1918.] Birds of the Isle of May. 267 



pronounced by Dr. Hartert to be an abnormally coloured 

 young bird of this species, differs so widely from the ordinary 

 plumage, that, in spite o£ the high authority on which it is 

 named, we are still dou1)tful of its specific identity. In this 

 singular specimen the head and mantle are plain dark greyish 

 brown; the lower back, scapulars, and upper tail-coverts a 

 little paler and with dark vermiculations ; the tail, which 

 is decidedly long (3*25 inches), is crossed at an inch frona 

 its tip by a bar of reddish brown. The under surface is 

 plain white, with a few dark bars on the sides of the fore- 

 neck and breast and on the flanks. 



*^Lanius senator senator. The Woodchat Shrike. A 

 Woodchat Shrike was killed at the lantern at 2 a.m. on 

 19 October, 1911 ; it was a young bird, mainly in the 

 plumage described by Dr. Hartert as the " nest-kleid.^' 



Sylvia communis communis. The Whitethroat. A bird 

 of double passage, occurring in s[)ring from the latter end 

 of April, throughout May, and occasionally in early June; 

 the latter birds being probably passage migrants on their 

 way to breed overseas. In autumn, passage usually begins 

 about mid-August, though a few Whitethroats were on the 

 island on 27 July, 1885 : these early records probably refer 

 to the departure of our home-bred birds. The later move- 

 ments, which take place in September and the first week of 

 October, vary enormously in magnitude ; some autumns 

 great numbers visit the island, in other years only one or 

 two are seen. These Whitethroats are probably continental 

 bred birds, and the weather conditions prevailing during 

 their migration periods decide whether or not they strike 

 the British coasts during their southward journey. We 

 have often noticed on the island that these birds took covert 

 far down rabbit-holes or in crevices under rocks. 



Sylvia curruca cnrruca. The Lesser Whitethroat. A 

 bird of double passage under suitable weather conditions, 

 occurring in spring between 4 & 20 May and in autumn 



