168 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



the Isle only affords very limited haunts — low rocks 

 between tidemarks — suited to the habits of this species. 



H^MATOPUS OSTRALEGUS, Oyster-catcher. — Is mainly 

 a bird of passage, but a considerable number are summer 

 visitors to the Isle, and nest. One or two occasionally 

 occur in winter. 



Single Oyster-catchers have arrived as early as loth 

 February, but the main body of the native birds does not 

 appear until the first half of March. As the summer 

 visitors are numerous, it is difficult to discriminate 

 between them and the transient visitors. The latest 

 date on which autumn migrants have been seen is 12th 

 October. 



Phalaropus fulicarius, Grey Phalarope. — Two 

 occurrences only have been detected of the visits of 

 this species. Single birds appeared on two occasions in 

 January 1909 — namely, one on the 2nd, which was 

 obtained, and another on the 29th. These are interest- 

 ing records, since they seem to indicate that this 

 species was wintering not very far off the Isle. 



Phalaropus hyperboreus. Red-necked Phalarope. — A 

 male was captured in the south bay on 4th June 19 10. 

 This is the only known occurrence, though the bird is a 

 summer visitor to other isles of the Shetland group. 



ScoLOPAX RUSTicuLA, Woodcock. — A regular visitor 

 on passage at both seasons ; but most abundant in the 

 autumn, when it sometimes occurs in extraordinary 

 numbers. 



The spring movements have been known to 

 commence during the latter days of March (24th earliest), 

 and are observed throughout April and during the first 

 week of May. 



In autumn there are two records for September, 



