FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 97 



unfavourable for bird migration, and the result of observation 

 at the lighthouse was practically nil. Many interesting notes 

 on the resident and migratory birds of Portland were however 

 made, of which the following is a short summary. Skylarks 

 and Corn Buntings were conspicuously numerous and in full 

 song. The latter species was in such numbers that the fact points 

 to a recent immigration. Wheatears, both races, were passing 

 in good numbers, some of the smaller race apparently staying 

 to breed. Redstart, Willow Wren, Chiff-chaff, Black-cap, 

 Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Cuckoo and Corncrake were 

 observed on migration, also a Whimbrel, and Common Sand- 

 pipers in little parties among the rocks by the Bill, sometimes 

 as many as 17 in a party. Other birds observed included 

 House Sparrow, Linnet (in flocks), Yellow Bunting, Hedge 

 Sparrow, Rock Pipit, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Stonechat, 

 Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Starling, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, 

 Rook (a rookery of some 80 pairs), Kestrel, Sparrow Hawk, 

 Stock Dove, Partridge, and a single Hooded Crow. Herring- 

 gulls, Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins were in good numbers 

 at their breeding stations on the S.W. side, a few of the gulls 

 also breeding on the E. side below the prison; and there were 

 on the island one breeding pair each of Raven and Peregrine 

 Falcon. Other sea-birds seen, but apparently not intending 

 to breed there, were Oyster-catcher, Cormorant, Lesser and 

 Greater Black-backed Gulls, Kittiwake, Gannet and Manx 

 Shearwater. No Swallows and Martins were observed during 

 the visit, but they were both reported on May 5th; and on the 

 night of May 11-12 with a south wind and thick fog a Sedge 

 Warbler killed itself by striking the lantern. Wheatears, the 

 ' Snalters ' of the Portlanders, do not now pass through 

 Portland in the numbers of former years. An old resident 

 told F.L.B. that regular snaring of these birds had been 

 discontinued for some 20 or 30 years, but that he could 

 remember an old woman, who lived near Pensylvania Castle, 

 who received them from the trappers at 9d. a dozen, to be sold in 

 Weymouth, to which town one man used to take half-a-bushel 

 of birds three times a week at the end of July and during 



