44 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



migration waif, which, separated from its companions, had 

 drifted aimlessly, and then becoming fatigued, was forced to 

 alight ; and it is likely that it made more than one attempt to 

 reach the goal of its destination. Originally, of course, it may 

 have been wafted from its accustomed migration route by stress 

 of weather ; however, there is little reason to doubt that 

 it had sojourned at other rock-islands before it arrived on 

 Tuskar, its last resort, where, in a starving state, it died a 

 few days, or perhaps only one day, subsequent to its arrival. 

 Had the bird been perambulating for any length of time alive 

 on the rock, I feel quite sure that Mr. Glanville would have 

 detected its presence, for few birds have escaped his sharp eye, 

 and I know that, over and over again, he has proved himself, 

 aided by his telescope, capable of identifying many of the small 

 and sombre-plumed Warblers. From the written observations 

 which he has very carefully compiled and kindly forwarded to 

 me, it would appear that no birds visited the lantern on the 

 night preceding the morning on which the Icterine Warbler 

 was discovered. Furthermore, except for the presence of some 

 Wheatears and a few Dunlins at the lantern on August 31st 

 (two of the latter being found dead on the rock on the morning 

 of September 1st), no migratory move was witnessed since 

 August 16th, when Wheatears, Willow-Warblers, Sedge- Warblers, 

 Spotted Flycatchers, a Pied Flycatcher, and a Corn-Bunting 

 were identified at the lantern. The only other birds which 

 Mr. Glanville observed on the rock at the time when he picked 

 up the Icterine Warbler were two Yellow Wagtails ; both were 

 vigorous and winged their way westward after a halt of half 

 an hour. All these points indicate that this Icterine Warbler 

 probably arrived on the rock alone, or, at the most, it may 

 have fallen in with a few passing diurnal migrants. It 

 may be suggested that it accompanied the muster of birds 

 which appeared round the lantern on August 16th, that it 

 was then vigorous and fat, but having become slightly injured, 

 it remained on the rock for a fortnight, when it died. But this 

 notion may be dismissed when we remember that the bird was 

 on no occasion seen alive by Mr. Glanville, and it should be borne 

 carefully in mind that injured birds, as they gradually grow 

 weaker and lose vigour, become consequently much tamer, and 



