THE BIRDS OF FAIR ISLE 153 



for food on the ground, and when thus engaged they 

 progressed by a series of short jumps. Most of the 

 visitors that came under close observation were birds in 

 immature plumage. 



Iynx torquilla, Wryneck. — Although we found the 

 remains of a number of dead birds in various parts of 

 the island in early September 1905, yet down to the 

 spring of 19 10 a few single birds only had come under 

 notice on their spring and autumn passages, and this 

 not annually. 



The spring visits have been made between 8th May 

 and 4th June. In 1910, from 12th May to 24th, a 

 considerable number were observed by the Duchess of 

 Bedford and myself during a remarkable and almost 

 continuous rush of migrants. Fair Isle is no place 

 for birds with such special food requirements as the 

 Wryneck ; and those which came under notice during this 

 memorable visitation were observed seeking for food in 

 the newly-sown fields and on grasslands, and it is not 

 surprising that several were picked up dead. 



The autumn observations relate to appearances of 

 single birds between 28th August and 3rd September — 

 a very short period ; but the records are few, perhaps, 

 because it is a bird which may be readily overlooked on 

 stone walls, its chief resorts, on which it is not easily 

 detected — its plumage blending admirably with the 

 colour of its resting-place. 



CucuLus CANORUS, Cuckoo. — Here, again, we have a 

 species, which, contrary to the general rule, is more 

 numerous and frequent during its spring visits than in 

 those of the autumn. 



In the spring it occurs on passage annually, usually in 

 small numbers, at dates ranging from 7th May to loth 



