THE BIRDS OF ST KILDA 203 



written, pleasantly enough, about their personal experi- 

 ences, but have added little or nothing to our knowledge. 

 Such works it has not been thought expedient to include 

 in the list, but allusion has been made to some of them 

 when necessary. 



Of the older writers, Martin and Macaulay stand 

 pre-eminent, and their information afforded the basis of 

 all that followed until the year 183 1, when Atkinson 

 ushered in the modern era in St Kildan ornithology. 



It should be remarked, however, that previous to the 

 works of these authors. Sir George Mackenzie, the Lord 

 Clerk Register, furnished a short account of Hirta to 

 Sir Robert Sibbald between the years 1681 and 1685 

 (Mackenzie was created Viscount Tarbat in the latter 

 year), in which he alluded to the Garefowl, and to the 

 incredible number of fowls which frequent and cover 

 the rocks, and when they rise darken the sky. From 

 what source Sir George obtained this information is 

 not known ; and it is not until Martin's visit to the 

 island in 1697 that we have any first-hand information 

 regarding the bird-life of St Kilda. 



Since my first visit, I have had most obligingly placed 

 at my disposal by Dr Wiglesworth, for incorporation in 

 this work, a series of notes on the occurrence of certain 

 birds sent to him by Neil Ferguson since the publication 

 of his excellent little book. These will be found under 

 the species to which they refer. 



As the result of these searchings among St Kildan 

 literature, I found that seventy-three species of birds 

 had been recorded as natives and visitors to the 

 islands. To these I am able to add no fewer than 

 forty-seven species hitherto unknown ; forty-four through 

 direct personal observation, and the rest from reliable 



