THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE 151 



intervals in September and during the first half of 

 October. 



The Swallows which arrived in numbers on 19th 

 May 1 9 10 seemed to be tired out, for they frequently 

 settled on the grass close to the observers, and also on 

 the rocks at the foot of the cliffs. 



HiRUNDO RUFULA, Red-rumped Swallow. — On the 

 2nd of June 1906, the isle was the scene of the arrival of 

 a great number of migrants rushing northwards. These 

 included Bramblings, Tree-Pipits, Spotted Flycatchers, 

 Red-backed Shrikes, Swallows, Cuckoos, Dunlins, and 

 other species. Along with these were three examples of 

 the interesting bird under notice, which is a species 

 not previously known to have visited the British Isles, 

 its summer home being in South-Eastern Europe. 

 George Stout noticed these birds for several days, his 

 attention being attracted to them by the red band across 

 the lower portion of their backs. He succeeded in 

 shooting one, which was unfortunately lost, but was 

 found some ten days afterwards and forwarded to me for 

 identification. 



A single bird of this species was obtained at Heligo- 

 land on 30th May 1885, and one has since occurred on the 

 south coast of Kent, namely, on the i6th May 1909. 



CiiELiDON URBICA, Martin. — Like the Swallow, this 

 species is most frequent and numerous during the 

 spring passages, and is, in most seasons, little more than 

 a straggling visitor in the autumn. 



The earliest date for its spring appearance is 7th 

 May, and the average date 15th May. It often occurs 

 in considerable numbers late in May and during the first 

 week of June, and a few are observed down to near the 

 close of the latter month. During their short sojourn 



