THE BIRDS OF ST KILDA 211 



23rd of that month. On the 2nd as many as thirty 

 were seen in a party, and there were present, in 

 addition, many scattered birds. A considerable number 

 of fresh arrivals appeared on the 12 th, but only a few 

 were seen after the 14th. In 191 1 it occurred at 

 intervals down to 3rd October, being numerous from 

 2nd to nth September, and again on the 19th and 

 2ist. Her Grace the Duchess of Bedford tells me she 

 saw a number on the island on 23rd August 1910. 



* MoTACiLLA BOARULA, Grey Wagtail. — Three 

 examples were observed, all of which appeared singly on 

 the following dates : an adult, a male, on ist October ; a 

 female on the 3rd ; and, lastly, one on the 6th. All were 

 extremely wild, and bafifled for a time our efforts to 

 get within reasonable distance of them. 



Anthus pratensis, Meadow- Pipit. — Is described as 

 being common by MacGillivray (p. 57) in July 1840. 

 It is also alluded to by Wilson as occurring on the 2nd 

 and 3rd of August 1841, and by Milner in June 1847. 

 Dixon (p. 83) tells us that it occurs sparingly, breeds, and 

 is said to be resident. On the other hand, Wiglesworth 

 (p. 41), a most accurate observer, saw only a single bird 

 on Mullach Mhor in June 1902, and remarks that it 

 probably breeds, though its nest has apparently never 

 been taken ; while other ornithologists who have visited 

 St Kilda make no mention of it. 



The above statements are of importance, for we 

 found the Meadow- Pipit extremely abundant throughout 

 my visits — indeed, it was much the commonest bird of 

 passage observed. The Duchess of Bedford observed 

 it on 25th August 1 9 10, and it was present in numbers 

 down to the day of my departure on 8th October 19 10, 

 and on the 12th in 191 1. 



