44 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



as a nesting-haunt for the Golden Plovep, Curlew, 

 Whimbrel, Snipe, Lapwing, and Dunlin, but the presence 

 of the descendants of the once famous Peregrines prob- 

 ably accounts for the absence of these waders as breed- 

 ing species, and now this fastness is sought only by Wild 

 Geese as a safe retreat during their short sojourns, and 

 as a resting-place for moulting Gulls in the late summer. 



There are two natural harbours. Of these, that on 

 the south is the one used, weather permitting. It is, 

 however, beset by numerous submerged rocks, and across 

 its mouth rushes a furious tidal roost, making it neces- 

 sary to have native experience ere one ventures to enter 

 it in a boat. There is a smaller and better harbour on 

 the northern section of the east coast, but it is somewhat 

 removed from the inhabited portion of the island. 



There are several small burns which, after a short 

 course, discharge themselves into the sea as waterfalls 

 down the face of the cliffs ; and there are two small 

 sheets of water at the north end of the island. 



There are no trees or shrubs of any description, 

 either native or cultivated, and thistles and bracken, the 

 latter chiefly confined to a small belt on the north-east 

 side, are the giants of the indigenous flora. 



The natives number about 130. They are crofter 

 fishermen, and, though well-housed, live in the same 

 primitive manner as their forefathers. They have 

 always been most kindly disposed towards me, and have 

 afforded me every facility in their power for carryino- out 

 my investigations. That Fair Isle has been inhabited 

 for many centuries is manifest from the presence of 

 tumuli, in which cinerary urns have been discovered. 



Since 1892, there have been two lighthouses on the 

 island — namely, at Scaddon, at the extreme south-west. 



