CHAPTER XXI 



THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE 

 SEASONAL MOVEMENTS OF THE BIRDS OF PASSAGE 



From the foregoing chapters it will have been gathered 

 that the avifauna of Fair Isle is a remarkable one. 

 Its wealth in migratory species, already wonderful, 

 seems to be by no means exhausted, for every year adds 

 either new birds to its ornis, or something of value to 

 the data relating to the migrations of the regular 

 visitants. In all no less than 209 species are known to 

 have occurred on the island. Of these, 28 are natives — 

 that is to say, breeding birds, 18 being residents and 10 

 summer visitants. 117 are visitors on their seasonal 

 passages ; of these, loi are observed in spring on their 

 way northwards, and 115 in the autumn proceeding 

 southwards ; 99 being common to both seasons. 14 are 

 winter visitors to the isle, and 48 have occurred as 

 casual visitors of a greater or lesser degree of rarity ; of 

 these, 23 have occurred in spring, ^^ in autumn, and 10 

 at both these seasons. The Sea Eagle, once a native, 

 is now, alas, a bird of the past. 



Corvus corax, Raven. — Some fifteen years ago 

 no less than six pairs of Ravens nested annually on the 

 island. These had to be reduced, owing to the injury 

 they inflicted on the lambs ; and now one pair only 



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