46 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



enabled to carry out my project, and George Stout was 

 appointed recorder. Through his assiduity and excellent 

 work, most satisfactory results were obtained. In 1909 

 George Stout left the island, and his brother Stewart, 

 also an enthusiastic bird-watcher, took up the work 

 with success. Since January 19 10 Jerome Wilson has 

 proved himself to be an assiduous and careful observer. 



As the result of six and a half years' investigations, 

 this insignificant island has been visited by no less than 

 207 species, or about one-half of the birds that have ever 

 been known to have occurred in the British Isles ! Nor 

 are its resources in this respect by any means exhausted ; 

 on the contrary, each year adds its quota of important 

 records and novelties ; and it is intended to continue the 

 investigations for some time to come. 



The outstanding feature of its bird-life is the 

 importance of the passage movements, for the observa- 

 tion of which it is not only unrivalled as a British 

 station, but has few equals anywhere. Extraordinary 

 numbers of these migrants appear regularly during the 

 spring, when on their way to, and in the autumn when 

 returning from, their wide and far-extending nesting- 

 grounds in Northern Europe, Iceland, and Western 

 Siberia. The knowledge gained from the Fair Isle 

 statistics has thrown a flood of light upon these 

 important and in some respects obscure migrations, such 

 as was never before possessed for the British Islands. 

 It has been ascertained with a surprising degree of 

 accuracy what species participate regularly in these great 

 movements, and the dates between which they are 

 performed at both seasons. It has been possible, also, 

 to note the increase in the stream of migrants under 

 incentives highly favourable for their performance, its 



