VOL. IX.] NOTES. 75 



by one pair of Moor-Hens {GalUnula ch. chloropus). One 

 of the ponds is always quite clear \vith only a few bunches 

 of rushes round the margin, and in one of these the Moor- 

 Hens made their nest and laid eight eggs. The other pond 

 was then quite clear, but later was overgrown with reeds, 

 flags, etc. 



When the birds had been sitting for about a week I noticed 

 a new nest in the reeds, which had now begun to grow in 

 the other pond. 



As soon as the young were hatched they were removed 

 to the new nest, where there was by that time plenty of 

 cover. This, I think, is interesting, especially in view of 

 the fact that preparations were made well in advance. 



Horace Terry. 



Rare Birds in Fair Isle. — Mr. W. Eagle Clarke contributes 

 an interesting paper on the more uncommon visitors to Fair 

 Isle during 1914 {Scot. Nat., 1915, pp. 101-105). Mr. 

 Jerome Wilson acted as regular observer — and apparently 

 a very efficient one — during this year, while the Duchess 

 of Bedford, who visited the island in the spring, added a 

 valuable sei'ies of notes. We append below brief extracts 

 of the more important records in this report, all being for 

 the year 1914. 



XoETHERN Bullfinch (Pyrrhula p. pyrrhula). — Male and female 



February 27th, female Februaiy 28th. 

 Serin {Serinus c. serinus). — ^Female May 22nd. Only the second 



record for Scotland. 

 Ortolan Bunting {Emberiza Jiortulana). — An extraordinaiy number 



on May 8th. 

 Continental Great Titmouse (Parus m. major). — One on October 



27th, followed by others to the number of about a dozen. Two 



stayed on at all events as late as January 23rd, 1915. 

 Siberian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus c. tristis). — Female October 24th. 

 Yellovv-browed Warbler (Ph. s. superciliosus). — One October 8th, 



one 28th. 

 Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus s. streperus). — One June 10th. Previous 



records ha\e been in autumn. 

 Marsh- Warbler (.4. palustris). — One June 8th. There are only 



three or four previous records for Scotland, and curiously the 



last was June 7th, 1913, at Fair Isle. 

 IcTERiNE Warbler [Hypolais icterina). — One June llth. 

 Barred Warbler {Sylvia n. nisoria). — Appeared on ten different 



days between August 22nd and September 21st, as many as 



four being seen on August 29th. 

 Black Redstart {Phcenicwus o. gibraltariensis). — Three times in 



April, once October. 

 Hobby {Falco s. subhuteo). — One June 9th, and one November 21st. 

 Wood-Sandpiper {Tringa glareola). — Single birds on June llth and 



12th. 

 Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa). — Two May 26th. 



