THE PENTLAND SKERRIES. 55 



numbers, but they occur also in June. They begin to return as 

 early as the second week in August, the last being seen as late 

 as October. 



Fringillidce. Amongst this family are included Greenfinches, 

 an occasional House-Sparrow, Chaffinches, Bramblings, and Linnets, 

 the latter most likely including Common Linnets, Kedpolls, and 

 Twites. In spring finches move as early as February, and, in fact, 

 Linnets are recorded more or less throughout the year. Green- 

 finches were observed on January 1st, 1888, and a Kedpoll on 

 March 10th of the same year. Bramblings appear in April, but 

 are rare ; Mr. Gilmour identified them by their white rumps. Some 

 were seen again on October 18th, 1889; wind strong from the 

 south, and weather hazy. Chaffinches occur as early as February, 

 and through March and April, as late as May, at which date. 

 Greenfinches were observed. Chaffinches are seen in great numbers 



at times at the end of October, and as late as the end of November. 

 Sparrows are only occasional visitants. Five were seen on May 

 29th, 1888, but at Auskerry, in May 1883, a flock was seen, as 



also a Brambling, Chaffinch, and Greenfinch about the same date. 



A sparrow seen at the Pentland Skerries on May 12th, 1889, may 



have been a Tree-Sparrow, as it had much white about the head. 

 LoxiincB. Crossbills were seen on July 9th, 1888. There was 



a great migration of these birds throughout the north that year. 



No other entry of these birds occurs. 



Emberizince. Common Bunting, Yellowhammer, Eeed Bunting, 



and Snow Bunting. Common Buntings have been seen in January, 



but in April and May are most abundant ; not common in autumn. 



Yellowhammers are occasional in March and April, ra.re or absent 



in autumn. Reed Buntings occur regularly in May and October. 



Snow Buntings are abundant at times in October and November, 



but sometimes as early as September 17th, and they have been 



seen as late as May 1st. 



Alaudidce. There are a few records of Skylarks in spring, 



sometimes as early as February 9th, continuing up to April ; return 



begins in September, and continues at times up to December. 



Occasionally come in rushes, as at N. Ronaldsay in October 1885. 



