THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISI.E 105 



sojourn on the island resort to the open fields to a much 

 greater degree than do the native birds. Many are 

 killed at the lanterns of the lighthouses at this season. 



Pastor roseus, Rose-coloured Starling. — Single adult 

 males are reported, on good evidence, as having visited 

 the island in the springs of 1907 and 1908 ; and a third 

 on 19th October in the latter year. 



Oriolus oriolus, Golden Oriole. — Has been known 

 to visit the island on three occasions during recent 

 years. An adult female, on nth May 1908; a young 

 male, on 21st September 1908; and one, probably a 

 male, seen 26th May 1909. 



Chloris chloris, Greenfinch. — The Greenfinch is 

 an irregular winter visitor, some years being plentiful, 

 while in others not a bird is seen. Its chief r6le in Fair 

 Isle is, however, that of a bird of passage. 



In the autumn it has arrived at dates varying from 

 3rd October to 26th November, the usual date of its 

 appearance being mid-October. Some of the passage 

 movements at this season have been of considerable 

 magnitude. 



Fewer are observed in spring, when the passages 

 date from 18th April to 5th May. In 1910, however, 

 twelve appeared on 5th March. The dates for its 

 advent at both seasons are somewhat irregular. 



CoccoTHRAUSTEScoccoTHRAUSTES,//«zey/f;«r^. — Single 

 adult males have been known to visit the island 

 on two occasions in spring— namely, on 14th May 1908, 

 and on 8th May 1909. Both these birds were observed 

 searching for food amid the dung of ponies. 



Passer domesticus, Hoztse-Sparrow. — An abundant 

 resident. Inquiries instituted for the purpose of 

 eliciting information as to when the island was first 



