carii appeared ; a male in full 

 summer plumage on 20th May 19 10, a similar bird on 

 1 2th May 191 1, and one, sex unrecorded, in a rush of 

 migrants on 31st May 1908. 



The autumn birds were both females, and the 

 dates of their visits were 14th October 1909, and 8th 

 November 1907. 



I saw two of these birds, and their actions on the 

 ground exactly resembled those of the Redbreast and 

 Bluethroats. 



Saxicola crnanthe, Wheatear. — A considerable 

 number of Common Wheatears are summer visitors to 

 the isle, whilst many more occur as birds of passage in 

 spring and autumn. 



The earliest dates for its appearance in spring are 

 13th, 2 1 St, and 28th March. It occurs regularly in the 

 first week of April, and is abundant on passage from the 

 7th of the month down to the early days of May, 

 the 1 2th being the latest date for its passage en route for 

 the north. 



The males appear first, and are recorded as being from 

 five to fourteen days in advance of the females. Even 

 during the later movements the males often greatly 

 outnumber the females. 



