190 BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE IRRUPTION OF CROSSBILLS.* 

 Fseroe Islands. — " I obtained two Crossbills out of a flock 

 of eight at Midvaag, Vaago, Fseroe Islands, on July 2nd, 

 1909. I believe them to be the first examples of the 

 Crossbill recorded from the Fseroe Islands " (Rev. Francis 

 Turreff). 

 Scotland.— Fair Isle. — First seen June 23rd ; " numbers 

 afterwards increased, as if the birds had come to the 

 island in a series of waves, and as many as 300 were seen 

 some days." Thay remained during July, but decreased 

 in numbers towards the end of the month. Small parties 

 were seen throughout August. Shetlands. — An adult 

 male on June 27th in Unst ; at Lerwick, the first on 

 June 28th and from then until August 13th (generally 

 small parties) ; also reported to Mr. J. S. Tulloch from 

 Yell, North Mavine, Whalsay, Bressay, Tingwall ; many 

 near Sumburgh Head (one flock of 40) ; a number were 

 taken on fishing-boats eastwards of the Shetlands [c/. 

 also antea p. 83]. Orkney. — Many near Kirkwall and 

 small flock on Sanday (no dates) [c/. also antea, p. 82] ; 

 one came on board a steamer 95 miles E. by S.JS. of 

 Auskerry Light on July 12th. Sule Skerry. — One taken 

 at lighthouse lantern on June 28th and more seen 

 afterwards, 42 being the largest number ; they stayed 

 on this almost desert island about three weeks. Outer 

 Hebrides. — Flocks of 10, 20, and 30 at Barra since the 

 end of June ; a small party (some old males) near the 

 Butt of Lewis on June 28th ; a great many appeared 

 on the Flannan Islands at the end of June and stayed 

 about five weeks ; two were seen in North Uist 

 (W. Eagle Clarke, Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1909, pp. 

 215-217). [No information with regard to occurrences on 

 the mainland of Scotland additional to that which we 

 have already published is given, which seems extra- 

 ordinary.— H. F. W.] 

 Northumberland. — Mr. Abel Chapman writes that Mr. 

 Robert S. Watson informs him that Crossbills were seen 

 at Sid wood, near Bellingham, North Tyne, for the first 

 time since September, 1903, in the last week of July, 

 1909, when a flock of 15-20 appeared. 



* For previous records see pp. 82, 123 and 162. Commander 

 H. Lynes has very kindly promised to prepare maps showing the 

 extent and if possible the progress of the irruption in the British Isles, 

 but, as much fresh information is published in this number he has not 

 been able to complete the maps in time, and it is proposed to publish 

 them in the next issue. — H. F. W. 



