THE FLANNAN ISLES 279 



Corn-Crake, Crex crex. — Is occasionally observed in 

 spring and autumn. As there are several records for 

 June, it is not impossible that the bird breeds on 

 some of the islands. The dates for its earliest and 

 latest appearances are 8th May and i6th September 

 respectively. 



Waterhen, Gallinula chloroptis. — One was captured 

 on Eilean Mor on ist November 1905. 



Pratincole, Glareola pratincola, — An adult female, 

 now in the Royal Scottish Museum, was obtained on 

 Eilean Mor on 13th July 1908. The visit of this 

 Southern European summer bird affords another remark- 

 able instance of the appearance of migratory birds at 

 places far removed from their accustomed seasonal 

 haunts, and much astray from the routes that should 

 have been followed to reach them.. 



[Grey Plover, Squatarola helvetica. — There are 

 several records of ''Grey Plovers" for both spring 

 and autumn, but as no example has been obtained, the 

 visits of this species must for the present be regarded 

 as unconfirmed.] 



Ringed Plover, ^gialitis hiaticola, — Occurs at 

 intervals, in small numbers, from mid -July to near 

 the end of October. It occasionally visits Eilean 

 Mor late in May and during June, indicating that it 

 possibly nests on some of the adjacent islands of the 

 group. 



Dotterel, Eudroniias morinelhts. — It is recorded 

 that a single bird visited the island on 12th June 1903, 

 and that nine appeared and rested on 30th August of 

 the same year. A bird of the year was killed in 

 September 1906, and was sent for identification — the 

 first authentic record for occurrence of this species in 



