1918.] Birds of the Isle of May. 259 



Corvus monedula monedula. The Jackdaav. Occurs ir- 

 regularly in spring and autumn^ occasionally in some 

 numbers at the former season. 



Corvus frugilegus frugilegus. The Rook. An irregular 

 visitor in spring and autumn ; most common in spring, 

 occasionally occurring in large numbers in March. 



Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris. The Starling. Breeds on 

 the island in some numbers. Also a bird of double passage; 

 in spring the regular movements take place from mid- 

 February to mid- April, but we have seen numbers on 

 passage as late as 14 May. The earlier birds are probably 

 Scottish breeding-birds returning to their nesting-quarters ; 

 the later, passage migrants along our shores. Enormous 

 numbers visit the island in autumn ; small arrivals take 

 place during the second half of September, but October and 

 the first half of November are the times of maximum move- 

 ment. It is difficult definitely to separate the departures 

 of our own birds from the movements of Starlings from 

 overseas, but it is safe to say that the large majority of 

 these October and November migrants consists of birds from 

 the continent of Europe. A few spend the winter on the 

 island. Starlings are strongly attracted by light ; we have 

 seen them sitting thickly crowded on the hand-rail, on the 

 balcony, and on the edge of the dome; at such times several 

 usually manage to find their way into the light-room. 

 They can strike the lantern harder than any bird Ave know 

 without killing themselves, being very diifferent in this 

 respect from the Sky-Lark, which pays heavy toll on every 

 migration night. 



Oriolus oviolus oriolus. Thk Golden Oriole. The only 

 record for the island is of one seen on 13 September, 1913, 

 in strong north-east wind and heavy rain. 



Chloris chloris cMoris. The Greenfinch. Occurs on 

 passage during April and up to mid-May. On 6 May, 

 1912, we watched small flocks passing over the island all 

 day up to 3 p.m. ; they came from the south-east and went 



