1 9 1 8 . ] Birds of the Isle of May . 275 



colouring, this subspecies, in our opinion, differs from the 

 typical form in its way of holding itself, and is more given 

 to perching on elevated places, such as chimney-pots, roofs, 

 and so on. We have frequently seen males displaying in 

 spring ; they crouched down, spread out and depressed their 

 tails so that the white showed conspicuously, and uttered a 

 peculiar sharp note, then lifted their wings stiffly and re- 

 mained so for a moment. They also sang vigorously ; their 

 song seemed louder and wilder than that of the Common 

 W heatear. 



•5«-*>K(Enanthe leucomela leucomela. The Pied Wheatear. 

 A female in autumn plumage was procured by us on the 

 Isle of May on 19 October, 1909. The wind had been from 

 the east the previous day, but had returned to the west that 

 morning. This specimen belonged to the white-throated 

 variety, the Saxicola vittata of Hemprich & Ehrenberg. It 

 was considerably darker than the Common Wheatear, looked 

 slighter, and seemed to sliow less white on the rump and tail 

 when it flew. It was restless and rather wild, fluttering from 

 one rock to another in a hurried manner. 



Accentor modularis modularis. The Hedge-Sparrow. 

 Formei'ly bred on the island, but now is only a bird of pas- 

 sage and occasional winter visitor. Passes in spring between 

 2 March and 15 May, and in autumn between mid-September 

 and mid-November. 



Cinclus cinclus britannicus. The British Dipper. A bird 

 of this race was shot on the island on 22 April, 1885, and 

 Dippeis recorded on 2 & 29 August and 8 December, 1884, 

 may also have belonged to this subspecies. 



Troglodytes troglodytes troglodytes. The Wren. A bird 

 of double passage and occasional winter visitor, occurring in 

 spring from mid-April to mid-May, and in autumn from 

 mid-September to mid-November. 



Muscicapa grisola grisola. The Spotted Flycatcher. 

 Occurs at botli migration seasons : spring movement takes 

 place from 7th to end of May, and there is one record on 



