THE BIRDS OF ST KILDA 235 



in 1758. The Rev. Neil Mackenzie informed Wilson 

 (ii., p. 81), in 1 84 1, that this species was a winter visitor 

 to the island. Dixon (p. 85) tells us that he saw two 

 pairs in June 1884, and thinks that they must have had 

 nests on the island of Dun or in Glen Mor, but could not 

 find them. This species does not, however, appear to 

 have come under the notice of other ornithologists 

 visiting the islands. 



Curlews on autumn passage were seen in varying 

 numbers throughout my visits, being observed daily from 

 2nd September to 12th October. Sometimes only one 

 or two happened to come under notice, but on 5th 

 September 19 10, a dozen were observed in company, and 

 this was the largest number seen. On 17th September 

 several were feeding on the sides of Oiseval, one of which 

 several times uttered the pretty summer note so 

 characteristic of the species — much the latest date on 

 which I have ever heard it. 



NuMENius PH/EOPUS, Whimbrel. — Dixon (p. 85) 

 saw a pair in June 1884; and Wiglesworth (p. 41) 

 describes it as not uncommon round the coasts, where 

 he frequently saw it in June 1902. The latter writer 

 adds that he failed to discover the least evidence of its 

 breeding. Steele Elliot (p. 284) saw six of these birds 

 in the East Bay on his arrival, and these were still there 

 at the time of his departure on 21st June 1894, but he 

 too saw no trace of any nesting-haunt. Waterston (p. 

 202) says that five or six pairs were resident in the 

 summer of 1905, and that one native collector told him 

 that he had taken and sold the eggs. 



I was somewhat surprised not to have observed this 

 species in 19 10, but it may have kept to the extensive 

 tracts of high ground and thus have escaped notice. 



