220 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



being a rare visitor in his time (1829- 1843), and 

 repeats Martin's statements regarding the superstitions 

 the natives associate with its visits. The bird does 

 indeed appear to be a rare visitor, for there is no other 

 information regarding its appearances on record. 



Cypselus apus, Swift. — Single examples have been 

 noticed on four occasions : one by Mr John Mackenzie 

 in May 1886 (H. A. Macpherson, The Ibis, 1887, p. 

 470) ; another by Mr Mackenzie, but no date given 

 (Steele Elliot, p. 284) ; one by Mr Wheat in 1899 ; and 

 one on 8th June 1902 (Wiglesworth, p. 40.) 



CoRACiAS GARRULUS, Roller. — During his visit to St 

 Kilda in August 1841, Wilson (ii., p. ^i) was informed 

 by the Rev. Neil Mackenzie of the appearance, some 

 time previously, of a rare bird which remained on the 

 island for several weeks, and which from the description 

 Wilson diagnosed as being undoubtedly a Roller. 



Haliaetus albicilla, Sea-Eagle. — It is greatly to 

 be regretted that St Kilda, with its ideal haunts for 

 this fine species, no longer knows the Sea Eagle as 

 the King of its birds. Martin (p. 46) alludes to the 

 presence of '* Eagles " in 1697, and in his Western Isles 

 of Scotland, published in 1703 (p. 299), tells us that 

 there is *' a couple of large eagles who have their nest on 

 the north end of the Isle ; the inhabitants told me that 

 they commonly make their purchases on the adjacent 

 isles and continent, and never take so much as a lamb 

 or a hen from the place of their abode, where they 

 propagate their kind." Macaulay (pp. 160- 161), who 

 visited St Kilda in 1758, remarks : "At Hirta are a few 

 Eagles, which, though very pernicious elsewhere, are 

 perfectly harmless here, the reason I conceive must be 

 that their necessities are more than sufficiently supplied 



