194 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



many as fifty of these active birds being seen dashing 

 about on the wing simultaneously. A Sooty Shearwater 

 and a Great Skua were also present. 



I found all the resident small birds, except the 

 Tree-Sparrow, remarkably tame and confiding, owing to 

 the entire absence of all forms of persecution. Grey 

 Crows sat upon the roofs of the houses, or fed on 

 garbage at .their thresholds ; Starlings allowed one to 

 approach them to almost within arms-length ; and Rock- 

 Pipits and Wrens entered the house in which I resided 

 by both the door and windows. The fact that the Tree- 

 Sparrow is as wild here as elsewhere, proves that 

 extreme wariness and suspicion are deep-seated traits 

 in its nature. 



In giving this account of my experiences at St 

 Kilda, I deem it a duty to say a few words about 

 the inhabitants. Much has been written concerning 

 them, and not all that has been said is of a flattering 

 nature. During the eleven and a half weeks I resided 

 among them, most of my time was spent in their crofts, 

 and hence in their very midst, and I thus had unusual 

 opportunities of forming an accurate opinion of their 

 characters and habits. I found them exceedingly polite 

 on all occasions, extremely kind and good-natured, much 

 interested in my work, and most wishful to assist me in 

 every way. They were all very industrious, and to this 

 must be attributed the fact that there is no poverty 

 among them. They are said to be greedy. I certainly 

 did not find them so. I had to seek their assistance 

 in connection with the landing and embarkation of 

 my baggage and stores, and I had other dealings 

 with them, and the remuneration asked was on all 

 occasions most reasonable, I have every reason to 



