850 imiTISH BIRDS. [vol. vi. 



the Pied Flycatcher had disappeared [Scot. Nat., 1913, 

 pp. 17-18). In the succeeding number of our contemporary 

 (pp. 41-2) Mr. T. BlackAvood rej^orts a somewhat similar 

 case, except that the female in this instance disappeared 

 in the first year after she had laid eggs, but before they 

 were incubated. The cock remained on, and appeared again 

 the following year without a mate. These cases are interest- 

 ing as showing how easily a locality can be deserted by a 

 species on the outskirts of its range. 



Courtship of the Blackcock. — In the Naturalist (1913, 

 pp. 96-8), Mr. E. Selous sums up his observations on this 

 subject, the chief points being (1) the cocks courted the 

 hens " by a slow, formal, pompous display," and the hens 

 " showed unmistakable evidence of predilection " ; (2) the 

 " dancing " of the cocks was distinct from courtship " being 

 probably, in its origin, a challenge to rival males " ; (3) the 

 actual fighting of the males was little as compared Anth that 

 in the Ruff and the hens cared nothing for it ; (4) there was 

 no attempt on the part of the cocks to collect harems ; and 

 (5) the courtship was gone through apparently in silence. 



Rare Migrants in Scottish Islands. — In recent numbers 

 of the Scottish Naturalist interesting articles have appeared 

 on migrants observed in 1912 by The Duchess of Bedford 

 and Mr. Eagle Clarke, in Fair Isle, and by the Misses Rintoul 

 and Baxter in the Isle of May. The rarer occurrences 

 recorded are mentioned below, page references being to the 

 1913 volume of the Scottish Naturalist. 



Northern Bullfinch {Pyrrlmla p. pyirlmhi). At Fair Isle a female 

 on October 29th, 1912 (p. 28). 



Scarlet Grosbeak (Carpodacus erythriniis). At Fair Isle a young 

 female on Septemljer 2()th, and a yoimg bird on the 28th (p. 28). 



Ortolan Btjnting {Emberiza hortulana). At Fair Isle one on 

 May 18th and several on October 1st (p. 28). 



Little Bunting (Emberiza pusiUa). At Fair Isle ten between 

 September 28th and October 11th (p. 28). At the Isle of May two or 

 three between September 28th and 30th (p. 52). 



Lapl.\nd Bunting {Calcarius 1. lapponicus). At Fair Isle thirteen 

 between September 1 4th and October 22nd (p. 28). 



Wood-Lark {Lullnla a. arborea). At Fair Isle one on October 9th 

 (p. 28). At the Isle of May one between September 28th and .'{Oth 

 (p. .'-,2). 



Shore-Lark [Ernnopliila a. flava). At Fair Isle one on October 1 Ttli 

 (p. 28). 



Richard's PiriT {Ant])iiii nchardi). At Fair Isle one seen on 

 October 2nd (p. 28). 



Scandinavian Rock-Pipit {Anthus s. l/'ttorali.'i). At Fair Isle one 

 on May 22nd (p. 7). 



Grey-headed Wagtail (MotacUla f. thunbrrgi). At Fair Isle single 

 birds on September 2()th and 29th and October 1st (p. 29). 



