THE BIRDS OF ST KILDA 207 



191 1, however, it was quite abundant throughout my 

 visit. 



* AcANTHis LiNARiA, Mealy Redpoll. — Neil Ferguson 

 informed me that shortly after my departure from St 

 Kilda in October 19 10, a number of Mealy Redpolls 

 arrived, and remained some time. He frequently saw 

 them on the stone walls, sometimes close to the houses. 

 It is interesting to know that the great invasion of 

 Redpolls, which was such a feature in the ornithology 

 of the autumn of that year, was so far-reaching as to 

 include St Kilda within its scope. 



In 191 1 one was obtained on 4th October, and 

 another on the 9th. It was the capture of these birds 

 that reminded Ferguson of the visit of this species in 

 the previous year. 



* ACANTHIS ROSTRATA (AcANTHIS LINARIA ROSTRATa), 



Greater Redpoll. — We saw several examples of this 

 Greenland bird, and obtained specimens, during our 

 stay on the island in 191 1. The first was detected 

 among Twites on 9th September ; two were seen on 

 the following day, also in company with Twites ; and 

 single birds were captured on the 21st and 29th of the 

 month. 



*Carpodacus erythrinus. Scarlet Grosbeak. — This 

 was one of the unexpected visitors which it was my 

 good fortune to add to our list of novelties. Two males, 

 an adult and a bird of the year, of this North-Eastern 

 European species, were found by the burn to the west 

 of the village on 8th September 19 10. On the 19th 

 of the same month an adult female was obtained in 

 some rough herbage amid the crofts. 



Loxia curvirostra, Crossbill. — This bird was added 

 to the St Kildan avifauna by Mr O. G. Pike, who found 



